Cas City Forum Hall & CAS-L
CAS TOPICS => Gunsmithing => Topic started by: willy on October 21, 2021, 09:32:25 PM
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I just converted a Uberti black powder frame 45 colt to 44 special.. New cylinder and new SAA colt 44 special barrel.
What I was wondering about was ,,What if someone converted a black powder ( Pre 1896 ) model P to 44 special,,Would it still be safe to shoot some of those 44 Keith loads of the 1920s amd 30s in it,,seeing as it is the cylinder that is the weak link in the black powder only pre 1896 guns ?
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Howdy Willy. I am not a gunsmith. But my opinion is that the modern cylinder and barrel might keep the gun from "exploding" with hot loads but the frame might distort.
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'Might' is an operative word.
There's no telling how long a frame made primarily of wrought iron may or may not last, because it takes a battering when fired.
Keith ruined a lot of old SAAs, and they were a lot newer back then, than they are today.
But hey, it's your eyes and hands...
If you want to load like Keith - buy a Ruger.
Scouts Out!
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:) Well Willi ;)
Elmer Keith is well revered in handgun circles. His contributions are legendary. Oft overlooked though, is the fact he was actually fairly stupid. He blew up quite a few SAA and other guns in his untrained experiments.
Your new cylinder and barrel might well stand the increased chamber pressure created by those Keith loads. However, if we are talking about an original Model P, as mentioned by Abilene, you may see some frame distortion.
A Uberti SA on the other hand, is made from much sterner stuff than an original pre 1896 Colt. With a .44 Caliber Cylinder and Barrel it may well stand some really impressive (stupid) load levels. Your Hands, your Eyes, and they don't make replacements.
Play Safe Out There
PS: If you wanted to play Dirty Harry, Why didn't you just source up a 44 Magnum?
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I don’t have the money or the desire to test loads and guns to the failure/exploding point,,I was just wondering “WHAT IF “. I do know that there was a group of 44 special hand loaders back in the day that were loading the special to magnum levels..And seeing as Colt at one time would rework a customer’s gun ..I was just wondering if anyone might have had their old thumb buster in 38/40 or 32/20 upgraded to 44 special with a new barrel and cylinder! Then proceed to magnumtize it!
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I am reading Sixguns by Elmer Keith right now. He speaks of switching to the S&W N frame due to the SAA not being strong enough to handle the heavier loads that led to the 44 Magnum. If you want to shoot .44 Specials and .44 Magnums in a SAA, get a Ruger Vaquero [old model] built in .44 Magnum.