Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Best way to cut a barrel off...DIY

I have a barrel that I would like to shorten for a project. I don't have a lot of power tools. What is the best way to go about it. powdr

How about an electric hacksaw.

Shotgun barrel or rifle ?

Happy Easter to ya.

Hacksaw, file, and a chamfer tool....

Rifle barrel. What kind of blade for the hack saw? powdr

I use a tube cutter to score a witness mark straight around the barrel to try and follow.

Can't help you on the blade, it was what was in it. They're pretty easy to cut.

Based on one barrel bob, a hacksaw worked. The 'smith did the rest.

A very careful, concentric hacksaw cutting with crown hand tools works pretty well. I'd go with a lathe, but sometimes that's not feasible.

See link: http://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/7722726/4

DF

I've done dozens with the method aalf describes: "Hacksaw, file, and a chamfer tool...." So far all have shot at least as well, and often better, than they did before.

Thanks guys. powdr

John is absolutely right, I haven't done dozens but several, I've found the Wilson inside chamfering tool is superior to other brands-Muddy

What's the proper "how-to" for using the chamber cutter to get a nice crown?

[twirl it, twist it, flush, sideways, etc?]

Carefully turn evenly-M

I use a hack saw, square it all up checking by eye at arm's length, polish with emery cloth backed by a file, and crown with valve grinding compound and oil on a large round head brass screw on a small electric hand drill.

Be sure to stuff the barrel with some paper towel or kleenex at the cutoff point to keep the bore clean for the entire process.

Ted

What he said. I've only done two Mausers this way, but both shot very well indeed after the process. Just take your time and be careful. I did use a square to help with the filing. Since the barrel is tapered, you have to use a little Kentucky windage, but working toward getting the same 'gap' as you move the square around the barrel was easier to me than holding the barrel at arm's length to check.

A cutoff wheel on a grinder works well for cutting off Barrels. Brass screw and valve grinding compound makes a nice Crown.

I scribe the cut with a pipe cutter, then follow the scribed line with a hacksaw.

The rest is as above.

Thanks guys, in all my years of fooling w/guns I've never cut a barrel off. powdr

I taped the barrel, then drew the cut line, using a "T" square. The square was set for the length I wanted to remove and using it as a gauge, I drew the cut line. I then used a padded vice, rotating the barrel with the cut until I had a 360* cutting groove. When the cut meets up exactly with the starting cut, you know it's perfectly concentric. I then finish the cut and use Brownell hand cutting tools for a 11* tapered crown.

May not be the "best" method, but it sure works. I think a lathe is the "best", but not always feasible.

DF

Don't know if lathe is best. The second most accurate rifle I've ever owned was crowned with a Brownells hand tool.