Maximum amount of barrel that can be cut off

[p5200]

I did some trading and, I have a Sears model 53/Winchester model 70. At first I thought the barrel had a bulge which appears to be mainly on the right side of muzzle which by eye, may extend back 3/4 to 1" from end of barrel.. But, also someone has ground the entire front sight + ramp down flush with the top of the barrel So, I'm wondering if it is actually a bulge or, maybe someone put the barrel in a vise too tightly squashing the barrel and causing it to appear, to have a bulge? I pulled a tight patch through the barrel and right at the very end where bulge appears it seems to pop out as though the barrel has indeed, got a bulge. The pull tension seems consistent all the way through till it exits at the very end where the bulge appears. I have a good smith who can cut and put a fine crown back on it but, my question is how much can this barrel be cut off without ruining it? The barrel is 22" and with it being the Sears & Roebuck model, I'm not sure if the barrel has the same contour and length as the original mod. 70 Win. or not. I was under the impression that Sears just put cheaper stocks on them. Any help would be greatly appreciated. The gun has been fired so I know it's at least safe and actually had all 3 rounds touching at 50yds. Thanks!

 

[4thPointOfContact]

If the barrel is truly 22 inches long then you can cut off up to 6 inches (not that anyone would Want to cut it that short.) As long as you stay over 16 inches long with the barrel and 26 overall, you don't run afoul of any Federal rules.

 

[Joe in fla]

If it indeed has all three rounds touching at 50 yards I would leave it alone! You might do something to fill in the flat spot (solder in a filler piece?) but I wouldn't do anything to alter the bore and that includes cutting it any shorter.

POC said: If the barrel is truly 22 inches long then you can cut off up to 8 inches (not that anyone would Want to cut it that short.)

I think you'd better try that again! Cutting off 8 inches would yield a 14" barrel. Definitely a no, no as far as the Feds are concerned!!

The OP said that the bulge is about 1" from the muzzle. IF I did cut it back I wouldn't cut off any more of the barrel than necessary to remove the damage but however much you decide to cut, just remember that the over all length of the gun most be at least 26" AND the barrel must be at least 16" to suit the Feds.

 

[p5200]

I think I may have the smith cut about 1" off and re crown it since he is very good with his lathe and for $40.00 to cut and crown that seems like a pretty decent price. He does a lot of custom builds for most of the BR competitors around plus repairs on their high dollar rifles and they all speak highly about him. It's a 100 mile round trip but well worth it since he has crowned three rifles for me so far and each time the rifles seem to group tighter and more consistent. I just wanted to check and make sure cutting the bulge out wouldn't cause the rifle to spray like a shot gun Thanks very much for all the info folks.

 

[Jim K]

If you decide to have it cut, you will have to get back behind the bulge. Leaving the muzzle in the middle of the bulge would not be a good idea for accuracy. For aesthetic and velocity reasons, I would try to keep the barrel length at about 20". Going to 16" will be OK under federal law, but check local game laws for barrel length and velocity requirements which a 16" barrel might violate.

But I agree that if it shoots that well, it would be better to do nothing. A lot of shooters would settle for a bulge if it gave them minute of angle accuracy.

Jim

 

[triggerman770]

barrel cut off

I would get your gunsmith's advice, since he can put eyeballs on the problem
if he is a gunsmith he would know these things.