shorten barrel of 1873

pistol1911 · August 09, 2015, 01:00:28 PM

How much is involved in cutting 24" barrel to 19 or 20 inches? I like short rifles.

Coffinmaker · August 09, 2015, 04:59:41 PM

Quite a bit actually.
First, remove the Mag Tube. Wrap the barrel where you want to cut it, with masking tape. Mark where you want the cut, evenly all the way round so the end will be close to square. Forgot, I'm talking about cutting from the muzzle end. Put the barrel/rifle in a padded vice and with a nice NEW SHARP hacksaw, follow your marks until the part you don't want falls off. Square it up with a nice NEW SHARP bastard file. There. Done with cutting .......... uh ....... not quite.
Now you have to cut the same amount off the frame end of the magazine tube. Re-index the locator slot in the magazine tube. Shorten the magazine spring.
Cut a new dovetail for a new front sight. Put a nice "Grabber" front sight on it.
You may have to cut a new dovetail for the magazine tube ferrule, depending on how far back you cut. The dovetail for the ferrule is radiused. You'll need a mill for that, or square up the ferrule and cut a square dovetail and glue the ferrule in permanently.
Look over your handy work and make it all look pretty.
Oh, you will need a set of dovetail files. Brownells. You need first cut and second cut. Use a very fine hacksaw.
Whops, need to polish all the tool marks off the muzzle and then re-crown the bore. You can do the crown with a big ball bearing and some 220 wet/dry.

Coffinmaker

PS: Anybody think of something I forgot, let me know

Reverend P. Babcock Chase · August 09, 2015, 10:23:11 PM

Howdy Coffenmaker,

You forgot to tell our friend to sell or trade his 73 for a carbine. Maybe a little more money, but a lot less work.

Reverend Chase

pistol1911 · August 10, 2015, 08:59:56 AM

Thanks for the info. I don't want a carbine. I want a short rifle. I have plenty of time to do whatever. I have been retarded uh retired for 3 years.

Coffinmaker · August 10, 2015, 11:41:40 AM

Before I make another suggestion, what caliber is your rifle???

Coffinmaker

pistol1911 · August 10, 2015, 05:54:02 PM

357mag. I got this rifle in the mid 80's. It was an Allen Arms import. It has had very few rounds shot in all the time I've had it. I prefer my 44/40's.

Coffinmaker · August 11, 2015, 04:47:02 PM

In Uberti years, your rifle is almost an antique. "If" you have a problem with it, there may not be any parts available. Uberti doesn't support the really early guns.
Don't cut it any shorter than 18 to 18 1/2 inches.

Coffinmaker

tyrel cody · August 12, 2015, 07:40:53 AM

Measure twice cut once

About two months ago I cut my 1873 44-40 down to 18 1/2" fro 24". It's not all that hard, just take your time.

Dixie Gun Works sells a jig that really helps with the dovetails.

http://www.dixiegunworks.com/product_info.php?products_id=13083

Fox Creek Kid · October 21, 2015, 06:09:26 PM

I have a gunsmith friend who had an Uberti '73 with a 30" barrel that he cut down to 22". There was just something magical about that length that was jussssttt riiiiigght.

Coffinmaker · October 21, 2015, 07:38:08 PM

FCK!!! Say it ain't so!! What a piker!!

Several years ago, I was struck by a thought (took a whole bottle aspirin to ease the pain). I thought my 30 Inch 45 Colt was just
to much like artillery. Needed a hoist and a friend to train that thing.
Out came my alternate ego!! My HACKSAW personality took complete control. Awesome, right up to the point I ripped my shirt off.
"others" just pointed a giggled. I digress. Whacked that artillery piece off to proper TRAPPER length. Yessir. 16 Inches. Well, really
16 1/4. Always try to have a quarter inch for the feds. They be fickle sods.
Had to make a special carrier and special cartridges soze I could get 10 innit. It's a real sweetheart. Of course, since it's short, well balanced and "cute" it was gobbled up by my sweetie. She won't give it back neither. Humpf.

Coffinmaker

Good Troy · October 22, 2015, 11:27:51 AM

What's this special cartridge you used in the Trapper, Coffinmaker?

Blair · October 22, 2015, 01:22:37 PM

Fox Creek Kid and Coffinmaker,

How did you go about setting the new location of the Forward Mag Tube bearing on these two Rifles?
What dimensions did you use for those barrel lengths? Was it from the breach or the muzzle?
My best,
Blair

Coffinmaker · October 22, 2015, 05:50:35 PM

Good Troy,
I developed a cartridge, based on the Schofield case. I just kept cutting the Schofield was back until I could load 10 rounds with 160Gr
bullets, crimped in the crimp groove. Then I re-cut and profiled the Carrier Block return ramp so it would cycle the little short round.
Since that time, the Cowboy 45 Special has become popular and "The Smith Shop" makes a specialty Carrier Block for the C45S. IT
works a treat. I've built about half a dozen Trappers based on the availability of that Carrier Block.

Blair,
Measured the end barrel length from the breach end of the barrel to crown. Same way the Feds do it. Gotta be ever mindful of the
Fed.
The OEM cut for the front barrel hanger or ferule is a radius cut dovetail, so the hanger can be "turned" into place. My mill at the time
would not cut a radius dovetail. I solved that problem by squaring the barrel hanger and cutting a straight dovetail. Worked a treat.

Coffinmaker

Fox Creek Kid · October 23, 2015, 02:56:00 AM

Quote from: Coffinmaker on October 22, 2015, 05:50:35 PM...Blair,
Measured the end barrel length from the breach end of the barrel to crown. Same way the Feds do it. Gotta be ever mindful of the
Fed...

Sound advice.

Blair · October 23, 2015, 06:57:49 AM

Cutting off the barrels of Shot guns and Rifles is one thing.
My question was about the dimension for the placement of the Mag, Tube Bearing.
My best,
Blair

Coffinmaker · October 23, 2015, 12:23:58 PM

Blair,

Oh sorry. I miss-understood. After loping off the barrel, I just went half way between the end of the fore arm and the muzzle. It "looked"
right, so that's where I put it. I'm not much for posting pictures, but I'll try and get a picture with my iPhone and have a friend post the photo to the thread.

FCK: So So right!! 😳

Coffinmaker

Good Troy · October 24, 2015, 08:13:38 AM

Quote from: tyrel cody on August 12, 2015, 07:40:53 AM
Measure twice cut once

About two months ago I cut my 1873 44-40 down to 18 1/2" fro 24". It's not all that hard, just take your time.

Dixie Gun Works sells a jig that really helps with the dovetails.

http://www.dixiegunworks.com/product_info.php?products_id=13083

I purchased this jig, and have used it to file a dovetail for a front sight. It works well. I recommend practicing on a piece of pipe first to work out any bugs, and get the feel of it.