[1911JMB]

My friend recently aquired an extra 28" vent rib 870 barrel which he gave me because he has a mossberg. Its the same barrel I already have so I've decided to sawzall it down. I want to cut it to 18.5", but I'm not sure exactly where the barrel technicaly starts. Where do I measure from?

[dfariswheel]

Close the action, and insert a cleaning rod or dowel down the barrel until it touches the face of the closed bolt.

Mark the rod even with the muzzle. Remove and measure the rod, that's the actual barrel length.

If you're smart, you'll do this several times, and have a buddy do it too before cutting.

[deputy tom]

Measure twice,cut once.tom.

[Fred Fuller]

Hint #1: Sell it as is and use the proceeds to buy a factory barrel. Remington sells the 18.5" bead sight ImpCyl choked 870 barrel for $96 IIRC, and I guarantee you can't do better producing a short barrel with a sawzall than Remington can do with an entire factory.

Hint #2: If you're Mr. DIY and the Tim the Toolman Force is strong within you, ditch the sawzall and get a plain old hacksaw with a fine-toothed blade so you won't make a boogered-up mess of your new muzzle. And cut the barrel at the far end of the first one of the vent rib supports that measures beyond 18" from the boltface when the barrel is installed on your gun, so it'll look nicer.

hth,

lpl/nc

[Rupestris]

Hint #1: Sell it as is and use the proceeds to buy a factory barrel. Remington sells the 18.5" bead sight ImpCyl choked 870 barrel for $96 IIRC, and I guarantee you can't do better producing a short barrel with a sawzall than Remington can do with an entire factory.


Agreed.

Put the 28" up for sale here on THR. You should be able to sell it for, or close to, the price of the 18.5 Rem bbl. No need for FFL transfer so shipping is cheap.

I picked up the $96 bbl that Lee mentioned. It does have a parkerized finish and doesn't exactly match the factory blued finish on the Express models and is definately odd looking on a Wingmaster. Then again, if its for HD, I doubt anyone looking at the business end would complain about the mis-matched finish.

[rustymaggot]

i agree, sell the long one and get a factory 18 and a half. or offer it for trade here on thr for the barrel you want. if your determined to cut it then measure 2 or 3 times. cut to 20 inch and then re-measure before cutting off any more. always easier to cut off a little more than to add a half inch. and if you foul up and cut it shorter than legal then make sure to finish destroying it. immediately.

[1911JMB]

Thanks for the pointers everybody. In regards to getting a new barrel, I really don't care about cosmetics. My plan is to install a poor mans giant bead sight, namely the screw on a small hose clamp. Its not like I'm worried about looking silly at the range, and besides even if I was this barrel probably won't get too much range time.