Four Screw 28 quandry

[swampersand]

I have a nice Model 28 6" 4 screw purchased from a Forum member last year. The problem I have is that the barrel is bulged, about .002 or .003" just behind the muzzel. The bulge is barely noticeable and the previous owner said he never noticed it and that the gun was "very accurate".

It bothers me that the bulge is there and I wonder what the most practical solution would be: Get a new 6" barrel which I have not found yet, cut this barrel back to about 5 1/4 or 5", try to swage the barrel back to original diameter using a mandrel and shaped blocks in a vise ( other suggestions?) or leave it alone.

Shortening the barrel to 5" would put "Smith & Wesson" exactly centered between the muzzle and the front of the frame. Could a good gunsmith do this and move the red insert front sight without altering the finish?

Numerich has a 4" barrel for a 28-3 for about $150, is this a practical out? Would the 28-3 barrel be a legitimate fit if the pin channel was there or put there?

Serial number is S 2111xx.


I may be overlooking another solution and would appreciate the sage advice anyone might offer.

Thanks,

 

[VM]

If it were mine, I'd make a 5"er out of it. Yes, a good gunsmith can put a new sight on for you. Since it will be custom length, I'd consider a custom sight {??} - a gold bead would be cool.
I do question your measurement though as 2 or 3 thousandths of an inch is about the thickness of a hair and would be hard to see with naked eye.

 

[Aussie44]

I'd leave it but if it worries you have a gunsmith recess the crown and it should be gone.It's only .002 to .003 and the recessing of the crown will remove it.


Ken

 

[Big Cholla]

I too would have a good smith shorten the bbl. to 5". After using a 5" for a little bit you will wonder why S&W ever made anything else! .... Big Cholla

 

[swampersand]

As I re-read my post, it isn't clear about the measurements involved. The swell in the barrel is about .002 or .003 and is located about 1/2 to 5/8" behind the muzzle so that removing an inch would remove the swell. It is difficult to see and I didn't notice it until I was oiling the surface and could feel the swell. Now that I know it is there, I see it in most lighting conditions.

I presumme that the value of the gun is basically fixed at less than $500, so cutting wouldn't hurt the value.

 

[VM]

I understand your measurement now.................
I could not live with bulge either. Either the custom cut and modifacation or................... do a barrel swap.
I would not pay that much for a new one (when you have a used gun). I've seen them, good used (here on the Forum) between $50 and $100 in the last few years.

 

[Jack Flash]

From a shooter's point of view, I would favor the idea of having the barrel shortened to 5". To me, this is the ideal length for an N-Frame. If this centers the barrel markings, that's a neat side effect. Downside is, it will be a custom gun, and you can probably never sell it for what you have in it.

From a collector's point of view and for best chance at recouping what you have spent on it, I would favor finding a 4" or 6" barrel and doing a swap. These come up from time to time in the Classifieds for considerably less than $100. The 4" barrel may actually enhance its value. Of course, when/if you go to sell it, you will want to include the old barrel and disclose the gun's history.

From the most practical point of view, I would say shoot it as is and see how accurate it is. If it's like the seller says, why worry? If it's barely noticable, why dwell on it?

 

[swampersand]

Thanks for the opinions and offers. I remeasured the bulge and it is more like .005". I get .621 on either side of it and .631 in the center of the swell, .010" swell on the diameter, .005" on the radial.

Has anyone ever tried just forcing the bulge back into the barrel and using a mandrel to keep from decreasing the I.D.?

 

[Big Cholla]

"&": I owned a .270 Win. that I stuck in the snow one winter and caused a small swell about 4 inches back from the muzzle. I was handloading for the rifle and knew very well how it shot with my handloads. After the bulge was created I checked for accuracy problems very carefully. There was no change in accuracy. More than likely you have no problem other than a slight imperfection that only you can see. If you can't stand it get the barrel shortened or get a new barrel. But you don't really have to. ........... Big Cholla

 

[Big Cholla]

"&": To address your swaging question; The metal is 'stretched' now. Swage down the outside of the barrel and you will create a bulge inside the barrel. So that horse is out of the barn. ......... Big Cholla

 

[S&WIowegan]

It's your gun and you can do what makes you happy. I would just point out a couple things I've learned over the years.

I have owned and shot a few bulged barrel revolvers. None of the bulges were severe. The bulge had no noticeable effect on accuracy.

Also, I bought a Colt OMM off the internet a few years ago. When my gunsmith and I examined it, we both could see and feel a bulge in the outside of the barrel. However, try as we might, we could not see or feel any bulge in the bore. We concluded that the bulge was most likely a manufacturing/finishing defect as opposed to a squib load mishap.

Finally, a Model 28-2 is a pretty inexpensive gun to spend money for rework on.

 

[DelavanKs]

I say sell it to me as I have been wanting a 5" Model 28
for quite a while and I need a project gun.
Chuck

 

[swampersand]

You guys/gals are great!! Wouldn't it be great if the govt. worked this well? You all have convinced me that I probably should learn to love the little swell or take back to 5". The good news is that as a procrastinator I am not going to hurt a thing waiting for the best solution to evolve. The condition of the finish makes me lean towards "dithering", after all it's in fashion.

Thank you all.

 

[Aussie44]

As I re-read my post, it isn't clear about the measurements involved. The swell in the barrel is about .002 or .003 and is located about 1/2 to 5/8" behind the muzzle so that removing an inch would remove the swell. It is difficult to see and I didn't notice it until I was oiling the surface and could feel the swell. Now that I know it is there, I see it in most lighting conditions.

I presumme that the value of the gun is basically fixed at less than $500, so cutting wouldn't hurt the value.

Well I take back what I posted earlier.


Ken

 

[akviper]

I vote for the five inch option. The N frame looks perfect with the five inch barrel. My five inch Model 27 is my favorite field 357. I'd spend the money to send it to somebody who can do the modification correctly.