Blackhawk in .32-20?

[fiver]

the 5.7 is a really straight wall case design, I think the real long taper necks was what caused the issues with those other rounds.
the 30 Badger [38 special necked down to 30 cal] would be a good revolver round, but it's basically a duplicate of the 32-20.
the 25-20 would work, but it's,,,,,, I dunno,,,, probably not gonna sell a bunch of guns.

 

[Ian]

What's the one with the .44 Mag case necked to .357? That should be a simple enough conversion unless Keith just really wants to put a new barrel on it.

 

[fiver]

there is the Bobcat, and the Bains and Davis.
there is also a 44 to 41.
the B&D round is one I have always been interested in.

 

[RBHarter]

Ok ....

5.7

256 Win Mag

 

[358156 hp]

The 357/44 Bain & Davis is by far the most popular, and to my thinking, the most practical. Didn't the Bobcat use plastic spacer rings somehow?

 

[Bret4207]

Myself, I'd go the 32-20/32S+W, Long, Mag, Federal route. You can use a 30 carbine barrel if it's available, .309ish but at least you don't have to worry about undersized moulds. Using a long barrel doens't help with the bark, and they are loud when you push a 32WCF/Mag to hotter areas. I have a 9 1/2" SSM and with full throttle mag loads it's just as bad as the 32-20. Thats the sole downside to the hotter 32's out of a revolver- they get real loud, real fast. That's why I'd suggest getting that 2nd cylinder in 32S+W/Long. Much easier on the nerves and very effective on paper and small game. The BH is a little big, a lot big actually, but you'd never have to worry about strength.

There have been revolvers made in 25-20, 256 Win Mag and a few other small bores, like the Hornet and Bee. Truly getting specialist areas with those. And from what I understand they are louder than the 32's.

I should have found the money for one of those Buckeye 32's back in the day. Moreover, I should have found the money for the little J frame adjustable sighted Smith they made in 32 Mag. THAT is a trail/field gun!

 

[JSH]

There are several guys messing with 25's in SA's I know of.
One gent has a 25 ACP 10 shot cylinder.

 

[Eutectic]

I've had a love affair going with the .32-20 almost back to when I was weaned.... I've flirted with it in handguns too.... and still have a K-32 (Model 16) Smith that is rechambered to .32-20. It is extremely accurate; and extremely LOUD with hotter loads!
I traded a 1949 Triumph 30.5 (500cc) twin hard tail to Dick's Gun Shop for a 'Jet' right when it appeared. This Model 53 Smith is still champion of the most ear-splitting report I've had the pleasure of in handguns! I followed the acetone chamber swabs recommend and never had any trouble with set-back. Only shot factory loads (jacketed) in the short time I had it. The Model 53's were hard to find and I made a 'good trade' with mine...
Several have experimented with the .25-20 in revolvers over the years...... They worked pretty well too..... with jacketed.... When the chambers were acetoned oil/grease free. The .25-20 is a cast bullet cartridge however!!! The .25 Hornet has been the most successful powerful .25 revolver cartridge with cast lubricated bullets. The reason Ruger brought out that 'different' single shot' Hawkeye .256 all started from cylinder set-back.....

The .32 Smith & Wesson Long is one of my favorite and most accurate revolver cartridges. One day I'll fit another .32 S & W Long cylinder to my old K-32 and shoot it more. Yes...... It's deadly accurate as a .32-20 with heavy loads of 2400..... But I need earplugs under my muffs to shoot it and I'm half deaf!!!

Pete

 

[Rick]

I've been working up a 30 Carbine load in the BH with 4759. Initial loads were too light and accuracy wasn't there but as I've increased the charge accuracy is starting to come in. At 9.0 gr accuracy had improved some and the noise while not yet obnoxious was getting louder, Next time out will be 10.0 and 10.5 gr. Also have been using 32-20 brass and 30 carbine brass. Either will work fine and the 32-20 doesn't need trimming but it does need to be resized with the 32-20 full length die. Been a fun experiment so far.

 

[VZerone]

To all, the 30 Luger, 7.62x25 Tokarev, 30 Mauser, 30 Carbine, all the hot 32's of any flavor, and 17 Remington are ear destroyers!!!! Muzzle breaks on rifles are too.

 

[creosote]

The 357/44 Bain & Davis is by far the most popular, and to my thinking, the most practical. Didn't the Bobcat use plastic spacer rings somehow?

Yup, the plastic inserts supported the "neck" of the cartridge. The cylinder was cut straight, or used a 44mag cylinder. The plastic spacer was installed on the cartridge, which was a 44 mag. Necked down to a .357.
No danger there.

