Do cut barrels give good patterns?

[David Penland]

I want a set of 26" barrels open chokes. So what are the pros and cons of the following choice. Cut 30" barrels to 26" or invest more money to buy 26" barrels skeet in and skeet out. The 30" barrels are good currently chocked Mod/IM. The serial number on them has been removed/scrubbed. I want this set up for woodcock and hopefully some day grouse hunting. Opinions are appreciated.

[Rick Losey]

find a gun with 26" barrels and sell the 30" gun to someone who needs/wants the longer barrel.

or buy a 26" set and have them fitted, won't be as cost effective

you'd lose a lot of value on cut barrels - and 26" guns are not currently in favor so you may get a deal

finding a set of tubes someone else already cut may save some money -

watch ebay
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Parker-SXS-26-in-12ga-Vulcan-Skeet-Barrels/143491919606?hash=item2168c8eef6:g:tTsAAOSwunNeEUC j


just make sure you get the same frame size

[David Gehman]

Please do not cut those barrels.

[Craig Budgeon]

David, your kidding, RIGHT!

[Brian Dudley]

The patterns will vary from gun to gun and load to load I am sure.

If you want cut barrels. Buy a gun that is already cut, god knows there are enough out there. Dont create another one.

[Brett Hoop]

Dave,

Ole buddy, never mind you wont hit woodcock with any of them on somedays.:rotf:

They can be tuff buggers to hit, but I love them, there will be other days when they fall when you thought you missed for sure. My current favorite for grouse and woodcock is a cut barreled 20ga it's 26 3/4" .010 /.005 I have returned to the truck with 1 loaded shell and a bunch of hulls alone in the game bag and other days let 3 right barrels loose and was done with them for that day.

Seems like the days I keep missing them the gun unloads itself before I get it to my shoulder let alone get my head on it.

Maybe try spreaders on paper first. Let the hack saw hang on its peg, there are open choked grouse/cock guns out there because for a number of grouse hunters the next one is the best one.

[Rich Anderson]

You don't mention what gauge you have or the grade of the gun. If your 30 inch barrels don't suit your needs then look for either a cut set or a set of 26 inch barrels or sell that gun and look for something more suitable to your needs. No matter what don't cut the current barrels.

[todd allen]

Cutting Parker barrels is like cutting hundred dollar bills in half, because 3" money is easier to carry.

[CraigThompson]

We bought a GH 16 about twenty five years ago from a local guy for $100 I believe it was . Gun had a kinda rough life . Anyway the barrels were 27” when we got it . Pretty sure they’d started life at 28” anyway on a Skeet field I have no problem (as long as my heads in the game) staying in the mid 90’s out of 100 . This thing is probably the equivalent of S&S or very lite IC in both barrels . Oh by the way the barrels are damascus and the gun was made in 1911 . It does very well with factory dove and quail loads or my handloads . Also very very well with my #1 buck handloads and my home cast/loaded slug loads . I don’t advocate cutting any Parker barrels but if you get a gun cheap enough with already cut barrels you may as well put it to use .

[Phil Yearout]

I wouldn't ever cut barrels on a gun, but Orphan Annie, my SBT, has had her barrels cropped from 34" to a bit over 27". Why? Who the heck knows. But my drop in gauge reads the choke at half way between IM and M, and I have to say, she's a clay bustin' machine when the operator does his part. So to answer your original question: do cut barrels give good patterns? This one does.