I saw a .32 mag parts kit and it had me wondering if I could swap the barrel and cylinder on a .22 and get a shooter .32 mag.
Is the SS frame different between .22 & .32
- Thread starter Dan in MI
- Start date
contender
Ruger Guru
Yep,, same mainframe size.
OP
I thought they were, Thanks.
contender
Ruger Guru
Dutch is correct. The firing pin issue will have to be addressed.
But I was just answering the basic question.
But I was just answering the basic question.
OP
Yeah didn't think about that. Well, it's almost plug n play.
Hondo44
Hawkeye
One thing to be aware of is a change in .22 and .32 barrel thread:
OM and pre 1986 NM Single Six .22 barrels, and 1st year, 1984, thru part of 1985 .32 barrels are 20 tpi x .557" thread diameter, the shank at forcing cone is .430"
Post 1985 .22 barrels are 24 tpi x .622" thread diameter, with the old smaller size shank of .430" and .32 barrels are also 24 tpi x .622",but with a shank of .486". All the 32 Vaqueritos will have the larger thread size.
One more detail:
You'll need to slightly enlarge the bottom of the loading notch for the larger .32 case to line up with the chambers for loading/unloading. Installing the Free spin cylinder pawl from the Ruger Wrangler .22 Or Power's Customs pawl will really improve ease of loading. I just modify the regular pawl to free spin on all my new model .22s and .32s.
A friend wanted a 32/327 mag old model. The old model .22 cylinder diameter and cylinder window is about .008" smaller than the new model .22. The .32 cylinder rubbed the bottom of the frame window so it had to be filed/stoned for clearance.
I also reamed the cylinder to chamber the .327 Federal Mag. After speaking with a few custom builders, they had no concerns about the 6 shot 32 H&R Mag cyl strength reamed 1/8" deeper for .327 use. It is true that all the 'professional' 327 conversions use a longer new made cylinder that fills the cyl window with no barrel protruding thru thru the frame. If you can find a Ruger 7 shot .327 cylinder so much the better. Just adjust the barrel cyl gap.
However, the 32 mag cyl reamed to 327 will work: Factory loaded .327 Mag cartridges are only ~.003" longer than the factory 32 H&R cylinders. So originally I thought I'd have to run the factory loads thru my seating die and seat the bullets a couple of .001" deeper in the case, but didn't have to. Believe it or not they function perfectly by taking advantage of the barrel/cylinder gap spacing. I know it might be counterintuitive but as they say, truth can be stranger than fiction. Even though the .327 Fed mags in the 85 Gr HP Hyrda shock and 100 gr HP loads are longer than the .32 H&R Mag chambers, the ~ .005" bar/cyl gap is sufficient for the loaded cyl to rotate w/o interference.
OM and pre 1986 NM Single Six .22 barrels, and 1st year, 1984, thru part of 1985 .32 barrels are 20 tpi x .557" thread diameter, the shank at forcing cone is .430"
Post 1985 .22 barrels are 24 tpi x .622" thread diameter, with the old smaller size shank of .430" and .32 barrels are also 24 tpi x .622",but with a shank of .486". All the 32 Vaqueritos will have the larger thread size.
One more detail:
You'll need to slightly enlarge the bottom of the loading notch for the larger .32 case to line up with the chambers for loading/unloading. Installing the Free spin cylinder pawl from the Ruger Wrangler .22 Or Power's Customs pawl will really improve ease of loading. I just modify the regular pawl to free spin on all my new model .22s and .32s.
A friend wanted a 32/327 mag old model. The old model .22 cylinder diameter and cylinder window is about .008" smaller than the new model .22. The .32 cylinder rubbed the bottom of the frame window so it had to be filed/stoned for clearance.
I also reamed the cylinder to chamber the .327 Federal Mag. After speaking with a few custom builders, they had no concerns about the 6 shot 32 H&R Mag cyl strength reamed 1/8" deeper for .327 use. It is true that all the 'professional' 327 conversions use a longer new made cylinder that fills the cyl window with no barrel protruding thru thru the frame. If you can find a Ruger 7 shot .327 cylinder so much the better. Just adjust the barrel cyl gap.
