Barrel length?

[Hanger]

Was just curious on how short is to short? I have a traditions Kentucky barrel that when the owner put it together kind of messed it up. It’s probably safe to shoot, thought of just cutting off the bad section and making a shorter barrel out of it.

He drilled high on the tenon (closes to the end of the muzzle) and caught the barrel.
So how short is to short for a 1/66 barrel?

 

[64Springer]

Install a fresh tenon.

Drill a new hole.

Done.


You may need to plug the stock and redrill the stock along with the tenon.

No need, whatsoever, to cut that barrel back.

 

[The Crisco Kid]

Is that a barrel tenon or the rear sight dovetail? I can't tell from the photo. If it's a barrel tenon that isn't visible don't worry about it. If it's the rear sight dovetail that's a whole nuther problem.

 

[Edm]

You say he caught the barrel...if that’s a tenon and it doesn’t go through, I’d leave it. It will be covered and that’s far enough down the barrel that I don’t think it would pose any problems.

 

[64Springer]

People really do need to leave their guns alone and stop looking for gremlins that aren't there.

A never-ending phenomenon.

 

[Hanger]

It’s the first tenon dovetail closest to the muzzle as mentioned above. I was more curious of barrel length to keep accuracy. Was going to cut it because I don’t know the thickness of the actual metal there between the gouge and the land. No phenomenon here, just a simple question.

 

[64Springer]

It’s the first tenon dovetail closest to the muzzle as mentioned above. I was more curious of barrel length to keep accuracy. Was going to cut it because I don’t know the thickness of the actual metal there between the gouge and the land. No phenomenon here, just a simple question.

Flat to flat dimension minus bore dimension divided by two minus the dovetail depth will give you the thickness in that area.

That web of steel is about .100 if the dovetail depth is .080 inches.

If your goal was to shorten the barrel, then there was no need to mention the buggered up dovetail.

You mentioned Safe To Shoot. I was telling you that's it's perfectly safe to shoot.

If you want to shorten it, it won't affect accuracy. I've shortened two Kentuckyish rifles and they shoot fine. One 30 inch and one 25 inch.

 

[Hanger]

Thanks bud

 

[ppg1949]

I shortened a 1:66 Kentucky to 28 inches with no loss in accuracy. IMHO, the trick is to make sure you make a good crown on the new cut barrel.

 

[Bighorserider]

TC did extensive barrel length testing and found that there was no real advantage beyond 28 inches or so. I'm sure others know more about these tests than I do.

 

[Hermit Tim]

Don't know about a 1:66 but I've got a Traditions with a 1:48 barrel that is 14 inches. Shoots fine within archery ranges. It's still in the works so that is as far as I've shot it. 35 yards or so.

 

[kyron4]

A few strokes of a file and good to go.

 

[IanH]

Shotty barrels can run as thin as .025" wall thickness in that area. There is zero safety issue with the drill damage in your photo.

 

[Secesh]

I wouldn’t worry about it, like @64Springer said, install another tenon and cover it up, you’ll forget about over time. Definitely don’t cut the barrel.

 

[centershot]

If you're worried about safety, don't! The pressure at that point in the barrel is so low that you should have no fears of the barrel blowing out.

 

[Notchy Bob]

Just curious..,

I’m not really familiar with that rifle. How long would the barrel end up being, if you cut it off just short of the dovetail slot?

I would agree with the majority, the rifle should be safe as it is, and the buggered tenon dovetail will not show. I would not cut it, if it were mine.

However, there was a certain type of German boar rifle in the flintlock days that had a very short barrel, maybe 11” to 13” or so. It was intended for use by mounted hunters. The Cap & Ball guy from Hungary (forgot his name) made a video of shooting an original, and we had a discussion of these little shorties here on the forum maybe some time last year. It might make an interesting “fun gun” but I doubt you would get much velocity. I think one could expect handgun type performance from a shoulder-mounted firearm.

Personally, I don’t think I would have much use for one, but to each his own.

Best regards,

Notchy Bob