.357 to .44 spl conversion

[44 Man]

Ok, I finally got the computer to be friends with the camera so we can do this.  Some of you wanted to know how this came out.  Very well, thank you.  I found an inexpensive ($175) Uberti .357mag at Jay's, so I brought it home, cleaned it up, and fired a few rounds through it.

I really didn't care for the heft or balance of the gun the way it was.  So I was faced with the decision, do I send this down the road (and make a profit), or do something else with it?  Since I found myself at the moment without a .44 special (heaven forbid!), so I considered a conversion.  I like being able to carry 6 if I should choose to in a 'woods' gun and this gun had the swiveling hammer block that Uberti did for a while and it allows that.  I also has a 'squared off' top strap giving a flat topped rear sight picture.  I find with my 'old eyes' that is much better than some of the single actions that give you a rounded profile to the rear sight.  The fact that it had beautiful case hardening didn't hurt either.  The brass grip frame and grips also felt well in my hand so I decided to go for it. 

I had been watching ebay for barrels as I was considering this and several Colt 44-40 barrels went through at reasonable prices ($40 to $60).  But of course after I decided, the supply of Colt barrels seemed to dry up.  I watched for a time, but soon got impatient and ordered a Uberti 4 3/4" .44 spl barrel from Gun Parts Corp ($95).  My local gunsmith (Marshall Chase - The Gun Doctor) had talked about having done some conversions and he would fit the barrel ($30-$40) or cut and rethread a Ruger barrel (MUCH more money!) and had the chamber reamer ($100 to rechamber) so I told him to go ahead.  To say I am pleased would be an understatement. 



It's a good shooter as you can see from the 25 yd target.  The only thing I might change is that the front sight supplied on the barrel is quite thin.  This gives an odd sight picture looking through the generous rear sight cut.  It does seem to make longer range shooting a little easier but I think I will put a thicker front sight on it at some time, possible even a 'Ruger' style ramp front sight. 

The next one of these I do will be on a Ruger New Vaquero chassis when I find a blued .357 at the right price.  For someone doing a Ruger conversion it should cost a bit less as used Ruger .44 barrels are fairly inexpensive.  I already have a pre-warning SBH .44 barrel that has been cut to 4" in the drawer that will go on the next one.  That should also be a fun, well balanced, 'packing' gun just like this one!  44 Man

[warrior1]

oh man 44 man you had to post pics, nice job and nice shootin. good lookin six shooter.dan

[Lloyd Smale]

real nice job pal. Your a man after my heart pulling that trombone tube off it and putting a proper sixgun barrel on it!!

[SAA]

Very nice! My next single action will definitely be a 4 3/4" they look so good.


..."Trombone tube"...

[Graybeard]

Now if only that barrel was 5.5" long and the rear had a sliding rear to correct for windage that would be about what I have in mind. Your groups there seem to be about as far to the left as my best results ever are with a single action. Most times mine are about twice that far to the left and it doesn't matter if I hold it in my right hand, left hand or if I use one or two hands. Single action guns just don't like me it's a conspriacy I'm telling ya. 

[44 Man]

Graybeard, that gun prints slightly left with that load but it hits center with a keith SWC over 13.3 gr of 2400 at about 950 fps (load is per Dave Scoville, Handloader mag), but the group opens up just a little.  I really like the unique load (at 925 fps) and I may whack the front sight on the edge of the bench to correct it, we'll have to see.  That little bit left at 25 yds can be corrected without even noticing that the front sight is leaning a little, I had to do that to a nickled Colt SAA once.  As I said, I may change the front sight anyway and if I do, I'll put a dovetail one on her.  I don't need adjustable sights on it as most .44 spl loads shoot close to the same poi.  This one certainly shoots close enough for my uses.  The way my eyes are, I wouldn't try a deer with open sights at over 40 yds anyway.  That's why I have a scope on the FA .44 Mag.  I am pleased with the way this project turned out.  The gun is lightweight, easy to shoot, and plenty powerful enough for my purposes.  44 Man

[Graybeard]

I know what ya mean. I call 50 yards my max for iron sights on deer but I'd sure like them a bunch closer and all I've ever shot with an iron sighted revolver have been much closer. Most in the 25-35 yard range but some even closer than that. I can't recall ever shooting one with irons beyond about 35 yards. With scoped revolvers I've dropped them to about 100 yards. Beyond that it's TC time.

[44 Man]

Graybeard, my longest shots have been 75 yds with a .357 S&W, and 110 yds with a Ruger SBH.  Of course both of those shots were under 'perfect' conditions; solid rest, plenty of time for a controled trigger pull, etc.  Heck, I 'used' to shoot clay pigeons in the pit at 100 yds from a rest with my old 3 screw SBH.  Of course that was when I was in my 20's and my eyes were much younger.  I would likely try a 50 or 60 yds deer if conditions were perfect (ie; a solid rest again), but with these 'old eyes' I'm pretty well limited to less these days.  Those were my two longest shots, all the rest have been 25 yds, give or take a little, with a couple being MUCH less!  44 Man

[blue roan]

Obviously, I'm a little late in this discussion.

Your gunsmith seems to have extremely reasonable prices.  Get a POWER CUSTOM replacement front sight intended for a Ruger Vaquero.  They come in .125 width, two heights and contours, and in carbon or stainless steel--obviously carbon steel for a blued gun.  Have him install it and have SAA looks and a good useable sight picture.  I'm going to install this sight on several Vaqueros over the winter.