Options for a French 1873 revolver - rechamber to .22 mag?

[TheCoachZed]

I might have a line on an old relic of a French 1873 revolver in need of some help. The bore is pitted, and the ejector rod needs some work. I don't have any pix, only heard of this one through the grapevine. Price is decent, only reason I'd consider.

Was wondering if cylinders and barrel could be sleeved down to .22 mag, legally or practically. I think the ejector rod would need repair anyway, so that could be turned into a .22 mag-friendly part. Or maybe a gunsmith could make a new one?

Does anyone still do this stuff? I have a local guy I'd trust to do it on a rifle, but not sure if he's ever worked on wheelguns (he's pretty old-school, has the hand tools the old timey smiths would have used.)

I don't know if OAL of the French 1873 revolvers would permit .22 mag anyway.

 

[cyclone]

The .22 WMR has something like a 27 mm case and a 34 mm overall length (OAL); the French 11 mm is something like 30 mm OAL.

 

[burnt_servo]

the cylinder is 1.350" long
a quick google search and I came up with 1.350 and 1.375 oal lengths for 22 mag .... not sure if a person can increase the cylinder gap , by shortening up the barrel side , then tightening the cylinder gap back up with a chamber liner for 22mag

I've thought about this conversion my self a few times .

something else that may work , is carefully lapping the barrel to remove the pits , while trying to preserve the rifling , then rechambering and recutting the throats to use light .458 diameter bullets .

and another option is lapping the bore again , and using a soft cast hollow base webley type bullet .

I don't know if this will help you or not .....

http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/foru...519-my-french-mas-1873?highlight=45+schofield

 

[mkrnel]

A way easier option is just have it relined to .38 special, would make a nice safe .38 special shooter as long as no regular diet of +P loads are used.

Just add a .38 barrel liner, line the cylinders then re-chamber them with a .38 special reamer and you are good to go. No need to alter the hammer firing pin from centerfire to offset rimfire or have to make sure the cylinder timing and chamber alignment was now perfect and locked up tight with such a much smaller bore and chamber than the gun was designed for when firing 25,000 psi ammo at over 2000 fps etc.

One problem with converting guns to shoot .22 magnum is that often the converted gun needs to make double sure that the converted firing pin does not hit with so much force as to pierce the rim and have 25,000 psi of gas pressure flow back and wreck the gun. This has happened to guns converted to .22 magnum in the past and is a problem with even some new guns and why some makers nolonger make certain models in .22 mag anymore especially semi autos. Ruger had a problem with their all steel receiver 10/22 mag rifle with ruptured cases and discontinued it years ago.

 

[TheCoachZed]

.38 Special would be interesting too, but again -- who in Canada would do such a thing? And is it a mega pricy job?

A way easier option is just have it relined to .38 special, would make a nice safe .38 special shooter as long as no regular diet of +P loads are used.

Just add a .38 barrel liner, line the cylinders then re-chamber them with a .38 special reamer and you are good to go. No need to alter the hammer firing pin from centerfire to offset rimfire or have to make sure the cylinder timing and chamber alignment was now perfect and locked up tight with such a much smaller bore and chamber than the gun was designed for when firing 25,000 psi ammo at over 2000 fps etc.

One problem with converting guns to shoot .22 magnum is that often the converted gun needs to make double sure that the converted firing pin does not hit with so much force as to pierce the rim and have 25,000 psi of gas pressure flow back and wreck the gun. This has happened to guns converted to .22 magnum in the past and is a problem with even some new guns and why some makers nolonger make certain models in .22 mag anymore especially semi autos. Ruger had a problem with their all steel receiver 10/22 mag rifle with ruptured cases and discontinued it years ago.

 

[mkrnel]

.38 Special would be interesting too, but again -- who in Canada would do such a thing? And is it a mega pricy job?

There are gunsmiths who will do it, ask around at gunshops where you are located, I know of a number of old revolvers so altered. Factor in barrel liner and fitting for about $250-$300 + $50 per chamber reline and $20 per chamber setup, reaming and test. You will pay a bit more than this for a .22 magnum conversion as it also needs firing pin modifications.

 

[infidel29]

there is a forum member on here, forget his handle. He resleeved all those 32 rimfire guns awhile back to 17 hm2, sold them on the EE, did a great job. he'd do well if you paid him for his time.