Shorty M1A, M14, M305 projects ...

Okay, I just read all 36 pages... please don't jump on me for this, but I couldn't find an answer.

If I hacksaw a regular barrel to 18.75 and dremel crown the muzzle, what can I expect? I know it's half ass, but I'm looking for cheap fun, reliability, looks and plinking, not ultra accuracy.

I'm also thinking of running it with no brake.

There will also be no front site.
 
I think the reason you can't find it being discussed is because it will mess up your barrel. The crown plays a vital role in your accuracy, even if you are not looking for ultra accuracy so putting a dremel on it is not a good idea.

I believe it can be done but whatever you save from gunsmithing will be less than what you lose in the value of the rifle.
 
It isnt very expensive to have a gunshop cut ,recrown and thread the end for the use of a flashider ...I would suggest to have it done by a gunsmith ...I think Elwoods quoted around $75. if I remember correctly.
 
stop all of this mumble jumble and go buy a factory shorty from canadaammo!

You have a point if you don't have a m305 already, but if you do then paying $75-$100 for the cut/crown and thread is a bit cheaper than paying $450.
 
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Okay, I just read all 36 pages... please don't jump on me for this, but I couldn't find an answer.

If I hacksaw a regular barrel to 18.75 and dremel crown the muzzle, what can I expect? I know it's half ass, but I'm looking for cheap fun, reliability, looks and plinking, not ultra accuracy.

I'm also thinking of running it with no brake.

I was thinking about doing something like this for a truck gun. Leave a scope mount with a 'red dot' or 'fakepoint' or ACOG. Then your muzzle will be simply a 'clean barrel' and then take a brass muzzle lapping tool with some valve grinding compound on the crown. :D

You could just bring it to a gunsmith to have the crown touched up, but after having spoke to other gunsmiths, they were concerned about the chrome plating and flaking effect. I don't know much about that so I shall not touch that issue. Okay, better leave it to the professionals or simply go and buy shorty from this vendor. :)

Cheers,
Barney
 
Thanks for all the advice... I thought the no front sight would be a fun different look... and I'm not too worried about resale since I made a 'keep em all' policy a while ago. I'm gonna go Google crowning and see how involved it is... I know I could send it away or buy a shorty... but I like doing stuff myself and I got the gun virtually brand new 2011 with 2 5-20 mags shipped for 375. Shortys are 500 and sending it away would prolly bring It close to that price... I prefer To spend it on accessories.

Any way I guess what I'm asking is what does a 'ruined barrel' mean.... I can deal with the flakey chrome but I'd still like reasonable accuracy to a couple hundred meters. Looks like I may be the trial case... I'll take pics and hopefully not suffer a similar fate as our dishwasher pioneer friend.
 
Thanks for all the advice... I thought the no front sight would be a fun different look... and I'm not too worried about resale since I made a 'keep em all' policy a while ago. I'm gonna go Google crowning and see how involved it is... I know I could send it away or buy a shorty... but I like doing stuff myself and I got the gun virtually brand new 2011 with 2 5-20 mags shipped for 375. Shortys are 500 and sending it away would prolly bring It close to that price... I prefer To spend it on accessories.

Any way I guess what I'm asking is what does a 'ruined barrel' mean.... I can deal with the flakey chrome but I'd still like reasonable accuracy to a couple hundred meters. Looks like I may be the trial case... I'll take pics and hopefully not suffer a similar fate as our dishwasher pioneer friend.

You seem to be set on a specific course of action, and that is totally fine... fill your boots. I believe what everyone is attempting to get across to you is that ''dealing with a flakey barrel/a bubba'd crown" and " reasonable accuracy to a couple of hundred metres" are not mutually exclusive.

The most important part of a barrel that effects it's accuracy is the last half inch. The chrome is extremely hard wearing, but extremely brittle. To compromise this will increase the likelyhood of turning an inherantly roughly accurate battle rifle to a 'Minute of Barn' paperwieght.

But that said nothing ventured, nothing gained. I personnally would like to see you pull it off, and more importantly... teach me how. I'm a huge supporter of the "a man should be able to do whatever he wants with his own rifle" camp. I'm curious as to how well your mod will turn out, good or bad. Good luck;)
 
I've recrowned barrel's with a round grindstone in a drill turning slowly with a constant spray of water to wash the grinding's away.
I got mine chopped and threaded last year. Is the chrome flaking? don't know,don't care!
It's a lot more handier especially with a folder on it.
 
Try it at the 20" mark and see how it shoots, if it's fubared you can always send it out to the gunsmith for a fix up and you'll still have some barrel left for him to cut off and still be legal.
 
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