Modular revolver cylinders?

S

Shmackey

New member
How interchangeable are cylinders within a given model of revolver? That is, if I have a Brand X Model Y revolver, should I be able to drop in a new cylinder made for Brand X Model Y in the same caliber? Or must they be "fitted" somehow?

To put it another way: I would expect to be able to drop in a Glock replacement barrel and get the same performance, whereas a 1911 barrel would need some minor fitting to be perfect. Where do revolver cylinders fit into this equation?
 
Revolver cylinders often need fitting to the particular GUN, never mind model.

The main issue is the "timing", the linkage between the "hand" (which spins the cylinder) and the ratchet on the cylinder itself or the star, depending on SA vs. DA.

You also have front/rear "play" issues, solved by shims or whatever.

Sometimes on a Ruger SA you get lucky and a cylinder swap between two guns works the first time. Dunno what the odds are...I've heard 40% successful, but I'm no gunsmith.
 
You might get lucky and be able to interchange but don't count on it. My 686+ will accept the cylinder from my 686. Seven to six and it locks up and times properly. So I ordered a used cylinder from a distributor. It would not go in at all.
I had my SAA worked on for CAS, including a .44-40 cylinder for my .44 Special gun. It shows signs of stoning on the ratchet. Nothing heavy, but it was fitted to the individual gun.
 
On DA revolver cylinders, the extractor must be timed to the hand/pawl. You don't want to under or over rotate the cylinder for each successive shot. You can cheat by dropping in the extractor from one cylinder to another. However, this requires knowledge as to disassembling those suckers (not a hard task).

There's also the issue of endshake mentioned by Jim. You don't want too much fore/aft movement of the cylinder once it's mounted in the frame. This is generally corrected by stretching the yoke (or on a Colt, stretching the gas ring).
 
Long odds against. Fitting required nearly allways.

Long odds against getting a new revolver with precise timing on all chambers in same cylinder. "Close enough to sell" most of the time.

Sam
 
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