Barrel Change in a Smith and Wesson X Frame

BigGameHunter

BigGameHunter

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How hard is it to swap out a barrel in a X Frame revolver. I have a 5" barrel on my 460SW Mag right now. Was considering something a little longer as well for long distance shooting maybe silhouette with colt 45 rounds.

I was wondering if there are any recommendations or advice.

The idea in my head is something like an 8 3/4" barrel give or take with a scope.

The barrel throats erode on these guns quick to so having 2 barrels would save wear on each other a bit if it is an easy exchange with tools.

I figure since its a big boomer with not many practical uses until I can get into handgun hunting across the border target shooting is my only option as just paper punching with a 460 at 50 feet loses interest really fast but long dist shooting with a handgun would be very exciting I think to be able to group handgun rounds at 100 yards.

I realize the barrel I have right now is not the most practical for this application, however if it is let me know and I will just focus on the scope for now but a barrel would be a future procurement. Thanks again.
 
No easy way to do it if at all. Won't say impossible because there are some pretty sharp people out there.

You'd be better served finding an old Dan Wesson SuperMAG in 445. Not easy to come by but it's got comparable specs to the 460 and a swappable barrel system.
 
Was not looking to swap out guns. What makes these barrels so difficult. I thought they were threaded barrels and people even remove pinned barrels for revolvers.
 
Most revolvers were not meant to have there barrels swapped on and off.

It's not a simple task, involves a proper set-up so you don't twist the frame and afterward you need to set the barrel/cylinder gap properly.

The 460S&W Magnum is a very high pressure round making all this even more important.

Dan Wesson's were made from the get-go to swap barrels. They use a two piece system, barrel and shroud.

Does that make more sense?
 
500s use the new style two piece barrels with a rifled liner that screws into the frame and a shroud. It's similar to the Dan Wessons, but not intended to be swapped by the user.

The difficult part would be finding someone with the right tools to unscrew the liner portion of the barrel; it couldn't be done with a conventional frame wrench and barrel blocks. The first place I would try is M.D. Charlton, since they are a S&W warranty depot.
 
Yes true about the 500's from S&W but the 460's are still a one piece design.

I've heard of people shortening a 500 S&W but not setting it up for a swappable barrels.
 
pageophile said:
Yes true about the 500's from S&W but the 460's are still a one piece design.

I've heard of people shortening a 500 S&W but not setting it up for a swappable barrels.
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In the manual the barrel looks like it has a separate part to it. I thought the X Frame whether 460 or 500 where pretty much identical guns beside the calibre. The reason I know it to at least be possible is I had a model 13 which only comes in 3 and 4 inch barrels and I bought it with an aftermarket barrel that was 6" and I believe those old SW were just pressed in where they not. It doesn't have to be interchangable just if in the future I wanted to make it a 8 3/4" barreled revolver would I not be able to even if need be by a professional?
 
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