Cut down Cowboy???

[ShootingPirate]

No sacrilege intended here...I like the octo barrel but would prefer a shorter barrel. Anyone have any expereince or pictures in a cut down cowboy? I was thinking about taking off about 5-6 inches.

[Herky Bird]

You just made me put new batteries in my pacemaker!

[Kid Sopris]

There is a thread in another area, that talks about the end of the world...I suspect that if you cut your barrel, the World won't end, But hell might freeze over.
Sort of reminds of this story:

HELL EXPLAINED BY CHEMISTRY STUDENT

The following is an actual question given on a University of Washington Chemistry mid-term.

The answer by one student was so "profound" that the professor shared it with colleagues, via the Internet, which is, of course, why we now have the pleasure of enjoying it as well:

Bonus Question: Is Hell exothermic (gives off heat) or endothermic (absorbs heat)?


Most of the students wrote proofs of their beliefs using Boyle's Law (gas cools when it expands and heats when it is compressed) or some variant.
One student, however, wrote the following:

First, we need to know how the mass of Hell is changing in time. So we need to know the rate at which souls are moving into Hell and the rate at which they are leaving. I think that we can safely assume that once a soul gets to Hell, it will not leave. Therefore, no souls are leaving.

As for how many souls are entering Hell, let's look at the different religions that exist in the world today. Most of these religions state that if you are not a member of their religion, you will go to Hell.

Since there is more than one of these religions and since people do not belong to more than one religion, we can project that all souls go to Hell. With birth and death rates as they are, we can expect the number of souls in Hell to increase exponentially.. Now, we look at the rate of change of the volume in Hell because Boyle's Law states that in order for the temperature and pressure in Hell to stay the same, the volume of Hell has to expand proportionately as souls are added.

This gives two possibilities:

1. If Hell is expanding at a slower rate than the rate at which souls enter Hell, then the temperature and pressure in Hell will increase until all Hell breaks loose.

2. If Hell is expanding at a rate faster than the increase of souls in Hell, then the temperature and pressure will drop until Hell freezes over.

So which is it?

If we accept the postulate given to me by Teresa during my Freshman year that, "It will be a cold day in Hell before I sleep with you," and take into account the fact that I slept with her last night, then number two must be true, and thus I am sure that Hell is exothermic and has already frozen over. The corollary of this theory is that since Hell has frozen over, it follows that it is not accepting any more souls and is therefore, extinct......leaving only Heaven, thereby proving the existence of a divine being which explains why, last night, Teresa kept shouting "Oh my God."

THIS STUDENT RECEIVED THE ONLY "A"

Back on Topic, Don't cut the barrel, there are consequences for every action.

[rockridge]

Even THINKING about cutting the barrel of a cowboy rifle is enough to get you banned for life from this site!

The newer models of cowboy guns have 20" barrels. Perhaps you could trade a 24" for one of the 20" and solve your desires that way. Would this work for you?

On the serious side though.........Shortening the barrel would require the relocation of the front sight (and a new dovetail to be cut for it), cutting a new dovetail in the underside of the barrel for the magazine tube, shortening the mag. tube, and shortening the mag spring in addition to the initial cutting and re-crowning of the barrel. The shorter Magazine tube would result in fewer rounds to be carried in the magazine, but may not make any difference to you for your intended use.

I don't think I've forgotten anything, have I?

At the end of the day however, it's YOUR gun and you can do with it as you please, but, most if not all of us here would advise you not to cut it. Personally, I don't see the cost/benefit of the work. YMMV



Ed

[ShootingPirate]

Ok...ok...I feel bad enough as it is. I feel like I should have a scarlet M stamped on my forehead. Here is the dilemma. I have been looking at 1895 GBLs but am not satisfied with my chances of getting a quality rifle. I would like at least six rounds in the rifle in 45-70 but the cowboy seems too long to carry for hours in the woods. I suppose I could take steroids to build up my strength and endurance. If I went with a plain 1895 I would still need to increase the mag tube length.

I will say the straight stock on the cowboy is growing on me. I am in a large city now visiting family and the three different shops I went to had no 45-70s.

[airwinky]

After reading the posts above, I'm almost afraid to admit that I have a shortened 1895 Cowboy.
Almost.
Sacriligeous or not, the 1895 makes a helluva "short rifle".
I bought mine this way on Gunbroker, from a gent who said he had it done professionally by his gunsmith in anticipation of taking it hunting, but had suffered some health issues and needed to sell. I have no idea who the smith is who did it, but the work is very professionally done.
This rifle handles like a dream, is way easier to pack in and out of treestands, groundblinds, pick-up trucks, ATV's, etc., seems to transmit less felt recoil, (with heavy loads), then my full length version, and shoots at least as accurately, sometimes better.
All I can say is Do It !
You will not regret it.

[ShootingPirate]

Airwinky - That looks great. What a nice piece of work!
How many rounds in the magazine? and what kind of accuracy do you have at 100 yards?

[ziptar]

No sacrilege intended here...I like the octo barrel but would prefer a shorter barrel. Anyone have any expereince or pictures in a cut down cowboy? I was thinking about taking off about 5-6 inches.

Sounds like you want This:



Model 1895 LTD III - .45-70 Gov't. cal., 18 1/2 tapered octagon barrel, non-checkered straight grip walnut stock and forearm, Marble sights, 5 shot full length tube mag., includes letter oa authenticty. 1,001 mft. in 1991 only.


They show up on the auction sites now and again. I've seen them go for anywhere from $800.00 to $1200.00. Even at the high end it would probably cost less than buying an 1895CB and paying for all the work to shorten it, granted, you'd only have 5 in the tube and not six. There are still some pluses to it though. They were built long before Remington / Freedom Group / Cerberus came along, no worries about quality there.

The biggest plus? Instead of earning the scorn and ire of those here at MO, you'll be earning their admiration, and oohs and aahs.

[ShootingPirate]

OK....now I am starting to drool.

[Eli Chaps]

The next CB I get will get down.

The 1895CB is probably the best handling and nicest balanced rifle I've ever shouldered. But, there's also a lot to be said for short snappy guns too. I personally wouldn't cut my first CB but I darn sure wouldn't hesitate to cut another one that came into my grubby hands. But by no means do I think it is any kind of sacrilege to make a gun your own.

Click the second line in my signature and scroll down the Reference threads links and find a post by Bigboreoffroad on his Urban Cowboy. Pretty dang sweet gun.