Can the rifled barrel of a shogun be sawed off.?

Question

Can this be done and how will it affect performance? I'm wondering what will happen if you were to saw off a 24" rifled barrel say down to 18.5" (within legal limits). I can see where there would be no problems with cylindrical barrels since the is no rifling to worry about. In this case I'm not sure if taking of a few inches will mess up the whole barrel or not.

Thanks for the responses, especially tips on cutting the barrel from John S & cpttango, you guys seem to know what your talking about.

I'd like to buy an 18" rifled barrel but they don't sell them (at least not that I know of for the models I want), they do sell 18" cylindrical barrels but I ain't asking about those.

Answer 1

Since everyone else seems to have missed the apparent question....

Yes, you can cut your rifled barrel....you can cut it down to 18.5" if you want (18" is legal but leave yourself some legal room if you do it).

Shotgun shells use extremily fast burning powder....so all the powder and velocity comes from about the first foot of chamber/barrel. Anything past that is just there for the legals and to add weight to control the kick.

If you cut it, you can expect a bigger kick and slightly less aiming accuracy due to the missing sightplane length, but nothing more. It will still have the same range and same energy etc.

Answer 2

And what would be the point in doing this in the first place.Boredom? As a Gunsmith, I can tell you that YES, it will have a negative effect on the pattern dispersal of the shot.In fully rifled barrels the lands and grooves are designed for shooting plastic coated Sabots. The rifling spins the Sabot as it leaves the barrel giving it increased stability and accuracy. Take a few inches away, and it has a direct effect on that stability, reducing it to the point that your accuracy is affected negatively. In cases of lead shot it will in fact increase the diameter of the shot patterns quicker, and reduce the effective range of the firearm. If not done correctly it could in fact ruin an otherwise good firearm. You can buy shotguns with legal 18.5 inch barrels to begin with, so again, I would ask you what would be the point in doing it in the first place? YES, it will mess up the barrel....

Answer 3

This is a complex process. Not just you a hacksaw and your shotgun barrel in the garage.

The end of a barrel need to be perfect no imprefection what so ever or it will hinder accuracy. That is why on all rifles you will see that the rifling is behind the futherest most part of teh barrel this is to protect the rifling. I am sure having a shorter barrel to begin with will hinder accuracy to begin with in a slug gun.

You can buy 20" barrels from http://www.midwayusa.com/ So be safe and just buy one.

Answer 4

The problem occurs when you warp the muzzle while cutting and don't crown it properly. It can be done, but don't cut it all the way to the nub. (18.5") Leave some room to hone a crown.
Also, check your LOCAL ORDINANCES. Some counties and towns have extra restrictions. Also, make sure you pay attention to the "overall length" restrictions.

Check the mail order gun parts stores, it may be easier to buy a shorter replacement barrel.

Answer 5

I were given basically the element: you are able to observed it off your self as long as its interior of criminal limits. Century hands inner commonly imports some affordable "coach" area by area double barrel shotguns for round $250. the barrels are commonly 24" or 20" lengthy. purchase one, degree it, decrease it down your self, i imagine you are able to purely eliminate the buttstock and nonetheless save it a minimum of 28" lengthy. barrel could be 18 or extra inches lengthy if you're 21 evaluate the basically top "sawed off" shotgun: Serbu great Shorty. one barrel, pump action, very nearly 18" lengthy, is largely a 12 gauge pistol. mmm about $seven-hundred. I observed one in a gun save close to the position I stay. it is the shortest criminal shotgun you should purchase without too a lot workplace artwork or funds.

Answer 6

Rifled shotgun barrels? Rifling does not buy you anything for a shotgun. On a rifle it imparts spin on the bullet, but with shotgun, the projectiles do not hug the sides in such a way as to impart spin on them. The only thing that rifling a shotgun barrel will help with is slugs, like say deer slugs. The net effect is that you will impart less spin on the slugs, meaning they won't be quite as stable and thus won't fly as straight. So, you reduce the benefits of the only thing that you'd pay extra $ for a rifled barrel in the first place.

Answer 7

Shorter barrel length of a shotgun will cause the shot to disperse more over the same distance. You can saw it off, but you might have problems actually killing the target, as you're less likely to have as much shot in the same general location as you previously did.

Answer 8

Yes it can. Haven't you ever heard of a sawed off shotgun?
When you do that, the spread of the pellets will separate faster, I am not sure, but I doubt if they will travel as far either. If you ask me, your ruining a good gun doing that. I don't see the point to doing it either.
I have only heard of shotguns having a 28 or 30 inch barrel, never a 24. I know that where it is legal, you can have it professionally done, that way your not ruining it totally.

Answer 9

Indirect answer : can you not just replace the 24 inch with a factory-made 18" one ?

Answer 10

Length makes accuracy!