With tax stamps going to zero, one of the toys I don't need that I've been toying with are one or a couple of short barreled shotguns. I've always loved the sawed off British hunting gun style. Poking around gun broker, you can find some 1950s German and Spanish side by side shotguns in the $400 range, with a lot of the more affordable ones being 16 gauge. I think I'd prefer a 20 gauge.

To be honest, I know next to nothing about these guns. As long as the gun is double trigger or external hammer, I should be able to chop the barrel, and it still function, correct? Are there any tricks to cutting the barrel on a gun like these? Is this a do at home project, or do I need to be sending this off to a gunsmith? If I'm getting a gun from the fifties or so, and it's not criminally expensive, is it a sin to chop the barrels on one? What should I be looking for in a gun?

had a few in the shop inventory over the years,

and always wanted the Miami Vice Serbu Super Shorty,
but never did get one,


re the SxS, quality matters, so those old beaters, just leave as beaters,

we had one that was shortened for a bunch of pics a photog friend was doing,

a pre wall falling Baikal shotgun, that was surprisingly a good gun


few things to consider

when you cut the barrel, you may want to make sure the center rib is attached and you will want to fill the void between the ribs (top and bottom) and barrels,

bead added or not?


pistol grip cut from the original stock, or is that an option, (as in how is the stock attached, and is it English or pistol grip?


you see a bit of German 16ga shotguns simply because that was the preferred caliber,


you can also find a lot of Savage/Stevens 311 and 511 shotguns cheap, as well as Winchester 24's,

when you get into the older guns, make sure they are not damascus,

quote:

Originally posted by lyman:
when you cut the barrel, you may want to make sure the center rib is attached and you will want to fill the void between the ribs (top and bottom) and barrels,
(Snip)

A two-part metal-filled epoxy makes for a pimple solution for filling the gap and holding the end of the rib(s) in place, but can crack with lots of firing. I’ve used JB Weld’s Steel Stik on SxS barrels I’ve shortened to 18”+, and after cleaning up the overflow after hardening (done when crowning the barrels) it left a nice finish.

This should be obvious, but it bears mentioning: take care if re-installing a bead that you don’t drill through the rib and either scar (or puncture!) the barrels, or jar the rib loose. It might be good to do this before plugging the gap.