Ruger Service Six and GP 100 question

[MagnumDweeb]

Some time back a poster stated that the Service Sixs and GP100s in .38 special could be converted back to .357 magnum. I was wondering if anybody knew if that was true. He stated that all it took was sending it to Ruger and spending some money. I'm wondering because if I should happen to run into any of these two pistols in .38 special it would help me greatly in snatching them up.

 

[Drail]

Although I have never done it I think it would be easily done IF the cylinder was long enough to hold the longer round. Ruger has produced revolvers in past years like the original SP 101 in .38 Spl. that smiths quickly started reaming the chambers longer to accept .357 rounds. But the length of the cylinder limited you to 125 gr. or shorter rounds - heavier/longer rounds would stick out the face of the cylinder. Ruger quickly lengthened the frame window to allow longer cylinders and rounds. Some smiths might refuse to ream one out to .357 for liability reasons.

 

[Lucky Derby]

Why not just ask Ruger?
If I want a .357 I will just buy a .357
It would most likely be cheaper than buying a .38 then modifying it into a .357, especially in models that are more readily available in .357 than in .38.

 

[GP100man]

38+p is still a respected round & not to be discredited so qwikly !!!

Alot of 357 revolvers never see a magnum round , practice with cheap 38s then a +p for carry !

 

[gwnorth]

All of the S. six series and the GP100 series guns are all the same, regardless of caliber (9mm, .38spl or. 357). The only significant difference is how the chambers were bored. Same frames, materials, even the cylinder blanks are the same, just bored out differently.

All you have to do is buy a replacement cylinder and have it fitted and timed by a good gunsmith. You can get cylinders from places like Numrich's gun parts corp.

 

[TMann]

gwnorth: Does that mean that it is possible to buy a 9mm cylinder and install it on a .38/.357 frame?

 

[gwnorth]

^^^ ?? Not sure about the dynamics of that. It's certainly possible to swap the .38spl and .357 cylinders on a gun stamped as originally chambered in one or the other. The barrel bore would would be a bit off for the 9mm, but then it is on the 9mm/.357 conversion guns like the Blackhawk, so maybe (assuming alignment of cylinder and forcing cone is not an issue).

If I recall, 9mm is 0.356" and .38spl is 0.357" normally?

P.S. I guess it might not be a problem - Pinnacle Guns says they will convert GP100, SP101 and S&W J/K/L frame to 9mm (will then shoot 9mm, 9x23 and .38super). If they can do those models, I'd assume a S. six series could be done as well.