Model 60 barrel

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MightyMouse4466

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I picked up this 3" model 60 today for cheap, because someone decided to play gunsmith and ported the barrel. I'm looking for suggestions, leave it alone, replace barrel, a way to hide or make them look better? Is replacing a barrel as easy as screwing old out and screwing new in? Will these holes (some of which are in the rifleing) have a effect on accuracy or reliability?
I will attempt to add image.

Thanks,
Tony

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What the bifurcated hell is the point of porting an M60?

I'd have to have a competent smith change that barrel forthwith. Maybe fifthwith.

I certainly wouldn't attemptit myself.
 
I have access to a great local (Cincinnati, Ohio) pistolsmith. I would QUICKLY get that revolver to him. Another path would be a call to the "Mother Ship". That DEFINITELY calls for a new barrel.

Dale53
 
First off - WELCOME to the Forum!

I am NOT trying to make you feel bad, but I recently posted a Thread about buying guns with "problems" from the get-go and how they are just a money pit waiting to happen.

To answer your question - I'd suggest either sell the gun (probably the best advise) and start over with a good one or replace the barrel which will wind up NOT being very cost effective.

Please let this serve as a lesson in how NOT to buy a gun. Again, my intent is here is just to point out all the reasons NEVER to buy what seems like a bargain! I hope you paid very very little for it. I doubt you will cost effectively find a 3" barrel, but you might get a 2" version and be able to have that installed. By the time you get the new barrel and have a Pro install it, you would more than likely be better off just offing it and buying an "UN-Bubba'd gun.
 
MightyMouse4466 said:
I could probably live with the top ports & I get what they were going for there, but the side ports is where they lost me.

I found on midway a $70 new barrel, does anyone have any experience swapping barrels on a S&W?

Smith & Wesson Heavy Barrel S&W 60 LS 3 - MPN: 079410000
Click to expand...

Installing a barrel is for the most part, better left to a Pro. Installing a new barrel is MORE than just unscrewing the original and screwing on a new one. You need some sort of barrel vise, machinery or equipment to properly set the B/C Gap,
align the barrel fit and make damned sure it's safe to shoot.


Seek out some quotes from Pro. GS's BEFORE buying a replacement! You may not want to do this after the quotes -
or maybe you will - but get all the facts BEFORE you buy the barrel. At least you will know what you are in for.

PS: the $68 bucks for the barrel at Midway is fairly priced - just get the rest of the story!
 
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68 bucks for a new barrel is not bad.I would get an estimate from a competent gunsmith. If you got it "cheap" enough you may still be Ok.

I would not attempt this yourself. At least if you have it repaired you have rescued that poor thing.
 
My smith charges $40.00 to do a barrel swap. This includes all the normal things and will even shorten the ejector rod if going to a shorter barrel. So there is a hard number for you if you are in SW Ohio.
 
Just WOW!!!

I expected to see a "professionally" ported gun, and give my normal advice of "Just leave it be and shoot the heck out of it, but make sure you got it really cheap using the porting as a bargaining chip. I would never have a revolver ported myself, but it wouldn't stop me from buying one already ported at great price." In fact, I did buy one magna-ported.

However, whatever "this" porting job is I don't know. Not sure I would even call it porting, more like "drilling vent holes"? This guy was the pure definition of "bubba". I'm almost speechless at his inability to even get the ports semi straight or linear. It looks terrible, and something a 12yo would have done. Apologies to OP if any offense it taken.

In this case, a new barrel would be a must. Although without knowing how much $$$ is on the line, it's probably better to just sell it and hope to break even. Use that money for a good one.

To answer the OP's one question, NO, a professionally done port job will not have an effect on accuracy or reliability.
 
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Whether it shoots acceptably or not, I'd have to find a new barrel for it. That mess is just intolerable. Get it fixed. If the rest of the gun is ok, it's worth it.
 
MightyMouse4466 said:
I picked up this 3" model 60 today for cheap, because someone decided to play gunsmith and ported the barrel. I'm looking for suggestions, leave it alone, replace barrel, a way to hide or make them look better? Is replacing a barrel as easy as screwing old out and screwing new in? Will these holes (some of which are in the rifleing) have a effect on accuracy or reliability?
I will attempt to add image.

Thanks,
Tony

If you think that was bad, take a look at this model 66 I found in a pawn shop several years ago. My first reaction was what the @#%*??? :eek: Someone managed to put a 4" barrel on a round butt frame and then proceeded to totally ruin that 4" barrel. Would have been interesting to fire it though to see what would happen! :rolleyes:
Click to expand...
 

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