[ChristopherG]

My 4" 66 is coming out; it's come to understand that it has always actually been a 3" 66 inside, and is ready to begin living an authentic 3" life.

Now, don't say "get rid of it and get the 3 inch"--this one is moonclip adapted, polished and loved. I'm not prepared to cut it out of my life just because it's turned out to be something different from what I expected.

So what's the efficient way to make this happen? Is it a transplant, or a chop? And who, in either case, should be entrusted with the operation? My criteria include quality work, but it doesn't need to be Bowen; reasonable cost; and not having to ship it away for six months. Any suggestions? Thanks--

CG

[George Hill]

Bill's Custom Guns
1419 Dorsey St.
Greensboro, N.C.
336-854-3925

Baity’s Custom Gunworks
Leonard Baity
2623 Boone Trail, North Wilksboro, NC, 28659
336 667 8785 Fax 336 838 1758

Gun Specialties
Ray Wilson
805 Reed Street, Ashville, NC, 28803
828 274 2797

[Jim March]

My take: if it shoots well now, CHOP not swap.

1) You've already got a barrel you know can shoot. Chop and re-crown, it'll still shoot just as well.

2) This is doubly true of stainless, because the threads are a bit delicate and can get screwed up removing and reinstalling a new barrel. Much better to leave the current barrel right where it is and chop it.

3) With a swap, there's a risk of screwing it into the frame too tight and producing a bulge ring inside the barrel bore right at the frame. With a chop, that's not going to happen (mind you, this effect may be there NOW).

4) As a final bonus, you can do whatever sight you want on the chopped tube. XS Sight Systems has a universal ramped base that takes whatever dovetailed final sight you want; you tell them the total height you need, they can sell you the base plus the sight insert of whatever height you need. You can pick the "big dot" or "small dot" tritium pattern, or plain white enamel of either size without tritium if this is a daytime-only target gun (not likely, if you're going to a 3" tube!).

Now, if you're not happy with how it shoots, that's a different matter. In that case, I recommend an aftermarket barrel versus a factory type. If you're gonna swap, do it RIGHT :). Plus with no original sight, you can add the base and sight type of your choice.

Note: with any tube, you can cut a dovetail directly into it and avoid using a base at all. Doesn't look quite as clean though. Here's a bigger ramp base for shotguns; there's a smaller one available for revolvers with no existing front sight base but it's not in their online catalog:

http://www.xssights.com/images/shotgun_sights_3.jpg

http://www.xssights.com

[ChristopherG]

George, that's a helpful list of NC pistolsmiths--I'll be talking to those folks.

Jim--great rundown of the risks and advantages of going either way. I'd looked at the swapable front sight arrangement from Weigand, and I'll look at the one you indicate as well. The gun shoots well, so a chop appears to be in order.

Thanks both of you for the help-
cg