S&W barrels on Rugers, a question for those with metal skill

[squawberryman]

I have two Rugers with S&W barrels. Given that the Smith barrels have underlugs from short to full, how is said underlug removed to produce a straight piece of pipe? You can't turn it. I couldn't file it. How is that accomplished?

[jdoc]

First I would say only the short lugged barrels are candidates for the process. To facilitate the job. One end of the barrel would be fixtured to a dividing head or rotary table so the barrel can be repositioned without additional set ups on a milling table. My answer is over-simplified and not a line by line description of the actual milling operation.

A manual process not requiring any machinery could be done by cutting the lug off with a saw. The remains then can be draw filed to match the barrel's existing contour.

I will add this caution. Either option requires a skilled operator. If the desired results are to be realized.

[2 Dogs]

Short lugged barrels are the way to go here.

A long lug barrel could be done. But it would be a considerable amount of work and thus expense.

[bullseye]

The easiest and most logical method is to begin with a longer barrel, for instance an 8-3/8" & simply cut the lug end off. Then after establishing the correct chamfer in line with the axis of the bore with a lathe, the barrel is then mounted between centers and threaded to fit. If a longer barrel wasn't available, I would simply saw most of the lug off with a bandsaw and rough it close in a vice on a milling machine. Then head to a surface grinder, indicate everything in true and square in a grinder vice, dress the appropriate radius to match the barrel contour in a grinding wheel and grind away the remainder of the lug.