Home Gunsmithing

[Coltpale]

My tactical shotgun is nearly complete; the only thing that is left is my barrel which needs to be shortened. I figured that I had three options

1. buy a 18" barrell from eBay or a retailer (which will run about $120)
2. have a professional gunsmither chop my barrel down ($75-$100)
3. do it myself ($0 ,sweet)

Since money is short I'm really hopeing that I can do it myself. Anyone have a how to?


also, my gun is a winchester 1300 defender 12 gauge w/ the stock barrel (if that helps)

thanks

 

[Bill DeShivs]

You need: a hacksaw with a fine-toothed blade, a square, masking tape, a mill bastard file, a sharp pocketknife, and a ruler.
Make sure the barrel is at least 18" from the closed breech face. Leave a little extra in case you damage your muzzle. Tape your barrel with masking tape at the mark, using the tape as a guide for your cut. Use the edge of your file to make a starting cut for the saw. Cut as accurately as you can with the saw. Use the file and square to even the cut up. Chamfer the inside of the barrel with the knife. File a slight bevel on the outside.
DO NOT USE A PIPE CUTTER!
You can use 400 grit sandpaper and cold blue to make it look nice.
Bill

 

[lev83]

*Important* When measuring for cut mark barrel at 18 1/4".

 

[Dfariswheel]

Here's my patented non-gunsmith home barrel cut down instructions./
Using this method you can keep the muzzle almost perfectly square and greatly reduce the amount of filing to try to square it up:

Measure the barrel to locate the cut off line.
To measure the barrel, insert a dowel or cleaning rod down the barrel with the action CLOSED.
Mark the rod at the muzzle, remove and measure. This is the actual length.
Mark the rod at AT LEAST 18 1/2", lay it on the outside of the barrel with the first mark even with the muzzle and mark the second line, which is where you want to cut.

Measure the barrel again.
Have a friend measure the barrel.
Measure it yourself one more time.
(Mistakes are not correctable, or forgiven by the BATF).

Wrap a piece of tape around the barrel at the cut line to use as a cutting guide.
MAKE SURE YOU CUT ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF TAPE.
Use a high-tension hacksaw frame with a new, fine toothed blade.
Make a shallow two or three stroke cut in the barrel. (Make SURE you're cutting on the right side of the tape. See above about BATF).

After making a shallow cut, rotate the barrel and make another shallow cut, continuing to make shallow cuts and rotating the barrel until there's a shallow line all the way around the barrel.

Then just continue the process of making a couple of strokes and rotating the barrel until the barrel is cut through.

Lightly file the muzzle to remove cutting marks, then wrap some fine wet or dry sand cloth over your thumb and use that to break the sharp inner muzzle edges.
Use a fine-cut file to remove the sharp outer edges of the muzzle, and touch up with cold blue.

The tape and shallow cut method prevents the saw from "drifting" and leaving an angled cut. This prevents having to try to square up the muzzle with files, since if you're careful, this will produce an almost perfectly square cut.

If you'd like a front bead, Brownell's sell a Remington-type bead on a small base that can be attached with soft solder or the new Loctite Black Max adhesive.
This too can be done at home.

 

[rem33]

Hmm. New Loctite Black Max? I need to find out more about this. Is it available at my local hardware? I will be finding out soon.Always good to find a quality product that you don't need to send away for.

 

[foxmeadow]

If your barrel has a bead sight and you want to replace the bead after shortening, you'll want to be sure to get it dead center on top. Here's one way:
Take a piece of fishing line, tie a loop in one end, and hang it over the bead. pull the line tight down the barrel, centering the other end on the grooves in the top of the receiver. Mark or centerpunch the barrel under the string where the new bead will be, usually about 1/2" back from the muzzle. Once the bead location is determined, then cut the barrel as described in the posts above. After cutting, facing and rebluing as needed, drill and tap for the bead. Proper drills and taps are available from Brownells.

 

[Bailey Boat]

Are you cutting a plain barrel or a vent rib barrel???? I don't know which comes on the Winchester. If a plain barrel, as advised above will get it done, if it's a vent rib, hold on and wait for more responses.......it's a different procedure......