Looking to shorten the barrels of an old 12 ga SxS

S

Strazznah

New member
I have an old Crescent Peerless 12ga SxS that I just picked up for around $100. I don't think it will ever be a collectors item as the previous owner has polished off all of the case hardening colors and tore up some of the screw heads. The gun is very solid and still shoots though and I think it still would have plenty of life left over to turn into a coach gun.

My question: Has anyone shortened a the barrels on a double barrel shotgun by themselves? What is the easiest way of accomplishing this? I want to take it down to 18.5" but don't neccessarily want to spend the bucks to have a smith do it. I plan on recrowning and reblueing the barels when done. Any help would be appreciated!
 
Hacksaw them off. File smooth & Square. Stuff steel wool in the open rib, and drop molten solder into the recess. File smooth. Chamfer outside of barrels with file, inside with sharp pocket knife. Blue.
JB weld will fill the rib also.
 
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Youtube has a good Larry Potterfield video about installing a mid-bead sight. You could replace the front bead using the same method.
 
A cople of more suggestions

One,You may be quite sure you want 18.5 in,but its not a bad idea to try about 24,then 22,and see how it handles.You can take more off,but it is hard to put back on.With no receiver length,18 restrict how far out you can place yu non trigger hand.Doubles are often well shot with the hand on the bbls,rather than the splinter forend.

A buddy figured out ,after the bbls are squaredclean/degrease the open space etween the bbls,mix up some black pigment accraglass,and pack it in about 3/4 in.Then stand the bbls up verticle,muzzle down,on a release coated smooth surface to cure.
 
I believe all those guns had solid steel barrels, but best to double check. If the barrels are Damascus, I wouldn't waste any time on it and wouldn't fire it.

Jim
 
shorten shotgun barrel

The ATF measures inside the barrel from breech face to muzzle so be sure you do the same before cutting off anything. Measuring on the outside does not always give a correct reading
 
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