First Build?

[Ctwo]

I'm not sure yet if I want to give it a whirl, but I was considering a ground up build of a revolver - something like a Black hawk convertible replica in .357.

I do have all the machines and probably enough skill to do it all - except rifling the barrel - for which I had even considered building a broach of some sort - or I guess there are barrel blanks cheap enough somewhere...?

And are there kit blanks available? I know there are plenty of plans available, maybe not for exactly what I want, but maybe so...? A simpler revolver?

Aside from that, I'm not getting a tingly feeling over the 80% lowers, etc...

Then I also read that something that made it sound as though I had to first build it as a single shot, then modify it for multiple cartridges...?

No threaded bbls? does that just apply to the business end? How else would you "screw" on a bbl?

OK, merely a pipe dream at this point, so I'm just collecting some information.

Thanks

[Ctwo]

Maybe I need to scrap the idea...

question 8 about a smooth bore leads me to believe than any handgun with a smooth bore is illegal, unless there is some tax paid AND it is an AOW (any other weapon???).

http://www.calguns.net/caawid/hgflowchart.pdf

[kcstott]

Let's put it this way, and take this from a toolmakers point of view. If you want to under take such a project I'd suggest getting the revolver you want as in buy it. Then reverse engineer it as plans are going to be hard to come by if at all. That said personally I would not attempt such an undertaking unless there was no other option.

As for the legalities read the flow chart in the tool bar above.
The smooth bore deal only applies if the pistol is designed to shoot fixed shotgun shells.
Now barrel liners can be had through Brownels in common pistol calibers. So you could drill a smooth bore and solder in a liner that has rifling

[Ctwo]

Let's put it this way, and take this from a toolmakers point of view. If you want to under take such a project I'd suggest getting the revolver you want as in buy it. Then reverse engineer it as plans are going to be hard to come by if at all. That said personally I would not attempt such an undertaking unless there was no other option.

As for the legalities read the flow chart in the tool bar above.
The smooth bore deal only applies if the pistol is designed to shoot fixed shotgun shells.
Now barrel liners can be had through Brownels in common pistol calibers. So you could drill a smooth bore and solder in a liner that has rifling

I think I am reading the flow chart.

#6 - does it shoot fixed shotgun shells - NO
#7 - does it have a stock or made from rifle - NO
#8 - does it have a smooth bore - YES -> grab your ankles!

I would want nice rifling and would opt to buy a barrel blank, and thread it for mounting to a frame - that seems logical enough.

Soldered or braised sleeves seem less...or I'd try to broach it myself...can't be that hard...

There are no other reasons other than interest and pursuit of knowledge.

[kcstott]

The sleeve already has rifling in it and is made to be a simple replacement on handgun barrels.
And yes I just re read the law. with a smooth bore it would be classified as an "unconventional pistol".

I'd try to broach it myself...can't be that hard...

Good luck with that. I could think of a lot of better ways to waste my time. The broach would ned to be a helix and that is not easy to grind. special fixturing, correct pitch followers, cutter grinder, You could spend 100K just on machinery alone to grind one helical broach.

Again I'd just get a pre made barrel or sleeve it.

[Gunsmith Dan]

While making your own is nice .... with all the parts kits and 80% receiver/frames out there ..... making your own revolver is a huge undertaking, that is understating it really.

The cost alone in machines and tools would be worth maybe dozens of top quality revolers.

The only inexpensive way would be making just the frame of a single action revolver (there is CAM files out there ready for direct input into a CNC mill) and then slap on the other parts. The single action revolver frame is one of the easiest to machine since they were designed way back in the day when simple designs were needed to be able to be manufactured.

[kcstott]

The other thing is you said you have all the machine tools.

Like what???

[Ctwo]

This might work

http://www.gunpartscorp.com/catalog/Detail.aspx?pid=586790&filter=586790

I think for what I want to do I do not need the barrel chambered, and I would rather find a heavy barrel so I could turn a taper...

BTW, I have a modest engine lathe and mill, and associated machinery...