K38 with 357 magnum cylinder

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Ignacio49

Ignacio49

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Somebody I know is selling his S&W model 14 (not sure if it is a 14 or a Masterpiece) with an extra 357 cylinder that he bought directly from S&W.
What would you say about occasionally shooting 357’s in this model 14 with its “custom made” 357 cylinder?
Will it be accurate?
Would you expect problems with other parts - frame, barrel... other?

Thanks
 
I'd expect that to be a pretty bad idea. You could get away with it for a bit, maybe. But the gun was designed for .38 special and you're not Elmer Keith. If you want a magnum buy a magnum, it's cheaper than hospital bills.
 
I wouldn't shoot 357 in a gun built to shoot 38 special. It's not good for the gun, or your extremities.

Buy a .357 and shoot .38 out of it
 
The heat treatment is different on the .38 K frames than the .357 Kframes. Personally, I wouldn't even shoot .38s in it, not knowing how many .357s had been run through the gun. Also is there documentation that S&W intended the .357 cylinder for this gun, and it's not just a spare part taken off of some M19 or M13?
 
Lucky Derby, could you tell me where to go to find documentation on the different heat treatings from Smith and Wesson. I'm in the process of having a gun built and that would be a deciding factor. Thanks in advance.
Stu
 
I also agree with Lucky Derby; no way of knowing how many .357 rounds were put through the gun or what they were (factory or maybe hotter reloaded ammo). Concern about possible structural damage done to the frame would keep me from buying this gun. I would walk away from this deal.
 
Ignacio49 said:
Would you expect problems with other parts - frame, barrel... other?
Click to expand...

Even though there may or may not be problems with it right now, firing 357mag rounds through a revolver made for 38spl WILL at some point cause problems.

It's never a good idea. You'll probably never be able to predict when it'll fail. Could happen the first time or the hundredth time.

It would be kinda like playing Russian roulette with your hand. Not worth it.
 
I remember back in the late 1960's and into the 1970's a number of people having K-frame revolvers (Model 10, 14, 15, etc) modified to accept .357 magnum ammunition. Fairly simple gunsmithing operation using a reamer to cut each chamber to permit the longer cartridge case to fit.

I also remember a number of people with cracked frames and/or forcing cones and other predictable results.

I have several K-frame revolvers, some in .38 Special and some in .357 Magnum. They all work quite well with .38 Special ammunition (including +P and equivalent handloads). If I wanted to shoot .357 Magnum I would select the L-frame or N-frame revolvers for that use. If I absolutely had to shoot magnum ammunition in a K-frame it would be one originally manufactured for that cartridge.

I would not consider that particular Model 14 revolver at any price, knowing that it might have been used with a magnum cylinder installed.
 
Correct me if I'm wrong, but a k frame is a k frame. I have never read or heard about the frames themselves being different between the .357 and .38. The cylinders, yes, as far as heat treatment, but not the frame.
Edit: standard catalog of s&w does state the m19 frame was enlarged slightly in the yoke area, but that doesn't seem to me to be a huge change for safety or strength, just a nod to longevity.

S&W themselves did a small run of several thousand .357 chambered model 10's for the NYSP.

If it is a good price and it locks up tight with no end shake and the forcing cone is good I would be fine with buying it for a shooter in .38, and ditching the magnum cylinder.
 
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The 357 K frames were concedered a shoot 38sp a lot and carry 357's . They did have some issues over time. Want a s&w 357 get a L frame or N.
 
Actually S&W used the same K-frames to build both .38 Special and .357 Magnums, with the exception sometimes for adjustable sights, and a slight modification to allow for a wide or narrow barrel rib. However - and this is very important - the cylinders for magnum revolver were made from a different steel, and went through a different heat treating process, then what was used to make .38 cylinders. Therefore rechambering .38's in a very bad idea.

Over time, and for various reasons the K-frame didn't prove to be a good platform for a .357 Magnum that was used extensively with magnum ammunition. This ultimately led to the development of the slightly larger L-frame.

I'm not sure how a magnum and .38 cylinder can be used interchangeably because the .357 is longer then the .38 Special.

Anyway, since you don't know the full background history, or who did the modification (and in particular what those were) I would pass, and buy a magnum revolver (if that's what you want) that started life that way when it left the factory.
 
