re-barrelling

[old #7]

I was looking in my Midway catalog and thought I might order a barrel for my 7mm mag.
The barrels are blanks and I assume that means that they are bored only and a gunsmith will do the chambering. I imagine depending on the contour of the barrel I choose, I might need to do some stock work.
I have been thinking about Heart and Lilja for a replacement.
Have any of you re-barreled and can you describe the process, how long it took, and the reason you chose your brand of barrel.

Thanks in advance.

 

[R Flowers]

I have rebarreled several rifles and have been quite happy with the results each time.

The process will probably take several months as good gunsmiths are generally pretty busy. Along with rebarreling the gun a good gunsmith will probably do things like lapping the lugs and resurfacing the bolt face, etc.

I own barrels from Lilja, Shilen, and Hart. They are all excellant. All these companies will help you if you call them in regard to getting the correct taper and weight, etc.

 

[Guy Miner]

Having a custom barrel fitted to your rifle can open up a new level of accuracy for you. There are seldom problems with any of the better barrel makers, and right now we have a large number of makers from which to choose.

How to choose a barrel maker? I used to think it made a lot of difference, but having seen and shot barrels from many makers, I'm not so sure about that anymore. Probably my favorite is Krieger, they use the cut-rifling method and their barrels have lasted long for me, staying accurate for thousands of rounds in any easy-shooter like a .308 Winchester. On the other hand I've also seen great results from Hart and Lilja to name a couple.

You're paying for a smooth, well-made barrel that will shoot accurately with minimal fouling. To me, the choice of gunsmith is critical. Someone who routinely re-barrels dozens, or hundreds, of highly accurate target and varmint rifles every year is likely to have his act together. Lots of knowledge and good sharp reamers. A guy who just puts a new barrel on a rifle every now and again may not be so good at it, or may not have the best tools for the job. It might well pay to find out who does most of the target rifle barrels in your area. Many competitors go through a barrel a year.

Think carefully about length, contour and twist rate. You can get doggone near anything you want - so think about the characteristics you want in the finished rifle. Weight? Length?

A longer barrel generally produces more velocity, but most of us don't want to hunt with a 30" barrel. A stout/stiff barrel normally produces very good groups, but most of us don't want to hunt carrying a 15# truck axle up the ridgeline. The twist rate affects how much bullet you can use, if you want to stick with the 7mm mag, and want to use long 175's, get a 1:9 twist. If you have no intention of using the long, heavy bullets you could choose a slower twist rate. Flutes on a barrel look kind of neat and will shave some weight, but other than that they don't do much for a hunter. Most target shooters I know don't bother with the flutes either, they'd rather save that $100 for their next barrel.

Some guys just have the custom tube screwed onto their standard actions. Sometimes this works out fine - but I figure if the rifle is that far apart, it's worthwhile having the smith true the action, squaring everything up and making sure the locking lugs seat properly. It's a little more money, but what the heck.

As long as it's apart, might as well have the trigger adjusted - no sense having a gritty 7# trigger pull on a rifle with a $300 custom barrel.

Might as well have it glass bedded or pillar bedded too, since it's apart anyway. There's a few more bucks, but well worthwhile - if you want to get everything you can from that custom tube.

If I'm shelling out cash for a custom rifle barrel with a nicely cut match grade chamber - I'll go ahead and look at my handloading setup too, then get match-type dies and really good loading components - don't want to be feeding crummy ammo through a great barrel eh? :grin:

I'm serious - this whole custom barrel thing is a huge trap, waiting to spring!!! I keep falling into it myself...

The nice thing is, once that rifle is well setup with a custom tube, it's good to go! You'll have great accuracy, minimal fouling and all will be well. When that custom tube finally dies, your rifle is already trued and bedded and then it's very simple to have a new tube just chambered and installed.

I order a barrel or two ahead of time, and keep 'em on hand, then arrange a time with my favorite rifle smith when he can do the turnaround in about a week. Very nice. The long part is waiting for the barrel. I'd order one NOW if you want to be shooting it sometime this spring. Some of the suppliers though keep more popular contour & twist rates in stock.

Regards, Guy

 

[HunterJim]

Often folks install a custom barrel to chamber for a cartridge that the factory doesn't offer or is discontinued, or maybe a wildcat. I have used barrels by Shilen, Lilja, Douglas and Lothar-Walther. You might choose the gunsmith that will do the work and ask him what barrels he recommends.

If you want an accurate barrel that cleans up easily and a one-stop shop you can go with one of the outfits like PacNor. Just send in your rifle, and it comes back ready to go. They install one of their barrels and do the other work too.

What are you trying to accomplish with this barrel change?

jim

 

[old #7]

I am not to happy with the guns performance but it has beautiful wood.
I also am a little bored and don't have a macth grade gun.
I looked at the pacnor web site... interesting. The only thing I would have to do is stock work.

 

[Guy Miner]

Pac Nor barrels have a pretty good reputation - and you're right - it's a one-stop shopping trip there. Send 'em the barreled action and have it all done there.

Then just open up the barrel channel in the stock to accept whatever contour you've specified...

Might be real neat. Take a look at JD338's cool Remington with the custom tube - it looks and shoots great! Some photos of it posted around here on these forums somewhere - or I'm sure he'd be glad to post it again and show off that beautiful rifle... :grin:

Regards, Guy

 

[JD338]

Take a look at JD338's cool Remington with the custom tube - it looks and shoots great! Some photos of it posted around here on these forums somewhere - or I'm sure he'd be glad to post it again and show off that beautiful rifle... :grin:

Regards, Guy

old #7,

This is a Hart #5 24" Flutted barrel chambered in 280 AI on a blueprinted M700 action and a Tubb recoil lug. Finished weight is 9 lbs even.

