Shotgun barrel cut question

[MD]

If I am shortening a shotgun barrel from 30 inches to 20 for example, should I use a hacksaw or pipe cutter?

If a hacksaw, how to I do it square and evenly across?

Can I remove the bead and put it on the short barrel?

How? Does it unscrew? It's a Remington 870.

How to I replace it in the 20-inch barrel?

Drill and tap? What size?

 

[*MALICE*]

Hack saw will work.
File and a square.
Just as easy to buy a new bead from Brownells.
The ones you buy will thread in. They come in different size threads.

If the tools in your sig line are the only ones you are familiar with, you would be better off having someone who knows what they're doing do it

 

[handofzeus]

I just shortened my Win 2200. Prepare yourself to square the barrel afterwards regardless of cutting method! I used a chopsaw and it still had a slight angle. 30 seconds on the SIDE of a bench grinder, fixed things. I just eyeballed it because I figure that it'll be my eye that notices anything off angle so I just ground it until it looked okay. A small semi-circular file that is close to the arc of the bore works well. Don't over file. Especially on the outer barrel edge. I thought I would need to reblue, but a nice even file job looks great. For drilling and tapping, double check your mark over and over! Stick a piece of wax or anything on the mark and look down the barrel. Compare the symmetry until you're happy and then use a centre punch! You don't want that drill to wander. Pick whatever tap matches the thread on your bead or, in my case I made a new sight and found the smallest screw available in the bottom of the toolbox.

 

[CoryTheCowboy]

The way I just cut mine was to use a hose clamp so I had a guide all the way around. I bought the finest tooth hacksaw blade and Home Hardware and it worked fine. A bit of fine filing after the cut and it looks good and shoots where I'm aiming. I gave it a shot of flat-black Krylon (with a patch blocking the bore) just as a little bit of extra prevention.

If you're going to put a new bead on, mark the location BEFORE you cut the barrel...it's hard to find the center after...not that I know or anything.

If you're just planning on drilling and tapping once or twice, it's probably easiest to just bring it to a gunsmith. Brownells sells drills and taps though if you decide you want them (I used a 6/48" tap and a #31 drill bit).

Cory

 

[MD]

I guess a supplementary question might be do I really need a bead?


I was going to put this barrel on my 870 for summer alpine hiking in maybe grizz country and I just wanted something to go bang in the air if I had to or maybe take a shot at a snowshoe hare as the season opens August 1 here.