I shortened a 50 caliber barrel.....
I put together a 50 caliber patched round ball Schuetzen type stock rifle for our monthly matches that are shot at 25 and 50 yards with open sights. I bought the barrel, lock and trigger from Pecatonica River to use on a finished stock I got from then 4 or 5 years ago and converted the stock to a bench rest stock to go with the 45 caliber fast twist barrel in use at the time. I didn't talk with them much about the barrel, they said 1 1/16 across flats and 1 in 48 twist. The twist is a tad fast but it was the only barrel they had at the time so it is okay. Found out the barrel is 36 inches long.......whoa that is a hand full to shoot off hand. I tried a couple pf sessions and it is too much for me to hold, even with a palm rest. So I shortened it to 28 inches and that is waaaaaaay better and accuracy is spot on at 25 and 50 yards.
I inserted three sets of tight cleaning patches just below where the cut would be. I wanted to use my 3 in 1 multi tool but the hole in the lathe shaft was a tad too small so I cut it with my electric hack saw. I used a large fine tooth file to smooth the muzzle then a 90 degree cutter and last of all the 11 degree cutter and did the Q-Tip test, no fuzz left behind!
Tested the rifle after cutting a new slot for the front blade sight and much easier to hold and shoot and accuracy seems the same. As soo as I can find our home scales I see how much weight I took off.
John