Author Topic: Has anyone ever cut a handi rifle barrel down to 16 inches? (Read 1436 times)

Mr.Smith · « **on:** February 25, 2013, 04:26:43 PM »

I wondered, after also cutting the stock down just a might, it it was to short.

I'm thinking of my 30/30 becoming far handier!

bucco921 · « **Reply #1 on:** February 25, 2013, 04:31:31 PM »

Yes, tons of them floating around here. Might wanna cut to 16.5" in case any law enforcement agent has a tape thats a lil off

. I had a 44\445 cut to 16 with a williams peep and marble fiber optic blade. Awesome little gun that now resides down in the "swamp" with another gbo member. Just do a search for "shorties"

Rather-B-Huntin · « **Reply #2 on:** February 25, 2013, 04:33:18 PM »

I've got a 16.5" threaded .308 Survivor model. It's sweet! I bought it as a poor man's version of the Ruger GSR. Now that I've got a GSR, I still love my abbreviated Handi! So much so that I'm getting ready to do another one like it in .357.

YRUpunting? · « **Reply #3 on:** February 25, 2013, 04:35:10 PM »

I don't think the search is working yet.

Just my 2 cents but I'd cut it down to 18.5" (same as a Talo barrel) and see how you like it. Muzzle blast and noise increase a lot once you get under 18".

bucco921 · « **Reply #4 on:** February 25, 2013, 04:38:38 PM »

In keeping with what yrupunting said, a 22" handi is about the same overall length of an 18" barreled bolt gun.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #5 on:** February 25, 2013, 05:15:06 PM »

The google search at the bottom of the main page works excellent, do a search for shortys, there are hundreds here.

Tim

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php

Flynmoose · « **Reply #6 on:** February 25, 2013, 07:34:06 PM »

I had the barrel of my 223 Handi cut to 16 1/2", much handier and more accurate!
FM

theratdog · « **Reply #7 on:** February 25, 2013, 10:11:13 PM »

cut 223 to 16 5/8'' nice shoots as good as my other 22'' god truck gun.

petemi · « **Reply #8 on:** February 25, 2013, 11:03:27 PM »

We have two 16.5 inch Maxis, an 18 inch .38-55 and an 18 inch .356/.358....all Handi and accurate.

Pete

cwlongshot · « **Reply #9 on:** February 26, 2013, 08:14:58 AM »

IMHO your gonna make a ear ringer!!

I have two 16" 30-30's and DONT SHOOT EITHER very often!!!

I MUCH prefer pistol calibers and shotguns as shorties.

I have a very good friend who completely fell head over heals for the SOCOM M1A rifle... I warned him repeatedly... He did not listen and bought it anyway. FIRST TRIP to range almost every person who came over said. "It sure is loud".... I'm not a I told you so kind of guy. But he traded another sorry sap for a full sized M1A and enjoys shooting it now. Of coarse that a different caliber, but its a pressures thing and altho the 30/30 is lower pressure in Rifle calibers its not with pistols. Most magnum pistols are 35K, the 30/30 is 40K. IMHO this is the threshold.

It WILL BE HANDI! Just be warned hearing protection will become a larger concern.

CW

Mr.Smith · « **Reply #10 on:** February 26, 2013, 03:35:40 PM »

Quote from: bucco921 on February 25, 2013, 04:31:31 PM

Yes, tons of them floating around here. Might wanna cut to 16.5" in case any law enforcement agent has a tape thats a lil off . I had a 44\445 cut to 16 with a williams peep and marble fiber optic blade. Awesome little gun that now resides down in the "swamp" with another gbo member. Just do a search for "shorties"

So does Williams still make that peep sight for the Handi gun? Will it fit where the screws are on top of the barrel?

I'd love to have the 30/30 with a peep sight set for 50 yards and the folding rear 'V' sight at 100. The .22 Hornet will get my 2 to 7 Nikon scope!

gcrank1 · « **Reply #11 on:** February 26, 2013, 04:05:57 PM »

A 30-30 sighted in at 75ish yds will be minute of critter from up close to 100yd. with one sight setting; my vote for the peep only (and yes, they are available WGRS for H&R, but there are also a couple of other very nice upscale peeps too).

Spanky · « **Reply #12 on:** February 26, 2013, 04:42:12 PM »

I've got a shorty 12ga. but that's it. The other shortys I've owned have all been rifles and they've all gone down the road... TOO LOUD...

