Converting NEF barrels???

[WillieC]

I have an Ultra Rifle in 25/06 and love it.  I am going to get a Handi-Rifle in .280 Remington ASAP....that is after payday!  I want a 30-06 barrel and a 35 Whelen barrel in 26" length.  However, these are not available in the Barrel Accessory Program. None listed for .35 Whelen unless you outright buy a complete rifle and then you get a 22" barrel; for that matter the 30-06 barrel is only available in 22" length.  I know the '95 RMEF Ultra Rifle is a 35 Whelen with a 26" barrel (would love to have one) but they are few and far between.  I was wondering if it was possible to purchase two additional .280 remington 26" barrels from the Barrel Accessory Program and have a gunsmith "rebarrel" the one of the barrels to 30-06 or 30-06 Ackley Improved, and the other to 35 Whelen or 35 Whelen Ackley Improved.  Is this unheard of?  Crazy?  If possible does this sound expensive?  Thanks for any comments. 

[wookie76]

You would probably be better off purchasing complete firearms in the chamberings you mentioned.  Or, if you were to go through the expense of a barrel change, then to pick something a little more exotic that doesn't overlap with factory offerings.  Perhaps one of the many JDJ offerings, or any other almost-mainstream wildcat. 

Also, the 30-06AI is generally considered one of the least satisfying of the bunch.  Maybe consider the 30-40Krag AI?  The best gains seem to come from the Mauser ?x57 family of cartridges with the 7x57AI and 257Roberts AI generally considered the best of the bunch.  But, your 280 and 25-06 renders those moot.

http://www.deltagunshop.com/clearwater_reboring/rebore_prices.html
http://www.cutrifle.com/reboring.html
http://www.dandtcustomgunworks.websitetoolbox.com/post?id=2045501

Cheers and good luck!

[quickdtoo]

Welcome Willie!! GBO sponsor Wayne York of Oregunsmithing has done hundreds of rechambers and rebores for GBO members, he's done a lot of work for me, 25-06 to 338-06, 38-55 to 405 Winchester, 243Win to 260 Remington, 223 Rem to 6x45 as well as several rechambers, 280 Improved and 35 Whelen Improved, 6mm Rem Improved to name a few, you won't be able to shoot factory ammo in the improved versions tho if you start with the parent chambering, there's no way to set the barrel back on a fixed barrel unless you shorten the chamber face, rechamber, then fit it to a new frame,  you'll have to take some extra steps to fire form for them if that isn't done, plan on spending $325 for the rebore and chamber work, about $100 for just a rechamber, plus the cost of the donor barrels and shipping.

Tim

www.oregunsmithingllc.com

[petemi]

Tim, that's too rich for my blood.  I think I'll pass.

Pete

[gcrank1]

I respect a guy's 'wants', but, if I may; After a bunch of years, a bunch of guns and a bunch of money I have found that the basic selection for me (if you will consider), is a .22LR (yeah, I still have a bunch, but one good one would do), a HV smallbore CF for varmints, etc. (a .223 or even your 25-06 is fine), and a 'bigbore' (a .308 or 30-06 on up) will cover whatever you want to do or play with and use the left over money for more ammo, or a nice hunting trip, or even pie and ice cream with your friends.
PS, this didnt include a shotgun; my preference is a 20ga., or handgun; a .22LR and CF of choice.
AND, maybe someday I will get down to this few.........but Im getting better.

[quickdtoo]

Yeah, but where's the fun in that!   I don't see how a minimalist can be a Handiholic, they pretty much have opposite meanings!! But I guess you can be a conservative Handiholic.....at least for a while!!  

Tim

[gcrank1]

I just layed the H&Rs out on the living room floor. If I had only them it would meet that criteria:
.22LR and .22Mag swap barrel setup in BC-carbine wood
.25-35WCF and 20ga swap barrel set, PW wood stocks, dedicated forearms
38-55 Ultra Hunter
old 12ga. Topper
It has been fun working these up and swappin' wood around, etc. and ending up with about the least expensive 'custom' rifles that a guy can do these days, thanx to some forum members here! Big plus is they work really well too and cover the needs I have for about any hunting or shooting sport short of serious competition.
Now Im gonna go shoot some of that saved money up........

[WillieC]

Thanks for everyone's responses.  The rebarreling idea sounds great but I could buy a couple of new rifles before I think I would spend $325.00 per barrel plus the cost of aquiring one from the barrel accessory program or someone else.  22" inch barrels sound just fine now!
And gcrank1 I do like money in my pocket...especially for time with friends especially when ice cream and pie is concerned.  Realistically the 25-06 does all I need it to..................but there's always room for ONE MORE RIFLE and JUST ONE MORE BARREL.  Isn't that what makes the HandyRifle a blessing/ and a curse?  A blessing in my opinion and a curse in my wife's.   

[quickdtoo]

Just an FYI, there is no NEF any more, just H&R, it's started that way for a few years, the only NEF branded firearm made since around the end of 2007/beginning of 2008 when Remington bought H&R has been the imported Pardner Pump. 

Tim

http://www.hr1871.com/Brandtransition/

[S.E.Ak]

Buds still sells NEF but I'm sure they are old stock

[quickdtoo]

Bud's has great prices, but his inventory lists are hardly reliable as to specific branding concerning H&Rs,an example of his categorizing is he lists a bunch of rifles in his NEF and H&R shotgun listings!  If you go to any of the distributors, SSI, Davidson's, Lipsey's, Zanders etc, you won't find NEF listed, just H&R. This started in 2007, new Handis started being marked H&R, not NEF as they previously had been, only Ultras and Toppers were marked H&R up until then, NEF was kind of the entry level firearm and H&Rs were the deluxe line.

Tim

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/index.php/cPath/37_263

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/index.php/cPath/37_350

[rockrat]

JES reboring will do the rebore/rechamber to 35 whelen for $230 IIRC