RedBerens
Member
I was just wondering if anyone has had the full lug of their 686/629/625 barrel milled off to make it a half lug?
Anyone Had the Barrel Lug Milled Off?
- Thread starter RedBerens
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Mickey D
Member
I doubt it. Why would anyone care to do that?
Rigmover
Member
Why would anyone do that.Better off buying a half lug gun.
OP
RedBerens
Member
I could have sworn I saw a post with a 625 that had the lug re-profiled to half lug.
armybass
US Veteran
I don't know why anyone would devalue a gun like that in any way? I wonder if folks realize that they are in fact ruining the gun when they do that stuff? I have been a musician and a guitar player/collector for years and it used to make me really sad/angry when I would see people hack up old classic guitars and I feel the same way about guns. But it takes all types I guess.
If you want an L frame that looks right. By right I mean like a S&W and not trying to look like a Python or an over and under shotgun. Grinding off half of that offensive underlug makes great sense. If it's your gun and you want to do it don't let the revolver nazis stop you. If they don't want your gun "defiled" they should have bought it before you did. Property rights mean something. Your gun is your property do with it as you please.
cmort666
Member
I'm not a fan of full length lugs either, except on Pythons, Diamondbacks and Dan Wessons.
The ones on current S&Ws and especially Ruger GP100s just look clumsy.
357 shooter
Member
"Grinding off half of that offensive underlug makes great sense."
Evidently the vast majority of buyers have no problem with the underlug being there on various Smith revolvers. Before grinding off an underlug I would simply sell/trade the "offensive" revolver to aquire a lugless model. Keep the revolver intact , refrain from upsetting any revolver Nazis.
Evidently the vast majority of buyers have no problem with the underlug being there on various Smith revolvers. Before grinding off an underlug I would simply sell/trade the "offensive" revolver to aquire a lugless model. Keep the revolver intact , refrain from upsetting any revolver Nazis.
Sara Noh
Member
The cost to have the lug removed and the barrel recontoured would exceed the cost of buying a revolver with the profile you are seeking. The value of the modified revolver would be seriously compromised should you decied to sell. The whole proposition is a lose/lose situation. About the only time custom work and the attendant expense is justified is if you are creating a firearm that does not already exist and is obtainable at a reasonable price.
armybass
US Veteran
Yep, and when it is not worth a dime when you decide you want to sell your new masterpiece, it is your gun too. But I wont buy it from you.
Red, I think I've seen at least one on the forum like that. A little search time might find it. I've thought about it before but probably would never do it if for no other reason than destroying any resale value. I only have one with a full underlug (a 629 with RB) and have never really warmed up to it. In the 29/629 family you should be able to find what you want on the used gun market without altering a gun. The 625 is harder to find and has somewhat of a following so I'd leave those alone. The 586/686 family has lots of members so one of those would be my choice to try it on in a common variation, say maybe a 686 with six inch bbl. Not liking the lug and having no use for the L frame I guess I'm picking on those.
Just my opinion.
Keith
Just my opinion.
Keith
I have a 99% 586-1 4" and I would love to have the mountain gun barrel on it. All the L-frame blue finish mountain guns have the lock, MIM parts, and lame polishing.
Stophel
Member
It's a helluva lotta work with hacksaws and files, believe me. Whatever type of steel that stainless stuff is is TOUGH, let me tell you.
wraco
Member
I don't care for the underlug myself, but sure wouldn't be grinding it off either. Never heard of or saw one that has. I'd be buying the one I wanted from the get-go.
Rod
Rod
BillM
Member
I recall reading about a custom gunsmith that ground off half the lug on a 617.
Not this is starting to make me think about a half lug slab sided 617....
Not this is starting to make me think about a half lug slab sided 617....
It was several years ago. I think it was a 686 though. As I remember, the guy milled it off and then finished with files and abrasive cloth. It was really close to the factory contuour of the remaining half lug.
I think maybe it's time someone explained why anybody would want to cut the underlug in the first place. It's so that you can have the strength and durabilty of the L-frame without the muzzle-heavy balance the full lug gives the gun. You can't just go buy what you want, as some posters seem to think, because Smith never made an all-steel L frame without a full lug except in a couple of very limited editions. I wish they had, because the gun really does point and swing better without all that weight out front.
I remember seeing a photo of it on a Model 625 thread less than a year or so ago. It was a 5" Model 625 sitting on a yellow background with most of the underlug milled off. The current owner didn't know who had done the work, as he found it in a pawnshop already set up that way. It was an interesting idea, but the area around the ejector rod came out kinda funny looking.
I'd bet more than a couple of L-frames have been done that way, though. It's a good idea.
Okie John
Bwilli88
Member
I had a 4" 586 that I ground off the lug to a half lug, it was a great gun and I thought it handled like a 19 on steroids. It shot everything I put in it and it pointed very quickly.
I have a 581 serial number AAAxxxx and have thought about doing the same thing to it but it is such an early gun that I won't.
I would like to find a 85% shooter grade 581 that I could half lug and round butt.
Put my vote down for half lugs.
I have a 581 serial number AAAxxxx and have thought about doing the same thing to it but it is such an early gun that I won't.
I would like to find a 85% shooter grade 581 that I could half lug and round butt.
Put my vote down for half lugs.
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