Question about getting a S&W revolver modified...

[Toro]

Hello, I'm curious if anyone here has sent a revolver to Smith and Wesson to have modifications done? Primarily having a different size barrel put onto their gun? What got me going on this is that new 5" .22 Model 63 that they reintroduced recently. The only problem is that it's not on the approved list! I have a 3" .22 Model 317 that I can't get to shoot straight for the life of me. I've tried numerous types of ammo and the tightest groups I've been able to get are about 7-8" at 20 ft.

If possible I would like to get the 5" barrel and perhaps the SS cylinder of the model 63 installed on my model 317. The gun needs to be sent back for warranty work as I'm having problems with spent casings binding in the cylinder, especially as the gun heats up. Since it is going to be sent to them regardless, why not get it modified? I just shot them an e-mail regarding this possible mod, but since I don't expect to hear from them until after Christmas, figured I check here to see if anyone has had something similar done.

[rue]

Hi,
You just have to call them up and ask for what you want. They're real easy to deal with. I have a 642 and the finish is wearing off. I have to send it to them to fix this problem anyway so I called and asked if it's they could they port the barrel (don't laugh) and have the trigger lightened. Even though the barrel is 1 7/8" my gf doesn't like how hard it is to shoot so..
They said not a problem just tell them in a letter with the gun what I want and they'll call me for a credit card number and whatever once they get it. The cust. service guy sent me out a label to ship it and I dropped it off at UPS yesterday actually.

[bwiese]

You are allowed to modify your own guns.

You are allowed to use services of a gunsmith to modify your own guns (with a bit of handwaving for reg'd AWs).

So indeed you can make arrangements to send your gun to S&W for repair/update/ modification - whatever works - and I'm sure S&W'll make it good.

It simply does NOT matter that the resulting modified configuration makes such a gun configuration fall off the "Roster of Handguns Approved for Sale". That only applies to the sale/invetorying of the gun by CA FFL dealer.

[However, after your gun has been modified (as opposed to just repaired with original parts that the gun was approved/tested with) through installation of specialty parts or parts from other guns, it is no longer a Rostered gun. So you could only sell that gun to another Californian thru PPT, and could not sell it outright to a dealer. (This is aside from cosmetics trivialities like grips & sights.)]

Now, aside from the legalities I am not sure the cylinder change or bbl change across 3XX alloy to 6X stainless frames may be feasible. The 3XX likely uses the new two-piece barrel system that a 6XX gun would not. There may be minute but different/dangerous differences in radial distance from centerline of cylinder to centerline of barrel. Also, barrel top/sightline difference relative to bore centerline may be different between 3XX and 6XX families.

I also do not think your cylinder is likely the problem here unless it's terribly loose, etc. If I had to guess, the barrel insert in your bbl may be loose or cockeyed. At best, tightening of existing bbl inser or a new bbl insert is required. At worst, if the barrel shell did not allow proper remount of bbl, you might need a new frame (as I think the bbl shell in 3XX guns is part of one-piece frame, not sure.)

If it turns out you need a new frame/gun, I am not sure S&W will destroy gun & reissue serial number, so you'd have to re-DROS it like you're buying a new gun.