N Frame barrel fitted to an L Frame?

[balldboy]

I'd really like to bump up my 696 to a 4" barrel without the full underlug.

Would it be possible to mate a 624 or 629 4" barrel to my frame?

I realize I could buy a 624 but then it's a bigger grip and a wider cylinder.

Thanx in advance,
Pete

 

[john traveler]

It's a "no-go".

The N-frame barrel has a thicker barrel shank, and the boreline-to-extractor rod-centerline is larger than on the L-frame.

 

[K38]

You could have .357 barrel rebored to .44 or have a gunsmith make a custom barrel from a Douglas blank.

Dwight

 

[J. Galt]

Bowen used to make a nice ".44 Spl Mountain Gun" using a rebored .357 MG barrel. Unfortunately, those barrels are hard to find these days.

 

[balldboy]

For those that are trying to get me placed in a mental ward:
I really thought the 696 was perfect but I'd like a bit more weigth our front and a longer sight radius.

...a Douglas barrel blank would give me alot of configurational choices.

Reboring a 357 barrel would require buying and canabalizing a barrel but the profile would be what I wanted and a Patridge sight could be added.

A 4" version of the S&W 66-4 SuperK barrel contour minus the porting would be my choice if I were going for a douglas.

I guess pricing a 686 barrel and checking the Bowen rebore price then getting a quote on an installed Douglass are my new free time chores.

Thanx,
Pete

 

[jag312]

I have been thinking of something similar. I once called S&W to see about a custom 4" barrel. I do have a 4" barrel from a 686, and I thought about having it rebored to .44 caliber. If anyone ever does this, I'd like to know how it works. Is it possible to change the marking on the right side of the barrel to reflect that it is a .44 Special?

 

[ray45]

OK! I know you can have a .357 barrel rebored to .44 special but can you have the cylinder rebored to .44 special or 44 magnum also? Like a model 27/28.

 

[J. Galt]

Is it possible to change the marking on the right side of the barrel to reflect that it is a .44 Special?

Yes

...can you have the cylinder rebored to .44 special or 44 magnum also? Like a model 27/28.

Sure. Lots of 28s, in particular, have been converted to .44 Spl and .45 Colt. I wouldn't trust a .44 mag because I don't know how the steel/heat treating of the 28 would handle it.

 

[balldboy]

I found a new 4" 686 barrel with the pinned front sight...!!!

Now I need a recommendation for a gunsmith to bore it to .44 cal.

TIA,
Pete

 

[balldboy]

Bowen seems to be recommending another Smith for reboring...

Pete

 

[K38]

Clearwater Reboring Home

I think these are the guys that do Bowen's work. They took over LaBounty's business. You still need a gunsmith to Re-do the forcing cone, crown the barrel, and install it. You should also have the calibre marked correctly as well for safety's sake.

Dwight

 

[balldboy]

Clearwater Reboring Home

I think these are the guys that do Bowen's work. They took over LaBounty's business. You still need a gunsmith to Re-do the forcing cone, crown the barrel, and install it. You should also have the calibre marked correctly as well for safety's sake.

Dwight

This will actually work better for me as I've been using John C. Blauvelt in NY for the past 20yrs.

He only rolls his eyes when he thinks I'm not looking...

Any idea on thier wait time?
I have the patience of a toddler.

Thanx,
Pete