Reboreing and Rechambering to calibers we want?

[myarmor]

With several members here either reaming out to different calibers like the 445 and 357 Max, and others like Mac and Quick getting entire barrel work like the 338-06 and 45-120 (I think? or is it 110? Correct me if I'm wrong). It's evident that if NEF/H&R doesn't chamber for a caliber some will go out and get it done for themselves.
We all know that there are calibers we want that aren't offered yet. The threads like ...What changes would you like to see in a Handi? And I wish they made the Handi in....list several calibers that we want.
So if NEF/H&R doesn't offer them outright, what existing barrels offered can be actually converted to the calibers we want?
Even including the possibility of using Rimfire barrels, I mean it's going to a gunsmith anyway.
Like the 6.5x55? 7.62x54R? 303? 45ACP or 9mm? 220 Swift? 17Rem? etc.....
I understand that it depends on the actual caliber you would want and it is going to cost $$.
Anyone care to take a stab at at least one?

[JPH45]

Not to take a negative of dim look on this, but rechambering a barrel is one thing, reboring quite another. At the point one is talking about a rebore, we are into over $300.00 for a barrel. At that point, why not just invest in a TC frame, be it Contender or Encore and just buy what you want outright? Just as valad is to get a Savage 110 and simply have a barrel made for it. That is simply a phone call away as the barrel maker can thread the barrel and chamber it, all you do is set up head space whne you change the barrel out.

Of the cartridges you mention, there is nothing there that a 22-250, 25-06, 7-08, 280, 308 or 30-06 won't do except the 45 ACP or 9mm, NEF sells the 17 HMR. Admittedly a 45 ACP or 9mm even a 40 SW would be nice, but the market ain't such or NEF ain't seen the light that would make 'em want to enter it.

I'm headed toward a Savage/Stevens in 7-08 or 308 myself. I figure that way even if the barrel is lousy I have an action I can put what I want on. May not be loyal to NEF, but NEF sure ain't been loyal to me. Besides, it will be a snap to have a 45 ACP barrel made, and I'd much rather have a 45 ACP carbine than a 44 Mag. carbine anyday.

[knight0334]

I'm gonna ream out a .22 Hornet to .225 Winchester some day..  A 30-30 ejector is all I'll need then for that project.

I thought about getting a 30-30 barrel and reaming it out to some oddball cartridge too.  Just not sure what...

A 500 S&W to a modified 500 Alaskan, using .500cal bullets instead of .510cal.   Having a custom set of dies made for use of the slightly smaller bullet diameter.

You can use the 7.62x39 to make the 7.62x54R and .303 British(I think).  A .22 Hornet and I think a .223 Remington will clean up for a .220 Swift.

I've heard of someone taking on of the .17 rimfire barrels and making a .17 Remington out of it.  There was debate whether that barrel lug would fit a SB2 receiver, but the guy produced proof that it could be done.  (some other websight)

I could probably go on forever on this..  If NEF/H&R had a custom shop with barrel blanks and an assortment of reamers, I'd go crazy.

The last shop I checked into wanted about $150 to ream out a chamber.  I figure I could do it myself if I buy one for about the same price.  ...then rent/loan it out to friends, family and others if they wanted to rechamber something.

[knight0334]

I'm thinking for another project is getting another BC barrel and reboring it to .475.  Then having a custom straight wall reamer made for a rechamber.  Fire forming some 45-70/90/100/110/120 out to the new caliber.


...of course, a custom set of dies for that too.

I just wish I had money.

[.308]

I'm gonna ream out a .22 Hornet to .225 Winchester some day..  A 30-30 ejector is all I'll need then for that project.

Now that sounds like a winner.  Yes indeed. I'm wondering out loud here, will a 225 win. reamer would clean up a 223 chamber, if so would it be possible to DYI?

[myarmor]

JPH45-I agree with you that the price would be high, but I made this thread just to entertain the idea because several people have got the bug for new and unique calibers in their Handi's. I am with you on the Savage/Stevens...Savage makes great rifles, and their accuarcy is undeniable. It would probably be the most economical choice, with the action and a custom barrel. And yes the caliber selection NEF/H&R has is enough to handle almost all game. Again just playing with the uniqueness of a different caliber.
Still hopeing for a 45ACP though......

[quickdtoo]

For the record, the 45-120 was just a rechambered 45-70 BC for $135, the 405 Winchester from a 28" 38-55 Target was a rebore/rechamber, the cost was $300 at Oregon Gunsmithing, same for the .338-06 from a .25-06 Ultra.

http://home.earthlink.net/%7Eoregunsmithing/index.html

[Kmrere42]

Wouldn't it be easier to stubb out the origional barrel rather than try to rebore to a different caliber.  Not only would you have complete control over the outside dimentions of it but also the inside of the bore as well.

Example....

Use an older 30-30 barrell and have a Douglas air-gauged .375" installed to replicate the 38-55 target.  Nothing else needs to be changed and a heavier taper could be had as well.  No fiddeling with odd sized molds which few makers have and standard jacketed bullets could be used as well...


Just think,  a 45 Long Colt without the .410


Paul

[Fred M]

Fellows, I had a 223 Ultra rebored to a 257 Roberts, in Canada this cost me $260 Can. I did it for two reasons. One I am very fond of the 257R two the 223 had a 24" bull barrel that was a prime candidate for an octagon barrel. It turned out to be a very nice and accurate shooter.
until it developed a gap and now the spring went to sleep.

