Smith barrel interchangeability?

[carebear]

So, Brownell's has 3" Model 10-8 heavy barrels available for sale as a part.

Any particular reason I (the "hire a gunsmith" I, of course) couldn't use one to rebarrel my 19-5 to 3"?

 

[Jim Watson]

I don't know if the threads are the same between the dashes. Are both pinned or not pinned? If they are, the threads are likely the same. Barrel shank of the M-10 is longer and would have to be shortened - lathe job. Top rib won't match up with the topstrap - cosmetic issue. Front sight likely not high enough for zero with adjustable rear - replaceable for $$.

I don't know what your 'smith would charge for that or what you would think about the appearance. It might be better to send it to SDM and pay $200 to have the stock barrel shortened and a new sight ramp installed.

 

[carebear]

It's a 2.5" bbl now, I need to find someone with a barrel stretcher.

Okay, I'll just stick with what I have and keep my eye's open for a stock 3".

 

[Old Fuff]

carebear:

A model 10-8 barrel may or may not have the new-style crush fit thread. You'd have to find out from Brownells what the barrels they have are. A 19-5 shound have the non-pinned style barrel. Because of the crush-fit threads, installing a new barrel can be an issue because the threads in the frame are already crushed. It is generally considered to be something the factory should do, but they won't put a model 10 barrel on a model 19 - no how!

A knowledgable, and well equiped 'smith might clean up the threads in the frame with a .500 x 36 tap, and the same on the barrel with a die, and then fit the barrel to the frame. But I'm not so sure I'd want this on a .357 Magnum.

You would also have to do something about the front sight on the model 10's barrel, as it would be much too low to use with the model 19's adjustable rear sight.

If I was going to do the conversion you have in mind I'd look for a model 19 barrel that was 6 inches long and had the correct thread. Then I'd shorten it and relocate the ramped front sight.

 

[carebear]

Thanks Jim and Fuff,

I think I'll bag any conversion plans and go to my old standby plan B,

"B"uy a new gun.

 

[Old Fuff]

Plan "B" is always my perfered option too ...

Unless I have to have something that is truly custom.

Customizing is not always expensive, and sometimes you can do some or all of the work yourself. Just do a lot of thinking about what your "project" is going to involve and cover all of the bases. In this case you ask all of the right questions and got all of the right answers. The High Road is a great place to hang out.

In this particular case I'd look for a model 13/3" (because I prefer blued, high carbon steel) and have a gunsmith mill off the front sight and cut a dovetail in the rib. Then I'd replace the front sight with one that I could move in the dovetail to adjust for windage and file down for elevation - and set up a precise zero for what ever load I chose to carry in it. This wouldn't cost a whole lot, and would be an effective piece to carry.