Cutting a barrel on an 870 wingmaster

[Misery Loves Shotguns]

I got a 1950s wingmaster with a plain 28" barrel that I intend to cut to 20" and pair with a magazine extension. I have never cut a barrel before so I'm looking for tips from people who have. The plan is to use a fine tooth hacksaw with the barrel in my bench vise (leather padding on both sides) at the edge of the block so I have an easier time cutting it straight, file any burrs, cold blue. Then there's the matter of the bead. I ordered a clamp on fiber optic bead but I not sure it's going to be the answer. Would I be better off finding a gunsmith (good luck with that) to cut, crown, and bead it for me or is it way easier than I'm thinking?

[Grizzlytrap]

Or find a 20" rifled barrel. Works great



Just looked up the price, holy shit! Other then cutting it with a hack saw, a machine shop might do it cheaper and better.

[icp4life162005]

Dont cold blue.

Let it rust lightly, then stick it in boiling water for 20 mins or so.
Turns the rust to black magnetic oxide, penetrates deeper than cold blue, prevents deep rusting.
This method, along with carding(brush wheel on brench grinder) is how firearms had been done for ages, yet was recently lost as common knowledge.


Edit to add:

Dont cut it unless its beat up junk.
Mossberg 500s go for $2-300

[Gunsnwater]

Grizzly has the best idea. If you try you’ll find a good deal.

[Remington788]

Would a plumbers pipe cutter work?
pipe-tube-cutters-32820-64_1000.jpg

[gghbi]

Would a plumbers pipe cutter work?
pipe-tube-cutters-32820-64_1000.jpg

That would cut and put a choke on the barrel all in one... When you use these for pipe you have to ream the inside to take out the choke. Not sure this is something you do not want on a blued barrel as the inside would be scarred.

The old barrel is 2 3/4 inch only I would bet, and new one should allow 2 3/4 or 3 inch shells? That might be one reason alone to get another barrel.

[bluetrane2028]

That would cut and put a choke on the barrel all in one... When you use these for pipe you have to ream the inside to take out the choke. Not sure this is something you do not want on a blued barrel as the inside would be scarred.

The old barrel is 2 3/4 inch only I would bet, and new one should allow 2 3/4 or 3 inch shells? That might be one reason alone to get another barrel.

I would recommend against loading 3" in a 1950s Wingmaster.

I would also recommend against cutting a 1950s Wingmaster.

I did cut down one barrel, it was a 28" vent rib Mossberg 500 barrel with a fixed mod choke. Screw in choke versions that are ported with dual beads are all over the place and cheap, so it was ripe for cutting. Made a nice about 19" security barrel (went with whatever length worked out with the lugs for the vent rib that was above the minimum). I had a gunsmith install a bead and it was great. I eventually sold that barrel, to the gunsmith that did the bead install. He liked my work on the cut down. I then went and bought a 20" rifle sight barrel and matching extended mag tube for my tac'd out 500.

I used a hack saw, some tape to provide a good edge for reference purposes, and some very fine grade sandpaper to clean up the end. Oxpho blue finished it up.

Looking back on it, I should have had that thing sent out to get the inside threaded for chokes. I have a 20 gauge 870 with a security length (I forget if it's 18.5 or 20") vent rib barrel with interchangeable chokes. A youth stock and a side saddle finished that off, beats up the wife a heck of a lot less than 12 gauge and is still deadly for intruders.

[Bang]

If there is any taper to the barrel, it may not track (end of cut meeting beginning of cut.

[Hawk]

I've cut several shotgun barrels down to 18.5 inches. Put in a vise, use a hacksaw, use tape to mark your cut, finish the cut end with a flat and round file, blue it.
As for the bead, I just drilled and tapped it for it's original bead. It's not that hard. The hard part is drilling the bead hole perfectly in the top middle of the barrel.

[cephas]

That would cut and put a choke on the barrel all in one... When you use these for pipe you have to ream the inside to take out the choke. Not sure this is something you do not want on a blued barrel as the inside would be scarred.

^ This. Also if too much pressure is adjusted on the cutter another ridge will also be left on the exterior of the barrel.
Could use lightly to mark line around barrel, tape, and then proceed with fine hacksaw. Would rotate the barrel and cut a bit at a time.
Actually I would keep my eyes out for another barrel.