.22 Single Six Conversion to .38 or .41 special

[Grizzly Greg]

Howdy Folks,
Does anyone know of a gunsmith that can convert a Ruger SS 3 screw .22 to either .38 or .41 special?.......other than  Mr Bowen, or Mr Hartman or Mr Clements?......its a project I've always wanted to do and I can't afford to wait 2 yrs to do it. No I don't want to sell these and buy the "baby" vaquero in .32 mag, but I would swap for the above conversions (adding the proper amount of $ to go with it) I have seen some very talented individuals post there work on this and other forums, but none that do it commercially, I was going to have the Smith shop do the conversion but I understand he no longer does this due to health reasons. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Grizz.

my email: ptb0116@aol.com

[Bugscuffle]

If you are looking for a bargain basement conversion, it just isn't going to happen. Firstly you would need to change out both the cylinder and the barrel, and where are you going to find those parts? Then you are going to need to modify or change the hand to get the gun to time correctly. Then you can consider the complications of converting this gun from rimfire to centerfire. After that you need to be concerned that the frame is strong enough to withstand the forces of the much more powerful cartridges. All in all there are plenty of .38 Specs. Out there that you can get for a whole lot less than what you would pay for this conversion. Or there is the .38 S&W. There are a number of them on sale any day that you can pick up for near $100.

[Grizzly Greg]

Obviously I failed to make a point or two, I am not looking for a bargain basement conversion, I want to convert the 3 screw Ruger Single Six's to .38 special, several well known gunsmiths have done this already, the problem is that the time required is measured in yrs or in one case he is not taking any new work until he catches up, 2 plus yrs was the quote .

I have seen folks on this and other forums that have done this conversion or are having it done the most current being the .41 special, I was hoping to find a talented gunsmith who might complete the project in months instead of yrs. I thought this board would give the best chance of finding one.

As I already have several .38 special, Colts, S&W's and Uberti conversions its not a question of just getting a .38 special.

Thanks for your interest .

Grizz.

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[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

The resulting revolver would have a 5-shot cylinder, which is not likely to be SASS legal, and certainly not NCOWS legal. I've read the articles in gunrags, but it seems more of a vanity than a practical item.  The Uberti 1851 conversion revolver in .38Spl  would seem to give you an off-the-shelf revolver with about the same compactness, historical authenticity and greater usefullness.

[Grizzly Greg]

http://www.rugerforum.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?t=70330

Ok guys, check out that thread on the Ruger Forum,

Yup Bowen does not do RF to CF conversions  ANYMORE, but he used too
Happy Trails did this conversion until he got sick and shut down his shop, a 6 shot conversion too.
As did Wes Fargo.
Alan Hartman still does it, either with a 5 or 6 shot 38 special cylinder or a 5 shot .41 special on OM 3 screws only though.

And Bowen will do a 5 or 6 Shot conversion on the NM .32 mag single six to 327 federal!

I'm still waiting to here back from Alpha Precesion, and yet to check with Stroh.

The problem is this  is my Bucket list project and the folks who still do this take 18 to 24 months to complete it, I was hoping that one of the more talented ,outside the box type of revolversmiths here in NC would be willing to tackle this job, I intend to shoot them  a few times and pass them on to the grand kids.

They sure would be FUN gamer outlaw style...lol.   

[Professor Marvel]

My Good Grizzly -

Sorry to hear it is a "Bucket List" project, and thus that the timeframe must be short... 

You might try contacting HoofHearted
http://www.cascity.com/forumhall/index.php?action=profile;u=1936
or Raven,
http://www.cascity.com/forumhall/index.php?action=profile;u=7652

both of whom have taken on some remarkably wacky interesting projects such as LeMat conversions & etc.....

good luck and
via con Dios
prof marvel