Is it okay to cut a barrel?

Bull Barrel · 02-04-2006, 08:45 PM

The local WalMart has a 28" barrel Remington 870 for about $240--I was thinking this would be a good home defense gun--but I wanted to shorten the barrel to 18.5".

Is there any reason I should spend the extra $125 for a new 18.5" barrel instead of carefully cutting 9.5" off of the 28" barrel?

I checked Brownells and they are out of stock anyway.

Is it against the law or something? Just checking--thanks in advance.

Bookman · 02-04-2006, 08:56 PM

Go ahead and cut it. You'll lose the choke (no big loss) and the front bead sight (easy to replace) and save yourself enough money to buy a lot of buckshot.

You can always pick up a replacement bird barrel later. Lots of used one out there.

Mooseman684 · 02-04-2006, 09:10 PM

You can cut it... But, I suggest having a gunsmith do it, and NOT use a hacksaw,or bandsaw, or chop saw just because it is Impossible to get a straight ,smooth cut. The barrel has to be at least 18.1 inches , but 19 gives you a little leeway in case the end gets damaged in the future and 20 inches is Recommended. Have the barrel drilled and tapped for a bead and then smoothed to match the countour of the inside of the barrel.

Bull Barrel · 02-04-2006, 09:40 PM

Thanks a lot! That'll give me that much more to spend on cool tactical grips and stuff...

silentknight · 02-05-2006, 12:08 AM

One suggestion, go with a Knoxx stock. They are a bit pricey compared to lookalike products, but their SpecOps stock is the best aftermarket stock I've ever seen. If you want to check them out www.knoxx.com

7mmag6 · 02-05-2006, 01:53 AM

saw this thread I thought it was about cutting wind , so sorry

SPOCAHP ANAR · 02-05-2006, 08:13 AM

you can pick up short bbl shotgun for about $220 from a gun show; so why not just do that and not have to worry with cutting it.

Big Dog · 02-05-2006, 05:30 PM

I shortened my Rem 870 Express to 20 inches, to fit the 8-round mag extension tube. Hacksaw (and yeah, it was rough!), then filed to square it up.
Turned out very well. I installed rifle sights that mount on the vent rib. It'll put three slugs into 2" at twentyfive yards. Works for me!

Oxford · 02-05-2006, 06:21 PM

7mmag6...cutting wind gives more relief than what comes factory stock.:insane: But you could find an after market reamer if you're lucky.:lucky:

Bull Barrel · 02-05-2006, 07:56 PM

I really am impressed by the technology behind the Knoxx stocks--at first glance I thought they were more of the same--but they look like the best of the best.

Been pricing out the bits--Cabela's has the Spec Op ($110) and the folding Copstock ($95) at the best prices--they also list the Tac Star stuff like mag extensions and grips (their barrel shroud is pretty much necessary for this "practical" weapon as I plan to do lots of rapid-fire training)--Cabela's also list an 18.5" replacement barrel--but it is blued and really for slugs, so hacksaw it will be..(and saves me $95)

I could use some suggestions to help me decide whether SpecOp or CopStock is best. Either one would definitely help with the recoil (I plan on using 00 Buck and Slugs primarily)--but they are completely different in functionality--would a folding stock be that important?

Should I leave the forestock alone or replace it with an overmolded short one from Knoxx ($20 plus $15 shipping) or a pistol style from Tac Star ($20 from Cabela's)? On the Knoxx site they warn that a stock forend may conflict with the folding stock of the Copstock when folded. But I figure some more cutting will fix that...the Remington stock is hard black plastic--as is the Tac Star. The Knoxx is Hogue-like overmolded--choices choices.

I'm starting to get excited about putting together a semi-custom gun here--any help would be greatly appreciated!

By the way I filled out the papers for the Remington at WalMart--so I was hoping to get some stuff ordered pretty soon...

Man I just can't decide what to get!

joeshooter · 02-17-2006, 07:13 AM

I always thought it was illegal to saw off the barrels on shotguns by yourself. I thought you could either get them cut or buy them that way. You learn something new everyday.

