Barrel swap

[Cherokee Reb]

A pard and I both have Uberti Mason-Richards Navy Conversions in 38 cal. If we were to trade barrels ( a 7.5 inch for a 5.5 inch), would the wedges go with the barrels or stay with the frames??  

Thanks in advance

[Coffinmaker]

Either.  The barrel and wedge should be fit to an individual frame.  Usually, Uberti doesn't "fit" the wedge when they assemble a pistol.  They just shove it in and ship it out.  That is one reason the barrel and frame seldom fit correctly.
The hole in the barrel(s) for the arbor are drilled too deep so the barrel is able to move every time the gun is disassembled/assembled (cleaning).  You can swap the barrels but after you do so, everything needs to be "fit" for proper clearance and operation of the gun.  If your Headspace is correct, you will need to establish correct spacing of the barrel to the frame and barrel/cylinder gap. 
Pettifogger had an excellent series of articles for setting up an Open Top, now available on line at "The Open Range."  His method for correcting the barrel/arbor fit is excellent.  If his method is a bit beyond your machining capability, you can drop a 5mm split washer down the hole in the barrel and seat the arbor against the washer and drive home the wedge until tight.  This method works on Open Top guns and Conversions.  I doubt it will work on a BP gun but is worth a try.

Coffinmaker