However, the 32 mag cyl reamed to 327 will work: Factory loaded .327 Mag cartridges are only ~.003" longer than the factory 32 H&R cylinders. So originally I thought I'd have to run the factory loads thru my seating die and seat the bullets a couple of .001" deeper in the case, but didn't have to. Believe it or not they function perfectly by taking advantage of the barrel/cylinder gap spacing. I know it might be counterintuitive but as they say, truth can be stranger than fiction. Even though the .327 Fed mags in the 85 Gr HP Hyrda shock and 100 gr HP loads are longer than the .32 H&R Mag chambers, the ~ .005" bar/cyl gap is sufficient for the loaded cyl to rotate w/o interference.
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OP
It was an auction that ended about an hour after I posted. I wish I had seen it earlier. Almost jumped on it, but didn’t want to throw away cash on an unknown.
Hondo44
Hawkeye
I agree with the Professor, Just buy a .32 mag. The only reason I made the conversion was because my friend wanted an Old Model in .32/.327 Mag. He doesn't like the new model actions.
I've reamed NM .32 mags for .327 Mag. And one with a convertible in 32-20 short; then shortening the 32-20 brass. I reamed another spare .32 mag cylinder for full length 32-20; you just need to seat the bullet deep in the case. The owner wanted to be able to shoot the same round in his 32-20 Winchester lever action rifle.
I've reamed NM .32 mags for .327 Mag. And one with a convertible in 32-20 short; then shortening the 32-20 brass. I reamed another spare .32 mag cylinder for full length 32-20; you just need to seat the bullet deep in the case. The owner wanted to be able to shoot the same round in his 32-20 Winchester lever action rifle.
Star43
Hunter
Yeah, I guess you are right in agreeing with the Professor (I guess he got off of Gilligan's Island), but just reading how you did it and with the detail involved, I was beyond impressed. I must say that over the years I have seen your many posts on so many things and always came away by wishing you were my next door neighbor so I could bring things to you or just watch you do these things. Thanks much for sharing your knowledge.
Hondo44
Hawkeye
Star43,
Thank you. Would like you for a neighbor. All you'd have to do is ask: "Can this be done?"
A friend once told me he wished he could have a stainless old model Single action. So I bought a police destroyed (frame cut in half) new model Blackhawk. Figured out what had to be changed and turned it into a 3 screw action. Then I did the same thing to his stainless Vaquero. The 3 action screws will not interchange with an old model but they look the same assembled. I used the two frame pin holes by threading and counter sinking them. And drilled/threaded a 3rd hole for the OM cylinder latch/spring screw. Then modified three screws to fit the holes and internal parts.
Used an old model wide stainless trigger/spring/plunger and grip frame from the SS Old Army. The transfer bar was eliminated. There's no SS old model hammer so I used a fully polished carbon steel hammer. I had to drill and tap a hole to use the old model loading gate plunger/spring/screw.
The new model SS cylinder pin worked as is, but I polished an old model pin to use. That's it as I recall. Pretty simple, no welding or milling needed.
Thank you. Would like you for a neighbor. All you'd have to do is ask: "Can this be done?"
A friend once told me he wished he could have a stainless old model Single action. So I bought a police destroyed (frame cut in half) new model Blackhawk. Figured out what had to be changed and turned it into a 3 screw action. Then I did the same thing to his stainless Vaquero. The 3 action screws will not interchange with an old model but they look the same assembled. I used the two frame pin holes by threading and counter sinking them. And drilled/threaded a 3rd hole for the OM cylinder latch/spring screw. Then modified three screws to fit the holes and internal parts.
Used an old model wide stainless trigger/spring/plunger and grip frame from the SS Old Army. The transfer bar was eliminated. There's no SS old model hammer so I used a fully polished carbon steel hammer. I had to drill and tap a hole to use the old model loading gate plunger/spring/screw.
The new model SS cylinder pin worked as is, but I polished an old model pin to use. That's it as I recall. Pretty simple, no welding or milling needed.
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Star43
Hunter
I don't know if the average guy would call that a "simple process".......I guess it shot ok after all of that. When it was done, what did you call it?
Hondo44
Hawkeye
It was just replacing new model action parts with old model parts and making small changes for attaching them.
He called it the one and only Old Model Vaquero. It functioned normally likely any old model. Firing/accuracy didn’t change.
He called it the one and only Old Model Vaquero. It functioned normally likely any old model. Firing/accuracy didn’t change.
Star43
Hunter
So you built a "Prototype".........and it works !! An old Model Vaquero. That is truly a one of a kind. Too bad Ruger isn't reading this. I bet they could sell a ton of them, in another world of course.
