This is interesting, I was going to ask how many ounces you think you lose by doing so. I would not have guessed so much. Half a lb is pretty dramatic. I do love the full lug on my 629 6 1/2 inch though. Like the look, love how it eats recoil, and I'm more accurate with it than any other handgun I've ever fired. But I also kind of like the idea of customizing your own gun to fit your specific tastes. A lot of work, no doubt, but so is tying your own flies for fishing. Your gun your world.