Shifty Jack, SASS #65353 Posted September 29, 2019 Share Posted September 29, 2019 Contemplating the idea of having a 44mag rechambered to 44-40, but haven't found any gunsmiths that advertise that they would do it. Any leads? Would this even be cost effective? Thanks! Shifty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Assassin Posted September 29, 2019 Share Posted September 29, 2019 It might be easier to find new cylinders. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goody, SASS #26190 Posted September 29, 2019 Share Posted September 29, 2019 there is a shooter on here, Springfield Slim. He has reamed his 44sp Open Tops to shoot 44wcf and reports no problems. He has been shooting them for years. You might contact him. And I will attach a thread from 4 years ago that discussed this very subject, with varying opinions on whether it could be done or not. As always, the final decision will be yours, and I make no recommendations as to the suitability of this work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gunrunner joe #17093 Posted September 29, 2019 Share Posted September 29, 2019 First 44 40 is a taber case 44mag is strate wall can not make it smaller. the bor 44 40 is .427, .428 or .429. 44 mag is .430 [ ruger have a .430 in there 44 40 ? ] Al Story Borchardt Rifle Corp (575) 535-2923 See if he can help He told he makes 44 40 cylinder Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warden Callaway Posted September 29, 2019 Share Posted September 29, 2019 5 hours ago, Shifty Jack, SASS #65353 said: Contemplating the idea of having a 44mag rechambered to 44-40, but haven't found any gunsmiths that advertise that they would do it. Any leads? Would this even be cost effective? Thanks! Shifty What gun are you thinking about rechambering? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shifty Jack, SASS #65353 Posted September 29, 2019 Author Share Posted September 29, 2019 3 minutes ago, Warden Callaway said: What gun are you thinking about rechambering? Seeing if it would be a cheaper option to end up with a stainless 5.5 vaquero. From everything I've read about them, they used .429 barrels and owners were typically having the cylinders worked to match that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shifty Jack, SASS #65353 Posted September 29, 2019 Author Share Posted September 29, 2019 5 hours ago, Assassin said: It might be easier to find new cylinders. I have been able to find blued, but no stainless. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warden Callaway Posted September 29, 2019 Share Posted September 29, 2019 2 minutes ago, Shifty Jack, SASS #65353 said: Seeing if it would be a cheaper option to end up with a stainless 5.5 vaquero. From everything I've read about them, they used .429 barrels and owners were typically having the cylinders worked to match that. I did a little study on this a few years back and it seems possible with old model Vaqueros but not with new. The cylinders are not large enough on NMV to accommodate the larger rim diameter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curly Pete Posted September 29, 2019 Share Posted September 29, 2019 There is a stainless steel 5 1/2" Vaquero listed on GunBroker.com. The auction number is 825315132, if you search the number the auction will come up. The starting bid is $1,025 plus $45 shipping. Seems expensive but probably still cheaper than buying a 44 and then paying a gunsmith to make the modifications and then hope it is going to work like a factory pistol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shifty Jack, SASS #65353 Posted September 29, 2019 Author Share Posted September 29, 2019 17 minutes ago, Warden Callaway said: I did a little study on this a few years back and it seems possible with old model Vaqueros but not with new. The cylinders are not large enough on NMV to accommodate the larger rim diameter. I've seen people say that, but it honestly doesn't make sense to me. The rim diameter of 44-40 isn't much more than 45 Colt and the base diameter is actually smaller. How much smaller is the diameter of a new vaquero cylinder in comparison with a Colt? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shifty Jack, SASS #65353 Posted September 29, 2019 Author Share Posted September 29, 2019 5 minutes ago, Curly Pete said: There is a stainless steel 5 1/2" Vaquero listed on GunBroker.com. The auction number is 825315132, if you search the number the auction will come up. The starting bid is $1,025 plus $45 shipping. Seems expensive but probably still cheaper than buying a 44 and then paying a gunsmith to make the modifications and then hope it is going to work like a factory pistol. That's the ultimate question. If the cost to have a cylinder modified is $200-250, it would make sense. Any higher and I'm better off waiting for the right revolver to come along. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warden Callaway Posted September 29, 2019 Share Posted September 29, 2019 Thire is a pair of blue color case Vaqueros here on the wire. The pictures are poor. I'm sure they look better than in the pictures. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Assassin Posted September 29, 2019 Share Posted September 29, 2019 I just sent a message to Dustin Linebaugh. He might have one and can possibly ream a cylinder. