'03 barrel length

[bug]

I'm redoing a Remington 03 sporter to be used as a deer rifle for my son. I'd like to cut and crown the barrel to make the gun a little more managable in the woods. In PA deer woods where we hunt the range is seldom over 100 yds. There is the potential for 150-200 but probably >5%.

I would like to go to 20" or 22". Has anyone had experience? Any thoughts?

Any help appreciated.

Bob D

Information

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[Johnny Peppers]

If you are hunting in close cover, the velocity loss would not be a factor. Typically you would lose about 50 fps per inch of barrel removed. What you probably will notice is an increase in muzzle blast as the barrel gets progressibely shorter, to the point of being very uncomfortable without hearing protection.

[Emri]

20 or 22 in. would be just fine for your purposes.

HTH,

Emri

[Jim Tarleton]

I just completed such a rifle with an 18" barrel. My aim was to build a great heavy brush rifle of very light weight, clip fed for quick loading, for short, quick shots which eliminated a scope in my mind.

The barrel length is 18", but from the receiver ring is only 17 1/2", receiver and chamber area glass bedded. The stock had lightening holes drilled into the butt, and I installed a Timney trigger, William's peep sight on the rear receiver bridge, and a dayglow front bead in a Williams ramp. I used the original military safety, so when I threw it up to my shoulder I would instantly see if the safety is still on (missed the biggest buck of my life due to an "ON" safety) as the safety sticks straight up and blocks the peep line of sight. It is not an 03, but a slightly larger caliber (7.65 Arg). I added a button release for the clip. Fully loaded it weighs 5.87 lbs.

My take on the completed rifle:
1. Muzzle blast is very loud, but not painful, or even noticeable in the heat of the shot.
2. The recoil is about that of an 06 (rifle weighs <6 lbs)
3. The rifle is perfect for what it was intended to be.
4. Accuracy is excellent, with most groups at 100 yards being 1 1/2" to 2" with my new glasses.
5. Carrying the rifle in thick brush is a dream come true. You can hold it by the trigger and the muzzle is 6" off the ground when held straight down.

My advice is to cut the barrel to minimum length, ignore the muzzle blast, and have the rifle you want. Minimize weight and length - you will never reget it. When you start compromising, you might as well go down a buy a Win 94, or find a wife with one buttock.

Jim

[Chuckindenver]

why not trade the barrel you have for one thats cut down already.??
i have a few nice 4 groove barrels that have been cut down, that id be happy to trade you, and do the barrel swap..save the ones not butchered, and use the ones already done..

[Jim Tarleton]

I wholehearted agree with Chuck. Trade for a shorter barrel and save the original.

Jim

[ralfus]

Trading barrels would only help some other collector and not the original poster. Cut and crowned barrel $30-50. Swapping barrels and rechambering would cost all the money from selling the longer barrel.

[Jim Tarleton]

Trading barrels would only help some other collector and not the original poster. Cut and crowned barrel $30-50. Swapping barrels and rechambering would cost all the money from selling the longer barrel.

And that is the central idea. To help another collector.

Jim

[Chuckindenver]

swapping barrels and rechambering???
if you missed it , i offered to do the swap, as well..no chambering would be needed.
isnt this hobby about saving these weapons, and not destroying them??
i dont know any real gunsmith with the right tools that would cut and crown for 50.00.
the board min, for gunsmith machine work is 85.00. no real machine shop would touch a small job like that and likely wouldnt have a clue as to how to crown it right.
they would have to make a special cutter to crown, and that would add more money.
ask any machine shop what they charge an hour for machine work.
likely 100.00 an hour, plus 1 hour min, set up time.
any real gunsmiths will have a min, charge, plus a setup charge. and the turnaround time would be close to 6 mos, or more.
if they would work on an 03, as most wont even touch them.

[ralfus]

I expected to get flamed a little. The collector part of you guys automatically assumed Bug had a unaltered, collectible barrel on his sporter. Maybe he does, maybe he doesn't. The majority of "sporterized" Springfields that I have seen have had unsuitable barrels for restorations. Recut muzzles or previously shortened, diameters turned for banded front sights, markings and lathe marks turned or buffed off, holes drilled and tapped, dovetails cut, etc. I would love to see an original barrel get saved if thats the case but not when the owner would have to spend more or go through more hassles to accomplish it. The last two times I personally saw 1903's with bolt swaps they did not pass the headspace check. That would be another factor to avoid if he did a barrel swap. Bug can also just call Brownells and buy a piloted cutting and crowning kit for under $70. Chop a few barrels and resell the kit to get most of his money back.

swapping barrels and rechambering???
if you missed it , i offered to do the swap, as well..no chambering would be needed. I did miss your offer to swap barrels. That's a cool offer and I've heard nothing but good feedback about your work on these old rifles. If you did the work for free then he would only have about $30 in shipping.
isnt this hobby about saving these weapons, and not destroying them??
i dont know any real gunsmith with the right tools that would cut and crown for 50.00.

Here are some:
http://www.thehuntersden.com/charges.htm $45

http://www.shootersexpress.com/gunsmithing.html $40

http://www.mygunroom.com/dvgunshop/gunsmith.html $42

http://www.greygoosegunsmithing.com/pricing.html $45

http://www.lhpfirearms.com/service01.htm $50

My estimate was a little low, many others wanted around $55-65.


the board min, for gunsmith machine work is 85.00. no real machine shop would touch a small job like that and likely wouldnt have a clue as to how to crown it right.
they would have to make a special cutter to crown, and that would add more money.
ask any machine shop what they charge an hour for machine work.
likely 100.00 an hour, plus 1 hour min, set up time. Which is exactly why I would hope nobody would go to a general machine shop for gunsmithing work. That's about as bad an example as having a bumper chroming shop do the polishing on a rifle prior to a bluing job.
any real gunsmiths will have a min, charge, plus a setup charge. and the turnaround time would be close to 6 mos, or more.
if they would work on an 03, as most wont even touch them. Another stretch, any gunsmith that can chuck up and indicate a barreled receiver can do the job and not care if its a Rem 700, Win 70 or a Remington 03 as listed above. It's not like its a low numbered receiver or something with added liabilty.