02-04-2006, 08:45 PM	#1
Bull Barrel Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia Posts: 239	Is it okay to cut a barrel? The local WalMart has a 28" barrel Remington 870 for about $240--I was thinking this would be a good home defense gun--but I wanted to shorten the barrel to 18.5". Is there any reason I should spend the extra $125 for a new 18.5" barrel instead of carefully cutting 9.5" off of the 28" barrel? I checked Brownells and they are out of stock anyway. Is it against the law or something? Just checking--thanks in advance. __________________ Beautiful Noisy Deadly Machines--What's Not to Like? :assult:

02-04-2006, 09:10 PM	#3
Mooseman684 Super Moderator Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Alaska Wilderness. Unit 13 Posts: 12,784	You can cut it... But, I suggest having a gunsmith do it, and NOT use a hacksaw,or bandsaw, or chop saw just because it is Impossible to get a straight ,smooth cut. The barrel has to be at least 18.1 inches , but 19 gives you a little leeway in case the end gets damaged in the future and 20 inches is Recommended. Have the barrel drilled and tapped for a bead and then smoothed to match the countour of the inside of the barrel. __________________ You know you might be facing your doom,when all you get is a click when you're expecting a BOOM!

02-04-2006, 09:40 PM	#4
Bull Barrel Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia Posts: 239	Thanks a lot! That'll give me that much more to spend on cool tactical grips and stuff... __________________ Beautiful Noisy Deadly Machines--What's Not to Like? :assult:

02-05-2006, 12:08 AM	#5
silentknight Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Iowa Posts: 1,118	One suggestion, go with a Knoxx stock. They are a bit pricey compared to lookalike products, but their SpecOps stock is the best aftermarket stock I've ever seen. If you want to check them out www.knoxx.com __________________ Sic Vis Pacem Parabellum

02-05-2006, 08:13 AM	#7
SPOCAHP ANAR Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: SC-upstate Posts: 4,604 Blog Entries: 7	you can pick up short bbl shotgun for about $220 from a gun show; so why not just do that and not have to worry with cutting it. __________________ Spocrest Out!..........

02-04-2006, 08:56 PM	#2
Bookman Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: 10 paces south of Canada Posts: 901	Go ahead and cut it. You'll lose the choke (no big loss) and the front bead sight (easy to replace) and save yourself enough money to buy a lot of buckshot. You can always pick up a replacement bird barrel later. Lots of used one out there.

02-05-2006, 01:53 AM	#6
7mmag6 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 6,052	saw this thread I thought it was about cutting wind , so sorry

02-05-2006, 05:30 PM	#8
Big Dog Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Tallahassee, Florida Posts: 14,118	I shortened my Rem 870 Express to 20 inches, to fit the 8-round mag extension tube. Hacksaw (and yeah, it was rough!), then filed to square it up. Turned out very well. I installed rifle sights that mount on the vent rib. It'll put three slugs into 2" at twentyfive yards. Works for me! __________________ "A bold spirit embiggens the smallest man!" Jebediah Springfield

02-05-2006, 06:21 PM	#9
Oxford Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Gladstone, Missouri Posts: 14,293 Blog Entries: 4	7mmag6...cutting wind gives more relief than what comes factory stock.:insane: But you could find an after market reamer if you're lucky.:lucky: __________________ "If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right".

02-05-2006, 07:56 PM	#10
Bull Barrel Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia Posts: 239	I really am impressed by the technology behind the Knoxx stocks--at first glance I thought they were more of the same--but they look like the best of the best. Been pricing out the bits--Cabela's has the Spec Op ($110) and the folding Copstock ($95) at the best prices--they also list the Tac Star stuff like mag extensions and grips (their barrel shroud is pretty much necessary for this "practical" weapon as I plan to do lots of rapid-fire training)--Cabela's also list an 18.5" replacement barrel--but it is blued and really for slugs, so hacksaw it will be..(and saves me $95) I could use some suggestions to help me decide whether SpecOp or CopStock is best. Either one would definitely help with the recoil (I plan on using 00 Buck and Slugs primarily)--but they are completely different in functionality--would a folding stock be that important? Should I leave the forestock alone or replace it with an overmolded short one from Knoxx ($20 plus $15 shipping) or a pistol style from Tac Star ($20 from Cabela's)? On the Knoxx site they warn that a stock forend may conflict with the folding stock of the Copstock when folded. But I figure some more cutting will fix that...the Remington stock is hard black plastic--as is the Tac Star. The Knoxx is Hogue-like overmolded--choices choices. I'm starting to get excited about putting together a semi-custom gun here--any help would be greatly appreciated! By the way I filled out the papers for the Remington at WalMart--so I was hoping to get some stuff ordered pretty soon... Man I just can't decide what to get! __________________ Beautiful Noisy Deadly Machines--What's Not to Like? :assult:

02-17-2006, 07:13 AM	#11
joeshooter Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Mid-west Posts: 199	I always thought it was illegal to saw off the barrels on shotguns by yourself. I thought you could either get them cut or buy them that way. You learn something new everyday.