Barrel Shortening

[Roknstevo]

I have a 10 yr old Benelli pumpgun in 12ga 3-1/2”. I bought it new. Has abt 50 rds thru it. I no longer hunt with it, so decided to make a home defense gun out of it. Removed plug. I asked my gunsmith to shorten barrel by 6”. He said that the camo finish would begin to peel off where he cut it, and recommended just trading for a shorter shotgun. Any of you have experience with this? Thanks for the help.....Steve

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

I have a 10 yr old Benelli pumpgun in 12ga 3-1/2”. I bought it new. Has abt 50 rds thru it. I no longer hunt with it, so decided to make a home defense gun out of it. Removed plug. I asked my gunsmith to shorten barrel by 6”. He said that the camo finish would begin to peel off where he cut it, and recommended just trading for a shorter shotgun. Any of you have experience with this? Thanks for the help.....Steve

It probably will *peel* or flake a bit.

If you commit to the cut length and score the coating just short of that length and then do the cutting just forward of that - you can leave a portion of barrel steel exposed from the end of the camo (where you scored it) to the new muzzle.

Then you can stabilize the end of the camo and the tiny strip of exposed steel with any number of epoxies.

I would roughen the exposed steel a bit and be certain to clean it down with alcohol before epoxying.

You'll end up with a nicely defined ring around the muzzle exterior of whatever thickness you have chosen.

Todd.

 

[Scooter22]

Hows the gun function with 2 3/4" shells? Thats what is normally used for HD. 3 and 3 1/2" are going to have a lot of recoil plus reduce your mag capacity. I,d see what yours is worth to sell or trade and get a standard pump with a short barrel already on it. jmho.

 

[Roknstevo]

It probably will *peel* or flake a bit.

If you commit to the cut length and score the coating just short of that length and then do the cutting just forward of that - you can leave a portion of barrel steel exposed from the end of the camo (where you scored it) to the new muzzle.

Then you can stabilize the end of the camo and the tiny strip of exposed steel with any number of epoxies.

I would roughen the exposed steel a bit and be certain to clean it down with alcohol before epoxying.

You'll end up with a nicely defined ring around the muzzle exterior of whatever thickness you have chosen.

Todd.

Thanks much for the help. I just may try that out.
Stay safe

 

[Roknstevo]

Hows the gun function with 2 3/4" shells? Thats what is normally used for HD. 3 and 3 1/2" are going to have a lot of recoil plus reduce your mag capacity. I,d see what yours is worth to sell or trade and get a standard pump with a short barrel already on it. jmho.

It handles everything pretty well. That’s why I’m hesitant to trade; however it may just come to that.
Thanks.....Stay safe

 

[jmr40]

I've cut a couple of Remington 870 barrels that turned out just fine. IMO cutting the barrel ruins resale value anyway. Having the camo coating peel won't hurt value any more.

If you do cut it you'll have to make the cut on one of the vent ribs. Measure carefully so you don't get too short to be legal. Remember, barrel length is from the front of the bolt to the end of the barrel, not the front of the action.

On an 870 I had the option to cut at one rib and have a 21" barrel, or the next rib would have been 19". The next one would have left the barrel at 17" and illegal. I chose the 21" option. My thoughts were to let that be a practice cut. I could always cut once more and be legal if I messed up or didn't like 21". I liked the look, feel, and balance at 21" so I left it there.

Use a new, sharp hacksaw blade and cut as square as possible. Shotgun barrel steel is soft and it cuts easily. I used a file and small square to get the end of the barrel squared up afterward. Then a bit of cold blue on the end of the barrel. I replaced the front sight with one of those that clamp onto a vent rib. Cost was under $20.

 

[FL-NC]

I would sell it and buy one of the cheaper import pumps that come with an 18" barrel.

 

[Roknstevo]

I've cut a couple of Remington 870 barrels that turned out just fine. IMO cutting the barrel ruins resale value anyway. Having the camo coating peel won't hurt value any more.

If you do cut it you'll have to make the cut on one of the vent ribs. Measure carefully so you don't get too short to be legal. Remember, barrel length is from the front of the bolt to the end of the barrel, not the front of the action.

On an 870 I had the option to cut at one rib and have a 21" barrel, or the next rib would have been 19". The next one would have left the barrel at 17" and illegal. I chose the 21" option. My thoughts were to let that be a practice cut. I could always cut once more and be legal if I messed up or didn't like 21". I liked the look, feel, and balance at 21" so I left it there.

Use a new, sharp hacksaw blade and cut as square as possible. Shotgun barrel steel is soft and it cuts easily. I used a file and small square to get the end of the barrel squared up afterward. Then a bit of cold blue on the end of the barrel. I replaced the front sight with one of those that clamp onto a vent rib. Cost was under $20.

Thanks a lot for the instructions. Nothing like real experience to prevent a klutz like me from screwing up. One more question.....Can I measure the barrel from end to end after I remove it from the gun? Or is there some lawyerly magic way the authorities use that requires pythagorean-like calculations. My state (FL)limits barrels to 18”. I planned to just remove the barrel and measure the closest rib above 18”.
Thanks

 

[Conelrad]

Close the action, and drop a cleaning rod down the barrel. Mark the end with a sharpie, that is what you'll have for length.

As stated, it has to do with where the bolt locks up.

Conelrad

 

[vintovka]

Would look for a shorter barrel. Gun parts like full length barrels in good shape may carry more value than you think in the future. Having a 2 barrel "set" really adds value should you have need to sell it. If you must chop it care must be taken to preserve finish and not damage rib. Judious use of masking tape may help as would the use of lathe. Removing a section of the barrel with a hacksaw forward of the cut sight helps if using a lathe. The barrel then can be trimmed back square and slightly chamfered to ease muzzle edges. I would never shorten to less than 18.25". Also should give thought to relocating front bead as not an easy job. While really unnecessary, a chopped barrel with no bead just looks wrong. I have seen professionally shortened barrels with the original choke marking lined out.