Accuracy with the 160 gr AB (seconds) is excellent.

JD338

 

[6ppcar]

We are truly blessed with good barrel makers, Hart, Shilen, Krieger. Pacnor, Douglas just to name a few. I have used them all except Pacnor but i have a friend that swears by them.
I shipped my Remington 700 stainless action an a match grade Shilen stainless barrel, 1-9 twist #3 contour to my gunsmith to chamber an install for the 280 Ack. Improved . The action will be blue printed an i will bed it in a Remington Custom shop KS Alaskan stock. Looking forward to getting it back.
Gunsmith, Retired Col. Billy Stevens, he is a world class shooter and gunsmith. He puts just as much effort in the hunting rifles that he builds as the competition bench rest rifles he builds.

 

[old #7]

Somehow I knew I would see JD338's 280Ai.
I would show it off too.

 

[JD338]

old #7,

Get your project started so you can show off your new rig! :lol:

JD338

 

[Guy Miner]

My two rifles with Krieger barrels. Both are .308's, one Winchester 70, one Remington 700 - both very accurate. The Krieger barrels are both very, very good performers.

Semper Fi! Guy

 

[old #7]

JD338 wrote

Get your project started so you can show off your new rig!

The only thing I have left to do is decide what I want to chamber it in.
I am going to go with 308 cal.
I was thinking of 300 win mag. I just sold mine and was plannning on buying another. I have a 30-06 but I don't think I am going to shoot it.
I have been thinking of 30-06 AI but why not just go to the 300 mag.
Now I'm rambling.
Any suggestions for a 308 long range hammer. Maybe a little off the beaten path but, not too difficult to work with.

 

[JD338]

old #7

What do you consider long range and what kind of hammer are you looking for? What are you going to be hunting, elk or moose?
Since you are set on a .308 bore, the 300 Win Mag is a great choice. Great accuracy, pleanty of power near or far, and moderate recoil. You can load it down to 30-06 levels or load it up with a 200 gr AB for the long range hammer effect.

If you want something different, how about a 300 Wby Mag equilevent, w/o the double radious shoulder. Not sure what it woould be called, 300-8MM Rem Mag or a 300-7MM STW. You can even fire form cases with 300 H&H brass.

How about a 300 RUM? Capable for anything in NA and then some..... :wink:

If you really want a Long Range Sledge Hammer, go with a 340 Wby,
338 RUM, or a 338 Edge (338-300 RUM) for hammer time out to 1K yds.
The new 250 gr AB is perfect for this. :wink:

Get your barrel ordered ASAP, it is the longest part of the process.
A 26" tube #5 contour would give you good stability for long range shooting without being to heavy to carry.

JD338

 

[old #7]

Elk and bear would be the intended target.
Long range ??? I shoot consistantly @ 300 to 350yds. I guess long range might be any thing past that out to 1000. I haven't done much shooting past 350 but with a match barrel I think a whole new world will open up.
I don't plan on competing but I do like to shoot targets and the farther away the better. I am really leaning to the 300 Win not too much recoil and like you said can be loaded down pretty easy.
How is the recoil on the 300 RUM?

 

[JD338]

For your needs, the 300 Win Mag is just about perfect. If you want more thump, go with the 300 RUM. With a good stock fit and recoil pad, recoil isn't that bad. You will never notice it when hunting.

JD338

 

[Powerstroke]

One more thing to think about and consider?? As stated above, get the barrel ordered as it " should " be the longest part of the process.

Use a good reputable smith !! can not stress that one enough and talk to him first. The thing to think about is you mentioned about purchasing a blank and taking it to the smith?? Personally and only my opinion, but order it from the smith that builds your rifle. He has to keep his doors open and is probably more apt to work with you when he's making a little money on the parts as well ?? ( just my thoughts )

The .300 Win is an awesome round... the .300RUM like JD stated...WOW!
I'm not sure how I've gone without one for so long. I can't stand shooting mine off the bench, but again as JD stated, in the field you'll never notice it. What's on the receiving end of it.. a whole nother sujbect.

Good luck with the decisions.

 

[Woodycreek]

The 300 RUM would be a great .30 cal hammer. Very little recoil with my Sendero. The SPS has some recoil but not that bad.

 

[jtoews80]

I would second the 300 Win Mag as a good choice for 300-500 yds. Have owned two of them and now have a 300 wby and a 30-378 wby. THe bigger bees are great, but when you only have time to go hunt or load up a box of shells 120 bucks is steep or 55 for the 300. Whereas the winnie is 23 at walmart. Not saying that these are great loads, but I've shot lots of deer with those. The extra 200-400 fps in the 30-378 is nice, but the barrel is a temporary thing. The RUM isn't alot kinder to barrels with 3550 fps on 150 grn bullets. Just a couple thoughts anyway. THe other thing is that unless you are shooting 240 grn Match bullets, the B.C.'s won't likely be higher than .600. The .338 caliber has alot more to offer as JD had mentioned

CC

 

[Jeff Olsen]

Pac-Nor did two for me. I am really happy with the result. This time of year (at least a couple years ago), you get your rifle back pretty quickly, too.

They made a mistake on the first one they did for me, and handled it so well that I gave them another rifle to rebarrel. Good folks.

-jeff

 

[bullet]

Lilja, is the barrel I went with on my Sako TRG 30-06 Ackley Improved. I have used Douglas, Shilen but I prefer Lilja for quality, very smooth finished barrel and really shoots. I left everything up to my gunsmith, I just knew what I wanted.