Cutting down a barrel (shortening)

A

avin

New member
Rating - 100%
48   0   1
Location
BC
Any one out there have any experience getting a hunting rifle barrel shortened. Thinking of shortening a 24inch mag or non mag (depending on what I pick up) down to 22 or less depending on much needed advice.
Thanks
 
I've had a number of rifles shortened over the years. Most recently I picked up from the 'smith my Ruger 77 after he cut it down to just over 18.5 inches and installed open sights. I now have my very own Ruger Alaskan Brush Hunter, with apologies to Savage. This particular gun shoots slightly better now than it did before the cut, and I think I'm in love! I've generally been very happy with most of my chop jobs, but before you send your gun under the knife you should be certain what you are desiring/expecting. Make sure your 'smith understands what you want. Specify the exact type and depth of crown that you expect. Also, make sure that YOU understand what you want. I would never have cut this .338 down so short if I hadn't already owned and shot a similar gun in the past with good results. Especially in the case of a gun that you are fond of, it's better to try out something similar ahead of time...I wouldn't start slicing just to try out an idea with no basis other than "I wonder how this would work?" Also, if you are approaching minimum legal length, I always feel better with an extra 1/4-inch or so, just to make it more difficult for some over-zealous LEO to "mis-read" the tape measure.

Good luck with your project. It is definitely nice to personalize a gun to your exact requirements, and this is an inexpensive way to completely change the character and feel of a rifle, hopefully for the better.
 
I had a 338 cut from 24" down to 22". I didn't notice any difference or performance loss because of it. It improved handling and it was easier to get in and out of a scabbard. I have a 375 coming that will get the same treatment, maybe 21" this time.
 
My longest barrel is 22" :), shorter is definitely more handy with very little loss in velocity and often an improvement in accuracy.
 
I chopped my 338RUM down from 26" to 20.5"

It handles like a dream now, prior to the shortening it was like packing an antenna.
 
bought my son a savage .243 and it was decently accurate, cut it down to 18.5 " heres what we found :
-accuracey is better now, this is from a led-sled, effectivly removes the human element (barrel is now short and very stiff)
-read online that the noise will be attrocious - total bulls@#t -marginaly louder if at all
-huge velocity loss ,have read as much as 70 fps/inch cut -once again complete bull ,havn't cronied it but impact has dropped so little (.243 is pretty dam fast to begin with)
-its now our go to gun when hunting the bush or the islands around here.
typo fixed, thx all
 
Last edited:
If you cut too much off, your hole may not be in the centre of the muzzle anymore. I've seen that before and it looks ridiculous. I had a Ruger number 1 shortened a couple of inches before and it worked quite well.
 
broadhead67 said:
bought my son a savage .243 and it was decently accurate, cut it down to " heres what we found :
-accuracey is better now, this is from a led-sled, effectivly removes the human element (barrel is now short and very stiff)
-read online that the noise will be attrocious - total bulls@#t -marginaly louder if at all
-huge velocity loss ,have read as much as 70 fps/inch cut -once again complete bull ,havn't cronied it but impact has dropped so little (.243 is pretty dam fast to begin with)
-its now our go to gun when hunting the bush or the islands around here.
Click to expand...

Might not wanna spread that around to much, i believe 18" is the shortest you can legally cut a barrel to.
 
Last edited:
http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/cfp-pcaf/fs-fd/prohibited-prohibe-eng.htm

According to the Criminal Code, a prohibited firearm is:

a handgun that;

- has a barrel equal to or less than 105 mm in length, or
- is designed or adapted to discharge a 25 or 32 calibre cartridge, but does not include any such handgun that is prescribed, where the handgun is for use in international sporting competitions governed by the rules of the International Shooting Union,

a firearm that is adapted from a rifle or shotgun, whether by sawing, cutting or any other alteration, and that, as so adapted;

- is less than 660 mm in length, or
- is 660 mm or greater in length and has a barrel less than 457 mm in length,
- an automatic firearm, whether or not it has been altered to discharge only one projectile with one pressure of the trigger, or
- any firearm that is prescribed to be a prohibited firearm.
Click to expand...

*IE:

---- if it came with a barrel shorter than 457mm (18"), you can't alter the firearm to be shorter than (26") 660mm (re; folding stock),
---- if it came with a barrel longer than 457mm, you can't cut the barrel shorter than 18" OR cut the barrel as to make the OAL of the firearm less than 660mm.

* you CAN buy a factory barrel shorter than 18" & have it installed, as long as the OAL remains 26"+... This includes aftermarket barrels.
 
Sask_Hunter said:
You don't want to go too short or your mirrors will suffer.
Click to expand...

gtrussell said:
Easier to get out the window of the truck?
Click to expand...

You heard it here folks!
If you like rifles with short barrels, you must be a poacher.
If you are a real hunter, you must have a rifle with a minimum of 24" of barrel, longer is better.
Regardless of how a gun may handle or balance, it must have a long barrel or you are surely a poacher.
Any firearm with a short barrel and short oal is certainly in the hands of a criminal.
How is it that any decent person in their right mind could use a short rifle, they must be poachers.

Give me a f*****g break.
 
Moose Masher said:
You heard it here folks!
If you like rifles with short barrels, you must be a poacher.
If you are a real hunter, you must have a rifle with a minimum of 24" of barrel, longer is better.
Regardless of how a gun may handle or balance, it must have a long barrel or you are surely a poacher.
Any firearm with a short barrel and short oal is certainly in the hands of a criminal.
How is it that any decent person in their right mind could use a short rifle, they must be poachers.

Give me a f*****g break.
Click to expand...

Not in QC:

"Be on or on board an immobilized vehicle or trailer and be in the possession of an armed crossbow or loaded firearm and shoot with a firearm, a bow or a crossbow from this vehicle or this trailer. This authorization is intended for a person whose physical impairment prevents him from moving about without the assistance of a wheelchair or any other similar means."

http://www.mrn.gouv.qc.ca/english/p...lations/special-rules/handicapped-persons.asp
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom