Barrel replacement

jsr5 · January 25, 2002, 10:49 PM

What all do you have to do to change a barrel on a 629 S&W. What tools do you need.

James K · January 25, 2002, 11:39 PM

I think the 629 barrels were never pinned, so you need a barrel vise and a receiver wrench shaped to fit the front of the receiver. The pinned barrels are not as tight, but you need a good hollow end punch to start the pin.

With the pinned barrels, it was often enough to clamp the barrel in the vise and use a couple of feet of 2x2 inserted in the cylinder well, but the newer guns without pins are torqued too tight for that and it could bend the frame.

Unless you feel you must DIY, you might be better sending it to one of the good shops like Cylinder and Slide.

Jim

jsr5 · January 26, 2002, 09:02 AM

Thanks for the info Jim, I'll probably let someone else do it.

I just wondered if anything had to be done to the replacement barrel. Like mabe trim off a little on the end to correct the cyl. barrel gap, or maybe machine so the barrel rotates to the correct position.

The replace ment barrel is a new take off, from another 629.

IT just don't seem conceivable that you could change barrels without machine work.

Just wanted to know befor i talked to a smith.

THANKS

C.R.Sam · January 26, 2002, 02:23 PM

Done right, it is involved. Turn the barrel to frame interface so that the sight is lined up when PROPER torque is applied to mount the barrel. End of barrel probably have to be turned to insure decent gap. Probably also have to recut cone.

Factory stainless barrels are often overtorqued, leaving a ring in the barrel even with the barrel frame interface.

Sam

January 25, 2002, 10:49 PM	#1
jsr5 Member Join Date: May 6, 2001 Location: mid-west Posts: 25	Barrel replacement What all do you have to do to change a barrel on a 629 S&W. What tools do you need. __________________ JUST BECAUSE I'M PARANOID DOESN'T MEAN THEY AREN'T OUT TO GET ME

January 26, 2002, 09:02 AM	#3
jsr5 Member Join Date: May 6, 2001 Location: mid-west Posts: 25	Thanks for the info Thanks for the info Jim, I'll probably let someone else do it. I just wondered if anything had to be done to the replacement barrel. Like mabe trim off a little on the end to correct the cyl. barrel gap, or maybe machine so the barrel rotates to the correct position. The replace ment barrel is a new take off, from another 629. IT just don't seem conceivable that you could change barrels without machine work. Just wanted to know befor i talked to a smith. THANKS __________________ JUST BECAUSE I'M PARANOID DOESN'T MEAN THEY AREN'T OUT TO GET ME

January 25, 2002, 11:39 PM	#2
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	I think the 629 barrels were never pinned, so you need a barrel vise and a receiver wrench shaped to fit the front of the receiver. The pinned barrels are not as tight, but you need a good hollow end punch to start the pin. With the pinned barrels, it was often enough to clamp the barrel in the vise and use a couple of feet of 2x2 inserted in the cylinder well, but the newer guns without pins are torqued too tight for that and it could bend the frame. Unless you feel you must DIY, you might be better sending it to one of the good shops like Cylinder and Slide. Jim

January 26, 2002, 02:23 PM	#4
C.R.Sam Senior Member Join Date: October 29, 1999 Location: Dewey, AZ Posts: 12,858	Done right, it is involved. Turn the barrel to frame interface so that the sight is lined up when PROPER torque is applied to mount the barrel. End of barrel probably have to be turned to insure decent gap. Probably also have to recut cone. Factory stainless barrels are often overtorqued, leaving a ring in the barrel even with the barrel frame interface. Sam