[hoodfu]

I've been looking around for a side by side shotgun and I'm not finding one where the barrels are 18 or 18.5 inches. I'm only finding 20" coach guns like the Stoeger models. Is anyone familiar with a company that makes new SxS 12 gauge guns with the shorter length? A friend said "Why not just have a gunsmith cut it down?" but I'd like to keep the original factory front sight it possible.

[KevininPa]

..........Baikal with the twenty inch barrels. Honestly, you won't notice the extra two inches. Especially compared to a pump.

[rcmodel]

It is SOP for a gunsmith to move the factory front bead back to the new proper position when cutting barrels off.

rc

[MCgunner]

If 2" is worth it to ya, have a gunsmith do it. He'll make sure it's legal OAL, too.

[oneounceload]

Exactly - 2" is nothing to be truly bothered with for any type of HD/SD gun - you won't notice the difference, except for the money missing from your wallet

[mac66]

Buy an old cheap SXS and cut it down yourself. It ain't rocket science.

[hoodfu]

Alright so cut it down seems to be the answer. This isn't home defense or anything serious, more for the novelty of it and a range toy.

[ryanrichmond]

Alright so cut it down seems to be the answer. This isn't home defense or anything serious, more for the novelty of it and a range toy.
All the more reason to just cut it yourself. You can find cheap beater SxS shotguns for around $150 if you have the patience...then instead of spending $100 to have a gunsmith cut it, you could do it yourself with a porta-band (electric handheld bandsaw) and some painters tape. I've cut 4 or 5 shotguns and it's super easy. I use JB weld to fill in the void between the barrels when I'm done. Then just mask it off and shoot flat black spray paint over the end to seal the cut.

[Retcop]

All the more reason to just cut it yourself. You can find cheap beater SxS shotguns for around $150 if you have the patience...then instead of spending $100 to have a gunsmith cut it, you could do it yourself with a porta-band (electric handheld bandsaw) and some painters tape. I've cut 4 or 5 shotguns and it's super easy. I use JB weld to fill in the void between the barrels when I'm done. Then just mask it off and shoot flat black spray paint over the end to seal the cut.

ryanrichmond Is right, I cut one last year and it was easy. I keep it close by the bed for a HD weapon.

[oneounceload]

Of course, you will lose any choke the barrels might have had and you will be left with two Cylinder choked barrels - if that is of no concern, then it's a moot point

[rcmodel]

And 20" barrel have just slightly enough foreward weight to be able to use the weight for faster opening and faster reloads.

Not to mention a smoother swing.

I think thats a lot of the reason everybody makes 20" doubles and nobody makes 18" doubles.

If that is of no concern, then it's a moot point too!


rc

[medalguy]

rcmodel is right about the balance and opening. I have a Stevens double beside the front door that someone cut to 18-1/4 inches and it's sometimes hard to open. I have to break it over my knee to get it fully open. Would 2 more inches make a difference? Quite possibly.

[Pete D.]

Alright so cut it down seems to be the answer. This isn't home defense or anything serious, more for the novelty of it and a range toy.

I had the same feeling...once.....about an old shotgun that I had. I cut it down...did a good job, reinstalled the sights.
I have regretted it ever since.
The gun does not swing or point nearly as well as it did with the longer barrels.
Yeah, it is neat looking and goes bang but it lost more than a few inches of barrel when it was cut.
Pete

[MrBill120]

I always figured it was a lawyerly decision to keep them at 20" instead of 18.
I'm sure it'd be cheaper to buy a new barrel for an Rem 870 or a Mossberg 500 than it would be to buy new barrels for a S/S or an O/U.

[MAKster]

The double barrel shotguns don't have receivers like pumps or semi autos, so a 20 inch barrel coach gun is still going to be shorter overall length than a 18.5 inch barrel pump gun.

[lobo9er]

I had old double cut down to 18 1/4 I love it. stevens are great guns for that IMHO affordable and durable.

[huntsman]

or you could just look for a 311R

[trane fan]

I would love to get a 311R. I've had a "Jones" on for one for years. They pop up on Gunbroker every once in a while and go for between $500 and $600.

[BarkeyVA]

I have my dad's 16 ga. Springfield-Stevens No. 215 sxs hammer gun made in the early 1930's. Barrels were cut off to 20", but the cylinder chokes still shoot a reasonably tight pattern out to 25 yds with modern ammo. Killed 3 pheasants with it last year using 1 oz. #6 RGL's hunting over pointing dogs.
http://i1154.photobucket.com/albums/p521/BarkeyVA/Dads16gahammergun11-17-11.jpg