Everybody said, "don't do it, you need a professioinal." So that's why I did it myself. I figure, if they can do it so can I. I watched several Youtube videos and read some material on shortening and recrowning a barrel. Heck, it was the old Mosin Negant that I got for free so nothing to lose.
I built a jig to hold it horizontal and square to the saw blade. I used a 10" grinding blade in the chop saw. I slowly moved the saw through the barrel, applying a little cutting oil along the way. Plenty of sparks but no blueing as a result of heat. I ended up taking 2" off the barrel. A few strokes with a smooth file against a guide brought the cut barrel to true.
Then I used an 11 degree crowning tool with a big handle and a brass mandrel that fit into the bore. I turned it 6 or 7 times until a nice crown had formed. I finished it up with a little emery cloth, starting out with 200 grit. It looks beautiful.
The cost: $5 for the grinding disk. $22 to rent the crowning tool. $27 total. The gunsmith wanted $120.
