Cutting down a single-shot

[.455_Hunter]

I'm a fan of single shot shotguns for home defense work, especially for people uninitiated in the use of some other options. Yes firepower limited, but PLENTY o' thump and easier to use than virtually any other weapon out there.

Absolutely +1000!!!

No other weapon is easier to load and unload, and no other weapon has an easier overall manual of arms. To a non-gunner, the operation of a pump or semi auto shotgun can be intimidating and overwhelming- safety vs slide release, loading procedures, malfunction drills. I like the fact that ammo can be cycled ad nauseam without rim damage- try that with an 870 or 500.

I just recently bought a new Remlin H&R for a similar modification- 18.5" barrel, sling swivels, tritium front sight and permanent Limbsaver recoil pad. My plan is to keep it available for my wife and I for both 2 legged and 4 legged scenarios, including some rubber buckshot for the ever curious bruins in our neighborhood.

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

I'm a fan of single shot shotguns for home defense

And why not? One shot, one, er, mess.

 

[Cayuga]

I cut my pardner down to 20", as I preferred the look with the larger stock that comes with pardners (previously mentioned on the thread). Once everything was cleaned up and a new silver bead was placed on it, I went and shot the heck out of it - couldn't find a reason to go shorter. Very happy with it, and found it both very manageable and maneuverable.

Should be plenty adequate to keep in the home, just in case.

Also, I cannot stress enough how incredibly fun it is to launch slugs from a shorter barrel , as well as BP shells (out of the magtech brass hulls).

 

[mac66]

I cut the shotgun barrels on mine down to 18". No JBTs in the closet jumped out to arrest me.

Fun to shoot. That's 20 ga, 12 ga and 16" 357 bbl.

 

[200Apples]

.
Since the OP hasn't replied lately saying, perhaps, that he'd searched for any earlier threads, I clicked my username and found the thread I'd posted.

Here's an image that was posted there, after I'd shortened the H&R 12 ga to 20 inches but had just gotten a same-year-made H&R 20 which I have left alone in it's original 28" barrel length.

 

[evan price]

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=723863&page=2&highlight=h&r

From the other thread, here are two of my H&Rs:

Upper is a 1947 Topper M48 in original 30" full choke.

The other is a 1969 Topper 158 cut down to 19.5"

I use that shorty all the time, most recently for perforating fuel tanks on cars I'm taking to the shredder. 1-oz Winchester Super-X slug through the rear floor at an angle blows a hole in the fuel tank top and bottom big enough to almost reach through, and the short barrel makes it easy to maneuver inside the car interior.

The 19.5" length is the same size as the buttstock & receiver unit, so I can put them together in one package.

 

[rodinal220]

I personally would go with 20" on these,unless you really need the compactness. Recoil is vicious,use a good recoil pad and low recoil loads in these.



"The ATF procedure for measuring barrel length is to measure from the closed bolt (or breech-face) to
the furthermost end of the barrel or permanently attached muzzle device. Permanent methods of
attachment include full-fusion gas or electric steel-seam welding, high-temperature (1100°F) silver
soldering, or blind pinning with the pin head welded over. Barrels are measured by inserting a dowel rod
into the barrel until the rod stops against the bolt or breech-face. The rod is then marked at the
furthermost end of the barrel or permanently attached muzzle device, withdrawn from the barrel, and
measured."



http://www.atf.gov/files/publications/download/p/atf-p-5320-8/atf-p-5320-8-chapter-2.pdf

 

[mac66]

The thing is for single shots you are unlikely to go out and blast a box of shells at a single outing. Hence recoil really doesn't make much difference for one or two shots. The other alternative is to use a 20 ga. My cut down 20 is all kinds of handy and even though recoil doesn't make any difference in a single as stated above, it actually does. The 20 is more funner to shoot.

 

[Ohioan]

The recoil is part of the fun!

 

[texastele]

I have one of these with, I think, a 28" barrel. I never though it kicked bad at all-it just has a plate on the butt. I had thought about cutting it down, but thought it would open the spread up too much if I used it to hunt so I never did. It is a super handy shotgun, even with the longer barrel, and we keep it as one of the hd guns.

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

As long as a fella's whacking away at the loud end - if recoil is an issue - why not throw a "Nancy-Pad" or as my Grandpa called them: a maxi-pad on the other end?

 

[oneounceload]

The recoil is part of the fun!

Your orthopedic surgeon thanks you in advance for buying his next new Mercedes

 

[BSA1]

Now that Remington has killed off the H&R it has revived my interest in getting another single shot shotgun. So rather than start a new thread I would like to revive this one.

For many years the most used firearm on the farm has been a H&R single shot shotgun. It stands guard by the door unloaded with a nylon sleeve on the buttstock filled with shotshells. Now I would like to get a second one and cut the barrel down for use as a truck gun (Hey, I drive a little truck so space behind the seats is a issue).

A couple of questions;

What is the minimum overall length?

How is it measured? In other words is it at a angle from the toe of buttstock to the muzzle?

There are some nice pictures here. What are you fellas doing about the choke? mac66 your front sight combination looks interesting.

 

[Ohioan]

26" over all, not sure of how it's measured.

Choke? What choke?

 

[BSA1]

I already have a cylinder bore riot gun and a 870 with slug barrel so a shorty with a choke would could in handy.

 

[oneounceload]

Most barrels can be threaded for chokes

 

[BSA1]

Yep I have a 22" barrel for my 870 with screw in chokes although I use it mainly for turkeys.

 

[mac66]

Overall length (OAL) for a shotgun is 26" with a minimum of 18" barrel. OAL is measured in a straight line between the widest points i.e, end of the barrel to the toe of the stock diagonally by the FEDs. Some states measure straight from the flat of the buttstock to the end of the barrel so you have to know what your state does. Barrel length is measured internally from the breech. However since break open single shots open at the breech the length is from one end to the other.

I was asked about the fiber optic sight in the photo I posted. I don't remember if it is a Hi-Viz, Truglo or what but it snaps on either a 12 or 20 ga. Bought it at a local sporting goods chain store for around $15. I've since found them on ebay for around $11 shipped....

Note that the V notch in the front is designed to fit around the front bead. If you have cut your barrel off you don't have the bead anymore. No worries, I've shot it on my 12 ga and 20 a bunch of times and the sight stays put. If it starts to slide, a little nail polish keeps it stuck in place and/or you can always drill and tap the barrel to replace the bead.


www.ebay.com/itm/Brand-New-12GA-20G...343?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4d03c3305f



As for choke, mine doesn't have any. I basically just shoot a variety of different shells and pick the ones that pattern the best. I have been sort of looking for an old beater barrel with one of those twist type C-Lect/Poly chokes on it. The idea would be to take it off, cut the single barrel down and then solder the choke on to meet minimum barrel length.

 

[BSA1]

Thank you mac66 for taking time to answer my question.

p.s. I have not seen a Poly choke in ages.

 

[Ryanxia]

The recoil is part of the fun!

+1!

I took my Pardner 10 gauge down to 18.5" (OAL still at 34") and it looks awesome. Gonna do a custom raptor grip for it next which will put it at +/- 27" OAL.