any cons to shortening a revolvers barrel??

[Wolf Daddy]

I have a 29-2 with the 8 3/8 inch barrel i really like the 6.5 inch. Has any one ever shorten their barrel? Are there any cons? How much should i except to pay a gun smith to do this? Overall is it worth it?

[wellcraft]

why ruin the value of your 29-2 by chopping the barrel, re-crowning and reset the front sites? what benefit do you believe you will gain from chopping the barrel other than you like the 6.5"? my recommendation would be to buy a 6.5" barreled gun and keep the gun you have as is.

[brian]

you are better off finding the version you want, than paying someone to convert what you have.
either selling and swap, or buy and multiplie.

[Maquis]

It's your revolver~if you want it customized and make it as you want it then go for it. It's not like you are modifying the Mona Lisa; it's a tool that you want to improve, much like an action job and new stocks.

If anything, modify a new barrel, remove and save the original.

[MOUNTAINORACLE]

I won't mess with shortening the barrel that's on your Model 29. Buy a S&W barrel in the length you want and mount it on your frame.
Either keep or sale the 8 3/8 inch barrel.

[harold63]

I know a fraction about guns compared to what I would like to know. This advice comes from the "know" column. You are likely going to have to pay a conversion price to have this done. There are a few things involved and not every gun smith will risk taking ownership of a DH .44, if they wreck it.

Here is what I would do. I would clean it up nice and new, get me a crisp Ben Franklin, and start scowering the shops and shows in your area. This gun was very popular and there are a lot of them out there because people bought them and got rid of them quick (seems as though Hollywood forgot to put the muzzle flip on the beast). The one you have is sought after as well; you may be able to do an even swap somewhere, but I would take the Ben Franklin for good measure. It is certainly less than you would spend on the conversion. It is at least $50 just to reset the front sight. If you are dead set on cutting instead of trading, let a custom shop do it that does these conversions. You could even get them to port it for you while they are at it. JMHO

[harold63]

To Maquis and Mountain Oracle: I would not have posted had I seen your posts. You guys must have posted as I was getting carpel tunnel.

[deafsmithco]

Sell it or keep it and buy a 6.5" barrel 29. Not only will you have the cost of shortening it, you will have knocked another $100 or more off the value of the gun.

Also it will not look right because the roll marks on the barrel won't be centered any more.

[Steve_NEPhila]

The major problem with getting a revolver barrel cut down is front sight placement and mounting. I say placement and mounting because getting the front sight just a little bit crooked (placement) ruins the set up. Mounting is also key, and a complication. Will the front sight be pinned, will it be dovetailed, will it be interchangeable?

In all I would say cutting the barrel is a bad idea. Either have the whole barrel swapped out, trade your longer barreled revolver for one with a shorter barrel or buy another revolver.

[Wolf Daddy]

why ruin the value of your 29-2 by chopping the barrel, re-crowning and reset the front sites? what benefit do you believe you will gain from chopping the barrel other than you like the 6.5"? my recommendation would be to buy a 6.5" barreled gun and keep the gun you have as is.

I dont ever plan on selling it and i want the 6.5 cause i like they way it looks