Author Topic: Anybody cut their 32 inch .45-70 down? (Read 886 times)

Catshooter45 · « **on:** September 22, 2011, 04:04:59 PM »

I have one. I am thinking of cutting it to about 26 inches. Can anyone who has done it tell me how is the balence affected? I prefer it to balence right at the action of course.

Thanks.

Cat

manatee1947 · « **Reply #1 on:** September 22, 2011, 04:36:16 PM »

Anybody used their statue of Jesus for a hat rack at the bar ? Seriously, if you want a short 45/70 there are hundreds of them floating around, just swap for one. 22" is a standard length and I think there are some ultra hunters that were 24, Just say no dude,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

tacklebury · « **Reply #2 on:** September 22, 2011, 04:41:16 PM »

I know some have, seen pics. I would do as manatee suggests and watch for or get an Ultra hunter bull barrel fitted or buy one and fit it to your frame. Once the steel's gone, you cannot put it back. lol

Enjoy yours either way.

mister · « **Reply #3 on:** September 22, 2011, 04:57:28 PM »

I cut mine to 18.5 inches shoots great and is a great truck gun I liked the looks of the stocks better so I got the buffalo classic and cut it off.

Stan in SC · « **Reply #4 on:** September 22, 2011, 05:02:11 PM »

Blasphemy.ABSOLUTE BLASPHEMY!!

Stan in SC

mister · « **Reply #5 on:** September 22, 2011, 05:12:51 PM »

Yeah I know but I had it on hand and it got the chop and I never regreted it its perfect for the truck and goes everywhere with me its killed more deer for me than any other gun just because its so short and fast.

Dinny · « **Reply #6 on:** September 22, 2011, 05:26:19 PM »

Quote from: Stan in SC on September 22, 2011, 05:02:11 PM

Blasphemy.ABSOLUTE BLASPHEMY!!

I have one that has been cut back to 28".

Balance is improved and it swings just a little bit better. Accuracy was not affected, even with a terrible crown. I plan to have it cut back again, but just enough to have a better crown installed.

Thanks, Dinny

jrabbit · « **Reply #7 on:** September 22, 2011, 05:56:19 PM »

I cut mine to 27". It is just as accurate, and the balance is much better.

Catshooter45 · « **Reply #8 on:** September 22, 2011, 06:00:45 PM »

I've got a 16.5 (was a 22 inch), a 22 inch and a BC. Thinking about 26 inches or so.

Looks good Dinny.

Sorry for the blasphameeeeee!

Cat

quickdtoo · « **Reply #9 on:** September 22, 2011, 06:13:09 PM »

Big Blue had his BC cut to 27", I've got a spare BC barrel that's gonna get cut to 26-27" and rechambered to 45-90 someday.

Tim

Buckwheat Jack · « **Reply #10 on:** September 23, 2011, 02:57:56 AM »

I have a 22" 45-70 and love it. But, if somebody came along with a 32" barrel and offered to swap, I'd jump at the chance. I like long barrels. Even my Hawken style ML has a 34" barrel. I have several milsurps and prefer the full rifle length over the carbines. Just can't figure out why everybody wants a tiny barrel on a rifle.

petemi · « **Reply #11 on:** September 23, 2011, 04:11:23 AM »

My .45-70 is the standard 22 inch. I thought about cutting it to 18 or 16.5, but decided to leave it alone. It's fine where it is and way up there on accuracy. Thanks to Tim, I have an 18 inch (cut from 28") .38-55, and it is a wonderfully accurate and Handi rifle. My next door neighbor was shooting it yesterday and he was amazed you could get that kind of performance out of a lil' bitty rifle. I think I may have another convert. He's the magnum type.

Pete

thejanitor · « **Reply #12 on:** September 23, 2011, 04:45:05 AM »

Quote from: Buckwheat Jack on September 23, 2011, 02:57:56 AM

I have a 22" 45-70 and love it. But, if somebody came along with a 32" barrel and offered to swap, I'd jump at the chance. I like long barrels. Even my Hawken style ML has a 34" barrel. I have several milsurps and prefer the full rifle length over the carbines. Just can't figure out why everybody wants a tiny barrel on a rifle.

The only real long gun I have is a tulle 20 ga flintlock and after carrying that in deer season I do know why people want to use a short gun. Walking through brush.... trying to pull up and swing on anything that is not exactly in front of you even in a blind can be tricky. All my Handis are 22 inch right now but the 44 mag has got to be feeling a little nervous.... If I wasn't scared of ruining a perfectly good barrel I would give it a trim. I wouldn't make it tiny, but some of the places we hunt the brush is pretty thick and even 2 or three inches off the standard barrel would help to make it more "handi". But for my .270s and 30-06s I need a barrel that will burn the powder efficiently and keep the range I need.
So I can see the draw for a short gun in some applications, but I don't think I need a safe full of shorties. thejanitor

AtlLaw · « **Reply #13 on:** September 23, 2011, 06:12:13 AM »

I'll be having mine cut back to 28 inches if I can ever get it to my 'smith...

And I bought a set of BC sights off a member here once and the front sight arrived attached to a 4 inch section of barrel!