I remember bob telling me it was the ultimate round to penetrate the thick hide of an attacking bear.
I didn't realize how lucky I was to live within walking distance of a great gun store, that got me into reloading.
"Chet's gun room" , " moultons reloading" what ever you called it.

I still use one of his "very well used" rockchucker presses.
Also still have lot of good stuff from when they went out of business. Including bags of the plastic thingymogizmo shoulderpertecter.
Had to take a walk down memory lane.

 

[VZerone]

5.7 cases have a plastic coating on them so be aware when reloating them as that increases thrust on the bolt. I

 

[fiver]

it's a sprayed on lacquer.
tumbling in stainless pins will remove it, but you can spray a new coat back on.
it burns off with green flame when you ignite it with a torch.

so if I got some of those spacers and a die set I could screw a spare 35cal. barrel on one of my 44 cal dan wessons and be in business it sounds like.

 

[creosote]

so if I got some of those spacers and a die set I could screw a spare 35cal. barrel on one of my 44 cal dan wessons and be in business it sounds like.

Yikes, I think so, Don't remember off hand. that was back in the early 80's. I'd have to figure out what box there in, and do some measuring.
not what you want to hear, I'm sure.
Next time I'm at the storage unit I'll dig some out. and send you some.

 

[fiver]

next time,,, next year,, is fine, I'm just trying to pull up if I remember the idea of the inserts.
the idea is pretty intriguing, but it would be just like me to be looking right at them knowing dimly what they were,, but not having enough sense to give the guy 2$ per box for them.

it is an interesting idea that I think I have the gun parts to put together if all the threads are the same, if not hopefully they are far enough apart to have a bushing made to make it work.

 

[Missionary]

Good afternoon
Having done several Dan Wesson conversions most caliber barrels will not interchange. DW on purpose changed threads and diameters so no one could accidently screw a .357 barrel on a larger caliber and have a unique experience.

Some years back we wanted a 32-20 revolver to go with our rifle for close shots. Located a real DW 32-20 cylinder and had a custom threaded 308 barrel made to fit one of our 15-2 receivers. Been watching for another cylinder for near 8 years now and none show up.
You can do the same with a 44 DW. Just sleeve the cylinders, silver solder them in and get a custom barrel made.

 

[Paul Gauthier]

"

. Perhaps a wildcat cased on the 357 mag or a shortened 357 Max case sized down in a 300 Blackout die? I'd have to check out the chamber dimensions at the base of 300BO vs. the 357 cases."​

A 357 Max case can be necked to 30 cal in a 30 Herrett size die. it will give a neck length of about .295", no new dies needed, size the body in a 357 die and neck it in the 30 Herrett. ​

 

[oscarflytyer]

OK - you danged instigators! just DANG it! Now bidding on 2! Not 1, but 2! 32-20 revolvers! on GB! Just dang it. BUT - they ARE both SAs!!!

 

[KeithB]

What I've been thinking about is a gun in a unique chambering. That could be (a) a gun chambered for a standard cartridge but that has never been offered in that gun, or (b) a gun chambered in a totally unique cartridge.

Ten years ago I was thinking of paying a good smith make up a 5 shot GP100 in .44 special for me, now I would just buy the factory model. It is no longer a unique chambering.

Seems like there is a gap in handgun calibers - a couple of .22s and .25s and then .30/.32, 9mm/.38 and on up. So for a totally unique caliber I've been considering 7mm/.284.

I've made some CAD drawings of three wildcats. They use 7mm bullets and are based on a .223 case, a .30 carbine case, and a .357 case.

I think I can minimize potential setback by (a) having a near parallel section of the case near the bottom that will expand and grip the chamber walls, (b) having as gentle a taper as possible from case body to neck, and (c) minimizing the overall difference in diameter from base to case mouth. A cartridge like a .22 Jet scores low on all three criteria.

A single action Ruger seems like the simplest and strongest gun to try out some basic ideas. The frame window on my Blackhawk is right at 1.900" long, although the stock cylinder is slightly less than 1.800". I think a 7mm wildcat could be developed in a 1.875" long cartridge.

My second choice would be a dual cylinder .32-20 and .32 mag combo. But the idea of a 7mm handgun intrigues me somehow.

 

[Rick]

Without a doubt the most unique revolver I've ever seen was a Dan Wesson . . . In 7-30 Waters. You should have seen the cylinder on that thing.

Back in the late 90's when Seth Wesson owned Dan Wesson he built it as a proto type, one and only one. LASC was hosting the NRA Nationals and I put on the commercial row and Seth was there showing off the Dan Wesson line including that proto type. I tried mightily to get him to sell it to me but he wasn't about to part with it.