Winchester 37A: chop barrel, thread for choke and sights

scouter27 · April 10, 2009, 12:08 PM

I have a 37A 12ga that i would like to turn into a pack/utility gun. i want to have the barrel cut to 18.5", then have it threaded for a choke, if possible. if not then a good buckshot/slug choke swagged. then i would like a set of simple, adjustable ghost ring/aperture sights installed.

anybody got any recommendations on where to start?

thanks

sadsack · April 11, 2009, 03:57 AM

Scout: What your wanting to do is no problem at all. You can thread for any style tubes (Win, Rem) that you prefer. There are several companies making sight sets that will work, check with Brownells.
An 18.5 barrel can be made to pattern as well as any long barrel, and velocity loss isn't anything to worry about.

Bill DeShivs · April 11, 2009, 12:48 PM

You really don't need chokes for buckshot and slugs.
Pattern the gun after shortening the barrel.

scouter27 · April 11, 2009, 06:07 PM

what is involved in getting the barrel back to a reasonable spread after cutting it?

Bill DeShivs · April 11, 2009, 06:57 PM

Nothing. It will be cylinder bore.The pattern won't be "unreasonable" at all.

scouter27 · April 11, 2009, 07:29 PM

cool, i had no idea. thank you very much

Hylander · April 17, 2009, 11:06 PM

I have one of these as well

How do I go about threading the barrle fro different Chokes.
Prefer Mossberg Chokes

sadsack · April 19, 2009, 12:03 AM

Hylander: A local gunsmith should have the reamer and tap for whichever type choke you like the best. It's not a do it yourself type project.

koginam · April 19, 2009, 11:00 AM

I have for many years hunted with a short barreled shotgun 18.5 inches and the velocity loss is minimal if at all. The advantage of a longer barrel is sight radius nothing more, in most loads the powder is burned in the first 18 to 20 inches. The choke determines the pattern size and shot density.
The pattern size difference in a 18 inch and a 30 inch with the same choke is nill they are the same. Even with cylinder bore your pattern is not that much bigger at 30 yds with bird shot, with buck it will be because of fewer pellets.
I have a red dot on mine for brush hunting and at 75 yds I can get a 5 inch group with slugs, I could probably do much better if the dot was smaller.

Hylander · April 19, 2009, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Hylander: A local gunsmith should have the reamer and tap for whichever type choke you like the best. It's not a do it yourself type project.

Well Poop

I was hoping it was something I could do myself.
I like doing most of the work on my guns myself if I have the tools.

koginam · April 19, 2009, 07:50 PM

A set of reamers and taps would run you more than a new gun.

April 10, 2009, 12:08 PM	#1
scouter27 Senior Member Join Date: May 17, 2001 Location: pennsylvania Posts: 420	Winchester 37A: chop barrel, thread for choke and sights I have a 37A 12ga that i would like to turn into a pack/utility gun. i want to have the barrel cut to 18.5", then have it threaded for a choke, if possible. if not then a good buckshot/slug choke swagged. then i would like a set of simple, adjustable ghost ring/aperture sights installed. anybody got any recommendations on where to start? thanks __________________ Whoever said the pen is mightier than the sword obviously never encountered automatic weapons. S/F Jesse

April 11, 2009, 12:48 PM	#3
Bill DeShivs Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2006 Posts: 10,981	You really don't need chokes for buckshot and slugs. Pattern the gun after shortening the barrel. __________________ Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler www.billdeshivs.com

April 11, 2009, 06:07 PM	#4
scouter27 Senior Member Join Date: May 17, 2001 Location: pennsylvania Posts: 420	what is involved in getting the barrel back to a reasonable spread after cutting it? __________________ Whoever said the pen is mightier than the sword obviously never encountered automatic weapons. S/F Jesse

April 11, 2009, 06:57 PM	#5
Bill DeShivs Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2006 Posts: 10,981	Nothing. It will be cylinder bore.The pattern won't be "unreasonable" at all. __________________ Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler www.billdeshivs.com

April 11, 2009, 07:29 PM	#6
scouter27 Senior Member Join Date: May 17, 2001 Location: pennsylvania Posts: 420	cool, i had no idea. thank you very much __________________ Whoever said the pen is mightier than the sword obviously never encountered automatic weapons. S/F Jesse

April 11, 2009, 03:57 AM	#2
sadsack Senior Member Join Date: February 4, 2006 Posts: 206	Scout: What your wanting to do is no problem at all. You can thread for any style tubes (Win, Rem) that you prefer. There are several companies making sight sets that will work, check with Brownells. An 18.5 barrel can be made to pattern as well as any long barrel, and velocity loss isn't anything to worry about.

April 17, 2009, 11:06 PM	#7
Hylander Senior Member Join Date: August 13, 2008 Location: California Posts: 128	I have one of these as well How do I go about threading the barrle fro different Chokes. Prefer Mossberg Chokes __________________ Today is my Best Day. Lincoln, Ca.

April 19, 2009, 12:03 AM	#8
sadsack Senior Member Join Date: February 4, 2006 Posts: 206	Hylander: A local gunsmith should have the reamer and tap for whichever type choke you like the best. It's not a do it yourself type project.

April 19, 2009, 11:00 AM	#9
koginam Member Join Date: August 3, 2006 Posts: 20	I have for many years hunted with a short barreled shotgun 18.5 inches and the velocity loss is minimal if at all. The advantage of a longer barrel is sight radius nothing more, in most loads the powder is burned in the first 18 to 20 inches. The choke determines the pattern size and shot density. The pattern size difference in a 18 inch and a 30 inch with the same choke is nill they are the same. Even with cylinder bore your pattern is not that much bigger at 30 yds with bird shot, with buck it will be because of fewer pellets. I have a red dot on mine for brush hunting and at 75 yds I can get a 5 inch group with slugs, I could probably do much better if the dot was smaller. __________________ In over 30 years as a professional gunsmith I never once got up in the morning and didn't want to go to work.

April 19, 2009, 07:50 PM	#11
koginam Member Join Date: August 3, 2006 Posts: 20	A set of reamers and taps would run you more than a new gun. __________________ In over 30 years as a professional gunsmith I never once got up in the morning and didn't want to go to work.