Question

[muzzleblast525]

I've got a heavy 26" blued 25/06 barrel and was going to sell it and get a pistol barrel.  It has been suggested that I just cut this barrel and have it re-crowned to make a pistol barrel.  Anybody ever done this, or thought of doing it?  I've got a gunsmith saying he would do it for $65..... 

[Graybeard]

Yup and it worked great. Long long ago I bought a 21" 7-30 Waters barrel at a gunshow. This was back when TC was first making rifle barrels. I figured one day I'd get a stock and fore arm and turn it into a rifle. But I never got around to it. So I decided to have it cut to 14" and recrowned. Had a local gunsmith do the job and it was a super accurate barrel for me. I shot that barrel for many years and finally sold it and got me a SS 14" 7-30 to replace it.

[Hopalong7]

  Same here...cept mine was a 30-30Win and I cut it to 16.5". Walt

[muzzleblast525]

Cool....Looks like this is what I'm going to do.  Thanks

[Lone Star]

Based on data I've seen for the .270 in a pistol, you will get better ballistic performance with a barel from 15" to 16" long rather than 12" to 14" long.  Fifteen inches is the length similar cartridges are chambered in for the Encore.

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[Hopalong7]

In full agreement with the Lone Star on length here.  In 25-06, I'd be tempted to leave that barrel at least at 16" and maybe even 18".  I know that sounds like a lot of pistola to carry around, but it's not as bad as you might think and the velocity would have to be up and the flash and blast down.  I once bought a used FRO barrel in 6mmTCU that someone had made 18" long.  The price was right and my thinking was too short for a rifle...but cut to 14"-15" would make a nice pistol set-up.  Before doing any cutting I tried it as a pistol at 18" and loved it and still do.  Works great with the short legged Harris bipod too.  GOOD SHOOTIN', Walt   

[Dusty Miller]

So, is the 14' 25-06 I'm in the process of buying going to be a problem? 

[muzzleblast525]

Dusty,

I had a 25/06 pistol barrel last year, 15" long, and it was a shooter.  I sold it but I've been thinking of getting another, and somebody suggested I cut down my rifle barrel.  I've decided to sell it to fund a pistol barrel. 

Again, the 15" I had last year was a shooter, and your barrel will probably be a good one.

Bob

[swampthing]

Can the gunsmith tap another forend hole for the pistol forend? Or do you have to use the rifle one? That rifle forend is pretty big on a pistol.