I don't know if the average guy would call that a "simple process".......I guess it shot ok after all of that. When it was done, what did you call it?
Hondo44
Hawkeye
They would likely appeal the some Ruger fans especially the New Vaquero in mid size frame. Although converting OM BLACKHAWKS to Colt and Vaquero style revolvers w/o adj sights has all but disappeared. Though they were more expensive to make considering the welding and refinishing requirement.
And as you indicated, not in today’s world; Ruger’s legal team would be dead set against making and selling old models.
And as you indicated, not in today’s world; Ruger’s legal team would be dead set against making and selling old models.
Star43
Hunter
Ahhh, the good old days. Well at least you have your Prototype"....... Congratulations on that !!
Star43
Hunter
Hondo, have you ever had one of your friends ask you to convert a Single Six to shoot 38's ?? It just got me to thinking about all the retrofitting you did to make your Prototype gun. It may be a dumb question, but I was curious. Personally, I love the size frame of the Single Six, and obviously if it can handle hot 32 mags and 327's. It could handle hot 38's too. Just wondering if you ever attempted it ?? I love the 32 H&R and of course 32 longs, etc, but the rounds are expensive for folks who don't reload. The 38's are expensive also these days but cheaper than the 32 mags and 327's for sure. Just wondering ?
Star43
Hunter
Yeah, I guess the overall length of the 38 might be challenging, yet there are always wadcutters?
Hondo44
Hawkeye
Yes I have been asked. Those conversions have all been done by well known Ruger smiths. I'll post photos next time I'm home of single six/Bearcat .38/.357s.
They're not difficult to do but require machining and making custom cylinders. The set up for machining, making jigs, etc., requires a lot of time. So making conversions like that are too time consuming to just do one or two guns. I have to leave that to the professional smiths who will do several of those and can charge enough to be reimbursed for their initial time investment. I only build guns for friends and not charge them except for parts.
So I stick to parts changing, barrel/cylinder swaps and sometimes require only small modifications or micro welding to adapt Ruger parts to old models, etc., like Bisley triggers. Things gunsmiths don’t or won’t do.
Jim
They're not difficult to do but require machining and making custom cylinders. The set up for machining, making jigs, etc., requires a lot of time. So making conversions like that are too time consuming to just do one or two guns. I have to leave that to the professional smiths who will do several of those and can charge enough to be reimbursed for their initial time investment. I only build guns for friends and not charge them except for parts.
So I stick to parts changing, barrel/cylinder swaps and sometimes require only small modifications or micro welding to adapt Ruger parts to old models, etc., like Bisley triggers. Things gunsmiths don’t or won’t do.
Jim
Star43
Hunter
Jim, Your friends are truly lucky to you as a friend. To do things like that and just charge them for the parts.....not many guys are like that. Again, I wish I was your next door neighbor. Thanks for replying. Have a good one. Steve
Hondo44
Hawkeye
Hondo44
Hawkeye
327 mag Bearcat
Hondo44
Hawkeye
6 shot 9 MM Single six:
http://www.rugerforum.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=227739&p=2287875#p2287875
http://www.rugerforum.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=227739&p=2287875#p2287875
Star43
Hunter
I really don't know which one I like better ?? Can I have all.of them ?? They look great.
Star43
Hunter
I have to ask this. Which was the hardest to do ? Also if you don't mind, which one is your favorite?
Hondo44
Hawkeye
I like the 357 super SS the most and it took the most machining. It could have fit 6 rounds but they had to make it a 5 shot for strength. The cylinder notches are the weak link being located in the center of the chambers. An uneven number of chambers locates the cylinder notches between the chambers. That’s why the super SS 327 mag is a 7 shot.
Star43
Hunter
Yes, I liked all of them, but I agree if I had to pick and have just one, that would be the one. And, yes, it always usually is the hardest one to do !! Thanks for sharing those pictures !!
Hondo44
Hawkeye
I like the 357 super SS the most and it took the most machining. It could have fit 6 rounds but they had to make it a 5 shot for strength. The cylinder notches are the weak link being located in the center of the chambers. An uneven number of chambers locates the cylinder notches between the chambers. That's why the super SS 327 mag is a 7 shot.
The 32 single six and single seven center fire frames have certainly simplified conversions to other cartridges on the small frame.
The 32 single six and single seven center fire frames have certainly simplified conversions to other cartridges on the small frame.
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