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Old 10-14-2018, 12:10 PM
notsofast notsofast is offline
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Default 2 piece barrel swap?

Who does two piece barrel swaps? If it’s a same length swap (in this case, slab side to round) do you re-use the inner barrel tube and fit the new outer “sleeve”?
Can a frame originally meant for a 2 piece barrel be fitted with a conventional one piece?
Thanks
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Old 10-15-2018, 07:19 PM
Hondo44 Hondo44 is offline
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1. Who does two piece barrel swaps?

2. If it’s a same length swap (in this case, slab side to round) do you re-use the inner barrel tube and fit the new outer “sleeve”?

3. Can a frame originally meant for a 2 piece barrel be fitted with a conventional one piece?
Thanks
1. Anyone with a S&W barrel wrench for the two piece barrel. It has a T handle and 'male' rifling that twists down into the barrel liner rifling.

2. Yes.

3. Yes.
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Old 10-15-2018, 07:49 PM
notsofast notsofast is offline
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Using the orig bbl as a 'shroud' is called a 'Bbl sleeve'.
The orig bbl becomes nothing more than a thin tube that retains the bbl contour, the rib, Ft/site, ejector shroud in this case and the front lock up.
The thin bbl contour on the 27 is one of it's beauty points and that feature is what conversions try to keep. Simply replaceing the bbl w/a 29 ends up w/a heavy bbl unless you can find a Mtn bbl. But then the rib checkering is gone too.

The 'new bbl' is some times made from scratch from a section of bbl blank.
Turned down, threaded for the frame. It is an entire bbl in itself including the forcing cone, threads and a shoulder to abut the frame.
The length is turned a suitable dia to match what ever size the old bbl has been bore out to.
That is determined by some machining experience.
You want the new bbl to be as large in dia as possible,,it has to be able to be a stand alone bbl in itself as far as strength. The old bbl as a shroud will provide no strength to the assembly.
Boring out the old bbl as large as possible w/o running into the problems of ringing the outside of the bbl if you get it too thin, ect are the things experience tells you.

The old bbl will have it's threaded shank cut and removed as it will not be needed. Just that portion from the front of the frame forward.
A nice slip fit over the new bbl is best and attachment can be with either epoxy or lately 'smiths are using Locktite Bearing & Shaft (#602?) for bbl liners and jobs like this.

The shroud is installed with the new bbl already setup in the frame. So carefully do that so no Locktite or glue seals the threads on the new bbl to the frame.
Trim the muzzle overhang and refit the cyl gap, ect and you are back in biz.


Another way to that 'new bbl' is to use an old takeoff bbl from the same frame gun in the right caliber. No need to turn threads and fit, ect.
Just turn betw centers and remove the bulk of the contour, rib, shroud ect and leave yourself with that straight tube of a bbl again with the threaded section already done for you.

You can back it up any amt you want to allow for adj of cyl gap, end shake adj, or recut forcing cone by turning the shoulder off a few .000.
Saves a lot of work and usable clean bore bbls are often available that are less than pretty on the outside, have already been cut or reblued, ect. Perfect for this project.
You just need an exc bore and threads and long enough for your project and for the right frame size.

I see this as a better alternative than a full length liner in the orig bbl. A few of those I've seen off center, crack, loose, ect.
Of course workmanship plays into it, but the liner can only be so big in dia at the breech and that isn't very big when you stuff a 44 or 45 liner into an existing N frame bbl and then cut a forcing cone in it.
It does work though and has been done many many times with success.

Originally posted by, 2152hq. Great info, thanks

Last edited by notsofast; 10-15-2018 at 07:54 PM.
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Old 10-15-2018, 08:07 PM
WR Moore WR Moore is offline
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I would expect that there's an alignment stud on either the frame or barrel shroud of the two piece barrel system. If on the frame, that stud would have to be removed to fit a one piece barrel.

I'd be interesting to know where one could get just a shroud.
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Old 10-15-2018, 09:21 PM
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cgt4570 cgt4570 is offline
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I'd be interesting to know where one could get just a shroud.
Numrich has them listed on gunbroker.
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Old 10-15-2018, 09:31 PM
Hondo44 Hondo44 is offline
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The thin bbl contour on the 27 is one of it's beauty points and that feature is what conversions try to keep. Simply replaceing the bbl w/a 29 ends up w/a heavy bbl unless you can find a Mtn bbl. But then the rib checkering is gone too. Originally posted by, 2152hq. Great info, thanks
If the objective is a 44 Mag with a tapered barrel like Mod 27, just use a Mod 24, 44 Spl barrel, they're all tapered. And cross checker the serrations on the barrel rib. Don't have to find a 44 Mtn Gun barrel unless you're starting with a stainless gun.

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Last edited by Hondo44; 10-15-2018 at 09:33 PM.
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Old 10-21-2018, 12:10 PM
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If the objective is a 44 Mag with a tapered barrel like Mod 27, just use a Mod 24, 44 Spl barrel, they're all tapered. And cross checker the serrations on the barrel rib. Don't have to find a 44 Mtn Gun barrel unless you're starting with a stainless gun.

Would that work? Isn't the barrel shank longer on the special barrels and the cylinder shorter? Wouldn't you run out of room when it comes to fitting the front lockup?
Steve
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Old 10-21-2018, 04:43 PM
Hondo44 Hondo44 is offline
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Would that work? Isn't the barrel shank longer on the special barrels and the cylinder shorter? Wouldn't you run out of room when it comes to fitting the front lockup?
Steve
Yes it is. But whatever barrel you use, the barrel will need fitting to get the bar/cyl gap correct. The 44 Spl barrel will just need more of the shank taken off to be fitted to the longer 44 Mag cyl, and the barrel forcing cone recut.

Brownells makes a nifty little tool that makes cutting the forcing cone simple.
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