Chopping 20" USGI A2 barrel to 11.5" is it possible?

So outside the fact that there are some pretty good deals out there on barrels I'd like to ask about the feasibility of chopping a GI A2 barrel to a carbine.

Anyone done it? How'd it turn out? What's your gas port spec?

Thanks. Happy Fourth!

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Cut crown, weld the old gas port and redrill another. Sure it can be done but probably at the cost around a new 11.5 barrel


I'd just buy new


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Originally Posted by boombotz401

Cut crown, weld the old gas port and redrill another. Sure it can be done but probably at the cost around a new 11.5 barrel


I'd just buy new


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Should be no need to weld up the old port. I can cut the barrel just behind the old port and still have plenty to work with.

Yes. I know it is easier to buy new. But I have access to a lathe and want to give this a try.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by boombotz401

Cut crown, weld the old gas port and redrill another. Sure it can be done but probably at the cost around a new 11.5 barrel


I'd just buy new


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The proper gas port size for a 20" rifle gas is .093", enjoy running that on a 11.5". No thanks.

Rifle length gas port is 12" down

Carbine is 7"

Yes you would need to redrill a proper gas port in the correct size





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Originally Posted by vicious_cb

The proper gas port size for a 20" rifle gas is .093", enjoy running that on a 11.5". No thanks.

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The barrel will be cut behind the original gas port.

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by boombotz401

Rifle length gas port is 12" down

Carbine is 7"

Yes you would need to redrill a proper gas port in the correct size





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Forgot about that, I guess the only issue is how good the smith is at crowning a barrel. Thats what I would worry about.

Wow it's been a long day...missed that one

Gas port around .063 is sufficient in a 11.5

Forget what it cost me to go from 16 to 13.7

Call around some shops I'd suggest for a price


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by boombotz401

Wow it's been a long day...missed that one

Gas port around .063 is sufficient in a 11.5

Forget what it cost me to go from 16 to 13.7

Call around some shops I'd suggest for a price


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Going to try and tackle this myself. Was hoping someone might have some pointers WRT the diameter of the barrel at the new gas block seat. Also I assume there will be enough meat in the barrel at the 11.5in area to turn a shoulder for a flash hider to butt up against.

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Just going by memory, I had thought that we went shorter than 11.5". I would need to look back into notes to confirm that though. The problem that I see is that the leftover profile isn't really what we want. We aren't at a time right now with affordable and available virgin Colt HBAR barrels or virgin Colt Canada LMG barrels to work with for projects similar to this.