5 shot 45 Colt K frame?

[CraigC]

Well, the cylinder may be "A" problem but in all the years I have shot and worked on revolvers I have yet to see a Charter Pug with a blown cylinder and they have some of the thinnest cylinder walls out there.

The K-frame is not a Charter. A K-frame cylinder is just a hair larger in diameter than a Single Six's. A Single Six is a better platform for an oversized cartridge due to its design. That it needs only a basepin for the cylinder to rotate on, rather than an ejector assembly. It also allows for the frame window to be opened up for an oversized cylinder, both in diameter and length. You can also enlarge the loading port and barrel shank if necessary. You can't do that on a S&W. The largest cartridge that can be safely stuffed into the Single Six is the .41Spl. Even then, pressures must be kept low. The cartridge can be pushed to 1200fps in stronger guns. So no, S&W will never offer the K-frame in anything bigger than .357, which is already pushing it. No gunsmiths that I know of are building custom five-shot cylinders for S&W's anyway.

I agree that the forcing cone is probably the biggest limitation.

.327 is dead, so I don't expect S&W to chamber anything new in that caliber.

I wouldn't call it dead and I know of quite a few shooters who'd get in line for a .327 in a proper sporting length K-frame.

 

[Dframe]

Pay attention to Drails post above. He is absolutely correct. A few years ago some unscrupulous folks tried rechambering a few Pythons to 41 Magnum. SAME PROBLEM! forcing cones far too thin for the caliber. BTW if you ever see the notorious 41 magnum Python it is NOT a rare factory original, it's a fake.

 

[David E]

Oh, I think a 7 shot .327 K frame would be great! I'd like to see it with a 3" barrel and adjustable sights, myself. Would be a great trail gun.

But the cartridge just didn't catch on and I can't envision S&W tooling up for a K frame chambered for it.

 

[Dframe]

I agree. That would be a really handy revolver.

 

[CraigC]

By contrast, the Ruger GP-100 makes a dandy .41Mag or .44Spl.

 

[David E]

They also chambered the GP-100 in .327 and it holds 7 rds. It's still on their site, but for me, it's too big and heavy for the role I'd use it for.

 

[mavracer]

Oh, I think a 7 shot .327 K frame would be great! I'd like to see it with a 3" barrel and adjustable sights, myself. Would be a great trail gun.

Ruger made a 7 shot GP, while I know a K is more svelt, i can't see enough advantage over a model 19.
dang I should refresh before I post.

 

[9mmepiphany]

I wonder if S&W can make a 5 shot L-frame in.44 spcl (696 ),
why not make a 10mm/.40 S&W L-frame be it a 5 or 6 shot cyl.
with appropriate full moonclips.
* 4" Bbl. and.40 cal 180 gr. bullet 1,000 fps or so

...dream on

No need to dream. They did in the M-646

 

[Zaydok Allen]

By contrast, the Ruger GP-100 makes a dandy .41Mag or .44Spl.

I'd buy one of each

 

[Dave T]

1898 2nd Model Hand EJector N-Frame = Large
aka N(Large) frame

Sorry but your dates are off quite a bit. The N-frame was introduced in 1907 as the 1st Model 44 Hand Ejector. The 2nd Model HE came along in the 1915-16 time frame.

Dave