If I had a bit more ambition I take the spring out of my other Handi since I don't use it anyway. I hope a spring shows up from from one of the several places I contacted. God know how long that will take till I get one.

I traded a 25-06 barrel for another 223 barrel with the idea to tun it into a 6mm x 222Mag. I don't know if I will do it, since I don't seam to be lucky with the Handi's

I agree with JP and the Savage rifles they are good shooters and the actions are as good as most mass produced bolt actions. And as JP said you can stick on a new barrel yourself in the caliber you want. It is a simple concept. Don't know much about the Savage/Stevens.

[Datil]

I have a 223 barrel at gun smith being re bored and chambered to 25-35 win. 300$ plus. it's just money. I have 22 hornet chambered to 219 Zipper.  Marv.

[JPH45]

Use an older 30-30 barrell and have a Douglas air-gauged .375" installed to replicate the 38-55 target.  Nothing else needs to be changed and a heavier taper could be had as well.  No fiddeling with odd sized molds which few makers have and standard jacketed bullets could be used as well...
Paul

In my 38-55 I use the Lee 379-250-RF and the Lyman 379449. The Lee is a bevel base design I push at 1300-1400 fps, I lube it in a 379 sizer die, load it and shoot and get 3/8" 3 shot groups at 50 yards. 17 grains of 5744 works just fine as does 11.3 grains of Blue Dot. The Lyman 379449 is a 264 grain gas check design that I lube in a 379 sizing die, load and shoot oer 24.5-28 grains of AA1680. The 28 grians of 1680 gives 1900 fps and 1" groups at 50 yards, 2 1/2"ers at 100. It is quite frankly as easy to load for  as my 357 Max or my 44 Mag ever thought of being and is more accurate by 2 or 3 times than my 45-70 ever was with cast.

I do agree that stubbing a barrel may be a much better way of getting to a caliber/chambering to ones liking. NEF offers a 20 guage rifled barrel based on a 12 guage barrel that I think would make a good stub, but once paying for that or any other barrel then having the machine work done for the stubbing, one is as well off dollarwise to have a rebore done.

myarmor, I didn't mean to detract from your thread any, it is just that I've done enough work with several of these barrels oer the last 2 1/2 years that I'd rather spend my money in a more promising direction. All my shooting these days is done with cast and these barrels are a big crapshoot with cast. Every barrel I've had shot jacketed well and easily and would shoot several bullets and loads well. If I was a jacketed shooter, I'd have myself 5 nice rifles and be looking to buy another or two. But I'm a cast shooter, and a good barrel should shoot several loads well, not just a special few...which may never be found. Getting my scope screwed down tight really made a difference with the RCBS 35-200, but the Lee Custom 180, a 56 buck investment, is so much aluminum to me as I've yet to find a load that puts the first shot in the same place twice. Weird part is that it was shooting Leftoverdj's bullet of the same design, an earlier production run, just fine. and in two years of shooting and 7 different bullets, the RCBS 35-200 is the only one I've found that shoots. I'm just not too big on investing in yet another barrel only to have it rebored to something else. For the same 300 bucks I can get the Savage/Stevens 200. They have a very good reputation for shooting out of the box, even with cast. And for the price of a rebore or a touch more I can be shooting a Douglas, Hart or Shilen barrel.

I love my 357 Max and 38-55 Handi's, wouldn't take love nor money for 'em. Just not convinced I want to go any farther down this road.

[JPH45]

Sorry Fred, I didn't read down to your post....The Stevens 200 is nothing more than the Savage 110 without the Accutrigger. At 325 US is is probably the best buy on the market at present. The Accutrigger can be fit to it adn you can buy more than a few stocks for the rifle, the factory offereing needing a bit of glassing up I understand, but nevertheless you are gotting a lot of bang for the buck.

I wish that NEF were more savvy, there are several hot chamberings on the market right now that would be exellent in the Handi. A 25-35 Winchester would be nothing more than a reamer for them as they make a 257 barrel. A 40-65 Winchester in a Target or Buffalo model and a 405 Winchester would be hot for them. They could sell gobs of 25-20's or 32-20's if they would only chamber them. Instead we get that silly 7.62x39. They did improve the ejector, making it a mechanical ejector, but the barrels are still lousy, I don't need a barrel with the throat ruined by machining, I prefer to blow it out the barrel the old fashioned way.... With Ball and Powder :grin: A very interesting cartridge woud be the 6mm Weatherby Magnum, a 6mm'06 with a belt. Would work perfect in the Handi and give them a real hot rod. Oh well.

[Fred M]

Thanks JP.

About three weeks a go I had a first hand demonstration of two 308 Savage Tactical rifles. To say these two rifles performed like $3000 match rifle would be an understatement. They were new out of the box with mildot scopes. I was impressed, when it comes to out of the box rifles that take some doing.

I hear what you are saying about the 25-35. You are the guy that got me in to the Handi business. Well I do like that converted 223 into 257R.
Even though I am not finished debugging. But I have a most excellent barrel now and that is the heart of the rifle. It is a shooter.

I would not want you to hold your breath about some of the chambering you like. I sincerely hope you take extreme precautions with your lead casting. I shot .22 indoor 3 position match rifle for several years until a blood test showed lead in my blood. Even when making shot shells with lead I wear a nose and mouth filter mask. Lead dust and fumes is bad news.