Metallurgy in .22LR Revolvers

Most 22 revolvers are intended to be range/target guns. Obviously the 43c is meant to be a small, light, concealed carry piece. I know nothing about steel & aluminum beyond common knowledge, but would have to agree that steel will wear better. A good, quality target revolver can be shot hundreds if not thousands of times a year for your whole life and the life of whoever gets it after you and probably even the next guys life too. I doubt the 43c would handle that, but that is not its designed purpose but I'll bet you could shoot it more than enough to keep in practice for at least one lifetime.
I have a pre model 43 air weight kit gun with 3.5" barrel. It was made in 1955. The cylinder is aluminum. Has a rework stamp on the butt saying it was factory refinished in 1977. It looks like new but I have no idea if it was shot a bunch before the refinish or not. The charge holes in the cylinder are pretty snug though. They have been making light revolvers a long time and if there were big problems I think we would have heard by now

I have a 317 with the aluminum cylinder. I am not sure what part you are worried about wearing out. The .22 isn't high enough pressure to worry about the cylinder walls bulging or something like that. If your concern is the bullets wearing out the cylinder, lead is softer than aluminum.

The only place it is wearing is a turn line between the cylinder stop notches. It is not enough to measure with the tools I have. I can barely feel it with a fingernail but I would think it may become pronounced after 10k rounds or so.

Wear and/or catastrophic failure don't seem to be a big problem with S&Ws aluminum.22 cylinders, but they are notorious for binding once they get hot.

S&W used to install steel cylinders in guns that came with aluminum cylinders for a price. I don’t recall what they charged, but I considered a model 317 but when I learned of the aluminum cylinder I called S&W to see if they would put a stainless cylinder in for me. They said they would but I would have to pay for it.
It became a non issue when I found a model 63 and bought that instead.

I've been waiting for the Taurus 942 ultralite models to get back in stock and they have an aluminum frame, steel cylinder. I know this topic is pertaining to aluminum cylinders, but I wonder how would an aluminum frame .22 hold up shooting a few thousand rounds a year thru it?

22's with aluminum frames are fine. Even my Single Sixes have them. I have shot bazillions of 22lr rounds through aluminum-framed revolvers with no ill effects.

I have owned 43c revolvers for years. Although I could not even guess the number of rounds fired through them, I can say I shoot the heck out of them. And I have never had a bit of trouble with the cylinders or any other part of the guns.

I think they are just fine for carry or frequent range work.

BOARHUNTER

Depending on the alloy, aluminum can be pretty tough stuff. Pure aluminum not so much. I doubt any firearm maker would consider using 100% aluminum. I have no experience with an aluminum 22 cylinder but think it would be OK in gun that wasn't used a lot. Personally I wouldn't want one.

My real concern with aluminum cylinders is how the cylinder stop notches would wear with fast double action shooting.

Which really goes back to other's comments on that type of gun being a carry a lot - shoot a little type of gun.

Tallball said:

22's with aluminum frames are fine. Even my Single Sixes have them. I have shot bazillions of 22lr rounds through aluminum-framed revolvers with no ill effects.

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The grip frame on the blued models is indeed aluminum. But the cylinder frame is steel.

Of course there is the Wrangler, which is built out of some different materials than a Single Six.

I bought a Rohm .22 blank revolver in Jr. HS from an acquaintance who had converted it to fire regular .22's.

I'm pretty sure the cylinder was pot metal. I only fired standard velocity shorts in it, and, thankfully, still have all my fingers.

chicharrones said:

My real concern with aluminum cylinders is how the cylinder stop notches would wear with fast double action shooting.

Which really goes back to other's comments on that type of gun being a carry a lot - shoot a little type of gun.

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That was my thought also. Fast double action shooting will wear out the notches on a steel cylinder well before any other problems arise.

Mr. Mosin said:

Out of curiosity, I was looking at .22 snubs (this ain't a buying post), and noted the Smith 43c lists as having an aluminum alloy cylinder, whereas Ruger, Charter, Taurus, etc, etc; all have steel cylinders ... from the machining and fabrication I've done in my shirt life, I know that just about any given aluminum will wear faster than any given steel. It's just how it is... so...how would the 43c cylinder wear, even with the moderate recoil and pressure of .22LR in the long run, compared to an equivalent steel cylinder ?

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The frame and cylinder are aluminum, intended to be a light weight gun, It will outlast most folks lifetime of shooting.
Heck pick up trucks have aluminum beds, but it needs to be "military grade"

Get a M 63 if you want all steel

https://www.smith-wesson.com/produc...lter-caliber-22-lr,.filter-frame-size-j-frame

chicharrones said:

My real concern with aluminum cylinders is how the cylinder stop notches would wear with fast double action shooting.

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That would be my only concern but since the weight is light with little mass and I doubt the cylinder is going to get much speed in the short distance it rotates I wouldn't be overly concerned about it. But I wouldn't buy that gun anyway. I would look more at the Taurus 22s if thats what the OP is after. I think he is looking more for a kit gun and pocket gun. If he has the scratch maybe a Ruger LCR would be the way to go. You would never have to worry about wearing one of those out. Your only concern would be more money for ammo.

