|
|
10-10-2017, 10:42 PM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
Liked 25 Times in 6 Posts
|
|
Model 41 barrel compatibility
I have a Model 41, 5 inch barrel, made in 1969. Are there any issues with different barrels fitting? Mainly switching to a 5 1/2 heavy barrel from a much newer gun. thanks
|
10-10-2017, 10:48 PM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Earth
Posts: 3,222
Likes: 3,749
Liked 3,780 Times in 1,388 Posts
|
|
I personally haven't had any issues swapping barrels between my 2 41's. I have however read here on this forum of some issues trying to close the trigger guard with some barrels. I believe forum member Tom Beckwith covered this issue some time ago with a pic of where to massage the locking lug on the bottom of the barrel to make snapping the trigger guard closed much easier. Maybe he will see this thread and chime in.
|
10-10-2017, 11:22 PM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Adirondack foothills
Posts: 1,061
Likes: 10,970
Liked 1,047 Times in 475 Posts
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by 824tsv
I personally haven't had any issues swapping barrels between my 2 41's. I have however read here on this forum of some issues trying to close the trigger guard with some barrels. I believe forum member Tom Beckwith covered this issue some time ago with a pic of where to massage the locking lug on the bottom of the barrel to make snapping the trigger guard closed much easier. Maybe he will see this thread and chime in.
|
I have a recent vintage 41 (about 12 years old) that I bought with a 7" barrel, I decided that I wanted to set it up with a 5" barrel and a UltraDot and purchased one from Gil Hebard, it snapped right on, perfect function ever since.
That said, Tom Beckwith is the man!
__________________
Tony
|
10-11-2017, 06:47 AM
|
|
Moderator
|
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: SE Michigan
Posts: 18,590
Likes: 8,407
Liked 17,197 Times in 5,636 Posts
|
|
I had to hand fit one barrel I bought for one of my 41's. It's an easy job, requiring just a file and a sharpie marker. Took maybe 15 minutes, IIRC.
__________________
So many S&W's, so few funds!!
|
10-11-2017, 08:23 PM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 92
Likes: 295
Liked 67 Times in 34 Posts
|
|
I, like Tom S, bought a 5.50" for my 1967 41, and had to LIGHTLY file the lug to have the trigger guard snap home. I think the barrels all have a few
thous extra "meat" on them for this purpose. My fix took about 10-15
minutes also. By the way, the 5.5" barrel is balanced (FOR ME!) much
better than the 7", and is super accurate.
|
10-14-2017, 06:21 PM
|
|
SWCA Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Roanoke, Virginia
Posts: 978
Likes: 129
Liked 1,332 Times in 541 Posts
|
|
I have two model 41's and six assorted barrels. All the barrels fit on both frames without any adjustment or problems. The older frame is from 1965 and the "new" one dates to 1986 or 87.
|
10-14-2017, 09:47 PM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Canada
Posts: 2,357
Likes: 675
Liked 714 Times in 534 Posts
|
|
I have a 1958 year model m41 and have placed a friends new 5.5" barrel on it without any problem at all. His is a 2016 year model m41.
|
10-18-2017, 07:45 AM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 17,817
Likes: 7,852
Liked 25,735 Times in 8,695 Posts
|
|
My 1979 vintage M41 accepts any barrel I'ver tried with no fitting what so ever. I routinely swap out the original 5 1/2" Bull Barrel with my 5" lightweight Field Sporter with no issues at all. The 7" also just pops on.
|
10-18-2017, 06:38 PM
|
Absent Comrade
|
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Deer Park Texas
Posts: 450
Likes: 410
Liked 596 Times in 212 Posts
|
|
I just acquired a 7 in barrel for my 41. I can get the trigger to snap closed but lm afraid I’m going to break something. Is this an easy fix.
|
10-18-2017, 07:40 PM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
Liked 25 Times in 6 Posts
|
|
Thanks for all the repies. I got a 5.5 barrel today, and it fits, but closing the trigger guard is a little hard. Is this normal, and does it need to be fitted? The original 5 inch barrel goes in fairly easy. I tried a 7 inch barrel, and it is about the same as the 5.5. The gun is a 1969 model, so the original 5 inch barrel has probably been removed a number of times. The 5.5 and 7 don't appear to have been used much.
|
11-09-2017, 10:27 PM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
Liked 25 Times in 6 Posts
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tom S.
