Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Visited with an interesting pistolsmith in Tulsa......

Rick Johnson of Red Line Custom Handguns, Balaton, MN converts rimfire Smiths to .17HRM. He says he is getting 2 inch groups at 50 yards. Costs about $250 and currently has a 30 day turnaround. Nice looking work.
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<br>He also converts larger frames to .22 Hornet and .218 Bee. Both are done by relining the barrel and cylinders.
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<br>I am just repeating what I was told here, but it looked like nice work and I am considering sending a gun to him to be converted to .218 Bee or .17HRM.

I have an old K-22 Smith & Wesson. Could he make that into a .218 Bea? I think that would be pretty cool.

If It . . . .
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<br>He converts S&W .22 Magnum revolvers or any .22 Revolver. I was thinking a 10-shot 617 mod to .17 might be an interesting piece.
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<br>Norm

Hawkeye:
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<br>I am not sure, but you would certainly be better off using something like a K38 or M27 or 28 because of the centerfire conversion problem. He relines the cylinder and barrel. I did ask about the .22 Hornet backing out, and he said that it did a bit, but he had sleeved the firing pin bushing and it would not jam the action. Of course, the 218 Bee is a pretty straight walled case so that is not a problem with it.
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<br>DN:
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<br>We covered quite a bit of ground in a short while, and I think to use a regular K22 he has to replace the cylinder, but don't hold me to that. As for the extrra shots, again, I didn't ask, and don't know if there would be enough room. Ask him yourself.......he has a web site, but these conversions are not on it. Phone # 507 823 4503.
<br>Site is www.redlinecustom.com
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<br>As usual, I have zero commercial relationship with Mr. Johnson and am not personally endorsing his services since I have not used them, but he sounded OK to me and I probably will have something done by him.