Having a shotgun barrel shortened

ROBPECKFORD

ROBPECKFORD

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Hi all, I have two older Ithaca 37s, I'd like to shorten the barrel length on one of them to 18.5 ". One has a poly choke and is currently 26". The other is 30" fixed full choke. Anyone cut down Thier own or use a Smith? Price range for a smith?
 
I would guess to cut, crown and install a new bead would be $50... maybe more...

Be aware that most shotgun bores are not in the center of the diameter when cut way back... the end of the barrel may end up looking a bit weird. On my own barrels I would end up turning a slight taper on the the barrel centered on a live center... then re blue it. Looked perfect then.
 
One option I was willing to choose was to just buy a shorter barreled shotgun if having one shortened was not feasabale or worthwhile.

I thought people did not like poly chokes? I like the concept of it makes it very versatile, ugly as anything tho.
 
guntech said:
I would guess to cut, crown and install a new bead would be $50... maybe more...

Be aware that most shotgun bores are not in the center of the diameter when cut way back... the end of the barrel may end up looking a bit weird. On my own barrels I would end up turning a slight taper on the the barrel centered on a live center... then re blue it. Looked perfect then.
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Closer to 150$ , well that is what one store charges locally

You would be insane to pay that, id do it myself
 
You could likely sell or trade off one for a shotgun with an 18.5" barrel. Or if your serial number 855000 or higher you may be able to buy a barrel someone else has already shortened from the EE or other used guns and parts sellers.
 
#%^* you guys are tight wads. $60 to cut & crown. $20 to drill and tap install front sight. $10 shop supplies fee. $25 time fee to disassemble gun, put in the lathe, do the job, then take it out and put it in milling machine to drill and tap and reassemble gun. The total time will take an about an hour. No gunsmith should offer their skilled labor for under $100 per hour. In automotive, they charge $220 to $300 per hour. $50 an hour would barely keep the lights in the shop and pay for additional equipment. If you’re wondering why there isn’t many gunsmiths around in Canada, it’s because of tight wads like you who undervalue their skill. $50 what a joke.
 
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Mumbles Marble Mouth said:
#%^* you guys are tight wads. $60 to cut & crown. $20 to drill and tap install front sight. $10 shop supplies fee. $25 time fee to disassemble gun, put in the lathe, do the job, then take it out and put it in milling machine to drill and tap and reassemble gun. The total time will take an about an hour. No gunsmith should offer their skilled labor for under $100 per hour. In automotive, they charge $220 to $300 per hour. $50 an hour would barely keep the lights in the shop and pay for additional equipment. If you’re wondering why there isn’t many gunsmiths around in Canada, it’s because of tight wads like you who undervalue their skill. $50 what a joke.
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Where are the shops charging 220 to 300$ an hour may i ask? Around the ottawa area, service rates at a dealership are about 120-140hr.
 
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ROBPECKFORD said:
One option I was willing to choose was to just buy a shorter barreled shotgun if having one shortened was not feasabale or worthwhile.

I thought people did not like poly chokes? I like the concept of it makes it very versatile, ugly as anything tho.
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They are liked more than cut barrels or ones with a fixed full choke
Cheers
 
I pay about $70 for licenced mechanic here.

It would depend on the shotgun to me. $200 shotgun, I'd do it myself. $2000 shotgun, I'd probably hire it out. The Pros I would assume (and would hope) have a few more tools dedicated to certain jobs than I do. Although I could be wrong.
 
ROBPECKFORD said:
Hi all, I have two older Ithaca 37s, I'd like to shorten the barrel length on one of them to 18.5 ". One has a poly choke and is currently 26". The other is 30" fixed full choke. Anyone cut down Thier own or use a Smith? Price range for a smith?
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I assume they are 2 3/4, not suitable for steel, and you don't hunt ducks or geese with them. You probably want a grouse gun, or like to shoot skeet, or ???

I use 2 of my short ones for Cowboy action. The other ones have extra barrels. Sort barreled shotguns are a bit special purpose, sort of useless sometimes.

I shorten my own, it's not that difficult. It is best done in a lathe, but a power hacksaw will work. Or a Ridgid pipe cutter/threading machine. Replacing the bead requires a bit higher pay grade.

I have found that at around 20" the patterns tend to go south. 21" to 22" seems to be a sweet spot for a true Cyl bore. If you can get it reamed for a screw in choke, that isn't an issue. I have 2 shotguns with short barrels and chokes, and that is the best way to go, IMNSHO.

If you intend on shooting slugs, rifle sights are a real improvement.

I don't like the adjustable, big blob on the end of the barrel, chokes, that would be my candidate for a short barrel. The 30" full choke makes a good yard gun, puts the noise away from your ears and with #4 or #2 lead it will smoke vermin out to 40+ yds, . A sawed off shotgun with no choke will only scare vermin at 40+ yd.

A skilled gunsmith may be able to reinstall the poly choke. The bonus with that is the bead is on the poly choke, one less procedure.

Nitro.
 
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Mumbles Marble Mouth said:
Vancouver Big-O-Tire $220 per hour. Banff auto repair, $300 per hour. Any marine shop, $250 per hour. A gunsmith shouldn’t be under valued compared to a mechanic.
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So you know of two places with outrageous prices. That doesn't make it the norm. I have never paid over $100 an hour in Surrey/Burnaby.

Also, I wouldn't think chopping a shotgun barrel requires a lathe and mill... More like a hacksaw, file, and a tap set...
 
If mechanics in Banff are pulling wrench for $1.1M/year I’m clearly in the wrong line of work...

Check out rifleshooter dot com for some gunsmithing articles, he’s mostly precision rifles but has a number of blog posts about shotgun and 1911 work too. Can see what goes into doing it nicely and make a decision from there.
 
Mumbles Marble Mouth said:
#%^* you guys are tight wads. $60 to cut & crown. $20 to drill and tap install front sight. $10 shop supplies fee. $25 time fee to disassemble gun, put in the lathe, do the job, then take it out and put it in milling machine to drill and tap and reassemble gun. The total time will take an about an hour. No gunsmith should offer their skilled labor for under $100 per hour. In automotive, they charge $220 to $300 per hour. $50 an hour would barely keep the lights in the shop and pay for additional equipment. If you’re wondering why there isn’t many gunsmiths around in Canada, it’s because of tight wads like you who undervalue their skill. $50 what a joke.
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Well the disassembly of a 37 barrel isn't difficult so a $25 fee for that is ridiculous. No fee is reasonable. Hacksaw the barrel and lathe the muzzle takes 5 minutes. Locating for the bead and drill and tap and the new bead (using a drill press - no expensive milling machine in my shop) is the biggest cost... $10 for shop supply fee is ridiculous... so yes $50 can be considered a fair price... I agree it is about the lowest out there though...
 
I've decided I'm not going to cut the poly choked barrel down, it may be quite useful. I like the versatility of it. It may be less hassle to just buy a shotgun with a short barrel. I really liked the look of the old corn cob Ithaca riot guns tho.... Thanks for the input guys.
 
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