Sawing off a shotgun barrel

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JohnhenrySTL

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A great friend and reloading mentor just gave me a classic 60’s 870 20 gauge wingmaster. It had not been fired. It’s problem is the guy that gave to him engraved his S.S. Into the stock. It’s a 28 or 26 inch barrel with a modified choke.

I want a short barreled 20.

I have several other shotguns to serve my needs. I’ve looked into replacement barrels, atleast a little, and they are pricey and don’t come with threaded muzzle jokes.

I was thinking about having it sawed down and threaded with a threaded interchangeable joke, then I realized that I want a improved cylinder on this gun. I might as well go open cylinder if it’s gonna be cheaper and not real different?
I would mainly use this gun for rabbit hunting in thick brush, and carry buckshot occasionally for random hogs and predators. In other words I would like having a loaded shotgun around that’s easy to carry and handle. My long barreled shotguns are a pain to Load, carry and case.

How does my reasoning sound? I would have the work performed my G.S.
 
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It is your gun, mold it into whatever suits you best. If that's what you desire, it's a wonderful idea.
 
Short barreled shotguns can be very handy in the brush and for other purposes. You could also keep the original barrel and buy a used or aftermarket cheap and have it cut down. Also it may be possible just to buy a barrel like you want. It might be worth looking around. It only takes a couple of minutes to swap an 870 barrel.
 
I cut down a NEF 12 gauge Pardner to 19". It was one of the easiest DIY projects I've ever done. Pipe cutter, very light smoothing of the cut, cold blue pen, snap on fiber optic sight, done.
 
Relative gave me an old 870, very plain gun, no special value. I cut the barrel back to as short as legal and it rides in a scabbard in my Jeep at the farm. In this situation there is no downside to losing the choke. Very handy useful gun around the place. I agree with prior post, it takes about 5 minutes to do it.
 
I just paid 30 bucks. I considered cutting it myself but worries about the rib on top the gun and mounting the bead. Thanks all for the responses. I can’t wait to pattern it.
 
Did it a few years ago with an old Stevens 620 pump I bought used/cheap, specifically for the take-down feature and trigger disconnect. Used a pipe cutter and file, took about 15 minutes. Taken down, the two halves live easily with a sling and a few boxes of shells in a small zipper case not much sold for storing take-down lever action Guide Guns. I stash it under the seat of my truck when I'm driving in the rural counties of my state.

However, if the barrel i used had a ribbed barrel, I'd have done exactly as you did. Have fun with it.
 
60's wingmaster deserves a replacement stock, not a sawed off barrel. Imo. You want a shorty, pick up a cheap Stevens.
 
All pre-1977 20 gauge 870 shotguns were built on the 12 gauge frame. New large frame 20 gauge replacement barrels have not been available from Remington for many decades.
 
I hate jacking my own thread by I have started quite a few lately so I will ask here. A friend of mine has a bad snake problem. I recommend snake shot for his Gen 4 Glock 19. Can he he shoot bought snake shot through it with damaging the factory barrel?
 
All pre-1977 20 gauge 870 shotguns were built on the 12 gauge frame. New large frame 20 gauge replacement barrels have not been available from Remington for many decades.
So are you saying I wouldn’t be able to buy a brand new replacement barrel that would fit regardless?
 
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