Varminterror said:I'll place my bets that an Alaskan hasn't been converted to 50 Special, although I'd expect someone has made an Alaskan Clone from a standard SRH in 50 Special, the only resulting differences then being the "Alaskan" engraved in the side, the integrated scope mounts, and the choice of the gunsmith for the front sight method/design. Rebarreling the Alaskan's is a chore not worth pursuing, as the gunsmith has to use an expanding mandrel inserted inside the bore to remove it, which runs a high likelihood of damaging the barrel AND frame. I've not heard of anyone reboring barrels with them still installed, especially when they can't be independently supported. I've pulled an Alaskan barrel once, I wouldn't care to do it again.
Alternatively, pulling a barrel from a standard SRH is straight forward, then a new barrel blank can be used instead of reboring. Pulling a barrel, cutting and threading a new blank, milling in a front sight is an easy project for an SRH. Getting that Alaskan barrel out isn't.
Snyd said:Yes, Hamilton Bowen does 50 Caliber conversions on the SRH Alaskan. He will only start with the 44 mag, not the 454 or 480 Alaskans. Something to do with adhesive or something used in barrel threads. He removes the barrel, cuts the snout off flush and builds from there. He does up to the 500 Linebaugh in the 5 shot conversions.
http://www.bowenclassicarms.com/catalog/ruger_double_action_big_bore_caliber_conversions.html
Varminterror said:The Bowen stipulation on the 44mag version of the Ruger SRH's is a reference to the Target Grey finish of the old SRH's.
The barrel adhesive thing, and similarly the "crushable liner" rumors about the Alaskans are nothing more than rumors, with absolutely NO founding to them. A few select users on different forums have propagated these two particular rumors for years. A call by ANYONE to Ruger will confirm, there's no adhesive or liner used in the Alaskan. I've pulled one myself with a brass mandrel, there's nothing different about an Alaskan barrel from a standard SRH barrel - only how you have to gain purchase on it.
While Varminterror did not post anything that is wrong, "how the barrels are assembled" has still not been posted. Alaskan barrels start out longer than needed with a flat on each side near the muzzle for a wrench to grip. After being torqued in the excess length is cut off then they are crowned.Mus408 said:OK thanks for the info and how the barrels are assembled!