Remove threaded section of a barrel on a full-size handgun?

Brettzky

Brettzky

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Fraser Valley
First - is it legal to modify as long as the barrel stays Canadian length?

Second, if so, I love everything about the new Walther PDP SD Pro, except the 5.1" threaded barrel. Any gunsmiths to recommend that could properly chop and put a nice crown on it? Or would it be cheaper just to buy the standard length barrel?
 
If it is a pistol yes its fine so long as it remains over 106mm ~4.2" (less than 106 the barrel becomes a prohibited device), other sawed off laws specifically apply to "a rifle or shotgun".

As for gunsmiths that do it you'll have to ask around honestly the only place I've seen that has offered it as a service is S&J Hardware and only on Beretta 71's so I don't know if they do other guns.
 
Brettzky said:
First - is it legal to modify as long as the barrel stays Canadian length?

Second, if so, I love everything about the new Walther PDP SD Pro, except the 5.1" threaded barrel. Any gunsmiths to recommend that could properly chop and put a nice crown on it? Or would it be cheaper just to buy the standard length barrel?
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Chilliwack has several good machinist shops

The barrel isn't a prohibited device, so you could just take it to one of them and have it cleaned up.

Most smiths and shops will charge a ''set up'' fee, which is usually around the 1 hour of labor mark.

Way cheaper than getting a new barrel.

Bits of Pieces in Delta will do the job but turnaround time may be long. Barry is very busy.
 
bearhunter said:
Ummm no, a three jaw will work just fine as long as the operator knows their stuff.
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Being just a Hobby Machinist, I am always open to learn from People with more knowledge on the subject as myself.

So please tell me how one goes about achieving accuracy of 1-2 thousands if the 3 Jaw is not adjustable, whereas a cheapo 4 Jaw can be setup perfectly.

Looking forward to your reply - thanks.

Cheers
 
Being just a Hobby Machinist, I am always open to learn from People with more knowledge on the subject as myself.

So please tell me how one goes about achieving accuracy of 1-2 thousands if the 3 Jaw is not adjustable, whereas a cheapo 4 Jaw can be setup perfectly.

Looking forward to your reply - thanks.

Cheers
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100%, You're both right!
The classic way to get fussy on runnout is a 4 jaw chuck. The manufacturing industry is vast however with myriad chuck designs and levels of quality. A $300 chinese built 3 jaw chuck probably wont have the required precision without the operator using shims (still a valid means, and capable of significantly less runnout than 1-2 thou, if one is proficient). On the flip side, if someone has access to an industrial shop (the 3 jaw (German built, wedge plate design) chuck on my ex-work lathe was worth $20,000). Yeah different ball game. In the end, the barrel needs to run true (to bore). How one achieves that depends on the operator, his equipment, skill base, and preference.

Brettzky: I'd certainly be happy to do this for you. If you cant find someone free/closer/easier PM me and we'll get it slicked.

Regards!
Paul.
 
...Why would you need a barrel to run within .002" just to take some length off of it? The face of the barrel doesn't really need to be super square at all, especially on a pistol barrel. Maybe if you were cutting threads and wanted a brake to be concentric to the bore, but the OP wants to remove the threads. Some people just like to over complicate stuff.
 
Brassman66 said:
Being just a Hobby Machinist, I am always open to learn from People with more knowledge on the subject as myself.

So please tell me how one goes about achieving accuracy of 1-2 thousands if the 3 Jaw is not adjustable, whereas a cheapo 4 Jaw can be setup perfectly.

Looking forward to your reply - thanks.

Cheers
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You shim whichever jaw/jaws are causing the offset, which is nothing to worry about in this case as you're only facing off the muzzle.

Cutting the crown, if needed would just be a small facing cut as well.

I've seen more than a few rifle/pistol barrels with slightly offset bores and they more often than not, shoot well
 
SomebodyTookMyName said:
Bear in mind also that the barrel length is tied into the registration of the gun, and is a critical detail. Technically you'd need to report the change and have the registration adjusted accordingly.
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Now this is something that I thought was stated on previous registrations that I've had. But the two that I just had transferred to me - neither one of them mentions the barrel length on the registrations, at least not the TN email with the gun information on it. Been a while, can't recall. Either way if this new PDP SD Pro comes and the barrel length is stated on it, then I'd of course call in to notify them of the change, if that's the legal thing to do.

And thanks to the other replies. Worth checking in at Siwash as they do gunsmithing locally.
 
Brettzky said:
Now this is something that I thought was stated on previous registrations that I've had. But the two that I just had transferred to me - neither one of them mentions the barrel length on the registrations, at least not the TN email with the gun information on it. Been a while, can't recall. Either way if this new PDP SD Pro comes and the barrel length is stated on it, then I'd of course call in to notify them of the change, if that's the legal thing to do.

And thanks to the other replies. Worth checking in at Siwash as they do gunsmithing locally.
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Barrel length will be on the paper registration card. But some guns advertise as 4.5in barrel but have a much longer. Like the new XDM with threaded barrel. Longer then what it advertised as. They use the shorter of the 2 barrels supplied.
 
I could install the 4-jaw on my lathe, indicate on the bore and cut and crown.
Or, I could grab the barrel in the 3-jaw, cut and face, then finish the crown with the Brownells tool.
Either would work just fine.
 
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