So I know it's been done!

Catshooter45 · « **Reply #14 on:** September 23, 2011, 06:30:11 AM »

Front sight attached to a four inch section of barrel! That made me laugh.

Cat

tacklebury · « **Reply #15 on:** September 23, 2011, 11:23:37 AM »

lol me too.

Couger · « **Reply #16 on:** September 23, 2011, 11:49:11 AM »

Quote from: Catshooter45 on September 22, 2011, 04:04:59 PM

I have one. I am thinking of cutting it to about 26 inches. Can anyone who has done it tell me how is the balence affected? I prefer it to balence right at the action of course.

Thanks. Cat

I have a 'buff classic' barrel I chopped off (hack saw) at almost 27inches - to leave enough 'stock' for my gun smith to crown at 26inches! When I finally get around to 'that' project again I'll also have the scope base installed with 8-40 screws, too. Open or cowboy sights don't appeal to me with that round. Gonna be a strict (anf modern) hunting rig.

I have tried that barrel on three receivers, and really like the Handi-Grip synthetic best. Balance is a little forward, but considering the .45-70 cartridge at levergun-plus loadings and recoil, the rifle is not too light nor whippy,

For my preferences the 26inch length seems "not too!" (like an old pancake syrup commercial I remember.

not too long, not too short, not too heavy ...... you get the idea).

When I start shooting and hunting with the .45/70 earnestly/regularly, I might use it eventually on a cow elk or similar in the 150-250yard envelope. But it might be possible it gets used on pronghorns further than that too!

I also have a .280R 26inch tube, a very useful barrel and cartridge for looong western shots.

, along with the infamous and venerable .30/06 barrel.

Couger · « **Reply #17 on:** September 23, 2011, 11:58:39 AM »

ADDED: this seems so obvious ..... if you can find one to 'handle.'

Do you know anyone with a .38-55 barrel?

Before those were discontinued by NEF, those are basically what a 28in Buff Classic barrel would be like. Would be an way easy to decide if the 28inches is 'not too,' or needed more tweeking.

I usually like 24inches for a 'full-length' boltrifle barrel, which helped me toward that 26in length, along with the .280R tube.

Catshooter45 · « **Reply #18 on:** September 23, 2011, 01:59:20 PM »

I have a .38-55 barrel, but it is heavier than the .45-70 naturally. The outside barrel contour is the same between them so the .38 is heavier.

Cat

manatee1947 · « **Reply #19 on:** September 23, 2011, 02:25:48 PM »

I have nothing against shorties, just making one out of a BC is sacreligious. If I could find a 375 winchester or 7X30 contender 16" it would be great, a 16" Maxi superlight would be great, just chopping the BC is............bbbrrrrrrrrrrrr

gcrank1 · « **Reply #20 on:** September 23, 2011, 02:39:49 PM »

My SS UH 45-70 at 24" is nigh on to perfect, and I wouldnt have minded it at 26 as I like a bit of muzzle heaviness.
I would find it real hard to cut off a BC, unless I just had no other options in life, but hey, its your gun and it is just a tool. Then you too can send somebody a section of barrel with a sight

.

Couger · « **Reply #21 on:** September 23, 2011, 02:52:08 PM »

Quote from: gcrank1

My SS UH 45-70 at 24" is nigh on to perfect, and I wouldnt have minded it at 26 as I like a bit of muzzle heaviness.
I would find it real hard to cut off a BC, unless I just had no other options in life, but hey, its your gun and it is just a tool. Then you too can send somebody a section of barrel with a sight .

Thats exactly what I did! And if I had known sooner how "sacreligious" is was to chop MY BARREL, I'd have done much much SOONER!

I agree its just a tool.

On the other hand, only use for a 16inch length is for a T/C Contender or Encore barrel that would be legal to shoot both as a carbine, and even as a handgun!

But those dimwits who like the muzzle blast from extra short 16inch barrels ..... have at it!

Catshooter45 · « **Reply #22 on:** September 23, 2011, 02:52:25 PM »

My shortie was made from a 22 incher. I don't want to make my BC into a shortie, I'm thinking that the balence for other than bench use might well be improved by cutting off a few inches. A few.

I try to think of them as "just a tool" but honestly, I can't. Guns and the stuff that goes with 'em are more than that to me deep down. But I don't have a problem with modifying them to suit, either.

Relax, take a deep breath.

Cat

Couger · « **Reply #23 on:** September 23, 2011, 03:02:55 PM »

Quote

Relax, and take a deep breath.

eggsellent advice!!

gcrank1 · « **Reply #24 on:** September 23, 2011, 04:37:58 PM »

One of my criteria, perhaps a concession to modernity, is that my stuff need to sit across the back car seat 'between the doors'. These little cars just dont have as much room as we used to have and some of them dont have enough room front to back for a 'long gun' either. As my eyes have been going, and more have scopes, the need to keep the front sight option on isnt as big for me. FWIW, though, if I got to the point of wanting my 38-55 shorter I think I would sell it (to one of you guys, of course) and get a .357 or Maxi. I cant bear the thought of a hacksaw that close to that barrel!