Barrel Cutdown

[RobertB]

Guys, how many here have ill feelings against cutting bbls down. Rifle is a .260 custom with a 28" MTU Kreiger. Not fluted but has a brake on it. Not wondering to much on the velocity loss side of the question as I feel the lower velocity won't affect me very much but on the side that says "it won't shoot right, throws harmonics off, adds stress" stuff like that. I have never had a bbl cut down length wise so I don't know of any horror stories. It would deff be done by a great smith. Thanks in advance

 

[buggsb]

Re: Barrel Cutdown

I've had plenty of barrels cut down without any negative impact on accuracy. Depending on what you're doing with teh rifle the lighter weight and shorder length can make the rifle easier to handle. About the only downside, as you already mentioned is a loss of velocity.

 

[leadbullet]

Re: Barrel Cutdown

I have a 24 inch .260 and it makes hits at 1250 yds on a 1/2 IPSC target all day long, I can push the 142 SMK at 2850 without high pressures, cutting yours down from 28 to 24 will make it handier but still a great shooter.
hope this helps.

 

[vdub]

Re: Barrel Cutdown

I had my Accuracy International 308 barrel cut down from 24" to 20". I have not chronographed my 155gr scenar load after the barrel trim but I do know it is running out of steam around 1200-1250 yards. Perfectly fine for the shooting I get to do.

 

[TonyAngel]

Re: Barrel Cutdown

Robert, which MTU do you have? Is that a tapered barrel or straight? I'm asking because I'm assuming that your barrel has some rounds through it. If your throat is starting to get long and you have enough meat on the breech end of the barrel, you should consider (if you haven't already) getting some of the length cut off of the breech end and getting your chamber refreshed.

As for getting the barrel cut, from what I've seen odds are that it will either have no effect on the accuracy or accuracy will improve a bit; although I'm sure that there must be cases out there of the opposite happening.

 

[Grand]

Re: Barrel Cutdown

Short barrels are stiffer. Stiffer is better. More likely to see improved accuracy.

 

[RobertB]

Re: Barrel Cutdown

Tony, it's the tapered. I've got about 1000 rds through it now so chamber cut isn't what I'm looking for now. I don't get to shoot as much as I used to so the next 2K rounds or so will probably be spread out over a longer period of time. I agree about the shorter/stiffer side of it but have been told that a barrel cutdown could induce stress and such. Wondering if anyone has seen that. I am feeling pretty good about it and thinking I should go ahead and do it. I appreciate the responses. One other question is, How long of a job is this? With the current backlog of most smiths I do not want my gun gone for very long. I can't sleep without her close. If it is a short process I would drive and wait it out. Even a day or two if need be.