5.7x28mm revolver conversion?

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Silverlugs

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I've done much searching and uncovered a few conversations about this potential build/conversion. Unforunately, much of the info was sporatic and typicl second-hand guesses. I'd like a pro's input. Within reason, I'm willing to spend upwards of $1500 for the conversion alone... maybe even more.

Possibile cantidates?:

Ruger SP101
Tauras 941 (would the aluminum frame version tolerate the higher chamber pressures?)

Please, no "whys"... just seeking technical info if it 'can be'... or 'cannot be' done. Also recomendations for who is best qualified to build such a critter.
 
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Smith&Wesson and Ruger have attempted to make a revolver that fires a bottle neck cartridge with little success. The Smith Model 53 used a necked down 357 mag called the 22 Remington Jet. Had high velocity for its day 50s or early 60s IIRC but unless the chambers were kept absolutely clean the cases would backout locking up the gun. Ruger made it's Hawkeye "revolver" in 256 Win another necked down 357 mag. I use the word "revolver" loosely as it looked like a revolver but was actually a single shot. I would look to Taurus as they have or had the Raging Hornet a revolver that chambers the 22 Hornet and is at least the ballistic equivilent of the 5.7x28.
 
No whys, why nots, or second hand guesses from me.
Just the facts mam.

What highlander 5 said is absolutely correct.

High pressure revolver cases must be able to slide back and forth in the chambers in order to slip back where they came from and let the cylinder rotate for the next shot.

That, plus the fact the 5.7x28 is a rimless case, and would have to headspace off the case shoulder, which would make it even tighter before firing.

Or, it would have to use moon-clips to headspace, & or eject, since there is no rim for the extractor star to snag.

But regardless of that, it would expand on firing and because of the bottleneck case expanding to completely close the headspace clearance, not be able to slip back foreword in the chamber enough to allow cylinder rotation.


BTW: There is a .22 caliber that gives near 5.7x28 performance in a revolver already.
It is called the .22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire.
Otherwise known as the .22 Magnum.

S&W, Taurus, NAA, Freedom Arms, Ruger, USFA, and possibly others already make revolvers chambered for it.

You can buy shells at Walmart for way less then half what FNH 5.7x28 ammo costs.

rc
 
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So it's because of the bottle-neck case? I ask because i'm looking at my OM 45's ACP cylinder, which doesn't have the problem and it's a rimless also. Of course, the chamber pressures are likely half to a third as much as the 5.7.
 
I'd rather not discuss the .22 WRM. The fact that it cannot be easily reloaded eliminates it from the discussion.
 
i'm looking at my OM 45's ACP cylinder, which doesn't have the problem and it's a rimless also
Click to expand...
Pressure is not a factor in any straight case like that.

The .45 ACP headspaces off the case mouth and is free to slip back and forth so the cylinder can turn all it needs or wants too.

Rimmed straight wall revolver calibers like the .327 Federal, .460 S&W, or .454 Casull are loaded to near centerfire rifle pressure, or more then the 5.7x28, and work just fine.
Because they are straight wall cases that can slip back in the chamber for cylinder rotation after firing expands them.

I'd rather not discuss the .22 WRM. The fact that it cannot be easily reloaded eliminates it from the discussion.
Click to expand...
That's fine too.
But just so you know.
You can buy loaded .22 WMR ammo cheaper then you can reload 5.7x28.

rc
 
Hey, I'm retired, so oops are supposed to be ignored. And again, 'that' cartridge is irrelevant to this discussion, irregardless of spelling, ballistics, cost or availability.
 
Well, why don't you find yourself a nice used .224 Harvey K-Chuck revolver then.

Yea!
Thats the ticket!

rc
 
I once tried getting more powder, shot and power in shotshells in .44 Spl. I turned some .444 Marlin case, and neck sized them to fit the .44 Spl cylinder, throats and all. I had a two diameter (sort of bottle necked) case that utilized the whole cylinder. Lots more space to put powder and shot.

Problem was, when I got the power level up over standard .44 Spl shot shells, they backed out and locked up the gun, just like the stories I had heard and read about with bottle necked calibers in revolvers.

Some one might do it for you, but there are certainly obstacles, as posted. Rimless case, and bottle necked case.
 
Does the SP101 or the 941 have adequate cylinder lengths? Needs to be at least 1.60" OAL. The OM Ruger is. Also, is the bbl removable on either of these?
 
Needs to be at least 1.60" OAL for what?

Did you get off the 5.7x28 bottleneck?
Or are we on to something bigger or better now??

I'm too old to keep up this late at night!

rc.
 
Also, is the bbl removable on either of these?
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Must be, they put them on there somehow.

Still want to know what caliber you are talking about converting to now?

rc
 
I've got a "why?" for you. Why this particular cartridge size? I can certainly accept that you want to do something different just because you can. But are you locked onto this particular cartridge option or is there some room for another option?

I'm guessing that you're after a fairly high velocity with a relatively low recoil. There may well be another existing round that is more suitable for a revolver than the 5.7x28 which could suit your goals if we knew what those were.
 
Lovely... more OT alternatives
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I was just making the point of the cartridge backing out of the cylinder SA. May you waste 100's just to find out it won't work well, if at all. Good luck. :)
 
BTW: There is a .22 caliber that gives near 5.7x28 performance in a revolver already.
It is called the .22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire.
Otherwise known as the .22 Magnum.
Click to expand...

:eek:
 
It's late, and i'm tired.
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Boy, you can say that again.

I've been beating my head on the desk since 6:30 PM trying to figure out what you were trying to eventually do.

Now, you went to bed and I still have no idea?

rc
 
Sounds simple enough to me. The man wants, basically, a reloadable equivilant of a .22 mag. Understandable, especially if he also has a rifle in that caliber, but yeah, the setback issue is a PITA. My ex-BIL had a 22 Jet and had to clean the cylinders with carbon tetrachloride before shooting it...It even worked most of the time.
 
Clipper said:
Sounds simple enough to me. The man wants, basically, a reloadable equivilant of a .22 mag. Understandable, especially if he also has a rifle in that caliber, but yeah, the setback issue is a PITA. My ex-BIL had a 22 Jet and had to clean the cylinders with carbon tetrachloride before shooting it...It even worked most of the time.
Click to expand...

I had to swap the cylinders of my 30/30 bfr with 90% isopropryl alcohol to prevent cylinder bind.

Any oil or lube whatsoever in the cylinder bores would result in a locked up revolver

posted via tapatalk using android.
 
rcmodel said:
But regardless of that, it would expand on firing and because of the bottleneck case expanding to completely close the headspace clearance, not be able to slip back foreword in the chamber enough to allow cylinder rotation.
Click to expand...

Just to be clear, are you saying that this is a characteristic of the 'bottleneck' cases in revolvers? If true, then it shouldn't matter if the case was rimed, belted, or rimless (talking ONLY the cylinder jamming issue, not extraction or other issues)?
 
Silverlugs said:
Just to be clear, are you saying that this is a characteristic of the 'bottleneck' cases in revolvers? If true, then it shouldn't matter if the case was rimed, belted, or rimless (talking ONLY the cylinder jamming issue, not extraction or other issues)?
Click to expand...

Pretty much.

Regardless of rim configuration bottleneck = case setback

Something revolvers cannot tolerate and the higher the pressure the more acute the problem

posted via tapatalk using android.
 
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