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Offline wormbobskey

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Shotgun barrel length?
« on: August 19, 2011, 01:59:01 PM »
Can anyone tell me if I'm legally allowed to cut down a shot gun barrel as long as it is of legal length? Also whats the best way to remove a poly-choke from the end of a barrel? I want to re-install the poly-choke on the shortened barrel.
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Offline pastorp

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Re: Shotgun barrel length?
« Reply #1 on: August 20, 2011, 04:46:37 AM »
Of course you can cut a shotgun barrel as long as it's at least 18" . Most guys will alow a extra 1/4 to 1/2" extra. As far as the polly-choke goes I've never messed with one so not sure how to remove one. The last barrel I had cut was a Benelli 20ga and I just had the smith cut the barrel & thread it for screw in choke tubes.  ;)  Plain barrels are easy to cut with a pipe cutter. If your not a finished carpenter don't try a hacksaw.. ;D  And don't ask how I know that... ::)
 
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Offline wormbobskey

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Re: Shotgun barrel length?
« Reply #2 on: August 20, 2011, 04:58:42 AM »
I have been a finish carpenter among other things and do have a pipe cutter. This is an older pump shotgun and I want to turn it into a home defense gun. Any idea if I could reattach the poly-choke to make the overall length the legal 18 inches. The poly-choke is around 3 inches long with an inch of recess that slides over the barrel. If I cut the barrell to around 16.5 inches long than attached the poly-choke than it ought to be the legal length, right?
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Offline keith44

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Re: Shotgun barrel length?
« Reply #3 on: August 27, 2011, 09:06:40 PM »
For home defence an 18" cylinder bore is about ideal.  Any choke constriction on the barrel is just not needed.  The assumed max legal engagement distance is 7 yards.  Even the cylinder bore is going to have a very tight pattern at that distance. 
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Offline wormbobskey

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Re: Shotgun barrel length?
« Reply #4 on: September 03, 2011, 04:08:23 AM »
Although a home defense shotgun is my goal I still wanted to use the gun for an occasional walk in the woods for grouse or rabbits and wanted the poly choke to tighten the pattern a little.
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Offline Foggy

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Re: Shotgun barrel length?
« Reply #5 on: September 03, 2011, 04:22:08 AM »
Before you cut that barrel!!!!!!  the barrl must be of legal lenght 18" with the polychoke dis assemblied.  a 16.5 you mentioned will be illeagle even with the poly choke.
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Offline Bigeasy

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Re: Shotgun barrel length?
« Reply #6 on: September 03, 2011, 04:29:05 AM »
Pretty sure Foggy is right.  The only way a barrel can be considered of legal length is if the attachment at the end of the barrel is permanently installed, like you see on some 14.5 inch AR's, with permanently attached muzzle brakes.  I don't believe the poly Choke is considered permanent.
 
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Offline Foggy

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Re: Shotgun barrel length?
« Reply #7 on: September 03, 2011, 04:42:14 AM »
 when a polychoke is disassembled it looses about 1/2 to 2/3s of it's lenght. it's permenant it's soldered on.  I got this from the polyChoke web site
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Offline wormbobskey

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Re: Shotgun barrel length?
« Reply #8 on: September 03, 2011, 03:41:37 PM »
Although I wasn't sure I figured I would play it safe and cut the barrel to the legal limit, which I have been told was 18 1/2" long. With the poly choke installed total barrel length would be just over 21 inches. I've decide not to install the poly choke after having shot the gun. Although the pattern wasn't that tight it was darn sure tight enough to ruin any crackheads day who figured he could come into my home uninvited.
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Offline keith44

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Re: Shotgun barrel length?
« Reply #9 on: September 03, 2011, 05:06:12 PM »
Now that you've discovered a cut off cylinder bore barrel, polish that cut off end and radius the ends of the barrel to match the finish on the muzzle of a factory barrel.  Something kinda neat happens to that pattern.  It evens out (usually) and still opens well.  Want a tighter pattern load your own and use a stiffer shot cup.  In fact if you can still find them I used to load a shot cup that you cut the slits in yourself.  Six slits that only go 1/4 the way down will give nearly full choke patterns from a cylinderbore.
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Offline wormbobskey

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Re: Shotgun barrel length?
« Reply #10 on: September 04, 2011, 06:37:19 AM »
I used a 3" 1/4-20 bolt with the head cut off and cut a 1"deep slit in the end and put a piece of fine sand paper in the slit. Actually its made of cloth, paper will not hold up at all once you start the die grinder. Chucked it up in my die grinder and polished the inside edge of the barrel. I used to work in a machine shop and thats how we would polish the inside radius of holes. Works well and definitely is cheaper than buying hone stones to polish the inside. Filed all saw marks out of the end of the barrel and made sure it was square and used emery cloth to polish out any file marks. All I need to do now is drill and tap for the bead front sight and she will be good as gold. Buddy liked the camo job so much that he wants me to do his muzzle loader. Checked out the post on graybeard to see how to camo a shotgun which was a lot of help. Think my 870 turkey gun is next in line for a facelift. Thanks for all the help.
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Offline BW56

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Re: Shotgun barrel length?
« Reply #11 on: October 29, 2011, 09:51:56 PM »
Did my 20 gauge to 18 1/4" many years ago. Last january had screw in choke tubes in stalled to hunt with again. With the shorter barrel and no bead it shot way high. Being a machinist i made a new front site that pressed over the end of the barrel and corrected the problem. Site is 3/8 wide on top with a point in the middle, its painted high vis orange on the top 1/16 inch. Couldn't be happier.
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