Beowulf47 0 Posted November 3, 2012 Report Share Posted November 3, 2012 Im thinking about cuting down the barrel on my s308 to 18", I was just wondering if I need to redrill the gas port; and if so, what size? Thanks Quote Link to post Share on other sites
zagumennyyilya 51 Posted November 4, 2012 Report Share Posted November 4, 2012 The gas port for 16 and 22 is the same size, the saiga rifles come overgassed from the factory to accommodate bad, dirty, ammo, also to remain reliable when dirty conditions exists . So the rifle will function no matter the length of barrel. Besides, the 16 inch rifle functions without a hiccup, the 18 is gonna be fine. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
poolingmyignorance 2,191 Posted November 4, 2012 Report Share Posted November 4, 2012 You should sell it casue the 22" are rare. Buy a 16" Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beowulf47 0 Posted November 4, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 4, 2012 Thanks- now all I have to do is figure out how to crown it! And I got it for $575 on gunsAmerica, 16" we're going for 750-800 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RED333 1,025 Posted November 4, 2012 Report Share Posted November 4, 2012 Recrown a barrel, start here. https://www.google.com/search?q=barrel+recrown+tool&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a I dont think you should cut your barrel, but it is your rifle. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beowulf47 0 Posted November 4, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 4, 2012 Can I use a counter sink, than polish it with a brass screw head? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RED333 1,025 Posted November 4, 2012 Report Share Posted November 4, 2012 I dont know about a counter sink, I posted "the tool" to do the job. Now I am not a gun smith nor a full time marksman, but if you could use a counter why are the tools sold for the job. I think if you get the counter sink off just a bit you would throw the shot off a bit. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
poolingmyignorance 2,191 Posted November 4, 2012 Report Share Posted November 4, 2012 Can I use a counter sink, than polish it with a brass screw head? You need an 11degree crown, cut concentricly to the bore. If not you'll end up with less than satisfactory trajectories. If your not going to do the 11degree, just square cut and polish the crown carefully and uniformly. You can purchase a manual crowning tool from brownells, along with a bore guide to keep you centered. Yes it's more money, but the end result will be superior accuracy to what you've previously experiened.... 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beowulf47 0 Posted November 4, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 4, 2012 I can use the diamond stones that I use for sharpening. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RED333 1,025 Posted November 4, 2012 Report Share Posted November 4, 2012 If ya want to be cheap that is OK, but this is a firearm, cheap is not always good. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
HB of CJ 1,263 Posted November 5, 2012 Report Share Posted November 5, 2012 You have chosin wisely Obi Wan...no...wait...wrong movie...(again). Thinking with 100% after-the fact mental clarity, (a rare thing!) I wish I had gotten the 21" bbl instead of the maybe-too-short for a 7.62x51 16" bbl. I would cut the barrel back about one inch at a time, each time experimenting with the required crowning process. Test shoot each time for accuracy? Does Brownell's rent .308 crowning tools? Would 18.5 inch be perfect? Good answers already given. My .308 Saiga is kinda overgassed. Kicks the brass a long way away-soss much that an adjustable gas block is in the planning stage. Don't forget to leave enough barrel sossss you can thread it. HB of CJ (old coot) I do hope we get to keep what we have? :( All 922® and NFA rules apply Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beowulf47 0 Posted November 5, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 5, 2012 That's funny! The brown bear and federal only fly 8'. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Unknown Poster 5 Posted November 5, 2012 Report Share Posted November 5, 2012 (edited) I purchased my 22" barreled 308 saiga to shoot longer range over the 16" barreled 308 saiga i have. I'm scoping it right now for deer & bear hunting. My two 16" barreled saiga's shoot 1 1/2" groups at 100yds benchrested using surplus south african 308 ball ammo. I hope my 22" barreled 308 saiga can shoot that good too. I just picked up a chinese norinco m14s in 308 and i hope it can shoot as good as my saiga's can. For under $400 the norinco was a steal or should i say great buy. I'd never pay the price of a springfield m1a. I'd rather go the extra mile and do a ground up build. Edited November 5, 2012 by Unknown Poster Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beowulf47 0 Posted November 5, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 5, 2012 From what I've heard, the 16s seam more accurate. Also if I cut it down, do you think the chrome will flake? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TheDarkHorse 216 Posted November 5, 2012 Report Share Posted November 5, 2012 From what I've heard, the 16s seam more accurate. My 21" .308 makes me a better shooter than I am. I can't imagine the 16" having any noticeable advantage in accuracy... Im glad I get to find out!! Come on USPS!!! 