OM Flattop Project ?'s

[72monte]

I bought an OM 357 flattop frame as a project. I put a SS Old Army Grip frame and Houge wood grips on it. Found an original set of lockwork for it. Fitted an OM 357 cylinder to it. And fitted a 4 5/8" NM 41mag barrel to it. Now its time to have the cylinder rechambered and am looking for some thoughts on whether to go 41 spl or mag? I see most of the custom smiths offer the mag on the OM frame but is that with a new cylinder or a rechamber? Will a mag rechamber handle full power factory loads or does it need to be light loads? Not looking to kill bear with it just wondering. I'm leaning toward the spl to be different but the mag would be easier in the ammo dept. I load for 41 mag now and would have to load the spl so not a big concern but a factor. Would the dies need to be shortened for the spl? Any thoughts are appreciated. I'll try to get some pics up when I can.
Thanks
Justin

 

[Hondo44]

Justin, great project!

IIRC the 41 Mag conversions on a mid frame usually use custom made 5 shot cylinders for maximum potential over the 41 Spl. The 41 Spl can be a rechambered from a 6 shot cylinder .357 cyl. So the spl has a big cost savings advantage right off the bat. Since you'r not looking for Mach 5 performance I'd chamber the cyl for 6 with magnum length chambers for greatest flexibility. And you can enjoy the specials most of the time. Full mags won't be as much fun in the midframe cylinder.

The 41 spl can use the same dies as the 41 Mag w/o modification, at least if they are Lyman. Others are probably the same but I can't say. If you get the RCBS washer to put between the seating die (that's been adjusted for 41 Spl)and the press, you can load the same bullet in 41 Mag w/o re-adjusting the die. Same thing for the expander die. The other die won't need changing.

Here's a routine 44 conversion I did also w/ Old Army steel grip frame in the white to be blued and wide trigger:

Another old model (not FT) with SS old army grip, SBH hammer and trigger:

Hope that's of some help,

 

[CraigC]

While either cartridge is suitable for the platform, the .41Mag in a mid-frame just really doesn't appeal to me at all. Although I'd love to have one in .41Spl. Maybe it's just perception, maybe it's just those old Taffin articles on that unfluted Bowen Colt or the case colored flat-top.

IIRC the 41 Mag conversions on a mid frame usually use custom made 5 shot cylinders for maximum potential over the 41 Spl.

No they don't.

 

[mhblaw]

I have a Bowen conversion of an OMBH to 41 Special and love it. I use Hornaday New Dimension 41 mag dies and can adjust to work just fine for crimp.

 

[Lee Martin]

Go 41 Magnum. The frame can safely house the round. Plus you can always download to Special levels.

 

[EDK]

Go 41 Magnum. The frame can safely house the round. Plus you can always download to Special levels.

It doesn't appear to be a problem when you start, BUT trimming cases can develop into a PITA if you like to have lots of ammo. ANY wildcat catridge shares this fault IMHO. Remember Uncle Ed's laws of handgunning.

1. IF they don't make carbide dies and a DILLON shell plate for it, FORGET IT!!!

2. IF you have to load it to maximum, you need a bigger caliber.

I have a lot of factory 44 Special nickle plated brass...got a SMOKIN' DEAL awhile back...that I used to use in my 44 Magnums. Cleaning the carbon ring is a PITA. All I use now is magnum brass for 357 and 44 alike.

 

[72monte]

Thanks to all for the info!
Hondo44-My dies are lyman and I have the washers already so that should solve one problem with the spl. Your FT looks almost just like mine but mine was D+T'd and has alot more wear. Love that Super Hammer. Both are great looking guns!

CraigC-Mr. Taffin is were the ideas for this one came from. That color case FT is a beauty!

Lee-My biggest concern with the mag was someday (hopefully far off) this gun will make it into other hands (with any luck my son's) and I wouldn't want someone to put full power loads in without knowing any better if it wouldn't handle it. But if it can handle full power loads that shouldn't be an issue.

EDK-I don't mind the extra work for wildcats most of the time. I load for some others already and this should be alot less work than those. No multiple forming dies,fire forming,etc. I don't need the mag or plan on loading either that hot (have bigger calibers for that). Mostly just a convienience issue with factory ammo if needed and more load data readily available.

I think I have the answer! The only good choice is a cylinder in each!!! Right?
Ah if only money and parts appeared out of nowhere! The parts do if you believe what I tell my Fiance! :lol:
I'm kind of leaning toward the spl and maybe a second mag cyl down the road.
Thanks Again to all!!!
Justin

 

[tulsamal]

I can fully understand and appreciate the practical arguments in favor of going with a .41 Magnum. It will certainly allow the revolver to be more flexible. If we are getting out a yellow legal pad and making a list of pros on one side and cons on the other... I would guess that .41 Magnum will win that type of logical comparison.

