Chase Randall, SASS #45902 Posted January 11, 2020 Share Posted January 11, 2020 Looking to have my 73 barrel cut down to 20'' or less. Anyone had this done? Who did the work for you? Thanks, Chase Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Palmetto Traveller Posted January 11, 2020 Share Posted January 11, 2020 Chase, check with Junky. I believe he's got a guy that can do that for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Three Foot Johnson Posted January 12, 2020 Share Posted January 12, 2020 I cut both my 24"ers down to 20 1/2" or so with a hacksaw, square, draw file, etc - as far as I could go without losing the rotary dovetail and having to re-hang the mag tube. It's a little time consuming, but not particularly difficult. It's just awful hard to draw the hacksaw across that nice finish the first time. The most tedious part was leveling and cutting a new front sight dovetail. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy Boots, # 20282 LTG-Regulator Posted January 12, 2020 Share Posted January 12, 2020 I have had Snake Oil George and Boomstick cut a 20" gun to around 18" for Sassy. And, a number of years ago, particularly before the 20" guns were readily available, Cody C did several to my specs.....24" cut to 19" then crowned to a specific crown that I liked. If desired, while barrel is removed for the cut weight can be removed under forearm to lighten gun even more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wild lead Posted January 12, 2020 Share Posted January 12, 2020 Snake oil George you won't be disappointed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
largo casey #19191 Posted January 12, 2020 Share Posted January 12, 2020 I had El Mulo Vaquero Shorten & half round one for me .Came out Great. Thats Griner Gun Works.in New Mexico. Largo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rafe Conager SASS #56958 Posted January 12, 2020 Share Posted January 12, 2020 Boomstick cut down mine, great work. Rafe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chase Randall, SASS #45902 Posted January 12, 2020 Author Share Posted January 12, 2020 Thanks Traveler, I'll talk to Junky. And thanks to all the other posts info as well. Chase Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fence Cutter Posted January 12, 2020 Share Posted January 12, 2020 16 hours ago, Three Foot Johnson said: I cut both my 24"ers down to 20 1/2" or so with a hacksaw, square, draw file, etc - as far as I could go without losing the rotary dovetail and having to re-hang the mag tube. It's a little time consuming, but not particularly difficult. It's just awful hard to draw the hacksaw across that nice finish the first time. The most tedious part was leveling and cutting a new front sight dovetail. Nice work Mr. Johnson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McCandless Posted January 12, 2020 Share Posted January 12, 2020 17 hours ago, Chase Randall, SASS #45902 said: Looking to have my 73 barrel cut down to 20'' or less. Anyone had this done? Who did the work for you? Thanks, Chase I don't know if you shoot get to shoot with Three Cut, but he has shortened and crowned a 24" '73 to 18" for me and is currently taking down a 24" Marlin to 20". He can do just about anything for you that you need. He is quite talented. Maybe it comes from building those race cars... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WymoreWrangler SASS 46187L Posted January 12, 2020 Share Posted January 12, 2020 Run N Iron just shortened my 66, per Billy Boots recommendation we cut it to 19 inches and he cut a new crown... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colorado Coffinmaker Posted January 12, 2020 Share Posted January 12, 2020 Heck, why go half way. I cut mine down to 16 1/4. Run C45S in a special carrier. Sweet!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shooting Bull Posted January 12, 2020 Share Posted January 12, 2020 Honest question: wouldn’t it be less expensive and less hassle to just buy a new one that’s 20” from the factory? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colorado Coffinmaker Posted January 12, 2020 Share Posted January 12, 2020 Less Hassle = YES. Less Expensive = NO. Also a lot less fun. My Evil Twin, Mr. Hacksaw MacGurk likes to play too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shooting Bull Posted January 12, 2020 Share Posted January 12, 2020 1 hour ago, Colorado Coffinmaker said: Less Hassle = YES. Less Expensive = NO. Also a lot less fun. My Evil Twin, Mr. Hacksaw MacGurk likes to play too Yeah, my evil twin Dremel McGougemaker loves to play too. I hate that bastard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Springfield Slim SASS #24733 Posted January 12, 2020 Share Posted January 12, 2020 It is almost never less expensive to buy a new gun instead of change the one you have, assuming you do your own work. New guns involve the original cost, shipping, tax and FFL and California Dros fees. I already have a like new '73 I paid 800.00 for, hard to duplicate that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tennessee Snuffy Posted January 13, 2020 Share Posted January 13, 2020 Everyone is going the wrong way!!! Need to be adding barrel length since longer is better !!!