40 S&W cylinder to 38-40?

[Dos Vaqueros]

Can a Ruger 40 S&W cylinder be milked out to 38-40 specs?

 

[29aholic]

I dont see why not. If you are talking about a Black Hawk there should be plenty of cylinder wall.

 

[Dos Vaqueros]

They are Vaqueros

 

[29aholic]

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.

 

[TENFAN]

I can’t remember if that run was made in the old or “new” Vaquero. Might make a difference

 

[contender]

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]

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]

Also check the gap at the recoil shield. If it's more than .060" it won't headspace on the rim.

 

[Hondo44]

Also check the gap at the recoil shield. If it's more than .060" it won't headspace on the rim.

Doug,

Please explain.

 

[bearskinner]

Yes it can be done and has. I have one, and two friends also. It’s a wonderful old school cartridge. Reamed out the 40S&W cylinder, that I wouldn’t have used anyway

 

[Hondo44]

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.

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

SBH grooved trigger:

With return spring shelf web contoured to the trigger guard:

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]

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]

It works great guys we’ve done several I’m actually working on one now. Thanks again, Bobby Tyler