GP100 Conversion

B

Ben Shepherd

New member
Thinking of getting a 357 gp100 turned into a 5 shot 44 mag snubbie.

I think there's plenty of room in the frame for the larger bore.
I confess I haven't done a measurement yet.

And the frame should be plenty strong.

What do you think?

And if possible who do you reccomend?
 
Hamilton Bowen made some Speed Sixes into five-shot .41 and .44 Specials (Dean Grennell called them Fast Fives), so he surely knows how. Whether he will, I don't know. Take money. Lots of money.
Maybe Jim Stroh in Georgia or Clement in Mississippi. Gary Reeder has done a few assorted double actions.
 
I'd often wondered why Ruger didn't do this myself. I've seen the GP-100 and I think the main issue would be with the barrel stem? where it screws into the frame. I think that it would be offset absurdly low. I think that you could PROBABLY do this if you had a frame without the barrel hole drilled, but I'd be willing to give you good odds it's not a practical conversion.
 
ACADEMIC EXERCISE

No (maybe).

No benefit; just buy a Taurus 41 Mag Tracker.

Bowen only............but even if cost were no object I'd still just shrink a Redhawk.


Just me :cool:
 
Thanks for the input guys.
I ckecked the frame in the barrel area, could be done, but no margin for error.

The idea behind it was the ultimate 44 mag snubbie for backpacking trips. I wanted the punch of full house 44 mag in a smaller package than a redhawk. I could have also carried it with 44 spec. loads for SD.

As for the taurus, I don't like them personally. Won't have one.


Once again thanks. I'm most likely going to shorten one of my redhawks, as that was my other idea. It was just a hair bigger than I wanted.
 
BEN BEN BEN

Agree; won't (yet) own a Taurus wheel (but have a PT22 'always'; all good).

Shrinking Redhawks, when done by pros, makes a fairly small package. Small grip/butt, reduced barrel, shorter, fixed sights, etc.......

Just throw money.
 
WS2, who do you recommend to do this type of work?

I also want/need my 7.5" 357 redhawk tuned/sweetened up.

BTW: I dare anyone to say they have a smoother SA trigger than that particular redhawk. Crisp, clean, and so smoooooth.:D
 
I have a 3" barrel N frame S&W that is suitable. These are available without all of the conversion; they have adjustable sights, can be given a superb double action pull and you don't need to send the gun off, wait, worry about strength, how you are going to pay for it, etc. You lose a lot of the .44 magnum's power by using a short barrel, but a careful choice of loads will make it suitable for packing in the woods. And, if you object to the weight of an N frame, look at it this way: You should actually be packing a rifle in the first place.
 
Looks like a Redhawk Alpine would about do it; unless you can talk him into the GP conversion. $650 is not a high price... from Bowen.
 
Thanks again WS2 & Mr. Lawson, and other TFLers.

I'll stick with the ruger due to the ability to field strip when needed with no special tools.

It's going to be an OH SH**! gun on backpacking trips in roadless wilderness areas. Reliability and ease of maintinance are paramount.

None of my rugers have ever failed me.

To quote a fellow member: "comforting not comfortable"
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top