You can dry fire without any concern of breaking things. But, you are right, best to not make a habit of it.

The barrel length right now is 28" so I have about 10" to play with :cool:

Aaron,

If the Savages are like the A5s, you can not use a Magnum barrel on a 2 3/4" gun. Even if it did fit, 3" shells would not function through the gun.

Yes, legal barrel minimum length is 18" and overall length must also be 26.5" if I remember correctly. For all you mad max fans out there.

Good to know, I figured 3"ers wouldn't feed from the magazine but was kind of hoping to single load them.

In not against getting a SBS tax stamp and making myself a pocket 12 gauge!

Rust - I use Liquid Wrench and 0000 steel wool, and I soak the barrel and touch it lightly with the steel wool. Most of the rust will come off. The right smith can do the barrels and clean up the gun for $600. Yeah it's steep, but just a good clean up is okay too. No need to make an old gun look new. Its charm is its history.

Not a Mad Max fan, I just got it wrong. Sorry about that. But do consider barrel length if making a modification.

Words of wisdom... In my unguided youth I made myself a "pocket 12 gauge".. (utterly illegal in every sense) and nearly lost the permanent use of my hands and arms from the ungodly recoil. I disposed of that horrible WMD where it would do no harm, sending it literally to the "four corners of the earth" piece by piece.

Granted he's a moose but Hickock45 had no trouble handling one
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_pXTItRtkc

looks like he's having a blast:rotf:


I fear we may be veering off topic a little here

I would look for a replacement collet for the Savage choke rather than removing it. Check with Gun Parts in West Hurley, New York, and look on ebay regularly. I would buy a rusty Model 61 Winchester any time. They have value.