On the other hand, do custom revolvers _really_ follow a logical decision tree? If you do any kind of rational dollar cost comparison and figure out the amount of "value" you are getting from spending that $200 for that one special custom feature you had Bowen add to your new baby.... you wouldn't be getting it. IMO... custom guns are more visceral and emotional than logical. And I personally prefer my custom guns to be as far off the beaten path as possible. So while I actually admire .41 Magnum as a factory chambering, I don't actually own a custom .41 Special and I've always wanted one. Just shooting some shortened brass in a .41 Magnum wouldn't be the same thing!

So if I was spending my money and trying to make a special gun, I would want the whole thing to be special. Which means the cartridge should say the word "Special" on it as well. Most of mine actually say ".44 Special" on them but I would be willing to make room for a .41 Special!

Gregg

 

[Hondo44]

Gregg,

What a great answer and excellent logic. 10 years ago I discovered I shot a lot of 44 Spl and didn't even have one gun that is marked 44 Special! Well I fixed that and now have 11!

 

[Hondo44]

Thanks to all for the info!
Hondo44-My dies are lyman and I have the washers already so that should solve one problem with the spl. Your FT looks almost just like mine but mine was D+T'd and has alot more wear. Love that Super Hammer. Both are great looking guns!

I think I have the answer! The only good choice is a cylinder in each!!! Right?
Ah if only money and parts appeared out of nowhere! The parts do if you believe what I tell my Fiance! :lol:
I'm kind of leaning toward the spl and maybe a second mag cyl down the road.
Thanks Again to all!!!
Justin

Justin,
Thank you for the kind comments.

Yes you do have the answer! Two cylinders!

 

[Robb Barnes]

I elected to do one of each persuasion. All are built on old model 357's and one is a dedicated 41 Special, one is a 41 Mag (no trouble using 250 hard cast hunting loads) and one is a dual cylinder 41 Special/ 41 Mag gun.

41 Special

41 Mag

Dual cylinder gun

 

[72monte]

Gregg, I think you summed it up pretty well. When your going full custom rational thought goes right out the window. As it should. A true custom should be what YOU want! And not what makes sense. Or all our "custom's" would be the same.

And the special just feels right for this one so I think my mind has been made up.

But I think Robb has the best answer!!! Man those sure are nice! I can't even pick a favorite.

Too many guns so little money.
Thanks to all for all the input. I'll try to get some pics up shortly.
Justin

 

[Lee Martin]

The OM frame will safely handle full-throttle 41 Magnum.

 

[72monte]

Lee Thanks I did take that from your first post. I wasn't real clear that I did undestand that in my reply. I probably will do a second cylinder (or another gun ) in mag down the road. But for now I think it'll be a spl.

Lets try some pics.
Here's before

And Now

Thanks Justin

 

[Hondo44]

Looks just fine, have you shot it just for kicks? Would be interesting to see how it groups with the 41 barrel?

 

[72monte]

Hondo44,It is very tempting to try it as is. But No I haven't. I also have been fighting the urge to install a 357 barrel I have in the parts bin and shoot it. But I figure if I put that barrel on it it will stay a 357. Did you do the cylinder rechambering on your conversion?
Thanks Justin

 

[Hondo44]

I didn't rechamber. I sent my NM flat top 44 Spl back to Ruger and asked for a spare cylinder in 44, knowing in advance it would be long enough to fit to the OM.

Found a USFA 44-40 cylinder and fit that one too, so it's a convertible. The Colt will work also. But since the USFA is .020" larger than Colt it's exactly the same size as the Ruger mid-frame and it has the large 1st Generation Colt flutes and black powder chamfer. Looks cool and better quality than 3rd gen. Colts; the throat diameters are correct and uniform.

 

[72monte]

Pretty slick sending in for a "spare". Hadn't thought of that.
For simplicity I probably should have done a 44 for my first project. But I have to be difficult.
I'll have to remember about the USFA's. How much work did it take to get it to time correctly or was it pretty much a drop in?
Thanks Justin

 

[Hondo44]

The ratchet notches extend off of the cylinder a little longer than Rugers. So you have to take a little off first before you fit the cylinder to the frame by taking off of the front cylinder pin boss. But the cylinder length w/o ratchets and front boss was correct. As far as timing, the ratchets took slight shaping to more resemble the ruger shape. Then it was a drop in.

The USFA and Colt cyl notches are wider than the Ruger cylinder bolt but it's a non-issue because the cyl hand (pawl) holds the right side of the notch tight against the cyl bolt when hammer is cocked.