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Offline DirtyHarry

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SP 101 Question?
« on: September 19, 2009, 10:26:57 AM »
I was talking to a guy who said his father had an early model in .38 spl and that some gunsmiths would lengthen the head space on these early guns to make them into .357, he said the cylinders are long enough and you just have to extend the head space to get the longer .357 round to fit.

 Has anyone heard of such an undertaking, or could explain it better because it does not make sense to me?
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Offline Graybeard

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Re: SP 101 Question?
« Reply #1 on: September 19, 2009, 10:31:39 AM »
Headspace is not the correct term in this case as rimmed rounds headspace on the rim. That aside no I've not really heard of that but in general I'd avoid such a practice. Most times the metal in the cylinder and/or the heat treat it is different for a magnum than for a special and thus it might or might not be safe to handle the magnum pressures after such rechamber.
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Offline DirtyHarry

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Re: SP 101 Question?
« Reply #2 on: September 19, 2009, 01:27:22 PM »
The headspace part is what is throwing me off, I just couldn't see how the headspace had anything to do with it. BTW I would never attempt something as seemingly unsafe as this.
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Offline Flash

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Re: SP 101 Question?
« Reply #3 on: September 19, 2009, 02:37:42 PM »
No, it can't be done and yes it can but not with headspace. The SP-101 was originally designed for 38 specials and the frame window isn't large enough for the 357 with anything other than the 125 grain slugs. This is why you'll find 357 guns marked 125 grain ammunition only. After a short period of this nonsense, Ruger opened up the frame window so a cylinder of 357, 180 grain loads would function correctly in it. When this happened, the 38 special was dropped and the SP-101 became a 357 mag gun that would shoot 38 specials. In a nutshell, you can open up the chambers to shoot 357 mags but with only 125 grain bullets or wadcutters. A factory 158 grain load wouldn't allow the cylinder to spin from sticking out the end and cutting a 38 special gun would ruin it's value to anyone who wanted to collect it. I have a fixed sight 38 special with laser grips and absolutely love it. I load it to plus-p levels and that's so close to magnum loads, it's not worth measuring the difference. Don't ruin a good thing, buy a 357 SP. Yeh, headspace isn't the term you want to use since these do headspace on the rim, both of them.
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Offline rong

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Re: SP 101 Question?
« Reply #4 on: September 25, 2009, 05:15:48 AM »
Yes, my neighbor
did just that, had
a gunsmith bore the
cylinder deeper so
that he could shoot
357mag
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