Best method of shortening a barrel?

[bigbore442001]

Ok. This post may mark me as a semi-idiot. Ideally I should have a competent gunsmith take on the job of shortening a barrel but my favorite gunsmith has retired. Unfortunately he is fighting kidney disease and I wish him the best of luck. I always trusted him and he was one of the better smiths out there.

Sooo. I was thinking about doing one of the following to shorten a barrel.

1. Having a machinist cut the barrel.

2. Having someone who specializes in what they call water jet cutting. I saw an advertisement to cut metals with high pressured water jet and figured it would be a good way to cut a barrel with minimal stress.

3. Get out the hacksaw.

Then that leaves one other issue. How does one cut a good crown?

Ok. Dumb questions done.

 

[rabjr]

I found it best just to give it to Roy. :rotf:

 

[Roy]

I use a hacksaw and then file the muzzle square. You might want to wrap tape around to aid you in keeping your cut square. To add the crown, I use a hand crank drill and a round stone. I sort of wobble (make large circles) the drill while turning the stone. Keeps everything even. Grandpa used to crown modern firearms this way... and it works well. :thumbsup:

 

[Birddog6]

Don't make it difficult or expensive.

Cut it off with a power band saw or a hacksaw.. File or grind the end of it square.
Go to the flea market or welding shop & get a 3/4 to 1" coned grinding stone & chuck it in the drill & grind the crown in & look to see you have it even on all sides.

I have done Dozens of them this way & it works & they shoot straighter than most anyone can hold them.

:thumbsup:

 

I cut them to length, put them in my lathe, true them to the bore, then face them off square, then cut the crown, and if I really want an easy starter, I forgo the crown and do a 1/4" counter bore.

C

 

[wirewiz]

see my post double duty rifle on page 11 of this same forum

 

[gmww]

I would think a machinist could do this relatively cheap. By the way, save the cut off piece and have the machinist thread it to fit your reloading press. You'll end up with a bullet sizer for hard cast bullets. Try it!

 

[BLAHMAN]

Just like Roy says...........use the hacksaw...done lots that way, it works!

 

[ApprenticeBuilder]

Hackum saw and finish with files and crown.

 

[Herb]

It takes me about 20 minutes to hacksaw off a barrel, file it square (use a small square to check) and smooth file and deburr it. Next I polish the end setting it muzzle down on some 180 grit emory cloth and twirling the barrel between my palms, like a fire starter stick. Cone the muzzle with a round ball stone or a carriage bolt (round) head in a hand drill with valve grinding compound. Polish it with a Cratex coned wheel.

 

[Zonie]

After you've 'crowned' the barrel I strongly suggest that you take a small piece of 220 grit wet/dry silicone carbide sandpaper (the black stuff) and, using your thumb in a rotary motion sand the sharp edges of the rifling to remove all of the sharp edges that will be there.

By dulling these sharp edges you will prevent patch cutting while you are loading your barrel.

The paper wears out rapidly when you are doing this so change it often.
If you really want a smooth entrance also use some 400 grit paper. As it wears it will start producing a polished surface.

 

[Mulebrain]

I would take that barrel to a machine shop, and let them put a metal cutting band saw to it! You will be way ahead of the game that way :thumbsup:

When they cut it, it will be nearly perfect!