Removing a barrel, risk of cracking the frame?

[gilgsn]

Hello,

I am wondering... On a Colt SAA, given the proper tools, barrel vise and frame wrench with correct insert, is it still possible to damage a frame or is success practically guaranteed?

Gil.

 

[edwardware]

It sounds like you need to invest in a copy of Kuhnhausen's shop manual, immediately. All your questions, answered my the master.

 

[MachIVshooter]

It's always possible to cause damage, but the right tools used properly minimize the risk.

Do what edwardware suggested.

 

[Sav .250]

Some things are best left to a Gun Smith. J s/n.

 

[gilgsn]

It sounds like you need to invest in a copy of Kuhnhausen's shop manual, immediately.

I ordered it yesterday!

Gil.

 

[LoneGoose]

I bought two Kuhnhausen books last year. They have extremely detailed instructions and references. I have read both of them cover-to-cover, to get a better understanding of my guns and to better answer any questions my friends pose to me. Excellent publications.

 

[FN in MT]

Removed the barrel on a nice S&W .44 Spcl that was really stuck with 85 years of old oil and fouling. I took my time and soaked it in KROIL for several DAYS. Used a set of oak block with a groove cut slightly smaller than the barrel, as well as some rosin, firmly pressed in a good bench vice. Twisted off easily.

Take Your time, use the right tools and don't rush it.

 

[Jim K]

Do not be deceived by older S&W's. The old S&W DA revolvers had barrels that were only moderately tight, which is why they were pinned rather than torqued down like Colts. That means the barrels can usually be removed easily. That is not true with many other brands of revolvers or even late S&W's.

Jim

 

[4v50 Gary]

It's a matter of having the right vise and inserts to remove the barrel. A proper insert supports the frame fully and prevents damage. BTW, put a drill rod of the approximate caliber into the barrel to support it when you clamp the barrel into your barrel blocks (you can make that with hardwood and bandsaw).

It's not like the old days when you clamped the barrel and stuck a hammer handle into the frame to twist it off. That's strictly no no today.

 

[BBBBill]

A

It's not like the old days when you clamped the barrel and stuck a hammer handle into the frame to twist it off.

A real quick way to twist a frame. I've seen more than one ruined that way. The proper frame wrench is money well spent. When I was too poor to buy a wrench I did buy one insert and reverse engineered a copy of the MGW wrench out of a block of scrap 6160 T6 and a steel bar for a handle.