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beowulf47 0 Posted November 5, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 5, 2012 I think it's cause it makes it stiffer. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TheDarkHorse 216 Posted November 5, 2012 Report Share Posted November 5, 2012 No that's Viagra. 6 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beowulf47 0 Posted November 6, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 6, 2012 Any more suggestions? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jimdigriz 580 Posted November 6, 2012 Report Share Posted November 6, 2012 Any more suggestions? Have a competent gunsmith do the work? 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Unknown Poster 5 Posted November 7, 2012 Report Share Posted November 7, 2012 My 22" barreled saiga has a really thick barrel all the way out to the end. Its a very slow taper. But its an older 308win saiga and it might be a 21,5" barrel. The longer barreled saiga in 308win would take the 308 round out to the longer distances accurately over the 16" barrel. I believe the russian goverment just bailed out izmash so we may see boat loads of saiga's soon i hope. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jamesavery22 54 Posted November 7, 2012 Report Share Posted November 7, 2012 Any more suggestions? Have a competent gunsmith do the work? I do love Jim. Lol... I agree. I've never done the homework around the twist rate of the s308 barrel and acceptable barrel length but if 18" would work out in that regard the going for 18" gets my vote. Expect to press out the barrel, cut, crown, turn down 1/2" of the OD, & thread to 5/8x24 on a lathe. Then put equal amount of work into other aspects of the rifle. If all you want to do is chop the barrel and stop your work there then why bother? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beowulf47 0 Posted November 8, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 8, 2012 Has anyone tested the difference between the 22, 18, 16"? @ 100, 300, 500yds? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Unknown Poster 5 Posted November 9, 2012 Report Share Posted November 9, 2012 There was a guy a few years back on www.gunboards.com who was ringing gongs with a scoped 16" barreled 308 saiga at 450yds. with no problem. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beowulf47 0 Posted November 10, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 10, 2012 Yup, that's what I've been hearing. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Unknown Poster 5 Posted November 12, 2012 Report Share Posted November 12, 2012 I'm thinking the 22" barrel would take the 308 out farther in accuracy maybe out to 700yds + but no one has proven this yet. I can only shoot at 100yds in my area right now. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rhodes1968 1,638 Posted November 16, 2012 Report Share Posted November 16, 2012 After the powder has burned off you aren't getting much from more barrel. Accuracy reports are mixed between 16 and 21 inch models though frankly i think 16 too short, fireballs are not good. 308s ideally run from 18-20 inches so anywhere in that range is fine as is 21 inch for that matter. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
20nickels 21 Posted November 16, 2012 Report Share Posted November 16, 2012 1- Shorter tubes are stiffer and therefore more accurate. Longer tubes have more velocity but more "whip" that causes vertical stringing. 2- 18" to 19.5" is an ideal comprimise in length IMO. 3- Chop barrel to desired length and square up with a file. Polish with a round head brass screw and some Flitz or valve lapping compound chucked in a drill OR Pacific tool makes a 30 Cal. piloted crowning tool for M1's but should work for any .30 w/ a muzzle OD up to 14mm or 15mm. http://shop.pacifictoolandgauge.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1127 The angle of the crown doesn't matter. They just recess it to protect it from the environment and yer cleaning rod tip. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ironhead7544 35 Posted November 18, 2012 Report Share Posted November 18, 2012 You will lose about 100 fps when cutting from 22 to 18 inches. No big deal. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beowulf47 0 Posted November 19, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 19, 2012 I'm a knife maker, and run a small welding shop, so I have most every tool, Except a lath and end-mill. So that should be pretty easy. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Unknown Poster 5 Posted November 21, 2012 Report Share Posted November 21, 2012 (edited) Since you made up your mind your going to do this at least do it right with no screw ups. Go to www.brownells.com search for item # 080-764-350WB Power Custom Brass Muzzle Crown Lapping tool Lap the muzzle correctly for the best achievable accuracy. My process will to use a coarse valve grinding compound first then once the foundation of the pattern is on the muzzle i will switch to the fine valve grinding compound to finish it. I'm thinkling of using a slow speed drill and go in a circle motion with this tool with the lapping compound on it. I'm a retired machine builder, assembler for the 155mm howiters, lead engineering tech for one of the top ten companies in the country. I just ordered the complete set for all my older military guns if there not accurate to begin with. BTW; Thanks for reminding me i have a barrel to cut down on my grandsons first deer rifle in 7,62x39. Edited November 21, 2012 by Unknown Poster Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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