Need Help

[RRMan03]

Ok all you smart guys. What calibers can a 38-40 cylinder be converted to? Looks like i am going to have one and I sure am not chasing 38-40 ammo. So what are my options. Call you gunsmith friends and tell me what caliber and how much to reem it out. It is coming of a Ruger Blackhawk Buckeye. Yes on of the Limited Edition set guns. And I know I am killing the set but I do not care.I do not reload and you cannot find 38-40 in anything close to a full power load anywhere so Im just converting if possible. HELP !!!

[The_Shadow]

It's hard to say exactly, but it might could be cut to accept 400Corbon or 40Super, however it might be just as cheap to maintain the gun's value keeping the original cylinder and just cut a new cylinder.  The 400Corbon and Triton 40Super are not as popular thus costly cartridges.  40S&W  chamber is what you are looking for...40S&W would be the ultimate for shooting cheaper ammo all around.

[sqlbullet]

The barrel will handle any round that fires a .400 projectile.  The COAL of the 38-40 is 1.60", but generally revolver window frames will handle longer cartridges.

Those would be the general limits.  Beyond that it is a question of how much you want to spend on the conversion.

[RRMan03]

Well now that I have made the deal. i definitely do not want the 38-40 cylinder. I was thinking the 40SW also. What would it require to make the change to that cylinder. Could my 38-40 be converted to that or would Ihave to find one to fit the gun. Not sure cylinder length.I got the gun NIB and could have got the set but I had no use for the matching gun. If you know anybody who needs the othr gun NIB I know where one is probably for sale.I traded at 10 for a 10 plus 38-40. I guess I can let it lay in the safe so if I ever do decide to sell it would be original but I sure would like to have another cylinder like the 40SW to fit in the gun.The other 2 big 40 calibers really do not interest me. At worst I have a brand new 10mm revolver. Happy Day.Anybody even know what a NIB Ruger Blackhawk Buckeye Special Edition is even worth NIB. I saw one on Guns America for 1200 only the 10mm.

[DM1906]

What do you mean by "set"?  2 guns (.38-40/10mm and .32-20/.32HRM) with matching serial numbers?  If that's what you have, it's worth a bunch, especially NIB.  If you have only one gun with 2 cylinders, it's worth $650-900, NIB (not a "set").  $1200 is crazy price, but it is a crazy market, lately.

Anyway, "full power" .38-40 is available (Black Hills-reasonable or Winchester-$$$).  However, "full power" in a commercial load is a cowboy round, and limited to about .44 SPL power, which is "full power" for the .38-40.  If you mean full power "Ruger only" power (.44M range), then only handloads will get you there.  If you don't/won't handload, find someone who does, get the dies/brass (Lee/Starline is what I use), and the components (basic .40/10mm bullets), then work some up.

The .400 Corbon and .40 Super aren't really much more impressive than the full power 10mm (Underwood), and are very similar to 10mm with larger bullets.  You already have a 10mm revolver.

Or......
If you're not in a hurry, PM me and I'll fill you in on a project I'm working on.  I can't go public with it yet, as patents are not yet pending.

If you still insist on re-chambering your Buckeye Special, send it to Ruger and have a .40SW cylinder made for it, then you can cut it to whatever you want (chamber cutting is cheap, compared to all the rest it'll take you to get there).  Cutting the .38-40 cylinder won't work, as it is too deep for all the other .40 caliber cartridges.  It is, in fact, a .44-40 (similar outer dimensions to the .44M) necked down to .40 caliber.  I make my Heavy Duty (full power Ruger only) .38-40 cases out of .44M brass.

If you REALLY don't want to mess with .38-40 at all, I'll buy the cylinder from you.  I can use a spare.

[RRMan03]

DM1906:
Thanks for the info. Just sent you a DM.

[sqlbullet]

Reading through your responses, I see now better you are asking what your could convert to using a 38-40 cylinder to start.  The answer is not much, at least on the cheap.

Converting to any straight wall .400 cartridge would require sleeving the chambers, which is not a great option.

Best bet, enjoy some 38-40 or sell the cylinder to fund a new one.

[RRMan03]

Yes that was correct. Just found the info to load the 38-40 up to Ruger only specs and that will do the job. do not need much ammo there just enought to say Igot enought  to shoot that cylinder if I wanted to and a a much higher power than the old 38-40 factory load. It can become almost a 44mag and for sure a 41 mag in power if done correctly. See if you listen here and ask the right questions you can sure learn what you need to know. Thanks to all.

[gandog56]

The 400Corbon and Triton 40Super are not as popular thus costly cartridges. 

Not when you reload like me!