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bailey Creek,5759 Posted September 30, 2019 Share Posted September 30, 2019 I would recommend getting a 357 cylinder and cutting them to 44-40. That way you can have your 44 Mag also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackhawk Kid Posted September 30, 2019 Share Posted September 30, 2019 You might want to see if Al Story or Tom Chavira have any of the 44-40 drop in cylinders that might work. I know they had them for the new vaquero and mid size flattop 44 specials and they were drop in very little or no fitting required. Think the website was rugercyl.com or something like that. They make the drop in 22 8 shot cylinder conversion for single sixes so that might be another way to find them by internet searching. Hope this helps Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crisco Posted September 30, 2019 Share Posted September 30, 2019 I’m a little past 2 years waiting for my .44-40 Vaquero cylinders from Al Story/BRC barrels. They sent a pair for New Vaquero’s last year and they were beautiful, but I only had one pistol they fit so had to send them back. Based on those 2 they are worth waiting for, but they only do one batch a year... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Boy Posted September 30, 2019 Share Posted September 30, 2019 Quote I have been able to find blued, but no stainless. Strip the bluing off and buff the steel with steel rouge Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Isom Dart, SASS#8096 Posted September 30, 2019 Share Posted September 30, 2019 You'd probably do better finding a .357 cyl. and having it bored out. I couldn't find any blue OMV's in 38-40 ,,,,,,, got a pair of OMV's in .357 , had the cyls bored for 38-40 and they worked good. Still working. YMMV, Isom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Original Lumpy Gritz Posted September 30, 2019 Share Posted September 30, 2019 Call this guy! http://www.clementscustomguns.com/home.html OLG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Springfield Slim SASS #24733 Posted September 30, 2019 Share Posted September 30, 2019 Ruger didn't do 44-40 New Vaqueros because they couldn't guarantee that they would work with all brands of brass. My experience with reaming my 2- 44 special Opentops shows that there is VERY little room between the rims edges, but with R-P, Winchester, and Starline brass I have been fine. I rented a reamer and did it myself, so I can't tell you who else might do it. You take a chance of ruining your first cylinder if it doesn't work, so allow for that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
William Hendershot Posted September 30, 2019 Share Posted September 30, 2019 While the rim diameter is a valid concern, one I cannot verify without a revolver at hand to measure, I will say that the .44 Mag case mouth measures .456" and the chamber is spec'd at .458" while the .44-40 case mount is a mere .443". So, even if you cut the chamber for .430" bullets, you still have a pretty loose chamber at the neck area. I too would recommend starting with a .357" cylinder. Now that I just ordered an 1873 in .44-40 I may have to pick up a story cylinder for one of my blackhawks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Springfield Slim SASS #24733 Posted October 1, 2019 Share Posted October 1, 2019 William: That is true, but with thinner 44-40 brass it seems to expand just fine, and my guns stay pretty clean. And I still get at least 6 reloads from the brass. And I didn't have to buy 2 new cylinders and pay a gunsmith to ream them. KISS is my motto. It does make my fired 44-40 look more like 45 Colt though, but I switched my wife to 45CS so it didn't matter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muley Gil SASS # 57795 Posted October 1, 2019 Share Posted October 1, 2019 Make sure and measure the length of the cylinders you want to buy. At one time, Ruger made their cylinders in different lengths so that one could not stick a .44 Magnum in a .357 revolver. That mite git a bit exciting at the range. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
William Hendershot Posted October 2, 2019 Share Posted October 2, 2019 On 9/30/2019 at 7:09 PM, Springfield Slim SASS #24733 said: William: That is true, but with thinner 44-40 brass it seems to expand just fine, and my guns stay pretty clean. And I still get at least 6 reloads from the brass. And I didn't have to buy 2 new cylinders and pay a gunsmith to ream them. KISS is my motto. It does make my fired 44-40 look more like 45 Colt though, but I switched my wife to 45CS so it didn't matter. Yes, but you reamed 44 special cylinders. Remember that the .44 special is .125" shorter than the .44 Mag. So, your new chamber would still have a tighter case mouth than if you'd have reamed a .44 mag cylinder. So, in your case, you have a cylinder that is to spec for at least that .125" while the remaining original case neck behind that is over sized. While it works for you, I'd not recommend it on a .44 Mag cylinder. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Springfield Slim SASS #24733 Posted October 2, 2019 Share Posted October 2, 2019 I don't think that 1/8" will make the much difference in a SASS gun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lefty Dude, SASS # 51223 Posted October 2, 2019 Share Posted October 2, 2019 44WCF case head is larger than a 45 Colt in diameter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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