Shortening a barrel (do it yourself)

[gitrdun]

Rifle: Savage 16FCSS Stainless in .270WSM. The factory barrel is 23" long and I would like to shorten it to 20". Here are my questions:

1. How much velocity is sacrificed by inch of barrel redution.

2. Is doing it myself a viable option over taking it to a gunsmith? I am a journeyman millwright and have no problems making my own mods.

3. Any other suggestions or comments are also welcome. Oh, why am I shortening it? - I'm a bit vertically challenged

 

[Aries-]

if you have a lathe that can hold the bbl you should have no problems. if there are no iron sights its even easyer.

the part most people would have problems with is recrowning the bbl. but if you have experiance and such it wouldent be to bad.

 

[blargon]

Rifle: Savage 16FCSS Stainless in .270WSM. The factory barrel is 23" long and I would like to shorten it to 20". Here are my questions:

1. How much velocity is sacrificed by inch of barrel redution.

2. Is doing it myself a viable option over taking it to a gunsmith? I am a journeyman millwright and have no problems making my own mods.

3. Any other suggestions or comments are also welcome. Oh, why am I shortening it? - I'm a bit vertically challenged

50-75 fps, most smiths charge $50-60 to cut & crown.

 

[gitrdun]

Well I did it. In fact I took it this morning to Henry Rempel in Calgary. He did it on the lathe while I watched and also crowned in on the lathe. He only charged me $30.00. Unlike another gunsmith I know in Calgary, he's also a really nice guy. I'll post a range report soon.

 

[45ACPKING]

i recently did a cut and crown on one of my blacktail deer rifles.
I used a chop saw....... then recrowned with a brass crowning tool and lapping compound in my hand drill. from 24 inches to 19 inches
I know this sounds like a barbaric garage monkey kinds way of doing things...... BUT this rifle remains accurate and has measurably tighter groups down range......

was a fun project on a rifle that while reliable... cost me very little to aquire.... so i didn't mind trying cutting and recrowning at home.... I am pleased with the results

 

[Ian Robertson]

As a matter of fact, a friend had a barrel the wrong twist. He admitted he ordered it wrong so he decided we should cut it off and check velocity lost. Into the band saw and a crown with a countersink in a hand drill. Made that krieger shoot better than ever.

 

[anchor3593]

i recently did a cut and crown on one of my blacktail deer rifles.
I used a chop saw....... then recrowned with a brass crowning tool and lapping compound in my hand drill. from 24 inches to 19 inches
I know this sounds like a barbaric garage monkey kinds way of doing things...... BUT this rifle remains accurate and has measurably tighter groups down range......

was a fun project on a rifle that while reliable... cost me very little to aquire.... so i didn't mind trying cutting and recrowning at home.... I am pleased with the results

That is the perfect way to do it - just taking a little off - maybe a half-inch or so will make an old rifle shoot (nearly) like new again. The bore at the muzzle is the first place to get rust pits - maybe rode hard and put away wet - or condensation in the warm shack after a cold hunt?

I use a chop saw or hacksaw and square it carefully with a file, then I use a little tool I made ( cup shaped ) with valve grinding compound to crown the outside, then a multifluted tool (not a drill bit) to bevel the inside a tiny bit before lapping it smooth with a steel cone and compound. A touch of a good blue and off to the range.
The only way to mess up is in not being ever-so-careful in protecting the barrel as work is done. Okay - maybe a guy might forget to contain filings - a wad in the bore and a garbage bag taped over the rest.

 

[gitrdun]

Well, I shot it while the ribs were on the BBQ. My first group was MOA, I adjusted the scope to the right and up 3" above zero and my second group was about 1 1/8" or so (estimate). That is with plain old Hornady 140gr. Interlocks. I know that if I was to improve loads, maybe even go to a more inherently accurate bullet, they'd tighten up. I didn't chrono to compare before and after, tomorow's another day.