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colorado Coffinmaker Posted January 13, 2020 Share Posted January 13, 2020 Isn't Crisco "Shortning??" Prolly make yer rifle kinda hard to hold onta though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Isom Dart, SASS#8096 Posted January 13, 2020 Share Posted January 13, 2020 You really need an excuse to buy a new gun ?????? OK . Just askin' ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nate Kiowa Jones #6765 Posted January 14, 2020 Share Posted January 14, 2020 I think the best option would be to replace the barrel with a new 20" barrel from VTI. All the existing front end parts will still work and you wouldn't be devaluing the gun by hack off the 24". Plus you can recoup some of the expense by selling the 24" barrel on Ebay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
czhen Posted January 14, 2020 Share Posted January 14, 2020 In addition, to Nate Kiowa words which agree a well done crown is crucial to accuracy as well resale value. So, if your chopping skills missed the point with hacksaw, how do explain the weird tad less than 20" length at resale point. czhen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G W Wade Posted January 14, 2020 Share Posted January 14, 2020 Recent price check is $285 for a barrel for 73. Plus install. Local gunsmith offered to cut original barrel for $100. Will have to wait to decide if going to use. No luck trying to sell locally GW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cowboy Junky Posted January 21, 2020 Share Posted January 21, 2020 IMHO there is no gun prettier than a 24 inch 73 rifle cut to 18...…...I wish I would have done that rather than buying the 18 to start with……...lol I might trade ya. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jackrabbit Joe #414 Posted January 21, 2020 Share Posted January 21, 2020 Had one of mine done by Johnny Meadows and he did a fantastic job. Cut from 20" to 17". Handles grrreat Jackrabbit Joe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy Boots, # 20282 LTG-Regulator Posted January 21, 2020 Share Posted January 21, 2020 On 1/14/2020 at 12:21 PM, czhen said: In addition, to Nate Kiowa words which agree a well done crown is crucial to accuracy as well resale value. So, if your chopping skills missed the point with hacksaw, how do explain the weird tad less than 20" length at resale point. czhen C, you are sure right about a good crown. One of the special options I would have Cody do in those years of doing the 24" cuts for me was the installation of a rolled crown. Back then we called them a "black powder" crown. Theory was that it produced more of smoke ring dispersing more smoke to outside leaving better visibility in center. After having numerous crowns such as this I was never convinced the validity of theory but they sure look cool. On 1/12/2020 at 12:48 PM, Shooting Bull said: Honest question: wouldn’t it be less expensive and less hassle to just buy a new one that’s 20” from the factory? You are probably right SB, but the start of this was sort of pre-20" 73 days, or at least before readily available. Although I still have a couple of those cut 24s, I also have two Jim Bowie 20" 73s that I like as well, actually may even favor the weight of 20" guns. 1" is not much added weight but they also have addition of weight that was removed in 24" gun conversion (under forearm). Incidently, When the even shorter 73s came out (carbines), I had Cimarron send one to Cody to do his magic on. Very nice but I found them just to light in weight for me, but for ladies, or others, in search of less weight in rifle they were good for a sale. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Barleycorn, SASS #76982 Posted January 21, 2020 Share Posted January 21, 2020 On 1/12/2020 at 3:29 PM, Shooting Bull said: Yeah, my evil twin Dremel McGougemaker loves to play too. I hate that bastard. Someone is going to grab that alias Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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