Cut down my 629?

[ImDrRich]

I've always been a huge fan of short-barrelled wheel guns and am thinking of converting my 4" 629-6 to a 2" bbl and have it look like the Camfour .44 magnum. The idea of a 2" N-frame revolver has been going around in my head for quite awhile.

I know that shooting magnum loads might be prohibitive, so I would mainly shooting .44 spl.

While I'm drooling over this conversion, something stops me - I'm wondering if you guys can talk me into this or talk me out of this - you know, enable me or not enable me, .

Seriously, I'd like your opinions.

Thanks to all who respond -

Rich

 

[lppd4]

I wouldn't do it. I would look for what you wanted and buy that. It may always look like a cut down 4"

 

[Baltimoreed11754]

I’ve cut down sg and rifle bbls but only one revolver [a .45 vaquero was professionally done] and I’ve swapped 2 inch bbls for long bbls several times on colt and smith .38s. My 2 cents would be a bbl swap as opposed to cutting if possible. Here’s a smith before and after.

 

[mod29]

Since you've asked, I vote no.
Four-inch barrels are close to perfect in my opinion

 

[Seamus O'Caiside]

Lousy idea. Short-barrel revolvers are a dime a dozen, but REAL guns with REAL barrels on them are hard to find. I wouldn't want even a 4" barrel, much less a 2".

 

[lihpster]

In my opinion, cutting it is a bad idea. If you don't like the result, going back is difficult and expensive. I would either do the barrel swap, as it can be fairly easily reversed, or, if you're heart is set on a snubby and you can't afford one outright, look to find a way to trade. I'm sure there's someone out there who is tired of their snubby and would like a longer barrel. Or a LGS that would take it in trade. Just my opinion.

 

[steelslaver]

I have nothing against snubs, but a 2" barrel 44 mag is not practical even shooting 44 specials. I carry a 2 1/2" 325 and another 1/2 of barrel wouldn't be a problem to conceal in conjunction with the frame and cylinder.

is it possible? Sure, start with a heavy barrel and turn the shank end down and thread so the lug and shroud move back then nip it off right at the ejector. Just enough off that with the tip pushed flush on yoke to give the brass a good start. Y ou could do a Jovino and remove the actual lug and install a ball detent or 2 on the yoke

 

[ImDrRich]

Does S&W even make 2" .44 mag barrels?

 

[Shark Bait]

I think a 2 inch barrel would look odd on an N frame, but a 3 inch would be nice.

 

[JH1951]

I would also like to have a 2"..... That said, I would not cut the existing barrel. The markings will look funky forever. I would replace it. That can always be undone. I know nothing about the availability of a 2" .44.

 

[sodacan]

Cut it, don't cut it, who cares?

 

[lrrifleman]

Rich, I would strongly advise against cutting the barrel down. If you cut the barrel to 2", chances are extremely good that you'll have to shorten the extractor, which could impede positive extraction of fired cases.

After developing a strong fondness for my 36-6 3", I've acquired a 686+ 3" and I have a 629 3" on the way. Considering the cost and availability of handguns today, I'd look for a 3" barrel that can be installed. Should you either get tired of the shorter barrel, or it doesn't deliver the accuracy that you seek, you can always reinstall the original 4" barrel. This is the luxury of having a switch barrel!

 

[UncleEd]

Does the OP really mean a 2-inch
barrel? Since nearly half the barrel will
be within the frame of the gun,
only 1-inch will stick out beyond the
frame.

How about a 2.75-inch barrel?

But the best idea is a 4-inch barrel.
Oh, wait.........

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Another vote for swap.
Midway shows a 3 inch barrel for $103.
And I have a 6 inch 629 barrel in my stash.

 

[cjcutter1]

Negative!!

 

[emptymag]

2 inch, no.
3 inch, yeah... sure.

 

[mod34]

I've always been a huge fan of short-barrelled wheel guns and am thinking of converting my 4" 629-6 to a 2" bbl and have it look like the Camfour .44 magnum. The idea of a 2" N-frame revolver has been going around in my head for quite awhile.

I know that shooting magnum loads might be prohibitive, so I would mainly shooting .44 spl.

While I'm drooling over this conversion, something stops me - I'm wondering if you guys can talk me into this or talk me out of this - you know, enable me or not enable me, .

Seriously, I'd like your opinions.

Thanks to all who respond -

Rich

PM me and I'll sell you a gorgeous 629-4 with box and docs for likely a bit less than you'd have in this....

 

[629shooter]

Does S&W even make 2" .44 mag barrels?

The Performance Center 629 is the closest that is still in production. It has a 2.6".

Sent from my SM-G892A using Tapatalk

 

[WCCPHD]

Camfour released a 629-5 and a 629-6 in 2.5 inch



Lew Horton commissioned a three inch 629-3 (pictured with the 2.5 inch Camfour for barrel length comparison)

 

[Laketime]

To me it’s a pointless idea to ruin a good gun for something that would only be practical for a few with an acquired taste for such a gun.