going to make a carbine

[ferryboatcaptain]

Yesterday, I got a  made in 1958  30-06  model  760 with a metal dust cover at a local pawn shop for 229.00 out the door.   I think I can get 50 bucks for the scope that was on it.
The rifle is nice and tight and shoots great.  Someone has CUT threads on the out side of the barrel end for a muzzlebreak. I think this one will make a great 18.5 inch carbine .  I plan on doing this work myself, anybody have a good reason I shouldnt shorten this barrel  ?   I will take pictures  of before and after.              FBC

[ferryboatcaptain]

Here is a before picture

[Dave in WV]

My personal taste would be a 20" barrel.

[Bugflipper]

I cut down a 740 to 18" for a fellow that shot it after dropping it in the mud. He claimed it went from 3" groups to 1" groups. Brought in 5 other rifles to have cut down. I explained to him it wasn't the length. That I had put a target crown on it. So I didn't have to chop off his barrels, just recrowned them. I don't see an issue. It would be more compact for a walkabout rifle in the thick stuff.

[Silvertp]

I'd shorten the bbl for the ease of handling in the bush.  If you are lucky enough to live in a winter environment and wear heavy clothes consider shortening the stock as well.  Im a little short in the arms and I really appreciate shorter stocks and bbls for my winter hunts.

Silvertp

[Dave in WV]

Personally I find the idea a short barrel is handier in brush exaggerated . I started hunting squirrel with a 28" barreled shotgun in the same brush I deer hunt in. A well balanced rifle with a 22"-24" barrel is not a handicap for me. Each to their own. If all 760 carbines are like the one I had limited experience with, they have heavier barrels and the rifles weigh the same whether a 18.5" of standard 22" rifle. The only gain IMHO is in decibles with the carbines.

[ferryboatcaptain]

Well I made the cut but only down to 20 inches, when I get it smoothed up , recrowned and some cold blue on it  I dont think most people will notice.
I will report back on how it shoots.                      FBC

[ferryboatcaptain]

Shot a 3 round group ,  it was about 2 inches with 150 core loct and 38.6 grains of H4895  set at 3.195 COAL , this was a very light load I wanted  to try out.
It would be a great low recoil load going about 2100 f.p.s.     
I am very happy with my old school 760 pump and cutting the barrel down with plain old hand tools was no big deal.

[mannyrock]

Ferrybolt,
 
   Can you tell me the tools and procedure you used for shortening your barrel to 20 inches yourself?   How do you square off the cut so it is "true" at the muzzle?
 
Thanks, Mannyrock

[ferryboatcaptain]

I cut it off with a hack saw and used a square and a file on it until it looked good, used sandpaper on it to smooth out the file marks. I then used a brass wood screw in my drill to remove the burr on the end of the rifleing  .    I put some cold blue on it,  thats all.    get on youtube and watch the videos on how to do this                   good luck        FBC