Rob5r Posted March 29, 2021 Share Posted March 29, 2021 Is it possible to have this barrel modified to use a DX style front sight? I would like to use nite sights at indoor matches and fiber optic outdoor. I know most ICORE is outdoors, but there is an indoor club match close to my house (Yorktown, VA). Probably gonna cut off the end of the barrel at the same time. I have noticed (and read) that the comp doesn't do much, if anything. I don't use it, since I shoot limited. But that area gets leaded-up. Not going to touch anything until after the ICORE east-coast regionals. Thanks to TK Custom, it runs like a champ. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MWP Posted March 29, 2021 Share Posted March 29, 2021 It’s an easy task for a machinist. Mill off the factory front sight and install a base from Bowen. Probably an hour at a machine shop with a 1/4” end mill and tap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ysrracer Posted March 29, 2021 Share Posted March 29, 2021 Yes, yes it can be done. The top gun is my cut down 929 with a Bowen block. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pskys2 Posted March 29, 2021 Share Posted March 29, 2021 Lord one would think they'd have put a classic sight on it? It is a PC model! I had a Weigand Classic Base put on my m29-3. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ysrracer Posted March 29, 2021 Share Posted March 29, 2021 Here's a 929 barrel I had modified to shoot .22s thru. Welded up, and re-rifled. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoSteel Posted March 30, 2021 Share Posted March 30, 2021 (edited) I cut the nub off mine and recrowned, much easier to keep clean and a better look. Edited March 30, 2021 by NoSteel Spell check Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatJones Posted March 30, 2021 Share Posted March 30, 2021 Be aware the DX front sights can come off if you catch them on the edge of a port. I have a detent ball behind the front sight spring of my 627 to increase the tension on the sight blade. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob5r Posted March 30, 2021 Author Share Posted March 30, 2021 3 hours ago, NoSteel said: I cut the nub off mine and recrossed, much easier to keep clean and a better look. This is exactly what I want to do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob5r Posted March 30, 2021 Author Share Posted March 30, 2021 2 hours ago, PatJones said: Be aware the DX front sights can come off if you catch them on the edge of a port. I have a detent ball behind the front sight spring of my 627 to increase the tension on the sight blade. How did you do it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ysrracer Posted March 30, 2021 Share Posted March 30, 2021 If S&W had sold them like this, without that useless comp and nub, they may have sold a lot more of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatJones Posted March 30, 2021 Share Posted March 30, 2021 6 hours ago, Rob5r said: How did you do it? It's been a few years since I've had the sight out, and this is from memory so bear with me. My old Dawson sight had a smaller foot on it than my current one does. The new ones stay in better than the ones from 8 year's ago did. I don't remember if I had to take the detent ball out to get the new sight in. Take the sight out. There's a small pin that retains the spring. Drive that out, take out all the parts, and put a small detent ball behind the spring. I do remember it wasn't the biggest detent ball that would fit in the hole. Resemble. A longer spring would do the same thing if you have one, we're just using the detent ball as a spacer to increase spring pressure. If you're changing sights regularly you might find the added spring tension to be a pain. I never change my sight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MWP Posted March 30, 2021 Share Posted March 30, 2021 16 hours ago, ysrracer said: Here's a 929 barrel I had modified to shoot .22s thru. Welded up, and re-rifled. Who did this work? I’m assuming you put it into a K frame? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ysrracer Posted March 30, 2021 Share Posted March 30, 2021 1 hour ago, MWP said: Who did this work? I’m assuming you put it into a K frame? I'm just joking, it's a 617 barrel I had cut down, and a Bowen block installed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoSteel Posted March 30, 2021 Share Posted March 30, 2021 (edited) 18 hours ago, Rob5r said: How did you do it? Believe it or not, no machine work here. The “nub” was removed with a quality hack saw blade. Files then used to get the contour flat/shaped as I wanted. 11 degree piloted crown cutter was used to get the muzzle crown down. Filling the threaded hole was a little trickier. Enlarged opening slightly to approx. size of stainless socket head bolt supplied with comp(1/8” deep). Threaded in with lock tite and then filed to match contour. Finished with scotch brite to desired finish. In all, 2 hrs work... My original crown was of less than desirable quality as many are so this work definitely helps to improve accuracy and cause less muzzle build up.. And just plain looks better!!! Edited March 31, 2021 by NoSteel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pyrrhic3gun Posted March 30, 2021 Share Posted March 30, 2021 To YSR: my first response was "whuuut?" Try to imagine Kevin Bacon's voice in Tremors. Then I realized it was you. :^) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IHAVEGAS Posted March 30, 2021 Share Posted March 30, 2021 19 hours ago, NoSteel said: I cut the nub off mine and recrowned, much easier to keep clean and a better look. Is there a best angle for the crown for accuracy? Really like the looks above. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoSteel Posted March 30, 2021 Share Posted March 30, 2021 3 minutes ago, IHAVEGAS said: Is there a best angle for the crown for accuracy? Really like the looks above. That question could start a huge debate.... I went for the “Look” I wanted!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toolguy Posted March 30, 2021 Share Posted March 30, 2021 There is no magic crown angle. anything from flat to 45 degrees works fine. What matters is if it's concentric to the bore. Benchrest rifles often have a flat crown or a flat counterbore. Can't go wrong with that. When you start making an angle or radius, it has to be exactly centered on the bore to shoot good groups. Most of the Smith revos I've seen with the rounded crown are off center a little to a lot, and can easily be improved on with a piloted cutter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob5r Posted March 31, 2021 Author Share Posted March 31, 2021 1 hour ago, Toolguy said: There is no magic crown angle. anything from flat to 45 degrees works fine. What matters is if it's concentric to the bore. Benchrest rifles often have a flat crown or a flat counterbore. Can't go wrong with that. When you start making an angle or radius, it has to be exactly centered on the bore to shoot good groups. Most of the Smith revos I've seen with the rounded crown are off center a little to a lot, and can easily be improved on with a piloted cutter. I agree 100%. And this is why you should always clean from the chamber to the muzzle when possible. Many of my rifles have bore guides to help prevent damage to the crown. I should probably try to make something for my revolvers. Using a bore snake for now. Would like to find an Allison Speed brush too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pskys2 Posted March 31, 2021 Share Posted March 31, 2021 (edited) 3 hours ago, Toolguy said: There is no magic crown angle. anything from flat to 45 degrees works fine. What matters is if it's concentric to the bore. Benchrest rifles often have a flat crown or a flat counterbore. Can't go wrong with that. When you start making an angle or radius, it has to be exactly centered on the bore to shoot good groups. Most of the Smith revos I've seen with the rounded crown are off center a little to a lot, and can easily be improved on with a piloted cutter. As Warren says the Crown needs to be square. The reason for a recessed crown is it's harder to damage the rifling by accidentally smacking it into something. Especially for a handgun. Edited March 31, 2021 by pskys2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatJones Posted March 31, 2021 Share Posted March 31, 2021 I build rifles for a living. I use a recessed 90° crown on the rifles I build. If you measure the grooves in the rifling on a cut rifle barrel, you will see that the grooves very in depth due to the manufacturing process. In an angled crown, the the shallower lands will release the gas sooner than the deeper ones. This can kick the base of the bullet slightly to one side as it leaves the barrel. Flat crowns are easily damaged by improper cleaning. An angled crown is much more resistant to cleaning rod damage. In handgun world, especially our game, I don't think there's any noticable accuracy difference between different crown types as long as they're straight. I think the durability of an angled crown wins out in our application. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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