Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Barrel Swap on a SW 629

Getting back out to where I need my 629 and wondering about a barrel swap.

When I purchased this pistol, it came with the original barrel which is ported and a factory non-ported barrel. How difficult is it to swap barrels? Could I trust most any gunsmith to do this and not bugger it up?

I'd also have to have him swap the front site or put a new one on.

Suggestions??

Thanks.

Same caliber?

Of course.
Spare barrel I have was the original barrel for this gun. It got a little mar on it when someone swapped sites so the guy returned it to smith for a new barrel.

I'm considering putting the original barrel back on with the port and curious if I could trust any gunsmith to do the swap?

I would not trust "any" gunsmith. I prefer to use handgunsmith's on my handguns. Or, at times, the factory.

Is it pinned or are the threads crush fit? Crush fit may be a problem. Pinned not so much. If it came off the gun, it should be able to go back on. You don't need a gunsmith for that operation. You need a few tools any man should have in his work area.

Personally I would take it to a gunsmith who has a barrel vise and the proper Delrin inserts that fit the frame and protect it from being warped or marred by the wrench when turning it off the barrel. The idea of trying to use the old vise in the garage, some scrap wood to cushion the barrel and a hammer handle to turn off the frame fills me with fear. I've seen warped revolver frames and they are not repairable.

The barrel, if original to the revolver, should fit properly if correctly indexed to the frame.

Most of the serious gunsmiths I have worked with have had the equipment to do this job properly, at a reasonable cost and probably while you wait.

Sorry, but I assume my post displays my lack of knowledge on these things.

I am traveling now, or I would post a picture of the original barrel which is off the gun now.

The barrel is threaded with no evidence of anywhere to pin it if that helps.

And if you need hernia surgery no need to see a Doctor. All you need is a sharp pocket knife and a good bottle of whiskey.

A "pinned" barrel will have a lateral groove on the top front part of the threads, and the revolver frame will have a transverse hole through the frame in front of the cylinder opening on the top edge of the threaded hole where the barrel screws in. When the barrel is fully seated in the frame, a pin is inserted through the hole to lock the barrel and frame together. S&W revolvers used pinned barrels until about 25 years ago or so.

Recent S&W revolvers no longer have the pin, so there will be no groove on the barrel threads and no hole through the frame. The barrel threads are a tight fit in the frame and there will probably be more effort required to remove or install an unpinned "crush fit" barrel.

Let a professional do it.

Try Ahlman's in Morristown, Mn. They were recommended to me by 260remguy here on the 'fire. They did a switch out (6" to a 4") on a 629-3 for me. Turn-around was about three weeks, decent price, and they did an excellent job. Mikeahlman's.com if you want to email or Ahlman's.com is their website.

You ever swap out a front sight on a 629?

Clark's Custom Guns in Haugthon, Louisiana has done this for me before.

Most gunsmiths ought to be able to handle that. That's really quite a simple job.

The barrels have the sights, why would it need to be swapped out?

Per the OP.

"I'd also have to have him swap the front site or put a new one on."

Hence my comment. It is a milling job just to change the blade as it is integral to the base, at least on my two early 629's it is.

Ah, I see the light. Actually, it's a milling job if you want it done quickly. It can actually be done with hand tools and a nice dove tail...also quite possible with hand tools. It can also be done with hand tools and silver solder...But I digress.