pistol barrel question

[sa_handforged]

Is it possible to reduce the size of an existing barrel (50 cal rifled) and make it suitable for a pistol barrel ? Was wondering if this is done and if so any issues or concerns. I have an extra rifle barrel on hand and wish to make a pistol this summer.

Thanks & have an honored Memorial Day !

[Dale Halterman]

Generally, pistol barrels have a faster rate of twist than rifle barrels. Why not just sell the rifle barrel and buy a pistol barrel?

Dale H

[smallpatch]

Lot’s of people have done so, but you will likely need larger powder charges than you’d like to use.
Some will chime in that have done so successfully.
I’d buy a new barrel.

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

A properly made pistol barrel will shoot groups half the size of a re-purposed rifle barrel with half the powder.  But they will work, just not as well.

[jerrywh]

In the days of old there were more smooth pistols than rifled. The reason was pistols were expected to be used for defense at ranges of 10 to 20 feet.  Now we use them for target shooting mostly. For me in the woods I would rather have a smooth bore loaded with bird shot or buckshot. I have had a lot of pistols with rifle barrel twist rates. I just use 30 grains in place of 20 in them.  You could make one smooth and one rifled.  In England All dueling pistols were smooth bore by law.

[Daryl]

This pistol has a section of .53 calibre rifle bl. with 60" to 66" rate of twist.
It will shoot into 2 1/2" at 50 yards from a rest, but requires 55gr. 3F to do it.
An 18" to 22" twist pistol bl. in .53 or .54 would make that grouping, or tighter
with a mere 25gr. of powder.
I turned the barrel on the lathe and re-cut(filed) tapered flats in the breech area.
The 2 little rounded pin heads in the tang at the barrel, are simply glued in dome
 headed pins. They act as the rear sight.

[jerrywh]

Nice Job Daryl.

[Elnathan]

What length of barrel do you need before the pistol starts grouping like a rifle? I've idly pondered chopping a GM 36" down to 15" for a bear pistol - considering the purpose of such a gun, stout loads are likely to be a feature, not a bug.

[Bob Roller]

It can't be a good bear pistol unless the last inch of the barrel turns red
after every shot .

Bob Roller

[tallpine]

This is a cut down 50 cal rifle barrel, 15" 1 in 48 twist. I built this pistol from junk parts laying around my shop. I load 25 gr.for squirrel head accuracy at 25 yds.  I was pleasantly surprised, I never expected it to be so accurate.

[redheart]

Darn good shootin Tallpine!

[alacran]

Daryl that is a nice looking pistol. 55 grains of 3f in that caliber will wear you out pretty quick, even two handed. Here is my .54 pistol , it has a Bill Moody barrel Pope rifled 1 in 20 twist, annd a Bob Roller lock. The first shot I took with it I put 40 grains of 3 f in it. That was way too much. Eventually I found 30 grains of 2f to be a comfortable load to shoot and is also very accurate.

[Daryl]

Nice Job Daryl.

Taylor put it together - I merely finished it.
Nice pistol alacran.  The 55gr. charge did not kick as much as my modern .44, although the ballistics were similar.
It does climb a bit with the way I hold it in both hands.

[sa_handforged]

Thank you everyone for the feedback...lots of great info.