Cutting a Barrel

[andrews1958]

I could not find a Remington 760 or 7600 in a carbine so I ended up buying one in the rifle model. I want to now have the barrel cut back to 18.5”. Besides losing some velocity does it affect accuracy? Can a gunsmith easily do this work? Are there any does and don’ts when cutting and recrowning?

 

[jackieschmidt]

Accuracy probably will not be affected. Those pumps were never known for anything more than “adequate” accuracy anyway.

That big block on the breech end might preclude it from being checked up in some lathes for the crowning.
Of course, it could be done in a steady rest, but some means would have to be employed to avoid hurting the finish where the steady rest runs.

 

[TGP]

I've cut off some Contender rifle barrels back to 14" and 15" for use on pistols and used Brownells barrel facing and recrowning tools with excellent results. It uses pilots and so the cuts are off the bore.

BROWNELLS 79 DEGREE MUZZLE CROWNING CUTTER | Brownells

Check out BROWNELLS 79 DEGREE MUZZLE CROWNING CUTTER | Brownells available Online at Brownells Today and many more Reamers & Cutters products are available in our Tools & Cleaning Department.

www.brownells.com

 

[ELR LVR]

Are you hip to these?

PTG Interchangeable Pilot Muzzle 90-Degree Crowning Cutter 1 Diameter

Ideal for facing-off barrel muzzles after shortening, before crowning, or for eliminating dings/damage from flat-faced muzzles. Cutter allows the...

www.midwayusa.com

 

[ELR LVR]

I've also cut a barrel down with a hacksaw/grinder cut off wheel
then crowned with a Lee case trimmer end mill type tool, They're very sharp and cut well
made a mandrel pilot out of brass and then crowned flat 90 deg
Worked great before I had a lathe and little money for a young do it yerselfer
it gave a nice counter bore

 

[Old Navy]

I've also cut a barrel down with a hacksaw/grinder cut off wheel
then crowned with a Lee case trimmer end mill type tool, They're very sharp and cut well
made a mandrel pilot out of brass and then crowned flat 90 deg
Worked great before I had a lathe and little money for a young do it yerselfer
it gave a nice counter bore

View attachment 1639094

Finally! Millwright gunsmithing. Something I know about.

 

[hoz53]

I've also cut a barrel down with a hacksaw/grinder cut off wheel
then crowned with a Lee case trimmer end mill type tool, They're very sharp and cut well
made a mandrel pilot out of brass and then crowned flat 90 deg
Worked great before I had a lathe and little money for a young do it yerselfer
it gave a nice counter bore

View attachment 1639094

thats a good idea. back in the day i cut an old mauser off with a hacksaw and used a file to clean it up. its still in that state and shoots good for what it is. lots of muzzle crowning tools available these days. for minute of deer out of a 7600 the old file/hacksaw would probably be good enough.

 

[jds holler]

I've done a couple with the hack and careful hand crowning -- including the Lee tool above. They were average shooters before I cut them, and they were every bit as average after. It would have hurt to spend real money for the job and have them turn out -- average. jd

 

[Jonnyofalltrades]

I've also cut a barrel down with a hacksaw/grinder cut off wheel
then crowned with a Lee case trimmer end mill type tool, They're very sharp and cut well
made a mandrel pilot out of brass and then crowned flat 90 deg
Worked great before I had a lathe and little money for a young do it yerselfer
it gave a nice counter bore

View attachment 1639094

Here I thought that I was the only one who thought of this!
I did that about 20 years ago, before I bought a lathe.
It worked pretty good, but you really needed to hit it with a lap afterwards, as the edge was often just a little bit burred.

 

[AlNyhus]

I've shortened a couple with a fine toothed hacksaw. Taped the barrel and marked it straight so the cut was straight as possible. Filed flat using a black Magic Marker as a guide. Finished with a piloted Manson crowning tool. Turned out well on huntin' guns where an indicated crown wasn’t needed or practical.

Good shootin' -Al

 

[Luisyamaha]

I've cut a few, with a new hacksaw blade, a fine file and then used the Brownells 90 and 79 degree cutters. Actually improved the accuracy in one of the rifles. The Remington 700 VLS in .223. had 26" barrel, cut down to 22". Shot better with the shorter barrel. Eventually got replaced with a Krieger. That one was MUCH better.

Luisyamaha

 

[ebb]

Ive cut down several of the semi auto and one of the pump action Remington's. A gunsmith in central Florida who I never knew his name decided that the rifles would benefit accuracy wise if they had a shorter barrel. The cousin of my hunting pardner brought me several to cut down I bought a Brownell's muzzle cutting tool and a 30 caliber and a 270 caliber brass bore guide. I shot 2 of them after cutting them and they both shot better, one a little better and the other a lot better. I really wanted to hunt on the ranch that the cousin managed, so I only charged for the tools from Brownell's. He still owes me for one of them.