Cutting the end off a barrel.

[jamesthomas]

 I've been looking at taking 2 inches off the end of a 42" Colerain "A" weight .40 caliber barrel to reduce the weight. Has anyone done this? and how did it handle? Thanks.

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

James, perhaps this is irrelevant.  My Hawken has a 36" tapered 1 1/8" - 1" .62 cal barrel.  The rifle weighs 11 pounds exactly.  the Hawken on the bench right now has the identical dimensioned barrel, minus two inches I cut from the muzzle.  This rifle weighs 9.9 pounds, and handles much much better than the longer rifle.  Bear in mind that the rifles have different wood, though both are dense, but the shorter rifle has a shorter forearm and a pistol grip butt stock, which moves the weight back a tad, toward the shooter.  Regardless, I like the feel of the new rifle much better than my own.  The actual loss of weight from cutting the barrel is a very small portion of a pound.  Yet, adding that weight instead of cutting it, would make another profound difference in balance and handling.

Hope that helps.

[d-a]

My only concern and some one might know, is there a slight choke in barrels produced by Colerain? I'm looking to cut a little off a few barrels to remove some front weight.

d-a

[mark esterly]

tracks web page on Colerain barrels lists a .40 cal. 44" at 4.64lbs and a 42" at 4.6lbs.  at that little bit of difference I would wonder if it was worth the work.  if it feels unbalanced try taping weight to the butt first.  you may be surprised 

[Acer Saccharum]

With an 'A' weight, you're not going to gain much more than the loss of a few ounces.

You do make your front sight closer, which might help you see it just a little better. 

Before cutting, run a patched ball into the barrel. Now, while pushing from the breech end, try to sense if the push is getting harder in the last inch or two as the ball approaches the muzzle. If that is the case, you don't want to cut that off, that is a choke that will aid accurate shooting.

If the push gets easier as you approach the last few inches toward the muzzle, then DO cut the loose part off. The barrel is bell-mouthed and won't shoot very well.

[Dphariss]

You would gain more is taking 2" off the breech.

Dan

[d-a]

You would gain more is taking 2" off the breech.

Dan

I know that's the preferred way however without a lathe it's easier to recrown a barrel.

d-a

[James Wilson Everett]

James,

If you have a dial caliper, set th opening at 2 inches and lock the jaws.  Then with one jaw on the muzzle, use the other end to scribe a scratch line all around the barrel.  This will give you a really even line to cut the barrel.  Then, if you are very careful in cutting to the scribed line, you will have a nice square cut end of the barrel.  Good luck.

Jim

[jamesthomas]

 Well, so far I haven't even bought the barrel yet, it was just something I was thinking about to make the barrel easier to handle. I'm 5'0 tall so the longer barrels tend to be too muzzle heavy for me. I have a Reading Profile  "C" weight in .50 caliber that I think will be just right, so I was thinking if cutting a 42" .40 would work. I would like for Jason at Rice Barrels to make a run of "B" weight Reading barrels because I would buy one.

[tallbear]

I wouldn't cut two inches off the front end of a Reading profile barrel as they have a very pronounced taper and flair. If you take two inches of the muzzle you are going to end up with a very tall front sight. I would either take it off the breech or order a shorter barrel to begin with.

Mitch Yates

[bob in the woods]

I would just order an A  profile 38 in  .40 cal  barrel and be done with it.

[jamesthomas]

I wouldn't cut two inches off the front end of a Reading profile barrel as they have a very pronounced taper and flair. If you take two inches of the muzzle you are going to end up with a very tall front sight. I would either take it off the breech or order a shorter barrel to begin with.

Mitch Yates

 The Reading Barrel is just fine, I was thinking that taking 2 inches off a 42" barrel .40 cal. "B" weight barrel would make the barrel kinda  like a Reading Profile barrel. I'll probably just bite the bullet and order a "B" weight .40 cal. Reading profile barrel from Mr. Burton next month. I can wait 6 to 8 months for it cause I'll get the .50 caliber  built first.

[Pete G.]

I would just order an A  profile 38 in  .40 cal  barrel and be done with it.

I built a rifle around just such a barrel. Fairly lightweight and easy to handle, but really difficult to shoot well because of not enough weight out front.

[Dphariss]

My only concern and some one might know, is there a slight choke in barrels produced by Colerain? I'm looking to cut a little off a few barrels to remove some front weight.

d-a

I would not worry about this....

Dan

[mark esterly]

we're not talking about 12 lb rifles here.  it's all about balance.  if it is too heavy out front bore a hole under the butt plate and add lead after determining how much feels comfortable. the same can be said for too light out front. what would be wrong with cutting grooves for lead in the barrel channel?  this would leave your barrel in tack and give you what you seek and it's easier work.

[jamesthomas]

I wouldn't cut two inches off the front end of a Reading profile barrel as they have a very pronounced taper and flair. If you take two inches of the muzzle you are going to end up with a very tall front sight. I would either take it off the breech or order a shorter barrel to begin with.

Mitch Yates

 The Reading Barrel is just fine, I was thinking that taking 2 inches off a 42" barrel .40 cal. "B" weight barrel would make the barrel kinda  like a Reading Profile barrel. I'll probably just bite the bullet and order a "B" weight .40 cal. Reading profile barrel from Mr. Burton next month. I can wait 6 to 8 months for it cause I'll get the .50 caliber  built first.

 I lucked up, while checking out the Rice barrel website Sunday, I noticed that Jason was taking orders for the Reading Profile barrels, He only does this this twice a year, in April and then in September. So I gave him a call yesterday and ordered a "B" weight .40 caliber barrel. He says it should be ready by late July or early August "Thumbs up!".  It should come at around 4 pounds which will be nice. Btw, he is also taking orders for tapered barrels if anyone is interested.