Spanky

geezer56 · « **Reply #13 on:** February 26, 2013, 05:18:09 PM »

I had a 308 cut to 16 in. Short light and loud. Short enough to be dangerous, it was too easy to get a finger over the end of the barrel. I did have a long forend on it though, and I have really long arms.

knight0334 · « **Reply #14 on:** February 27, 2013, 07:04:03 AM »

Just remember that if you are cutting the barrel and/or stock down, the overall length must be a minimum of 26" to avoid being in violation of NFA laws.

NFA SBR and SBS regulations not only regulate the barrel lengths(16" for rifled and 18" for smoothbore), but also the overall length.

Doublebass73 · « **Reply #15 on:** February 27, 2013, 07:24:20 AM »

Quote from: Spanky on February 26, 2013, 04:42:12 PM

I've got a shorty 12ga. but that's it. The other shortys I've owned have all been rifles and they've all gone down the road... TOO LOUD...

Spanky

As much as I like how shorties look and handle, this is the reason I never cut barrels down. I already have tinnitus so I don't need to make it worse. Plus, a Handi with a 20" or 22" barrel is still very compact.

nanuk-O-dah-Nort · « **Reply #16 on:** February 27, 2013, 07:32:49 AM »

Quote from: Mr.Smith on February 26, 2013, 03:35:40 PM

So does Williams still make that peep sight for the Handi gun? Will it fit where the screws are on top of the barrel?

I'd love to have the 30/30 with a peep sight set for 50 yards and the folding rear 'V' sight at 100. The .22 Hornet will get my 2 to 7 Nikon scope!

my Williams WGRS sits high enough, you'd probably not find a leaf to sight above it.

a 30-30 sighted in for 75-100 would be fine for a point and shoot gun.

I just received a Skinner for a handi, now to find the front sight that fits it best!

I MAY just try to find another for my others, if it works out well.

it is far lower on the barrel than the williams.

I suggest you look into a Skinner. You can even get them that screw right into the scope screw hole for an ultra low setup!

And the price is right

nanuk-O-dah-Nort · « **Reply #17 on:** February 27, 2013, 07:34:49 AM »

I always wondered how folks found the Ruger compact with 16" barrel.

that would put out a serious blast also, and only be at the same location as a 20" handi....

I can see them being LOUD also

gcrank1 · « **Reply #18 on:** February 27, 2013, 08:15:27 AM »

After a certain amount of hearing loss you cant hear that they are loud.........

cwlongshot · « **Reply #19 on:** February 27, 2013, 10:27:35 AM »

Quote from: gcrank1 on February 27, 2013, 08:15:27 AM

After a certain amount of hearing loss you cant hear that they are loud.........

Back in 9 of 2011 when that battery blew up in my face... I lost about 60% of my hearing in my left ear and 25% in my right. I have had tinnitus ever since and I STILL find loud noises quite bothersome.

As a matter of fact they will still trigger a migrane. Hunting this year I wore my amplified hearing muffs. The only ones that gave problems where my 10MM. Those I needed ear puffs AND muffs.

I do my damndest to avoid these loud noises...

CW

nanuk-O-dah-Nort · « **Reply #20 on:** February 27, 2013, 10:38:47 AM »

I think I was born with tinnitus

first it was my Mother always screaming at me to get up for school

then it was LOUD music (I also played in a marching band)

then it was loud engines

then it was loud guns

Now, I'm married!

my worse incidente was with a Ag M42 with no hearing protection... first mag was slow fire, then 10 fast ones.... no hearing in my right ear for many hours.

my hearing tester wrote "Structural Damage" on my report. But it wasn't bad enough to bar me from my job.

Now, I always have foam plugs with me for anything that may be loud.

Mr.Smith · « **Reply #21 on:** February 27, 2013, 01:14:03 PM »

Ok I'll check out the Skinner sight!

Now as for 16 inchers, I have a Ruger Compact stainless .308, with 16 inch barrel topped by a 30mm Leopold European scope.

My beanfield gun is a Winchester 70 .270 WSM stainless camo. Real real flat shooter and with superperformace powders it warps out.

I only hope the rear sights fit the screwholes in the barrel that H&R made. That and a front sight that works.

I want this gun simple. Simplicy is the aim here. No fancy sights and very easy to carry.

And yep, 26 inch OAL at the minimum!

Thanks!