Cut or rebarrel?

MilitaryCollectorMark

MilitaryCollectorMark

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Should I cut down the barrel on my Zastava or replace it with another barrel that I'd cut down?
Thinking maybe cutting down the barrel would be a better idea since I've already fudded with the stock, not going to be selling the rifle in the future.
 
On a bolt action you can cut the existing barrel no shorter than 18 inches... but I would suggest 18.5 inch to cover measuring errors.

You can re barrel it with a new barrel less than 18 inches.

What cartridge?
 
My preference for the majority of my rifles is 20". Especially bolt guns. That's what I'd go with if I were you. The 6.5x55 will still have some ass behind it with that length of barrel. I'm planning on cutting down a stainless Model 70 featherweight in 6.5 Creedmoor to that length soon.
 
guntech said:
On a bolt action you can cut the existing barrel no shorter than 18 inches... but I would suggest 18.5 inch to cover measuring errors.

You can re barrel it with a new barrel less than 18 inches.

What cartridge?
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^^^^^ cut a couple at 19", shortened for ends and played with length of pull. From my research over the years smaller calibers seem to lose more velocity per inch than larger ones but if you're not shooting half way across the prairie you'll be just fine. Dispit the popular options and overall trends I like some of the home spun fudd guns. One thing I'd do is slug the barrel and cut it at the tightest spot.
 
MM, IMHO, you will be very disappointed with that rifle once you've cut it down.

If it handles fine and shoots well now, leave it alone.

That's just IMHO of course. I've gone the route you're looking to go down a couple of times. The first time I did it was because appx six inches of the bore on an M96 Swede Mauser was badly pitted when I purchased it at an auction. It wasn't disclosed before the sale and I got there late etc.

I cut that barrel back to twenty inches and even though the rifle shot well enough and carried easily I wasn't impressed with the velocity loss. I was much younger then.

I traded that rifle for something else only a few months later. That fellow did the same.

The last rifle I cut back for my own personal use was for a area that I used to hunt along a creek bottom where the vegetation was quite thick and shots were seldom over 75 yards. Any hunting done there was by stalking in the late fall, when all of the leaves had fallen. The rifle was chambered for the 35 Remington and it was cut back to 19 inches. It was chambered in a Savage 110.

That rifle was OK for that job or any shooting out to 150 yards but it always felt awkward.

That little bit of extra length on rifles with 22-24 in barrels being an issue, is mostly in the mind of the individual.

Funny, the bigger the fellow the smaller the gun he carries to hunt with.

I seldom cut back a barrel of my own, unless there is damage to remove.

If you're doing this because of weight, which I doubt, just remember that extra weight makes it much easier to bring your sight to bear on your target from a standing, sitting, kneeling position.
 
Short, light, handy rifles are amazing, until you try to shoot them.
It all depends on what you are going to do with the thing.
If you will ever be in the situation to, for instance, take an offhand shot at a deer at 100 yards, you will wish you hadn't chopped it.
I've actually added weight to the forend of rifles that I had shortened, because they had become so difficult to shoot offhand.
 
Jonnyofalltrades said:
Short, light, handy rifles are amazing, until you try to shoot them.
It all depends on what you are going to do with the thing.
If you will ever be in the situation to, for instance, take an offhand shot at a deer at 100 yards, you will wish you hadn't chopped it.
I've actually added weight to the forend of rifles that I had shortened, because they had become so difficult to shoot offhand.
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I went from a heavy 26" to a light 19" as my main tool of choice and you'll right offhand is not the same. We know that thay made reverse tapered barrels for a reason. Practice is in grip and stance can mostly compensate for the difference. Start by getting off the bench, wether it a real bench a redneck bench ( the hood of a truck), for hunters other than zeroing and load development (all) shooting should be done off hand or other likely hunting shooting positions. For more likely longer range spots he's probably got another go-to for that anyway.
 
Yes, valid points!

I do have a couple other rifles, a 25-05 and 300 win mag and 30-06. I'll be using those if I take longer 150+ yard shots.

If I cut the barrel, would be good for 100 yards and less. I don't have the experience right now taking longer shots.

And plus, if I want a longer barrel I can always find another barrel.
 
MilitaryCollectorMark said:
Yes, valid points!

I do have a couple other rifles, a 25-05 and 300 win mag and 30-06. I'll be using those if I take longer 150+ yard shots.

If I cut the barrel, would be good for 100 yards and less. I don't have the experience right now taking longer shots.

And plus, if I want a longer barrel I can always find another barrel.
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The trick is, will you have the right rifle with you when you need it????

That's why 22-24 inch barrels are the usual choice.
 
I’d cut it to 19 inches, it would be the ideal lenght.
You would lose about 20 FPS .
My buddy hunts with a rem Mohawk.308 , I believe it has a 16 inch barrel from factory? Maybe 18 max.
He hunts an area with a max shot of 300 yards, it’s his favourite rifle because of the compactness and he never misses
 
MilitaryCollectorMark said:
If I cut the barrel, would be good for 100 yards and less. I don't have the experience right now taking longer shots.
Click to expand...

You’ll be fine past 100m with a 18.5”-20” barrel, I doubt you’ll notice any negative difference in weight or balance. Sling it up tight when shooting unsupported or use an improvised rest when going out further. 20” is my sweet spot but I like my 18.5” length also, the biggest difference I’ve noticed is noise but having some tinnitus I don’t shoot without ear pro for the most part so muzzle blast isn’t much of a concern for me.
 
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