Should I shorten my barrel?

[nightwolf0215]

I got a 1897 full choke winchester with 30" barrel. Too long for my taste so I want to cut it down to about 18.5-20". Total length will be >>> 26" still. I am unfamiliar with shotgun so I dont know how that is going to affect the gun. I have read many different opinions over the net so I figured I'd get more hahaha. Tie it down, here are the barrage of questions:

2. How would the choke be affected?
3. How would accuracy be affected?
4. How would recoil be affected?

[GreenAndy]

STOP! Don't cut! You might be ruining a collectors item! Do you know what the gun is worth? Have you checked a Blue Book of Gun Values? Had it appraised by a real gunsmith? Checked values on Gun Broker?

Of course it's your's to do what you want with. If it's pretty beat up, and rusty, then it might not be worth much. Then cut away.

To answer your questions,
2. Choke. The choke would be cut off so it would be a cylinder bore shotgun, or a wide open bore. No choke. Your patterns would be real wide and the effective range of the shotgun would be short.
3. Accuracy? Good for close work, less then 35 yds. See above.
4. Recoil? You would never notice a difference. It would go up ever slightly, as the gun weighs less.

If you want a hunting shotgun, check out a $350-400 Rem 870 or Weatherby PA-08 or a Mossberg or Bennelli Nova, etc.... You could sell the Win 1897 and be money ahead. And you would interchangeable choke tubes and a choice of barrel lengths.....

[ar15barrels]

Originally Posted by nightwolf0215

2. How would the choke be affected?
3. How would accuracy be affected?
4. How would recoil be affected?

2. The choke is all in the end 3" of the barrel so if you cut off 3", it will be cylinder bore no matter what length you cut it to.
3. The pattern changes with choke. We don't generally talk about accuracy on shotguns as you don't "aim" a shotgun. You "point" a shotgun.
4. As you remove barrel length, the gun gets lighter and perceived recoil increases.

[Dutch Henry]

For all intents, the choke would be an open cylinder.

Accuracy? With a short barrel and no choke you will have wide open patterns. Effective range: about 30-35 yards.

Recoil, especially barrel rise, will be increased as a result of forward weight loss from shortening the barrel.

I'd suggest leave it the way it is or sell it and use the funds to buy a shorter gun.

[toby]

I'll give ya $300 that will buy you a Mossy 18".......

[kcstott]

I'll trade you straight over for a Mossberg 500 persuader 7+1 20" barrel
Seriously I will.

[nightwolf0215]

Originally Posted by toby

I'll give ya $300 that will buy you a Mossy 18".......

Just $300? I'll take that $300 for free!

Originally Posted by kcstott

I'll trade you straight over for a Mossberg 500 persuader 7+1 20" barrel
Seriously I will.

Noooo, I will never! This is the shotgun i've been wanting (occassionally considered the KSG but its quite overpriced). Me likey slamfiring.

I want a Steven 520-30 though...

Originally Posted by GreenAndy

STOP! Don't cut! You might be ruining a collectors item! Do you know what the gun is worth? Have you checked a Blue Book of Gun Values? Had it appraised by a real gunsmith? Checked values on Gun Broker?

Of course it's your's to do what you want with. If it's pretty beat up, and rusty, then it might not be worth much. Then cut away.

To answer your questions,
2. Choke. The choke would be cut off so it would be a cylinder bore shotgun, or a wide open bore. No choke. Your patterns would be real wide and the effective range of the shotgun would be short.
3. Accuracy? Good for close work, less then 35 yds. See above.
4. Recoil? You would never notice a difference. It would go up ever slightly, as the gun weighs less.

If you want a hunting shotgun, check out a $350-400 Rem 870 or Weatherby PA-08 or a Mossberg or Bennelli Nova, etc.... You could sell the Win 1897 and be money ahead. And you would interchangeable choke tubes and a choice of barrel lengths.....

I dont know how to check it. Its serial number is E 571801. It has about 70% blue left with scratches so I dont think it will be anything crazy. It looks to be manufactured in 1912. I'll take it out celebrating its bday soemtimes next week hahaha,

[kcstott]

Value is around $350 to $600+ depending on condition. And you are correct it was made sometime in 1912.
I still would not chop the barrel though.
If you like slam firing an older Ithaca M37 does the trick and few will get on you about chopping the barrel

[Flintlock Tom]

Buy a spare barrel to cut and keep the original barrel "original."

[ar15barrels]

Originally Posted by Flintlock Tom

Buy a spare barrel to cut and keep the original barrel "original."

In 1912, the barrels were all hand fitted to the receivers.
Good luck finding a barrel that fits.

[AVID HUNTER]

Do you want your penis shorter too?....leave it alone. Buy something else to cut up. Mossberg 500 and Remy 870 are the best choices to cut on.