Cutting and crowning a rifle barrel
- Thread starter usmarine0352_2005
- Start date
- Status
bang_bang
Member
Common sense would tell me that YES it probably is true. Shorter barrel means origin of the noise is closer to your ears. You might be able to tell a difference, then again you might not. Shooting a .270 or 30-06 with no ear protection will damage your hearing regardless of barrel length.
Shooting 1 shot a year unprotected isn't that bad though. It is doing damage, but at a much slower rate than shooting a box in a day. Just wear protection when sighting your rifle in. I think you'll be alright if you shoot only 2 times a year.
krochus beat me to it while I was typing this.
I have a 30-06 with a 20 inch barrel and its not bad to shoot. A few shots in hunting situations never seems all that loud. I might be imagining things, but the bark of a 270 seems more intense to me.
Common sense would tell me that YES it probably is true. Shorter barrel means origin of the noise is closer to your ears. You might be able to tell a difference, then again you might not. Shooting a .270 or 30-06 with no ear protection will damage your hearing regardless of barrel length.
Cool.
I always wear hearing protection when at a range, but don't when hunting.
I just want to make sure that I won't cut it so short it will be a huge problem.
.
Cool.
I always wear hearing protection when at a range, but don't when hunting.
I just want to make sure that I won't cut it so short it will be a huge problem.
.
Zak Smith
Member
You might consider the electronic muffs that are used at some pistol ranges, to allow the shooter to hear commands from the SO and still have hearing protection.
These typically offer 22dB of protection, which isn't the 34dB you can get from full muffs, but is a lot better than the 7 to 9dB you get from "valved" ear plugs.
They keep your ears warm, too.
These typically offer 22dB of protection, which isn't the 34dB you can get from full muffs, but is a lot better than the 7 to 9dB you get from "valved" ear plugs.
They keep your ears warm, too.
sarduy
Member
If you're looking for a smaller rifle, i recommend you the
1. Mosin Nagant M44 (cheap but works)
2. Remington SPS Tactical
1. Mosin Nagant M44 (cheap but works)
2. Remington SPS Tactical
Uggh, will I ever read a thread on this forum that doesn't have the words "Mosin Nagant" in it? Probably not.
In either of those calibers, you are going to be burning alot of powder out in front of the gun. That translates to extra noise and some extra kick, with no gain in ballistics. You might consider leaving your rifle as is and trading for a short barrel gun in .308 or 7mm-08. Weatherby makes their youth model Vanguard that comes with both a short and standard stock for about $550 new. It's lighter than your gun will be after the cutting, and it's all under warranty.
In either of those calibers, you are going to be burning alot of powder out in front of the gun. That translates to extra noise and some extra kick, with no gain in ballistics. You might consider leaving your rifle as is and trading for a short barrel gun in .308 or 7mm-08. Weatherby makes their youth model Vanguard that comes with both a short and standard stock for about $550 new. It's lighter than your gun will be after the cutting, and it's all under warranty.
sarduy
Member
let me rephrase my post so you can be happy.. here goes...
If you're looking for a smaller rifle, i recommend you the
1. One of those russian rifles from WW-I and WW-II, yeah imported by the billions here....you know, the one that come with a dog collar as a sling and a bayonet big enough ro roast a pig with.
2. Remington SPS Tactical
Because the mosin nagant is the premier rifle of all time and eternity.
Truly gods gift to man, even, dare I saw, more than Veronica Varekova.
Cut It Off!..the barrel that is...
It's all up to you! I've had a 18" 30-06 (properly done Ruger) that sounded like a cannon and lit up the night with excessive muzzle blast, but damn it was fun to shoot and bored large holes in any venison within @ 200-250 yards. I traded it for a 22" mauser in 30-06 w/ a muzzle brake (makes it @ 24") that's even louder, and doesn't sport the late evening lightshow. Good gun but not near as compact or fun to shoot.:banghead:
It's all up to you! I've had a 18" 30-06 (properly done Ruger) that sounded like a cannon and lit up the night with excessive muzzle blast, but damn it was fun to shoot and bored large holes in any venison within @ 200-250 yards. I traded it for a 22" mauser in 30-06 w/ a muzzle brake (makes it @ 24") that's even louder, and doesn't sport the late evening lightshow. Good gun but not near as compact or fun to shoot.:banghead:The OP really should take a look at the Weatherby youth models. They are really light with short barrels, and are chambered in appropriate calibers for such a gun.
