SA barrel swap difficulty and advantages

[ripsaw]

Does anyone know the cost projections on undertaking this kind of project? How hard is it to replace a 7.5 inch ruger SS barrel with a 4 5/8", and visa versa. Are they pressed in from factory or........is this something that can be switched back and forth. They are both 45cal. and was thinking of a matched pair with same barrel length, or should I just find matches already built. That is going to cause a real problem around my house right now, if you know what I mean, so I was trying to think of a cheaper way to get the configuration I wanted. Has anyone ever done this? And lastly, can you get the barrels from ruger and how much? Thanks for any help you can be in making this decision.....rip................:D P.S. OLD GOAT , THEY ARE HERE!!!!!! pics to follow.

[madcratebuilder]

It's cheap to shorten a barrel, free if your handy and have a hack saw. No re-blue with SS. Screwing a new longer barrel on can be done by a table top gunsmith but is a advanced procedure requiring a few special tools. Swapping barrels is not something you would do with a SA revolver more than one time, you wouldn't be going back and forth. You need one of these.
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d37/madcratebuilder/DW02.jpg

[ripsaw]

I had one just like it...and sold it. Dern,...I'm finding this unacceptable, would you cut down the 7.5 to 4 5/8 or.......And if I do, what about moving the sights back on the barrel? Is that a real pain, or something I can do. Guess you can tell by now the only thing I know about Rugers is how to hit what I aim and how to clean them. Which in you guys' opinion is a more desirable pistol these days as far as resale, the short or long one, and if I do bubba it, would I be making a mistake although I would then have a matched pair. Also, how much do you think the shortened one with serial number that belonged to a longer barreled gun be affected for resale later on? Thanks,.....rip

[madcratebuilder]

The sights are the fly in the ointment. Do you have the equipment to silver solder? The blade is pinned to the ramp, but the ramp is silver soldered. It's not really a major job, you need a heat source that well get the parts to about one thousand degrees. You well need to buff the stainless after your done.
A gunsmith should be able to do a class job for about one hundred bucks.

Resale value. If you cut the barrel it well never be a collectors piece, but I don't think it well ever be anyway. There's about sixty bazillion Rugers around. If you do a good job it well look original. I think the short barrel guns sell faster, I don't know if they bring more pelts or not.

[ripsaw]

Right now I would trade 30 beaver and 4 muskrat for the job to be done, Did you mean 100 for cut-off job and reinstall sights, or just sights? Never did say what you would do. Maybe some pics would help? Better yet, maybe you would get off the 16 stainless steel ruger 45colts in 4 5/8" that you have hoarded at home and trade me for my 7.5???? Just kidding, they are both made in 1992 and the serial numbers are real close so it would be a shame to split them up.:D

[madcratebuilder]

Right now I would trade 30 beaver and 4 muskrat for the job to be done, Did you mean 100 for cut-off job and reinstall sights, or just sights? Never did say what you would do. Maybe some pics would help? Better yet, maybe you would get off the 16 stainless steel ruger 45colts in 4 5/8" that you have hoarded at home and trade me for my 7.5???? Just kidding, they are both made in 1992 and the serial numbers are real close so it would be a shame to split them up.:D

A good Smith well charge about $100, maybe a bit more to shorten, and re-crown the barrel, and silver solder the front sight ramp. You could buy a longer barrel and have it installed. I have no idea what a barrel well cost, $100??? plus the labor, again about $100. The lowest cost is shorten the barrel, and personally I like the looks of the shorter barrel.
I used to prefer the 7.5 or longer barreled Rugers but after building this little flat top .357 I have come around the the short ones.
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d37/madcratebuilder/PICT0011Medium.jpg

[ripsaw]

Hey....I like that, OK, I'm sold on the decision. It 's been decided, Now one more question and I will leave you alone guys. Anyone know how or where I can find another 45acp. cylinder to go with the one I have in stainless to fit the rugers when I get the other one cut down. Then I can convert both to acp or Long colt, well ,...two questions, does the acp cylinder have to be fitted to each particular gun because I dropped it in both guns and the cylinder gap is the same on both and it works smooth on both, and shined down the bore and rotated to each hole and they all line up nice....What I mean ,is that a given, that cylinder must be fitted to specific gun or do most rugers just drop in???? Anything else I need to look for when converting to acp, before firing it? Thanks a lot.

[NORMSUTTON]

ripsaw

I had a Ruger put on a new barrel for me back in the late 70's it cost me 20 bucks and shipping, before you do anthing call Ruger, they even sent back the old barrel
ask for the gun smith http://www.ruger-firearms.com/Firearms/Contact.jsp?Group=PS
NORM

[ripsaw]

Thanks a lot, will do, do you know about the acp cylinder fitting or dropping in? I guess I can just ask Ruger that when I have them on the phone......rip

[madcratebuilder]

I don't think Ruger well sell just a cylinder, they well want to install it. A Gunsmith can buy one from them, I think, plus you see them on gunbroker. A new cylinder well be close to a drop in but may require minor fitting.

[NORMSUTTON]

ripsaw

I a have two Ruger's in 45 long colt a 3 screw and a new model ,the 3 screw came with the 45 auto cylinder , and it fits the new model perfect , if you send your guns off just as them ,

NORM