[martin67steve]

Good afternoon. I've more than one 4" 624. I've long desired a 3" .44 and I've come across the parts to swap a 3" barrel. I'm not able to do the work myself, so I have two questions. Is this a foolish thing to do and if not, who

would be a good choice for the work if one lived in Western North Carolina. Thank you for your opinions.

 

[The Happy Kaboomer]

Your gun. Your $$$. Why care what anyone here says if that's what you want? Have the 6 1/2 inchers too. not shown.

 

[StrawHat]

Having tried to carry a 3” N frame, I decided to stay with the 4” version for edc. The shorter barrel allowed the grip frame to fall away from my torso.

But, it is your choice. I do not know any revolversmiths in your part of the country. Andy Horvath is the fellow I trust when I do not do my own work.

Kevin

 

[PapaJ0e]

I did my own conversion on a Model 65 4". Found a 3" barrel on EBay, replaced it, bobbed the hammer and ground the square butt into a round butt. Whole thing took me a few hours. I had never even taken a revolver apart before, much less do surgery on one.

 

[SkullAero]

Sounds like a great project. I've converted two revolvers in the past, replaced barrels and changed square butts to round. Any good gunsmith, not a parts changer, should be able to swap the barrels.

 

[The Happy Kaboomer]

I did my own conversion on a Model 65 4". Found a 3" barrel on EBay, replaced it, bobbed the hammer and ground the square butt into a round butt. Whole thing took me a few hours. I had never even taken a revolver apart before, much less do surgery on one.
View attachment 588033 View attachment 588036

Did you use frame blocks to remove and install the barrels? Or did you clamp the barrel in a vise and use a hammer handle through the frame to turn it off?

 

[PapaJ0e]

Did you use frame blocks to remove and install the barrels? Or did you clamp the barrel in a vise and use a hammer handle through the frame to turn it off?

NO! No hammertime I started to build frame blocks and then realized that a parallel jaw clamp I had fit perfectly on the frame. Barrel in a vise, frame in the clamp and gently pulled till it freed. Spun the new one on the same way. No marring or anything, like it was purpose built for the task.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Jorgensen-24-in-8000-SERIES-Parallel-Jaw-Clamp/1000988318

 

[The Happy Kaboomer]

NO! No hammertime I started to build frame blocks and then realized that a parallel jaw clamp I had fit perfectly on the frame. Barrel in a vise, frame in the clamp and gently pulled till it freed. Spun the new one on the same way. No marring or anything, like it was purpose built for the task.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Jorgensen-24-in-8000-SERIES-Parallel-Jaw-Clamp/1000988318

You need support in the yoke most. That's where it would likely bend.

 

[Keith44Spl]

I re-barreled a few....to 3"

Having had both round butt and square,
I have come to prefer the Sq. butt frame.

///

 

[The Happy Kaboomer]

I re-barreled a few....to 3"

Having had both round butt and square,
I have come to prefer the Sq. butt frame.

///

Me too.

 

[SkullAero]

I made hardwood "bucks" or forms that fit the contours of the frame and the barrel. Clamps were placed over the wood bucks.

 

[The Happy Kaboomer]

I made hardwood "bucks" or forms that fit the contours of the frame and the barrel. Clamps were placed over the wood bucks.

That's what I did when I changed out the barrel on my 4"19 years ago.

 

[Sidekick890]

I did my own conversion on a Model 65 4". Found a 3" barrel on EBay, replaced it, bobbed the hammer and ground the square butt into a round butt. Whole thing took me a few hours. I had never even taken a revolver apart before, much less do surgery on one.
View attachment 588033 View attachment 588036

You lucky bunny. I'm trying to do the same thing to my 65, but can't find a 3" barrel at all. Worst comes to worst I guess I can buy another 4" and have that one chopped down. Looks great!

 

[Keith44Spl]

You lucky bunny. I'm trying to do the same thing to my 65, but can't find a 3" barrel at all. Worst comes to worst I guess I can buy another 4" and have that one chopped down. Looks great!

Yup,
Sometimes you just have make what you like....

3 1/2" 44

///

 

[Sidekick890]

Yup,
Sometimes you just have make what you like....

3 1/2" 44

///

I've seen a few 4" barrels for sale, but I need to find someone who can do the job.

 

[Sam Beckham]

I just got done chopping a couple of 64 barrels from 4" to 3". Cutting and re-crowning was not bad at all, dovetailing in the new sights was a bit time consuming.

 

[SkullAero]

Math teacher always said, "show your work".

 

[Sam Beckham]

Math teacher always said, "show your work".

I'll give it a shot. I feel like I should say that these things were pretty beat up, which is why I didn't feel bad trying my hand at chopping them up. They still need a bit of clean up.

 

[SkullAero]

.