629 barrel shortening options

[EmGeeGeorge]

Can someone give some ideas on shortening a newer production 629

I got it for a good price, but the 6.5” full lug isn’t my bag.

I’d prefer to get it to 4” or 3”.

Any decent folks doing this work who won’t take a kidney?

 

[adcoch1]

Might be easier to find a mountain gun s&w, and it might be an even money trade too.

 

[Bert W.]

Buy a used S&W barrel and have a gunsmith install it. There are probably several on EBay, Gun Broker, or GPC.

 

[FN in MT]

I'd imagine the factory could install a 4", Hell maybe even a 3"? The route I would pursue versus a Custom pistol smith.

 

[FROGO207]

I have seen 4" take off barrels on line in the past. On Gunbroker IIRC. If you are patient one will show up, then have a good smith change it out. IMHO the least expensive option out there.

 

[buck460XVR]

If you got it for a good price, the least expensive and easiest route may be to sell FTF and take the proceeds and buy what you want, or find a LGS that will make a decent trade. I doubt by the time you find a good used barrel and find a good Smith to change it out, you'll have less than a coupla hundred bucks into it.

 

[CraigC]

Installing another barrel isn't going to save you any money or trouble, unless maybe S&W does it. Shortening a barrel is usually a $150-$200 job and then a new front sight has to be decided upon. Common choice is the Weigand DX style front sight base that just needs a 1/4" slot milled in the barrel rib.

Theoretically, it sounds like a good idea to save the original barrel for posterity, with the idea that it can be re-installed later to restore original condition and increase value but it's really just spending dollars to save dimes.

As a strictly financial decision, it would be better to sell what you have and buy what you want. Custom work is a better investment when you can't just buy what you want.