Shortening a chrome lined barrel

[bullsear]

Is there any special method required to cut these off (to prevent chipping the chrome), or is that even a problem?

Thanks

[W.E.G.]

Lets just suppose that the chrome DOES chip/flake/peel.

So, a 2.5 moa gun goes to 2.7 moa.

I wouldn't put that in the accuracy anxiety category.

[bullsear]

not having an anxiety attack about it......just asking if there is a RIGHT way or a WRONG way to do it.

[TNT ARmoury]

I've heard that you can jam a patch just below the cutting point, inside the barrel. Pour some melted lead in the bore. Once it hardens, make your cut. Melt the lead out and clean the barrel. Been told the lead will minimize the chrome lining from chipping while cutting. Seen a couple of AR barrels cut this way, with no negative results.

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TNT ARmoury
http://tntarmoury.homestead.com/TNT1.html

[bullsear]

Thanks for the info TNT

[jwv3]

I am going to cut down an AR15 LW chrome lined bbl. I was thinking about cutting it on a lathe. I would think this would minimize any problems with the chrome lining. Would the lead trick be helpfull in this case?

[gunplumber]

personally, I think the whole chrome-flaking thing is either urban myth or some company with a POS product trying to rationalize their poor quality. I have cut hundreds of barrels on ARs and FALs and the only ones I've seen flake were Enfield ones flaking in center of chamber, not at muzzle. As I see it, chrome either adhere's to base metal or id does not. It is not a thin piece of "tin foil" that is secured at both ends but not in the middle. I have used hacksaws, sawsalls, chopsaws, lathes and grinding stones and belt sanders for one muzzle adjustment of another and never had chrome flake.



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T. Mark "Gunplumber" Graham
gunplumber@arizonaresponsesystems.com
Arizona Response Systems
5501 North 7th Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85013
623-873-1410 http://www.arizonaresponsesystems.com

[bullsear]

Thanks for the input Gp, I had heard about the flaking thing but was not sure if it was really a problem or an "urban legend".
Off to the lathe!

[Noname]

Ditto as per GP. In 10 years of " cuttin barrels" I've never had any problems with hard chrome. I trim on bandsaw or chopsaw then finish on lathe with carbide or just do everything on the lathe.

[Slugger]

Blade to use?? Some type of cuttoff wheel or just a fine tooth blade?

Never done it, so I have no idea.

[kotengu]

I haven't done it for ten years like some of the other guys here, but I just did one with el-cheapo hack saw, file, and sandpaper to crown (thanks Gary!) and not a chip, flake, or booger anywhere - looks great!

[W.E.G.]

I have a real vise now. But I did my first one by leaning on the barrel while it was laid across the top of a plastic trash can.

I broke one hacksaw blade and barked my knuckles when when I was halfway through the barrel. I found a rusty replacement and got back to work. It took a LOT of elbow grease to finsish the job.

Getting the right angle with a Dremel cutoff wheel might be tricky.

Gonna go shoot it with different h/t/s in a few hours.

[moses]

by a metal cutting cutoff blade and put it on your wood chopsaw it works great for initial cut!

[zoom]

The gunplumber said:

I have used hacksaws, sawsalls, chopsaws, lathes and grinding stones and belt sanders for one muzzle adjustment...

What an incredible collection of devices used to (I love this term!) adjust muzzles. Wile E. Coyote would be proud. The only thing missing from the list is an explosive.z

[TooTech]

Trued up my home-cut carbine barrel with a belt sander (put tape around barrel to keep things "true".

Used a Wilson cartridge case trimmer to cut the crown. Polished the crown with a .223 empty lubed up with valve grinding compound and chucked into a drill!

Everything worked out just GREAT! Shoots like a dream!

Now is THAT WECSOGing or what?

[Slugger]

HaaahaahaaaaaaiiiiiiiiiiI love it. You guys keep giving me hope!

One of these days I'll pick a bbl and get down to bizniz.

Thanks

-Slugger

[bullsear]

Holy cow........this thread sure has lasted a while.

[W.E.G.]

Originally posted by Zoom Wilson:
...The only thing missing from the list is an explosive.z

I blew up the end of a 12 gauge barrel that had had an aftermarket choke-tube job on it one time. I was standing there looking like Elmer Fudd after Buggs had stuck his finger in the muzzle.

So, I hacksawed the end off that too.

[Fire Fighter]

Damn I love this board! Soooo much good info and ideas.

I just got my Argie replacement barrel from TAPCO (Love you guys too! great company, great products, great service). The bore is chromed and in VG+ condition.

I bought it for the express purpose of attempting a cut, crown, and gas block move. I figure if I screw it up I only lost 18.99!

FF

[Sophicles]

GJ you crack me up. I LMAO on most of your posts!!

[EMDII]

Hell, 20 years ago I used a pipe/tubing cutter to trim my Remington 1100 barrel to 18.25". Cutting oil, three Margueritas, couple of hours, and it was a shorty.

Chamfered the muzzle w/ a pink stone in drill motor.

VOILA!

Prehistoric WECSOG-man!

[zoom]

I was standing there looking like Elmer Fudd after Buggs had stuck his finger in the muzzle.

So, I hacksawed the end off that too.

I assume you mean that you hacksawed the barrel, not the finger.

[Radio]

Yes, of course... and since gary shortened that barrel to about 13", he had to post for awhile from prison...

BUWAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

--Radio

[Disclaimer: Satire. Said member has never been in prison nor acted as anybody's girlfriend.]

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"Very damaged. Zathras can never have anything nice." --Zathras