Important gunsmith modification of S&W 22-4

[stubbicatt]

Months ago I bought a Thunder Ranch revolver in 45 ACP. I really liked the revolver, but at least 2 of the charging holes were too tight to accept reloads.

So I took it to a gunsmith, GK Customs in Colorado Springs. He did an action job, which has to be experienced to be believed. He reamed all of the charging holes, and chamfered them so that they would readily accept moon clips and my reloads. He recut the forcing cone. Lastly, he properly regulated the sights so that it shoots to the point of aim.

Gary is an old school revolver guy, and his efforts on this revolver are so precise and exact. Good job Gary.

In all it was expensive, but the revolver is very sweet now.

I had thought to return it to S&W to have the cylinder remedied, but felt this was a better choice.

 

[Dframe]

Congratulations. Sounds like a very sweet gun.

 

[MrBorland]

I had thought to return it to S&W to have the cylinder remedied, but felt this was a better choice.

Good choice.

Sending a gun back to S&W for repair on their nickel is a reasonable option. If you really want it tuned, though, a good revolver 'smith would likely do a far better job.

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

I guess I'll be "that guy"...

I doubtless should already know given age and firearms experience but - what's a "charging hole"?


Todd.

 

[entropy]

Never heard of a chamber referred to as such.

 

[Taroman]

Charge holes were the original nomenclature from cap and ball black powder revolver days.
Many in the trade still use the term so as to differentiate revolvers from pistols, which have a chamber in the barrel as do nearly all rifles and shotguns.

 

[entropy]

I've worked on guns for 37 years, and that is the first time I've heard of thet term- also by the definition you provided, you misused the term. Cap and Ball revolvers load from the front of the cylinder. S&W M22-4's do not.

Revolvers are pistols, BTW.

 

[MrBorland]

I've heard the term "charge holes" used numerous times - usually in the context of getting chamfered as part of a tuning package. If you do a Google search using "chamfered charge holes", you'll see lots of references.

 

[DPris]

Me too.
Not common, but common enough not to create great puzzlement.
Denis

 

[Hookeye]

Cylinders have chambers.
Revolvers may be handguns, are not pistols.

 

[Jim Watson]

Sam Colt, Robert Adams, and Philip Webley would be surprised to learn that.

 

[jrod]

Nice to hear it turned out so well. I bought one when they came out. Sent it to the factory for an action job. was not impressed. Sold soon after. I'm glad yours tuned out so well!

 

[BobWright]

Haven't looked at one lately, but the literature from Smith & Wesson always referred to the "charge holes" or "charging holes."

And S&W revolvers were always cartridge guns.

Bob Wright

 

[stubbicatt]

Good grief! Really? Arguing over charging holes or chambers? Did anybody truly not know what I was referring to? The "holes in the cylinder into which one inserts cartridges" or HITCIWOIC.

Perhaps "charging hole" is an antiquated term, like "the pox" when used in reference to a loathsome disease. I'm certain I used the term correctly, and that "charging hole" is in the common lexicon. That certain troglodytes lack the reading or education to devine the meaning of words they haven't heard before, and level derision upon the one who brought them an educational opportunity, says something about them.

When I come across a term I do not recognize, I humble myself to go and look it up, to improve myself and better my vocabulary. If the troglodytes have their way, our language will devolve to a small selection of grunts and obscenities.

(I'm just having you on fellas...)

I guess I can relate somewhat, as I detest the word "platform" when referring to firearms. It sets my teeth on edge. A platform is a flat surface from which one dives into water, or which a politician offers us as a new set of lies to persuade us to elect him. A platform does not resemble any firearm I have ever seen.

Sigh.

Well anyway, I'm pleased with the work that Gary did on the HITCIWOIC as well as the other work performed.

FWIW.

 

[Walkalong]

Glad you are happy with the work. Sounds like GK Customs knows what they are doing.

 

[Mr.Revolverguy]

WOW is this THR?

Does this gunsmith have website or contact info.

A good gunsmith seems to be going the way of the dinosaur, maybe we should start a sticky with a list of great gunsmiths and the work they are capable of along with pictures of the work they have done?

 

[46Slick]

Whee hoo. Everybody knows that revolvers are revolvers and all other handguns are pistols except that before pistols (bottom feeders) revolvers were pistols so that now all handguns are pistols except .......... And on and on. Charge holes are where you put the boolits in pistols or is it revolvers. My head hurts.

 

[Crowman]

Charging holes are correct...so are chambers. It depends on the manufacturer.

Historically, the thingies where the "cartridge" was inserted, whether from the front, or the rear (yes, front loading revolving pistols used paper cartridges, as during the late war of Northern Aggression), are "charging holes". BTW, all one-hand gonnes historically speaking, are called "pistols" whether of the single barrel, multi barrel or revolving cylinder type. It is only since the advent of self-loader single chamber/barrel "hand gonnes" that we started reserving the term "pistol" to describe them, eg., "Glock" or "1911". We done?

 

[MrBorland]

ok, folks, we've hashed out/beat to death the semantics, so let's move on.

 

[4v50 Gary]

Concur with MrBorland. Let's not beat each other up over terminology.

The handgun was invented in Europe and guess what, pistole/pistola was the term applied to handguns.

 

[BlindJustice]

Taking the High Roadd snork

I've got a S&W 625-8 5" bbl. .45 ACP / .45 Auto Rim

First time out ( 7-8 years ago ) the cylinder chambers
were so tight, I had a sawhorse with rug covered horiz.
part and put the extractor rod straight down and got the
moon cllipped empties out of the cylinder. Talked with
S&W Customer Service They asked what I was shooting
just Rem 230 gr. FMJ. They sent the shipping label and
I sent it off to Springgfield Mass. Included a letter, taht
I'd pay for the Master Revolver Action Job (MRAJ) & the
Extraction issue is warranty.

I got it back in less than 2 weeks, $ 150 for the MRAJ and
$ 15 return shipping. Besides polshing up the interior places
that are contact points, the chambers have the 'mouths'
chamfered. Easier to relad be it .45 ACP or .45 Auto RIm
using HKS speedloaders and cast SWCs. Near as I can tell
from the receipt S&W replaced the cylinder with one 'in spec.'

I had a Gunsmith open it up for the Apex XP firing pin - he
sed 'hey it's all shiny in there' & told him of the S&W MRAJ.

Good to hear of 'smiths that know wheel guns.

 

[gwpercle]

Great to hear a satisfied customer story. Those guys who do good work need to be known.
Good precise work, may seem expensive but the truth is, it's not.
Paying a not so good person who works on guns , and it gets messed up , then you have to take it to another smith to correct the messed up work, new parts , his labor..... now that's expensive and frustrating !
Pay once and have it done right by a true craftsman gets you a fine gun , it's a pleasure to shoot and worth every penny!
Thanks for posting,
Gary