40 S&W cylinder to 38-40?

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29aholic

Single-Sixer
Joined
Nov 19, 2008
Messages
389
Location
Flemington MO
Dos Vaqueros said:
They are Vaqueros

Should work then. 38-40 is not a real high pressure round anyway. I would check the size of the throats first. If the factory throats are oversized I would not spend the money.
 

contender

Ruger Guru
Joined
Sep 18, 2002
Messages
25,138
Location
Lake Lure NC USA
Not a huge number of Ruger SA's in .40 S&W caliber.
I'd leave any of them, "as shipped". But if I wanted a 38-40 cal cylinder,, I'd opt for a .357 mag cylinder bored out as an addition. Going to ream one anyway,, why not use a more common cylinder & preserve the original one?
 

Hondo44

Hawkeye
Joined
Apr 3, 2009
Messages
8,040
Location
People's Republik of California
Excellent advice from contender!

Plenty of cylinders available at on-line auctions. Just look for one with an overall cyl length as long or longer than your cyl. Too short takes welding to fit to your frame.
 

DougGuy

Single-Sixer
Joined
Jul 21, 2014
Messages
171
Also check the gap at the recoil shield. If it's more than .060" it won't headspace on the rim.
 

Hondo44

Hawkeye
Joined
Apr 3, 2009
Messages
8,040
Location
People's Republik of California
Quite a cartridge. Converted this .357 to .38-40, a few years ago. A simple conversion, not by one of 'the famous' and no frills, just a great shooter.

orig.jpg


I've dressed it in steel grip frame with steel ejector housing and thinned the grips
orig.jpg


SBH grooved trigger:
orig.jpg


With return spring shelf web contoured to the trigger guard:
orig.jpg



It has the tight chambers, throats and b/c gap on the large Ruger frame that can take advantage of the .38-40 Magnum 'Ruger Only' loads.

.38-40 Magnums and the guns for them by LEE MARTIN
http://www.singleactions.com/files/3840WinchesterArticle.pdf
 

buckeyeshooter

Blackhawk
Joined
Nov 8, 2004
Messages
856
Location
Ohio
contender said:
Not a huge number of Ruger SA's in .40 S&W caliber.
I'd leave any of them, "as shipped". But if I wanted a 38-40 cal cylinder,, I'd opt for a .357 mag cylinder bored out as an addition. Going to ream one anyway,, why not use a more common cylinder & preserve the original one?
this is good advice!
 

tyler4656

Blackhawk
Joined
Jan 13, 2009
Messages
742
Location
Texas
It works great guys we've done several I'm actually working on one now. Thanks again, Bobby Tyler
 

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