My 30-30 Winchester Shorty (16.5")

[Fortkevin2]

Picked up a H&R 30-30 a while back from a member on a local forum. Decided to get it's 22" barrel cut down to 16.5" and a 20" Versa Pack barrel I had cut down to the same length by an awesome member here named Larry (Trotterlg). Got them back today and as always, Larry does AMAZING work!



Here's a picture of the 30-30 barrel installed with a youth stock set. I plan to duracoat the receiver and barrel for weather resistance and install a compact scope on it for a handy "Handi" Also need to put a front swivel stud on it and a butt cuff for some extra ammo.

Any recommendations, comments or criticisms?

[quasne.inc]

I hate seeing all these shorties!  Because I can't get the funds to get one yet!  Good looking gun you got there.

[cwlongshot]

Looks great!! Enjoy it!!

Merry Christmas,

CW

[bikerbeans]

Nice Rifle!

[jeepmann1948]

very nice

[Shu]

Criticism: Yes, you have it and I don't.
Suggestion: Send it to me.
Great looking handi hope you enjoy it.

[cwlongshot]

I wondered if you got to shoot it yet?

I have two short Marlins and want to tell you to be sure you wear hearing protection as the 30-30 from a short barrel has quite a loud report. This alone is my reason for choosing a pistol caliber fro my shorty.

CW

[carbineman]

Great Looking Rifle. Had Larry shorten and recrown a 30-30 Topper barrel for me as well. Good guy and he does great work.

[kbstenberg]

  Would you guys mind telling what it costs to shorten a barrel? I would be interested to find out what it costs to drill an tap for a scope mount   Kevin

[Shu]

Shortening a barrel can be as simple as taking a hacksaw to it and doing the poor guys crown job with some flitz polish and a carriage bold in a hand drill. Front sight can be reattached with JB weld.


The one pictured by the original poster appears to been done by someone with a higher skill level and tools. The front sight was put back on, I am guessing soldered.

I don't know about drilling and tapping but on stuff that doesnt have alot of recoil LB weld does work.

[cwlongshot]

 Would you guys mind telling what it costs to shorten a barrel? I would be interested to find out what it costs to drill an tap for a scope mount   Kevin

Generally speaking, Cutting and crowning is a 50-75$ job.
Drill and tap is 15-30$ per hole plus mount.

If contimplating chopping yourself. Know that the cut must be dead square or accuracy will suffer.

CW

[Airsporter]

Had a Win 94 Trapper in 30-30 with the short barrel.  Found muzzleblast really annoying with factory ammo.  Would be okay as a hunter but no fun at the range.

[45-70.gov]

my shortie  is a 45-70

it  lost  100fps  approx.  with  2 different loads

they charged $20  to cut and crown on a lathe...looks great
and $25  to re-install the sight.....one  hole to tap

my next  one.....and there will be a few  more
will  just be scoped....not fond of  iron sights
just wanted to keep this one as small  and simple as possible...just like yours

pistol rounds are the way to go
but  i want a 30-30 shortie  too.....with a scope....thumb hole stock[laminated wood]

[bikerbeans]

CW,

I have a Handi 30-06 shorty that I only shoot at the club when no one else is there because it barks a bit.

BB

[RickC.]

they charged $20  to cut and crown on a lathe...looks great
and $25  to re-install the sight.....one  hole to tap

Where'd you get that done for $20?

Rick

[45-70.gov]

curry thomas hard ware
jacksonville fla

they  re-blued the end  too
looked like it was just made that way

[cwlongshot]

CW,

I have a Handi 30-06 shorty that I only shoot at the club when no one else is there because it barks a bit.

BB

YUP! 
 I have one hunting buddie that LOVES his 18" 30-06 Remington auto...There is NO guessing who shot when hunting with him!!
Hi pressure shorties just have a different sound. LOL

 Here in CT, we are a Shotgun only state when hunting on state land. Yet when on private with more then 10 acres, a hi power rifle is allowed. Some of these 10-50 acre parcels are in rural areas. In the late season when the leaves are down you can just make out pieces of houses in some directions. I simply feel that a big caliber just isn't warranted. I prefer my maxi, 454, 45Colt, 500 and 45-70 rifles. The 45 & 50 have large enough bores to have a "boom" similar to a shotgun. So residents kinda overlook it. But fire a '06 like that friend and you will see "interested" parties in the woods.

CW

[Itsricmo]

lol I know this thread is like... Dead -> Revived and then Shot in the Head... BUT


If the fine Gentlemen who owns the Shorty 30-30 is still around, could you tell me if you had to have the rear sight moved back??
This is EXACTLY what I intend to do but am looking to find out what all I am to expect.


Thank You
Rick

[petemi]

Man Rick, you did some digging for this one!  Back in the days when I could see, I used a rear mounted peep with a fine target aperture and just removed it in low light and used the hole as a ghost ring.  If you're set up with d&t holes for a scope base, just see the FAQs on what peep to put on it.  It's easier than moving an open sight rearward.  I'm not sure, but I think there is even an option for a rear mounted open sight.  Good luck and keep us posted on whatever you do.

Pete

[mannyrock]

  Sorry guys, I just don't get it.


  You take a good rifle and make it the antithesis of a rifle.  Stubby barrel gun that absolutely won't point or track.  Butt heavy.  Huge muzzle blast.  Wasted powder.  Reduced energy.   Increased recoil.  Terrible sound.  One-half resale value.  In other words, a junker.  I have hunted the most dense swamps in South Carolina and West Tennesssee, and never needed such a thing.


  I am reminded of the Mexican pastime of taking beautfiul 1950s cars, and putting hydraulics in them so that they will "jump up and down" at stop lights.  Or, gutting the original substructures so that they are "low-riders" that run three inches off the ground. 


