Shortening a 10.5" SBH

[Swampman]

I have a 10.5" Stainless Ruger Super Blackhawk and I'd like to have the barrel cut back to the front of the ejector housing, recrowned, and a drill & tap front sight installed.  Any gunsmith suggestions for this sort of work?  I'm trying to save money over just sending it back to Ruger for a shorter barrel.

[Hit or Miss]

I would think that any competent smith would be able to do the work.  I'd carefully check pricing though, you might be better off just having a new barrel installed by someone.

[Luckyducker]

Swampman, I heard once of a fellow that used a tubing cutter to mark the cut line on his revolver barrel where he wanted it cut and then used the blade from a hacksaw to saw through it.  When he had this done he then polished the cut end and proceeded to use his deburring tool to put a bevel crown on it.  He then reattached the front sight and said it shot very well.  It sounded kind of scary to me but I dunno.  If it were mine I would probably find a competent smith and see if it would be cost effective to have him shorten the barrel or sell it and buy one in the length you are wanting, that is if they come from the factory in the length you describe.  It sounds like you are wanting a packing gun and I have found the 4 5/8" barrels to work well for this.  I have a friend that had his SBH cut from 7.5" to about 4.75" but it was done many years ago and I am sure the price he paid would not be relevant after all this time, but he uses it for a packing gun when elk hunting.  I wish you luck finding what you want.

[Lloyd Smale]

some people look for those long barreled guns. You might be better off trying to trade it for what you want.

[Swampman]

It's going to be expensive to get the work done.  I may trade it off.

[kynardsj]

I had one just like yours some years back. Very nice shooter. Don't see many of them these days so I agree with some of the other guys, trade it for what you want and don't spend the money. Unless you want something even shorter You might can trade for a 7 1/2" SBH Hunter that is already cut for Ruger rings. They are incredibly nice. If you end up shortening it, a competent smith can do it and make it look and shoot good. Years ago I wanted a stainless Single Six with the 4 5/8" barrel. Could only find blue at the time so I bought a 5 1/2 inch and had a friend that is a smith do it for me. Great shooter and the only way to tell it didn't come that way is the warning on the barrel, the very edge of the letters are gone where he cut and crowned it. The SBH Hunter is at the top, I also put a birdshead frame on the Single Six in the middle. Good luck on your choice.

[44 Man]

Check with Ken Kelly at Mag-na-port.  He has done many for me and I have always been very pleased.  He can also polish off the warning if yours is one with it on the side of the barrel.  Give him a call and tell him Lewis Crawford told you to call him.  On that note, I like a short barreled gun and if I get a good deal on one I have no quams about shortening it.  Don't worry about it not shooting as well.  Often when a gunsmith puts a new crown on the barrel, it will shoot even better.  The top one in this pic is a Colt that had a 7 1/2" barrel on it when I got it.  The price was right but I didn't want that long a barrel, so I had it cut.  The old .44 Mag at 9;00 o'clock will be cut to the ejector rod housing in the spring.  I have seriously considered over the years of cutting the 5" Ruger at 11;00 o'clock to 4" and I may do that yet!  It would serve little purpose to do so as a 5" or 5 1/2" carries just as well as a shorter barrel.  But I just LIKE those short barrels!  I wish now I had gone ahead and went with my first impulse and cut the Colt to 4" but I tried to save the Colt logo on the top of the barrel which would have to come off if it gets cut any shorter.  Hey, if you would like it shorter, go for it.  You won't regert it!  44 Man
 

[Swampman]

I may just return it to Ruger.  With shipping it looks like it will be about $200.00 and I might be able to sell my old parts for something.

[Flash]

Yes, ship it back to Ruger because they'll put the correct fromt sight on it and do it correctly. The taller front sight on the short barreled guns are silver soldered on, not screwed on.

[Swampman]

I don't mind it being screwed on, I just want the correct height front sight.

[44 Man]

Double check with Ruger before you send it back.  I don't want to continue a rumor, but I had a friend tell me he wanted to do that, but his model had never come with the short barrel so they wouldn't put one on it.  Just saying check first, you might still have to have a gunsmith shorten it.  44 Man

[Swampman]

Ruger said they won't do it.

[ratdog]

swamp i got a uberti bird head with a 3 1/4 barrel its one of my favorites and is accurate i have seen a few rugers out there they are pricey i really prefer rugers this uberty handles real good.would not ever sell it.

[Swampman]

I fixed the problem by trading for a blued 4 5/8th inch SBH.