.45-70 Katahdin Barrel Cut-Down?

[pab1]

Would a 20" .45-70 Katahdin Pro-Hunter barrel be a good candidate to cut down to 12-15" length, recrown, have a throat and 6-screw base added? Other than the fluting, is there anything (rate of twist?) that would make this project a bad idea?

[dant]

It might ( probably ) is more cost effective to sell the barrel and have an outfit like MGM make you a custom barrel. Last I looked barrels up to 14" were 275.00 in stainless. By the time you have the two extra holes drilled and tapped ( if the Katahdin barrel is tapered you'll need a special base to take advantage of the 6 holes ), throat work done and cut and crown you'll likely have more money in it that to just sell it and go the custom route. Also, if you ever decide to sell a custom barrel by MGM might be easier to sell then a "cut down " rifle barrel.

PS: doubt you'll ever need a six screw base on an Encore barrel. The screw holes are generally deeper than on the Contender because of the larger dia barrel and provide plenty of "grip".

[pab1]

Thanks for the info dant. One shop I checked with charges $40 for the cut/recrown and $20 for the throat. I am used to having 6-screw bases added to my Contender barrels with heavy recoil.  If its not needed on the Encore, that would save $45.  I'll check with MGM too.

[Hopalong7]

      I came across a "deal" on an 18" blue 45-70 Katahdin barrel a few years ago and immediately thought "oh...what an Encore pistol barrel I could make out of that".  So, I bought it.  My first thought was to simply cut off the brake and recrown.  It would have been about 16 3/4".  Then I decided to just try it like it was(an 18" pistol barrel)...yeah!  Well, I rarely shoot my Encore as a pistol(that's what my Contenders are for), so I've never gotten around to doin' either.  But...I have shot it as it was originally intended...as a Katahdin carbine...and it's a hoot!!! Just too much fun to go and mess it up, so I've never altered it in any way.    My version doesn't have the fluting like the Pro-Hunter has, so it would have been pretty easy.