   Manny




  What a

[petemi]

Tell ya what Manny.  Pick a caliber, .38-55, .357 Max, .356/.358, or .44 Super Mag. and I'll loan you one to try.  They don't loose much in performance and gain a lot in handling and portability.  In the pistol calibers, it is actually possible to gain velocity with a shorter barrel with some loads. With a scope, they point and track and shoot easier and as accurately as a longer rifle. Actually, they're not butt heavy in a Handi  because the newer barrels are heavy to begin with and they balance and sling better. Don't knock it til you've tried it.  I haven't experienced any great increase in muzzle blast....Somewhere along the line I learned to use hearing protection.  Flash, yes, you will experience that in low light.   Besides, when hunting, who cares.  When I'm on game, I don't even hear the gun fire.  I believe increased recoil is a myth...I can't see any difference.  All my shorties started life at 22 inches...the .38-55 at 28.  As far as reduced energy goes, my 16.5 inch Maxi pushes a 180 gr. bullet to top .35 Remington performance.  I think there are a few guys here that would pay more for a well done shorty than a standard 22 incher.

Pete

[Tractorsaw1]

I have been researching the short ones myself for Missouri's alternative season, specifically the tc pistols in 14" barrels.  How crazy are the big dogs in a 14" (ie 30-06 to 243)? Is it doable, or the pistol shorties better to deal with (357max to 445sm)?  Anyone have experience with these?  Thanks

[Joe S.]

is trotterlg still around and does he still provide this service?

wouldnt mind having my ol 444 cut and recrowned...

[rdlange]

My 30-30 shorty is a 336 Texan w/17.5" bbl.  It's less than an inch shorter than a 22" Handi.  I keep the Handi at 22" because it's quieter and get's better performance with pointed bullets.  Only ones I've been really tempted to shorten are 357 Maxi and 454, but they shoot so good now and have such nice front sights I don't want to mess with them so far.  JMHO...

[petemi]

Funny thing Tom, I too have a 336T and a 22 inch Handi in .30-30.  I love both of them.  The Marlin has been my buddy for over 50 years.  If I could still use iron sights, I wouldn't shorten anything.  Like Tim, I spent years lugging 30 plus inch smoke poles around the woods.  It's too much work and I need a recess in my old age.  Shorties and Superlights are what the Doctor prescribes    My .32-20s, the Marlin 1894CL and the "Trotter Special" Handi are cowering in the corner because I'm thinking about chopping both of them.  A 16.5 inch .45-70 is in the works as an addition to my 22 incher.  I think it's called "Shortyitis".  It's a rider virus on Handiholicism....much like shingles on chicken pox.  Yeah, if ya have time, stop by, I've got a bridge for sale    Gotta love you guys.

Pete

[Joe S.]

My buddy slngbld has shortyitis.

[slngblde]

My buddy slngbld has shortyitis.

Guess i do.. i tend to modify just about everything. Barrel is about 17", it will go shorter once i get another lathe and it then it will be threaded and have a "target" crown done.
Here is the latest version of my 44, i put the factory synthetic stock back on it but i sprayed it tan first. All black gun  is boring to me. Only my ak is all black.

[hoytcanon]

I agree with Pete... Shorties are all about feel, balance and handling... There are some calibers that are begging to be shorter (in Canada 18" is as short as we can go on an OEM barrel chop), I have bobbed, .223's to 18", .243 heavies to 20", 7mm-08 to 18", .30/30 to 18", 7.62X39 to 18", .357 MAX to 18", .44 Maggies to 18" and .45/70 to 18"... I like them all better this way... The only chop I ever regretted was my heavy .308's, which had been bobbed to 20" then 18", then sold and went back to the 22" heavy... I found that the loss of velocity was excessive with the loads I was using and for some reason the accuracy suffered also. I am like another poster above... Always messing around with stuff and "tweaking." To have an opinion on shorties you really have to try them first.

[Joe S.]

All my shorties have been factory. (Marlin 1894C and 444P both 18.5", a Ruger Gunsite Scout and a 7.62x39 Compact both around 16", the Classic Carbine 45colt, and a 358win Encore that was permanently lengthened to 16" from a 15" pistol barrel, and maybe one or two others?)

This 444 will be first ive chopped. But ive handled a couple friend's and they really feel good.

Slngbld's 16.5" Mosin, that Handi, an a bud's 30-30 Marlin. All improved IMO!

[petemi]

I have been researching the short ones myself for Missouri's alternative season, specifically the tc pistols in 14" barrels.  How crazy are the big dogs in a 14" (ie 30-06 to 243)? Is it doable, or the pistol shorties better to deal with (357max to 445sm)?  Anyone have experience with these?  Thanks

I'd put the same question up on the T/C forum.  Personally, you guys are welcome to all the self abuse you can handle.  There's no way you'd ever get me to shoot a handgun in .30-06 or .445 SM.  My .357 Blackhawk is as much as I want in my hands.

I didn't mean to be caustic with manntrock, and I apologize.  To quote Hoytcanon, "To have an opinion on shorties you really have to try them first."  That is the truth.  If you're selective about which rifle you cut and how short you cut it, most times you'll improve handling and performance.  All my shorties can swing completely around in the cab of my Silverado and not hit anything.  That's a biggie for me because that is my work truck and the shorties are my go to every day work rifles.  I can't cut wood, trim brush, mend fences without a rifle along.  If I don't bring one, I'll invariably have to pass on a yote, woodchuck, porky, etc.  The improved "feel" is hard to describe.  It just becomes a smooth reflexive part of you.

Pete