I'm pretty sure if the aluminum cylinders were a problem S&W would have stopped making them a long time ago. Just noticed that the model 351PD in 22 magnum also has an aluminum cylinder. So the material must hold up pretty well.

chicharrones said:

The grip frame on the blued models is indeed aluminum. But the cylinder frame is steel.

Of course there is the Wrangler, which is built out of some different materials than a Single Six.

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Thank you. A magnet reinforced your completely correct statement. It's absurd that I've owned three of them and somehow thought the frame was aluminum. Doh!

Mr. Mosin said:

Out of curiosity, I was looking at .22 snubs (this ain't a buying post), and noted the Smith 43c lists as having an aluminum alloy cylinder, whereas Ruger, Charter, Taurus, etc, etc; all have steel cylinders ... from the machining and fabrication I've done in my shirt life, I know that just about any given aluminum will wear faster than any given steel. It's just how it is... so...how would the 43c cylinder wear, even with the moderate recoil and pressure of .22LR in the long run, compared to an equivalent steel cylinder ?

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I have two 22 lr rimfire match rifle barrels with rings in front of the chamber. The seller of a BSA MKIII called them "Eley rings". He purchased his rifle early 1960's and said he shot less than 500 rounds through it. The other is a Anschutz M54 action, probably up to the 1970's that I picked up at the CMP. The action was stripped, and in the darkness of CMP, I did not see the ring till I got the thing home. That barrel has been removed.

There was a time when the priming compound of 22lr's was very erosive. Primer cake has a "frictionator" in it, and it used to be, and may still be, glass. And as it turns out, barrel steels are very soft. I have zero data on this, but surely unheat treated steel is just a bit harder than the aluminum alloys used in firearms.

I have not conducted a stress analysis in a 22 lr cylinder, but I am confident that the 22lr revolver cylinders will not fracture fatigue in terms of tens of thousands of rounds. Steel cylinders are sized for a similar lifetime. Maybe the aluminum cylinder mouth will erode more, and faster, but you will have to shoot one boat load of ammunition to find out!

Don't worry about it.

Slamfire said:

I have two 22 lr rimfire match rifle barrels with rings in front of the chamber. The seller of a BSA MKIII called them "Eley rings". He purchased his rifle early 1960's and said he shot less than 500 rounds through it. The other is a Anschutz M54 action, probably up to the 1970's that I picked up at the CMP. The action was stripped, and in the darkness of CMP, I did not see the ring till I got the thing home. That barrel has been removed.

There was a time when the priming compound of 22lr's was very erosive. Primer cake has a "frictionator" in it, and it used to be, and may still be, glass. And as it turns out, barrel steels are very soft. I have zero data on this, but surely unheat treated steel is just a bit harder than the aluminum alloys used in firearms.

I have not conducted a stress analysis in a 22 lr cylinder, but I am confident that the 22lr revolver cylinders will not fracture fatigue in terms of tens of thousands of rounds. Steel cylinders are sized for a similar lifetime. Maybe the aluminum cylinder mouth will erode more, and faster, but you will have to shoot one boat load of ammunition to find out!

Don't worry about it.

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When I've fired Aguila Colibris and Super Colibris over a smooth floor, it sure looks and feels like tiny particles of black sand or glass.

Smith 317. Purchased the last day of 2001 for $296. 11oz. on my kitchen scale. Aluminum frame and cylinder. The barrel is steel but is pressed into an aluminum shroud.

I haven't kept track of the rounds I have put through it but I am guessing about 500. Most of which are double action, because the hammer spring is so stout on this little beast, manually cocking it will peel your thumb pad.

You can see the turn line. As I stated above, I can barely feel it with a fingernail.

chicharrones said:

The grip frame on the blued models is indeed aluminum. But the cylinder frame is steel.

Of course there is the Wrangler, which is built out of some different materials than a Single Six.

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The .22 LCRs use a an aluminum frame. Haven't heard of any issues with heavy use with them.

The 43c is a currect production gun as is the 317, and the 63. So you have a choice from all Al to all steel!

The 43c has a lifetime warranty if you wear it out!

The Smith & Wesson Model 43 C is an AirWeight variation of our Centennial Model. Built on an aluminum-alloy J-frame and chambered in 22 Long Rifle, this revolver is compact and lightweight, perfect for concealed carry or recreational shooting.


• Aluminum alloy frame and cylinder
• Stainless steel barrel
• XS Sights® White Dot front sight
• Fixed U-Notch rear sight
• Snag-free internal hammer


ALL BACKED BY OUR SMITH & WESSON LIFETIME SERVICE POLICY.

Mr. Mosin said:

I know that just about any given aluminum will wear faster than any given steel. It's just how it is... so...how would the 43c cylinder wear, even with the moderate recoil and pressure of .22LR in the long run, compared to an equivalent steel cylinder ?

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From your machining and fabrication experience what steels would you use to have equivalent wear as an aluminum part?