Thinking about a barrel swap, never done one.

[albanian]

Hello,
I just bought a S&W Model 19-3 with a 6" barrel. The barrel is a .38 spl 6" not a .357mag. Clearly it was a replacement barrel and not original.

I am thinking of going to 2 1/2". Other than a shorter ejector rod, what other parts will I need? Can this be done easy or should I just get a 4" or 6" barrel?

Thanks.

 

[WR Moore]

You'd need the barrel, extractor/ejector rod, center pin.......I don't recall if the rear sight insert is different-for the 2 1/2 inch.

I think you'd probably be happier in the long run with a 4 inch barrel.

In any case, you'll also need a specialized frame wrench. The old hammer handle through the cylinder window is gambling with disaster. The barrel/cylinder gap would need fitting, possibly rework of the forcing cone.

 

[armsmaster270]

I went the other way I had a round butt 2 1/2" turned into a 4" By Bill Davis Co. but they are gone now.

 

[robertrwalsh]

It isn't horribly hard to change a barrel, but it isn't horribly expensive to have a pro with the right tool do it. You would need to either buy or make a decent frame wrench and make or buy some blocks for the barrel. You would probably need to shorten and recut the forcing cone for b/c gap, and you would have to buy the tools. A gunsmith will already have them.

Plus if you tweak the frame it's on you. If he tweaks the frame it's on him.

I agree, go with the 4" unless you just absolutely have to have a snubby.

 

[Bullseye Smith]

To find a barrel will be hard, you can alway buy a 66 barrel and have it hard chromed.

 

[SmithNut]

Whoooooaaaaaaa......!

Stop the presses....
Is the barrel a M19 barrel? Does it have a shrouded ejector rod?
How about the cylinder, will it chamber 357Mag rounds?

There were some M19's made in 38 special and they are very scarce and special.
I'm not aware of any 38 special barrels made in 6" lengths for other models except the M14, but it has no ejector rod shroud, so this one needs a little investigation before hogging it out for a 357 Mag barrel, IMO.

Can you provide some details?

What is the length of the cylinder, that could also give us a clue, it would have to be a 38 special length cylinder to work with a M14 barrel, just changing the barrel would result in a huge cylinder gap, unless you changed the cylinder at the same time.

If you have an original M19 chambered in 38 Special, it would be good to determine the value before modifying the gun.

 

[SmithNut]

Follow up questions

Albanian,
I'm really curious about your revolver, a M19-3 should have a recessed cylinder and should chamber 357, unless of course it's a special model.
As noted, the barrel should have a shrouded ejector rod.
If the cylinder isn't recessed, it's a good bet that it is in fact a 38 special cylinder (just guessing at this point).
A lot of work would have gone into changing the barrel to a M14 38 Special barrel, it would need to be shortened since it would have been original longer to work with a shorter 38 special cylinder.
Anyway, I'm just trying to figure out what you have and the best way to move your barrel swap project along.
One last question, have you taken a magnifying glass to the model number? Is it possible that it's actually a M14-3 with a bad stamping.

 

[albanian]

Hey guys sorry for leaving you hanging.

I got some pics that may or may not answer some of the questions about this gun.

It is a 19-3. The cyl is recessed. The bbl is pinned. Cyl gap looks good. I don't have feeler gauges but I have good eyesight and it is very close to most of my other S&Ws. It is not too big or small.

It has a target hammer and narrow trigger. Lock-up is as good as any of my other S&Ws. I have gone over this and it seems like whoever did the bbl swap did a good job. I don't know why they swapped bbls, could be the original was rusty or bulged or they wanted a 6" and it had a 4". Who can say?

How much work would it be to put a 4" .357 mag bbl on this? Are they hard to find? Anyone want to swap my 6" K-38 bbl for a 4" M-19 bbl? LOL!

 

[Big Cholla]

albanian: I think I have a blue 4" barrel marked "357 Magnum" in my box of take-off parts. I won't be back to my shop until tomorrow morn. I will let you know.

But, I'm like others above; make sure of what you have before doing anything to that handgun. Did you check to see if in fact the cylinder is chambered for .357 M. or for .38 S. IF the cylinder is chambered for .38 S, then get with Roy Jinks and get a letter on this gun before doing anything to it.

IF the cylinder is chambered for .357 M, it is probably safe to assume it has been re-barreled. I can tell from your pics that the cylinder is in fact the same length as the issued magnum cylinder for what that is worth.

Also, open the cylinder/yoke and look on the underside of the barrel for the presence of very small numbers to see if there is something like "K 1234567" stamped there. Also look for the same type of numbers on the rear edge of the cylinder. Do any of those numbers match the actual serial number? ........... Big Cholla

 

[Big Cholla]

albanian: I am back at the 'puter after a day's work in my gunshop. I looked at the take-off pistol barrels and the best I could come up with was a ss .357 mag in 2.5 inch. I don't think you would want that. Good luck and let us know if this was an original S&W configuration or if it was a barrel swap someplace in the past. . ..... Big Cholla

 

[45Wheelgun]

I don't have a swap, but if you end up replacing that barrel, please put me in line to purchase the old barrel.

 

[albanian]

I shot it today with the .38spl barrel. It shoots so good I am having second thoughts on a bbl swap. If the bbl was messed up or shot poorly, I know what I would do. Now I am on the fence.