A .357 cylinder won't even fit in a .38 Special K-Frame.

A K-Frame .38 Spl. cylinder is 1.56" long.
A K-Frame .357 cylinder is 1.67" long with a corresponding shorter barrel shank.

Someone may have reamed out an extra .38 Spl. cylinder for .357.
But that is a very bad idea safety wise.

And it will still be too short for normal length .357 ammo.

rc
 
A .357 cylinder won't even fit in a .38 Special K-Frame.
Click to expand...

Yes and no. The cylinder window in the frames is the same, but if a .38 Special barrel is installed you obviously can't close a longer .357 cylinder

On the other hand if you are using a .38 cylinder in a frame with a .357 barrel you will have a cylinder/barrel gap that won't quit. :eek:

Bottom line: This whole idea isn't very good.
 
"A .357 cylinder won't even fit in a .38 Special K-Frame.

A K-Frame .38 Spl. cylinder is 1.56" long.
A K-Frame .357 cylinder is 1.67" long with a corresponding shorter barrel shank.

Someone may have reamed out an extra .38 Spl. cylinder for .357.
But that is a very bad idea safety wise.

And it will still be too short for normal length .357 ammo."
_________________________________________________________

No yes or no about it, we have a winner!
 
I just went to the safe and measured a few.

Model 10 cyl 1.562 frame opening 1.81
Model 15-4 cyl 1.563 frame opening 1.81
Model 19-3 cyl 1.673 frame opening 1.81
Model 586 cyl 1.674 frame opening 1.81

Looks like ALL 357 cylinders will fit ALL K frames.

Stu
 
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A K-frame .38 Special cylinder is [just] long enough for factory .357 Magnum, so it would be possible to make up a .357 cylinder for the K-38, just by reaming the chambers. But I doubt the factory did that.

Jim
 
BTW a masterpiece is a 4 inch and a model 14 is a 6 inch barrel . and if it was in good shape i would buy it and send off to S&W for the letter on how it came from the factory . i wouldnt shoot anything in it till i got that letter other then .38 special untill then .
 
Sure, the K frame .357 cylinder will fit any K frame, as long as that frame has a .357 barrel. If you try to simply exchange a .357 cylinder for .38spcl cylinder, in a .38 K frame, the cylinder will not close. (see posts 14 and 15)
 
BTW a masterpiece is a 4 inch and a model 14 is a 6 inch barrel . and if it was in good shape i would buy it and send off to S&W for the letter on how it came from the factory . i wouldnt shoot anything in it till i got that letter other then .38 special untill then .
Click to expand...

Prior to 1957 when models had names they're was the K-38 Masterpiece (target) revolver with a 6" and later 8 3/8" barrel. The 4" version was called a K38 Combat Masterpiece with a 2" length added latter. When names were changed to numbers the target model became the model 14, where the combat version became the model 15. No models 14 or 15 intentionally left the factory going to distributors or dealers in commercial retail trade after being chambered in .357 Magnum.

This conglomeration won't be fixed by S&W as a warrantee repair, and if they did touch it (which is questionable) the total cost of the gun as it is, plus the cost of repairs, would likely be more then enough to buy a similar revolver in better condition that hadn't been messed with. Also they won't check their records and letter a particular gun unless you pay a $50.00 search fee. Any way you cut it this revolver is a turkey.
 
Looks like ALL 357 cylinders will fit ALL K frames.
Click to expand...

True up to a point, so far as the cylinder window is concerned, but not after a .38 special barrel has been screwed into the frame.

Going the other way you can close a .38 special cylinder into a window where a .357 Magnum barrel has been fitted, but you will end up with a .015 more-or-less barrel/cylinder gap where it should be around .003 to .006.
 
Going the other way you can close a .38 special cylinder into a window where a .357 Magnum barrel has been fitted, but you will end up with a .015 more-or-less barrel/cylinder gap where it should be around .003 to .006.
Click to expand...

Ya better do the math again, Fuff. :D

The .38 cylinder is .110 inch shorter...with a .38 cylinder and a .357 barrel...you'd wind up with a gap of about 1/10th inch.
 
if smith and wesson wanted that gun to fire .357, it would ahve been made as a .357
 
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