Changing Remington Navy Barrels.

[Fredcdobbs]

I have a Uberti 1858 Navy in .36 caliber with a 7 and 3/8 inch barrel.
VTI makes a 5.5 barrel and shortened loading lever in .36 caliber I'd like to change out barrels.
Any thoughts, suggestions? Do I need a frame wrench etc? If headspace is a bit tight can it be adjusted carefully with a file?
I have a Brownells forcing cone cutting tool if needed.
Any suggestions welcome.
I did some measurement and by adding a new barrel lug, a shorter ketch nub and cutting a dovetail for the ketch and front sight, you could shorten the existing barrel just behind the existing loading lever ketch for a 5 1.4" length barrel.
Thanks in advance.

[Pettifogger]

Head space, on a C&B?  You need a barrel vice to hold the barrel.  For an action wrench I use a tight fitting square piece of oak that closely fits the frame window.  (Uberti uses the same sophisticated wrench!)  If you just want a shorter barrel, I would just shorten the original and save some money.  I've shortened a few and its not much more work than removing and replacing the existing barrel.

[Fredcdobbs]

I'm beginning to see the benefits of shortening. For one, I can shorten to six inches instead of 5.5 I only have to cut one dovetail for the sight and leave the long loading lever intact. That way I can actually remove the cylinder pin all the way. On my 5.5" 44 cal 1858, the pin of course doesn't come all the way out. I doubt an extra half inch matters on handling.
j