What should I pay for this work???

[AKElroy]

I have a Russian Baikal O/U 12 gauge that I bought for dove loaner duties, and it has gone unused for 10 years. I am ready to put it to use as an HD shotty for the wife, and will be having it cut down to fit her 5' frame.

I plan on having the VR barrell shortened to .5" above the legal 18", and the stock shortened a bit to fit her short reach. The bead will need to be re-staked, and a recoil pad fit to the stock.

Any estimates on what this should run me? Please no flames over the merits of the gun for HD, the importance of training for the wife, the follishness of cutting it down, and why not do it yourself, yada yada. Thanks------

 

[PTK]

Figure $80 for the barrel work and new bead, another $75-$100 for the stock work and recoil pad, depending on whom you go to.

 

[AKElroy]

That's about what I was expecting. I may skip the bead & slip on a TruGlo for $10 instead. Thanks!

Maybe this is another thread, but do I measure barrel length from the breechface or the barrel-facing end of the chamber?

 

[PTK]

Breechface to muzzle-to-be or existing muzzle is the way to do it. Basically, lay a tape measure on the barrel, starting from the breechface end of the barrel. Measure up to 18.5-19", and mark the barrel clearly. Measure a few more times from different angles, and make sure you're right.

Once you're SURE you're right, go ahead and cut - but be aware that the O/U shotgun may well have a hollow rib, and will not shoot both barrels to point of aim after the shortened barrels are finished.

 

[AKElroy]

It never did! If it dinner-plate groups across the bedroom I'm good with it. If the center rib/barrel block is hollow, I assume it will need to be solder plugged by the GS I hire for this. Thanks for the info.

 

[bushmaster1313]

Breechface to muzzle-to-be or existing muzzle is the way to do it. Basically, lay a tape measure on the barrel, starting from the breechface end of the barrel.

When you are done you must be able to put an 18 inch dowel into the the bore down to the closed bolt and not have it stick out of the barrel even when it is parallel to the bore.

 

[PTK]

That's certainly another way of looking at it, yes. For the purposes of this O/U gun in question, the tape measure is certainly easier than trying to measure if it's over 18" or not - and it's simply easier to mark the outside properly by said method.

 

[huntsman]

keep us posted on this please

 

[Carl N. Brown]

Allowing +.5" allows for minor errors in measuring technique or tape measure, yardstick, etc.

 

[AKElroy]

It may be a bit longer than that; I need to cut at the first full rib past the 18" mark.

 

[murdoc rose]

for the price of the work wouldn't it be easier just to go buy a new shotgun

 

[millertyme]

for the price of the work wouldn't it be easier just to go buy a new shotgun

What new shotgun are you going to buy for $150?

 

[Sunray]

O/U's need to be worked on by a smithy who knows 'em. Even a Baikal. Not all of the barrels are joined over the whole length and not all have a metal rib. If there is a rib.

 

[mnrivrat]

I would say between $100 and $150 is fair for the work. Post a picture when done - sounds like a fun project ! I was thinking of doing that on a 20 ga O/U for the same reason.

 

[empeter]

That's certainly another way of looking at it, yes. For the purposes of this O/U gun in question, the tape measure is certainly easier than trying to measure if it's over 18" or not - and it's simply easier to mark the outside properly by said method.

Maybe. Probably. But the Feds will measure it by using an 18" dowel.

 

[mnrivrat]

Another way to go is to sell the gun, and buy the Stoeger Outback model O/U in 12 or 20 ga. with the 20 inch barrel. You may turn out, doing this, even a little cheaper than having the gunsmith work done on yours.

 

[content]

Hello friends and neighbors // Hope it works out for you.

I just bought a Mossberg .410 (bolt but you get three shots) for $70.00 OTD and went to another store to buy its brother in 20ga. for $90 OTD.

I also recently bought a Remington Express Magnum with a Youth stock and 21" VR barrel for $185 OTD.

not really worn out yet:



No offense to your thought on hiring someone to do this work, I just think trading for a pump action would be the better/safer option and there are inexpensive shotguns around, if a pump is too much.

Good luck finding what works for you.

 

[AKElroy]

Quote:
for the price of the work wouldn't it be easier just to go buy a new shotgun

What new shotgun are you going to buy for $150?

Not really a budget issue; the Baikal has zero collector value, it is not being used, and it is built like a tank. It is also an O/U, and I think it will be interesting to build a coach out of an O/U. I have several higher-end HD guns that fit me well, but not so much my 5' tall spouse. Even a new coach gun would need to be stock shortened to a max 13" LOP to fit her short reach.

As for just getting a Stoeger, the wood & blue on the Baikal is quite nice; I rarely see any base-model Stoegers with anything other than horrible furniture & matte finishes.

 

[broken]

i say go for it, i seen a shorty over under and it looked cool,would be a handy h/d.lets see it when your done.

 

[ThomasT]

Pay attention to Sunrays post (#13) about the barrels not being joined together all the way down. Some over/unders are just attached at the the breach and muzzle.

I just started a thread about the the Stoeger Condor over/under I found at a pawnshop and its a neat 20" barreled gun that i thought would be a good HD shotgun.

If its a gun you are not using and this will get you a gun your wife will enjoy then go for it. But like a couple of others have said ther are other options. Once the mods are done you can never go back.

 

[Carl N. Brown]

A lot of doubles are solidly joined only at the breech and muzzle, which is why I bought a Baikal Bounty Hunter side by side with 20" barrels, rather than do it myself with a standard double and then discover I need the services of gunsmith.

Having a qualified gunsmith shorten the O/U is a good idea.

 

[blackpowder bob]

Anyone know what a Baikal OU is worth these days? Picked one up at an auction a couple of years ago and it's just a safe queen.