Will S&W make a custom barrel?

Engine49guy · Apr 17, 2011

S&W has made alot of .22lr copies of their big bore counterparts
Model 14 aka 17, Model 15 aka the 18, 586 aka 17-6, 686 aka 617 etc.

One of my dream guns is a .22lr version of the Model 19.

Lately been wondering since the new Model 15 has a 19 barrel profile with ejector shroud they must be making those barrels right?

Maybe for a fee they could pull a Model 15 barrel blank and drop it on the Model 18 assembly line so its finished in .22lr.

In a perfect world it would be that simple ...is it possable?

I have an 8 3/8" barrel 17-4 that would make a perfect donor.
Just hate to cut down a perfectly good barrel..

dfariswheel · Apr 17, 2011

For this question you need to go straight to the source: The S&W Performance Center, which is S&W's custom shop.

Engine49guy · Apr 18, 2011

No go,
Called today and they said they order the barrels in batches and that it would be too difficult to place an order for one barrel reamed to .22 lr.

Guess its not impossable just not feasable.
The reality is that it would just take a phone call to the right guy from the right person.
They just had no idea how to initiate that call.

The guy I spoke with also said the would not cut down an existing barrel.

k22fan · Apr 18, 2011

Well, you got the answer I predicted. If you hadn't, you'd have put S&W in the business of creating a one off custom ordered instant collector item for every forum member!

It's the difference between that one off collector item and the shooter you want, but neighborhood gunsmiths make part of their money bringing ideas like yours to life. If the're any good, only other S&W collectors notice that something isn't factory. Now if your dumb enough to really, really want an 18 with an ejector rod shroud, ... [oops! swat my fingers! I meant for them to type "if you're inteligent enough to realize the desperate need for an 18 with an ejector rod shroud"] ... then head on down to your neighborhood smith and ask how he wants to proceed. Two methods come to mind. You could reline a 19 barrel or make a ejector rod shroud and solder it onto an 18. Alternatively, you could come to appreciate that the 36 oz. weight of an 18 matches the weight of a 4" 19 and consequently an 18 would be a wee bit inferior as a trainer for a 19 if you add a shroud.

I like customized guns but an ejector rod shroud makes too little difference to be worth the expense for me but what I've spent money on might look silly to you.

Best Regards,
Gil

Keith Brown · Apr 18, 2011

An easier route might be to buy a four inch model 53 with an auxiliary .22 long rifle cylinder. Not an inexpensive gun but having one made from parts will also cost a pretty penny.

Keith

M29since14 · Apr 18, 2011

Keith is correct. Then you would really have something for your money. If you can't find a gun with the auxiliary cylinder, Hamilton Bowen has blanks and can make you one.

Alternatively, you could snoop around for an old Jet barrel and have Hamilton fit it to a K22. The problem with that approach is that any decent smith will want to remark the barrel to .22 LR - and it can be done, but it is not cheap.

Engine49guy · Apr 20, 2011

Thanks for all the replies,
I have thought about this one alot.
The other problem with trying to change the barrel to a 22 WMR barrel is that the factory used Magnum length cylinders.

End result will be a barrel with a shorter forcing cone.
The barrel could be turned down a few more turns but you see the problem.
Its not that big an issue, just day dreaming about my dream guns.

But ,
if you have read this far chances are you have a dream gun of your own.

tennexplorer · Apr 20, 2011

Jim Stroh at Alpha Precision used to do this conversion. He took a Model 66 barrel and sleeved it to .22 and put it on a 617. Looked good. He has photos on his website.

Will S&W make a custom barrel?

Engine49guy

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dfariswheel

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Engine49guy

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k22fan

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Keith Brown

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M29since14

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Engine49guy

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tennexplorer

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