Why not use this as an excuse to buy another rifle--lol. I would recomend a 243 for your size. I am a skinny 6'2" 140# and I enjoy my '06s (could you guess by my handle). A friend who has rotator cuff problems dropped to a 243 and loves it. It has brought home many a deer. As for an '06 not being enough for Elk-"hog wash". There is not an animal on the continent that it will not drop. I have a bud that bought a 45-70 to hunt deer with. Some witty sales clerk told him that anything less was underpowered. I held up a 223 round and told him that was sufficient to do the job and he laughed. The 243 is a good round for white tails even though I use 55s or 51s occasionally. In close terrain I use the old tried and true OO buckshot in a tactical barrel-short and manuverable as it gets. wc
My Remington 722 is a 30/06 with a 20" barrel topped with a Burris 2x7 scope. It is well blanced and fun to shoot.
If I were going to build a short barrel rifle again I think I would clone the old Remington 350 mag .
If I were going to build a short barrel rifle again I think I would clone the old Remington 350 mag .
cutting barrel
whatever you decide to do, I would HIGHLY suggest that you use the Nosler Partition bullet. That will give you the most consistent pentration with expansion, and no overpenetration or over expansion, regardless of range. You will get the same results at 20 yards that you do at 400 yards.
whatever you decide to do, I would HIGHLY suggest that you use the Nosler Partition bullet. That will give you the most consistent pentration with expansion, and no overpenetration or over expansion, regardless of range. You will get the same results at 20 yards that you do at 400 yards.
Exactly. If cutting down a milsurp, I'd probably go 21 or 22" personally, but nothing wrong with 18, 19, or 20 either.
Just make sure you get a good crown on the muzzle. If you don't, nothing else will matter, and you will get poor accuracy. Having said that, most any gunsmith worth their salt can crown a barrel properly in a lathe.
Badger Arms
Member
The difference between 20" and 16" is so small in all things that apply to you that I would not sweat any of the details. Sound will be about 3-5db louder but the concussion of the report will be significantly larger. You will FEEL it more, in other words, but it won't be really all that much louder... certainly not enough to make a difference in hearing loss. I'd take a pair of muffs with me to the field, but then I'm a metal worker and I'm around loud noises pretty much half the day.
Velocity: It will decrease, but the 30-06 and 270 are capable of cleanly killing a deer at 600 yards from a short barrel, no reason why your ranges would effect performance enough.
Accuracy: Believe it or not, it will be MORE accurate, but will certainly change your point of impact. More accurate because it's shorter and stiffer and your crown will probably be better too, no guarantees on that one though. There is a slight possibility that the load you use will cause a harmonic with any one barrel length that will make your load inaccurate, but you can get a different load if that becomes an issue.
Velocity: It will decrease, but the 30-06 and 270 are capable of cleanly killing a deer at 600 yards from a short barrel, no reason why your ranges would effect performance enough.
Accuracy: Believe it or not, it will be MORE accurate, but will certainly change your point of impact. More accurate because it's shorter and stiffer and your crown will probably be better too, no guarantees on that one though. There is a slight possibility that the load you use will cause a harmonic with any one barrel length that will make your load inaccurate, but you can get a different load if that becomes an issue.
.
I am getting close to buying this X-Bolt in .30-06 with a standard 22 inch barrel and chopping it down to 16.5".
A friend of mine said he did that once and it was considerably louder then before and that I shouldn't do it.
What do you think?
I know there's a lot of posts on here about sound, accuracy and performance, just wondering if there was any other concerns.
.
I am getting close to buying this X-Bolt in .30-06 with a standard 22 inch barrel and chopping it down to 16.5".
A friend of mine said he did that once and it was considerably louder then before and that I shouldn't do it.
What do you think?
I know there's a lot of posts on here about sound, accuracy and performance, just wondering if there was any other concerns.
.
- Status
Similar threads