I had to hand fit one barrel I bought for one of my 41's. It's an easy job, requiring just a file and a sharpie marker. Took maybe 15 minutes, IIRC.
|
Could you give a quick run down on this process. Where do you start, where do you remove material, etc? I have one barrel that is really tight. The trigger guard will snap closed, but it is tight. Thanks
|
11-09-2017, 11:38 PM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Canada
Posts: 2,357
Likes: 675
Liked 714 Times in 534 Posts
|
|
Contact Thom Beckwith as he will help you in the right direction to get this job done. Not a hard job at all to do.
|
11-10-2017, 02:23 AM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 213
Likes: 106
Liked 87 Times in 47 Posts
|
|
Not hard , but you have to know what you are doing.
**************************
BIG DISCLAIMER
If you are in any way not comfortable with your skills to do this,
please engage the services of a skilled gunsmith !!!
**************************
You can remove a tiny amount of metal from the front edge of the lug, OR from the top edge of the "V" cut-out that the locking pawl engages with.
It is the dimension of the barrel lug, front face to the bottom of the V that determines the tension of the retaining pawl, and therefore the firmness of the trigger guard closure.
1. The position of the barrel in the frame ultimately determines the (closed) position of the slide in the frame.
2. The slide HAS to be in the correct position relative to the frame for the correct operation of the hammer, trigger, disconnects, safeties etc.
3. Where you remove excess metal off the barrel locating lug ( front face or the rear facing V cut out) will determine its position within the frame, which will determine to position of the slide, and consequently affect the actual operation of the pistol.
4. The correct "closed" position of the slide is when the rear edge of the slide lines up perfectly with the rear edge of the frame.
5. removing metal from the FRONT of the locating lug will mean that the barrel will sit a little bit further FORWARD in the frame.
This will allow the slide to close a little bit further forward and no longer line up with the rear edge of the frame.
So, with the barrel fitted and the trigger guard closed up as best as possible, close the slide and check for alignment with the rear edge of the frame.
If the rear edge of the slide lines up perfectly with the rear edge of the frame, the position / dimension of the FRONT FACE of the lug is perfect.
Just take a little metal off the top edge right down to the bottom of the lug "V"
If the rear edge of the slide is slightly rearward of the rear edge of the frame, just take a tiny amount of metal off the FRONT EDGE of the barrel lug.
Last edited by leinster lad; 11-10-2017 at 02:24 AM.
|
11-10-2017, 08:16 AM
|
|
Moderator
|
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: SE Michigan
Posts: 18,590
Likes: 8,407
Liked 17,197 Times in 5,636 Posts
|
|
The two tools needed are a Sharpie pen and a knife edge fine cut file. In my case. I had to remove material from the bottom of the "V" notch on the barrel. Coating the notch with the Sharpie ink (let it dry for a minute or so), will show where the binding is taking place by the marks left. Lightly file where the marks appear, then re-coat with the Sharpie and repeat until the barrel snaps into place without extreme effort. If wanted, you can lightly stone the file marks to smooth them out, but use will also do this.
__________________
So many S&W's, so few funds!!
|
11-10-2017, 10:09 AM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 213
Likes: 106
Liked 87 Times in 47 Posts
|
|
Nice tip about marking with the sharpie Tom !
|
11-11-2017, 12:34 AM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Canada
Posts: 2,357
Likes: 675
Liked 714 Times in 534 Posts
|
|
I agree as thats a Good move so you don't take off excess material. The sharpies work great for doing this job.
|
11-11-2017, 03:01 AM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 213
Likes: 106
Liked 87 Times in 47 Posts
|
|
Should also see my previous post.
Really need to see if the barrel is in the correct position relative to the frame !!
|
|
Posting Rules
|
|
|
|
|