trimming barrel

Bought a barrel for my Ithaca 37 from a gun smith,and asked him to cut the barrel down to 18.5",. he tried to talk me in to having it done at 18 3/4,just to be safe about the law, and finaly give in and said it was my call.

I know,you can buy a factory barrel for a pump action as short as 8.5",but you can not cut one down youself under 18.5" legally. go figure,:bangHead:.
 
"...a tubing cutter kinda swells the metal..." A pipe cutter works just fine for a plain, non-ribbed, barrel. If there's any 'swelling' you're doing something wrong.
A hacksaw will not cut straight. If you cut to 18", it's entirely possible to end up with part of the muzzle under 18". If you must use a hacksaw cut a bit over 18". Then file the muzzle flat and deburr.
"...there usually threaded right?..." Where? They're, NOT THERE, threaded though. Drilling and tapping the new hole is required. Getting said hole exactly on the top centre of the barrel is also required.
 
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There are different sizes, 3-56 up. Hardest part is getting the hole drilled top dead centre.
Minimum lengths for amputation are 18" for manually operated or rimfire firearms, 18 1/2" for semi auto centrefires, measured according to the offical method, no doubt. It is a really good idea to leave a margin for error. If a pistol grip is going on, make sure the thing will exceed 26" overall. Might be an idea to install the pistol grip, and experiment with a tape measure before touching the barrel.
 
ok thanks, only place i've used a tubing cutter type tool is in the automotive industry with fuel line etc.... and at work, cutting casing, 4.5", 7", etc. and they tend to 'wedge' the metal, leaving a lip and increasing the OD, and probably ID.. thats why i was concerned
 
A pipe cutter cuts by displacing metal. That's why a lip is created. Any distortion could be dressed off. I've only seen one gun shortened this way, didn't look bad.
 
It could. Might be worth starting a thread, asking if anyone has done it. The prototype for the design that became the High Standard bullpup shotgun was based on a Remington 58. It certainly had an abbreviated barrel.
 
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