pstrauss
01-15-09, 11:15
I have a 12ga 870 Express Super Magnum that has served me well for a couple years of hunting duty. This year I'm going to start shooting some 3 gun matches and I plan to use this 870.
The 870 Super Mag will become my competition shotgun and primary home defense tool. One day down the road I might get a Benelli M4 for matches and keep the 870 in a defense configuration.
The barrel is generally too long and I would prefer to put some rifle sights on it. I could buy a new Remington barrel with rifle sights but I haven't been able to find a barrel that can handle 3.5" shells. I won't shoot 3.5" shells in matches but I'd like to load them for defense.
You guys that have cut barrels before, do you have an tips and tricks? The original barrel is ribbed so I plan to cut the barrel between the rib posts and then cut the rib back to the next post. Cutting the barrel and ribs to different lengths is intended to leave room on the barrel to mount the front sight post. I'm planning to buy the Trijicon ghost ring sights and I think I need to mount the front post directly to the barrel and not on a rib.
I have a mill, a drill press, a band saw, a chop saw, several welders and a plasma cutter. I think the band saw will make the cleanest cut with the least heat. How should I finish the end of the barrel? Just file the burrs off?
What is the official way to measure barrel length?
Anything I'm not thinking of here?
Thanks for any help. If anyone has pics of a barrel cut down project I'd be really grateful.
Phil
The 870 Super Mag will become my competition shotgun and primary home defense tool. One day down the road I might get a Benelli M4 for matches and keep the 870 in a defense configuration.
The barrel is generally too long and I would prefer to put some rifle sights on it. I could buy a new Remington barrel with rifle sights but I haven't been able to find a barrel that can handle 3.5" shells. I won't shoot 3.5" shells in matches but I'd like to load them for defense.
You guys that have cut barrels before, do you have an tips and tricks? The original barrel is ribbed so I plan to cut the barrel between the rib posts and then cut the rib back to the next post. Cutting the barrel and ribs to different lengths is intended to leave room on the barrel to mount the front sight post. I'm planning to buy the Trijicon ghost ring sights and I think I need to mount the front post directly to the barrel and not on a rib.
I have a mill, a drill press, a band saw, a chop saw, several welders and a plasma cutter. I think the band saw will make the cleanest cut with the least heat. How should I finish the end of the barrel? Just file the burrs off?
What is the official way to measure barrel length?
Anything I'm not thinking of here?
Thanks for any help. If anyone has pics of a barrel cut down project I'd be really grateful.
Phil