barrel shortening,,,,,

[alan in ga]

Anyone cut the barrel of their .357 Mag shorter? I'm considering it. I also am considering threading it for a silencer and coyote 'nuisance animal' control. I already have a Fed Tax paperwork in the 'works' for a 22LR can for my 22s. But I think the .357 Mag and maybe just the 158/160 gr bullets loaded subsonic may be THE perfect yote control rifle. Hate to pay another $200 for a second can Fed permit but if it works well,,,why not. A Class III friend is going to go ahead and thread my Handi .357 Mag barrel for one of his cans and he will try it. I of course, won't be able to 'have' that barrel except when the can is removed-I only have permit for the one 22LR can I have.
In doing the threading,,,I"m considering cutting the .357 Mag barrel down to 18" or so. He will remount the front sight back accordingly. Although scoped,,I like the open sights 'being there' in case the rifle is unscoped/uncanned for some reason. The rifle IS accurate now,,and I may risk getting into some 'bad bore' as when cutting back any rifle barrel. Not much risk, but always there.
Hope you guys that love the 22" .357 Mag barrels aren't twisting in anguish as you read about my possible cutting back of this one!
What think?
Alan in Ga.

[BANG_OW]

I would try it on one of the new extractor barrels in case it didn't work out as planned. You can readily buy another, but if it's an ejector they aren't making any more of them.

[PartsMan]

I think a 16 to 18" 357 would be a very neat rifle.
I have been trying not to scratch that itch myself.

[alan in ga]

I could cut it to 16.5" but I think I'll leave it at 22" for now,,,test it,and then cut it to 17" or so. THEN,,,if I want to sell it, I could cut off the threaded section and cut a 'normal' muzzle at something just OVER 16" to keep it legal. A .357 doesn't need 22" of barrel, but it makes it that much more of a sweet shooter!
I'll keep chewing on the idea.
It is an ejector barrel. I always thought I'd rather have an extractor,,it suprises me to hear of all you guys that don't like the extractor barrels~! Do you like the empty cases to get kicked out??
Alan in GA.

[burntmuch]

The ejector makes them a little handier for hunting. the bench shooters really like the extractor
                                                                           

[BANG_OW]

The theory is that very few guys get hurt by attacking/wounded paper targets. The ejectors are just a little quicker to reload, one less step.
I'm sure nine out of ten guys that have been run up a tree by an irate pig would agree.
The bottom line is that it is your barrel, and yours to decide.
Don