All you need to cut off the barrel is
a regular hack saw. Choose the position of your cut
carefully. Under no circumstances should you cut it
to less than 16 inches. This is US Federal law (if
you are outside the US, it is your responsibility to
know the laws that apply to you. In fact, I recommend
going with 16.5-17 inches for added margin of safety.
You also must not remove the Importers markings. As
you can see in the pic below, I cut mine just behind
the bayonet mount. Use a new blade and take care in
making your cut. The squarer the cut you make, the
less work you will have to do later.
After the cut, use a wide metal file
and a square to square up the muzzle. Run the long
side of the square along the barrel and the short
side over the muzzle. Keep in mind that the barrel is
tapered, so there should be a gap on the inside edge
of your square. The idea is to get the gap even all
the way around the muzzle. Use the edge of the square
to make sure the end stays flat while you work. This
is not as difficult as it sounds, just proceed slowly
and check often. Once you get the end squared up, use
some sand paper over a flat surface (like the blade
of your square) to polish the muzzle.
To re-crown by hand, you will need
some lapping compound and a few 1/4 inch round head
bolts.
Clamp your barrel in a padded vise.
Chuck one of the bolts in your drill and smear the
head with lapping compound. Spin the bolt on the
crown. Apply only moderate pressure and let the drill
guide your hands. It will center itself. Re-apply the
compound often and change bolts when they show
excessive wear.
| When you are done, you
should have a nice even crown. You can now
use a fine file or sand paper to smooth the
outer edge of the muzzle. |
 |
