**How much does it cost to have an existing barrel cut down?

magnum_force · January 11, 2001, 03:55 AM

How much does it cost to have an existing barrel cut down and trued on a lathe? Where is a good place to have this done?

Dave McC · January 11, 2001, 06:41 AM

Most any gunsmith can handle this, MF. I suggest calling a local shop or two, you won't have to ship it.

nedfig · January 11, 2001, 01:31 PM

The average price I have seen advertised on the WWW is $35 for shotguns. Rifles may be a different story.

ctdonath · January 11, 2001, 08:09 PM

How about a parkerized rifled barrel?

Badger Arms · January 12, 2001, 12:45 AM

I've done it many a time with a hack-saw and miter box. It keeps the cut pretty square. After cutting, I take the barrel and spin it between my palms with a piece of 400 grit sandpaper taped to the rubber on top of my bench. This polishes it up pretty good. I then oil it and leave it. Remounting the bead is the hard part. I'd suggest you get a gunsmith to do this. The muzzle doesn't need to be 'true' on a shotgun as much as you'd think. If you want, practice it three or four times up the barrel before you cut it to final length.

nedfig · January 15, 2001, 09:27 AM

That's what I did. Had a 28" barrel and cut to 20". I squared the cut up on the bench top sander finished of with some 1000 grit paper. Then clean and degrease and use some cold blue on the surface. Putting the new bead on isn't too difficult. You just need to find top dead center. Brownell's has a bead sight kit. Has correct drill, tap and 2 beads. Remington IIRC has a 6/48 bead.

Just remember to measure 3 or 4 time and cut once.

RH · January 16, 2001, 04:44 PM

I've considered this ... but how do you secure the gun in the mitre box, which is made for squared pieces of wood ?

Badger Arms · January 17, 2001, 12:21 AM

I have one of them Spring-Clamp things that you get at the hardware store. Clmap it diagonally from the corner on both sides of the cut. Alrenately, you can drill some holes and use a zip-tie to cinch it down against the box. Never tried this, but it's the CHEAP way to go.

DML · January 17, 2001, 03:23 AM

This may sound dumb, but before I had access to proper tools I cut some shotgun barrels with a pipe cutter. Of course, it won't work with a ribbed barrel. I didn't cut all the way through. I just scored the barrel and finished the cut with a hacksaw. It came out square. and I just finished the muzzle with a file.

The main drawback it that the wheel of the cutter leaves a ring in the finish near the muzzle.

You can get pretty close to TDC with the help of a friend. Put a piece of masking tape on the area where you want the bead. While you sight down the barrel of your UNLOADED gun, have a friend hold a pin vertically in the spot you want the bead. Have him move it until it looks right to you. Have him mark that spot. You will be at least as close as most factory barrels.

handgun357 · January 19, 2001, 10:17 PM

It cost the price of 1 hacksaw blade..LOL
It shouldn't be more than $50.00 at a good smithy.

January 19, 2001, 10:17 PM	#10
handgun357 Senior Member Join Date: January 11, 2001 Location: Northern Indiana Posts: 293	cost It cost the price of 1 hacksaw blade..LOL It shouldn't be more than $50.00 at a good smithy.

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January 11, 2001, 03:55 AM	#1
magnum_force Senior Member Join Date: November 7, 2000 Posts: 185	How much does it cost to have an existing barrel cut down and trued on a lathe? Where is a good place to have this done?

January 11, 2001, 06:41 AM	#2
Dave McC Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 13, 1999 Location: Columbia, Md, USA Posts: 8,811	Most any gunsmith can handle this, MF. I suggest calling a local shop or two, you won't have to ship it.

January 11, 2001, 01:31 PM	#3
nedfig Senior Member Join Date: March 2, 2000 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 263	The average price I have seen advertised on the WWW is $35 for shotguns. Rifles may be a different story.

January 11, 2001, 08:09 PM	#4
ctdonath Senior Member Join Date: April 11, 1999 Posts: 1,904	How about a parkerized rifled barrel?

January 12, 2001, 12:45 AM	#5
Badger Arms Senior Member Join Date: July 2, 2000 Location: Harnett County, NC Posts: 1,700	I've done it many a time with a hack-saw and miter box. It keeps the cut pretty square. After cutting, I take the barrel and spin it between my palms with a piece of 400 grit sandpaper taped to the rubber on top of my bench. This polishes it up pretty good. I then oil it and leave it. Remounting the bead is the hard part. I'd suggest you get a gunsmith to do this. The muzzle doesn't need to be 'true' on a shotgun as much as you'd think. If you want, practice it three or four times up the barrel before you cut it to final length.

January 15, 2001, 09:27 AM	#6
nedfig Senior Member Join Date: March 2, 2000 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 263	That's what I did. Had a 28" barrel and cut to 20". I squared the cut up on the bench top sander finished of with some 1000 grit paper. Then clean and degrease and use some cold blue on the surface. Putting the new bead on isn't too difficult. You just need to find top dead center. Brownell's has a bead sight kit. Has correct drill, tap and 2 beads. Remington IIRC has a 6/48 bead. Just remember to measure 3 or 4 time and cut once.

January 16, 2001, 04:44 PM	#7
RH Senior Member Join Date: June 17, 1999 Posts: 532	I've considered this ... but how do you secure the gun in the mitre box, which is made for squared pieces of wood ?

January 17, 2001, 12:21 AM	#8
Badger Arms Senior Member Join Date: July 2, 2000 Location: Harnett County, NC Posts: 1,700	I have one of them Spring-Clamp things that you get at the hardware store. Clmap it diagonally from the corner on both sides of the cut. Alrenately, you can drill some holes and use a zip-tie to cinch it down against the box. Never tried this, but it's the CHEAP way to go.

January 17, 2001, 03:23 AM	#9
DML Senior Member Join Date: November 24, 2000 Location: Aridzona Posts: 257	This may sound dumb, but before I had access to proper tools I cut some shotgun barrels with a pipe cutter. Of course, it won't work with a ribbed barrel. I didn't cut all the way through. I just scored the barrel and finished the cut with a hacksaw. It came out square. and I just finished the muzzle with a file. The main drawback it that the wheel of the cutter leaves a ring in the finish near the muzzle. You can get pretty close to TDC with the help of a friend. Put a piece of masking tape on the area where you want the bead. While you sight down the barrel of your UNLOADED gun, have a friend hold a pin vertically in the spot you want the bead. Have him move it until it looks right to you. Have him mark that spot. You will be at least as close as most factory barrels.