Shotgun Barrel Shortening - DIY possible?

[53Izzy744]

I have not done shotguns, but have done a few rifles - assemble barrel to receiver - the only time a "square" bead will count?? Level the receiver - horizontally across the top if there is a flat, vertically against a flat side if there is no flat on the top. Then an indicator like above will find Top Dead Center. I have not made stocks - not completely certain they are "square" enough to receiver to level against?? Maybe they are? I would go from the receiver, if possible...

Once receiver is squared up and level, with very good eyes and a steady hand, should be able to get very close with a level on top of the round barrel - it will only touch at a tangent point - when level reads "level", it is sitting on that TDC tangent point...

Sorry yes leveling off receiver not stock! Lol

Ive always done scopes with the stock mounted in a gun vise and then bubble leveled the receiver and then bubble level the scope

 

[fingers284]

RE; finding center for bead relocation.

and you don't need to have your action perfectly level to do it, just clamp in a set of any old soft jaws in a vise.

First thing is always mark your spot for a new bead location before cutting the barrel off...you use the old bead location as a reference point. first mark your barrel where your going to cut it with a jiffy marker, now measure back to where you want the new bead location, mark that also. Steal a 10 ft length of the finest thread your wife has in her sewing room...grab the thread by both ends between two fingers and hook the thread hoop over the front bead...now, using one hand, pull the tread tight back over the center of the rear sight plain of the action...keep this thread as tight as possible...now place the tip of your center punch between the two threads at your bead mark and hold it there. you can now release the thread and tap your punch to mark...done & ready for drilling.

Quite simple, foolproof and works perfect every time..

 

[Potashminer]

RE; finding center for bead relocation.

and you don't need to have your action perfectly level to do it, just clamp in a set of any old soft jaws in a vise.

First thing is always mark your spot for a new bead location before cutting the barrel off...you use the old bead location as a reference point. first mark your barrel where your going to cut it with a jiffy marker, now measure back to where you want the new bead location, mark that also. Steal a 10 ft length of the finest thread your wife has in her sewing room...grab the thread by both ends between two fingers and hook the thread hoop over the front bead...now, using one hand, pull the tread tight back over the center of the rear sight plain of the action...keep this thread as tight as possible...now place the tip of your center punch between the two threads at your bead mark and hold it there. you can now release the thread and tap your punch to mark...done & ready for drilling.

Quite simple, foolproof and works perfect every time..

Very slick suggestion! Assumes that the original was in the correct position, but you would already know that from shooting it - so if old one was good, this way gets to same place!! Any time that you are making a mark, and manually center punching using eye-sight, gotta expect some thousandths error - not like indicating - but has been "close enough" for several that I have done for myself - rifles, in my case - often scope mount holes, not shotguns. Rifle receiver drilled and tapped previously - but for .605" rear base hole spacing - now to mark and drill third hole for .500" spacing - thread trick would work well to find where that might be, or if the four originals are even in line to start with...