Fitting custom barrels to NEF's

[das bear]

I seem to recall a T/C & NEF gunsmith a few years back that would cut back bad barrels just forward of the lug on a NEF 3-5"? then drill out and thread the stub like a reciever then screw on a new custom barrel. Does anyone recall who that may have been and where they might be reached?

[quickdtoo]

Wayne York of Oregunsmithing just did a 6.5x55 stub with a Shilen match blank for me, he did a great job, he charges $300 for the work, donor barrel with underlug and barrel blank are on top of that. 

Tim

[manofthe45]

How many more caliber markings can you get on that barrel.  I know you are partial to NEF's but for the money you could easily get a custom encore or contender barrel from top names like SSK or MGM.  I own both brands and wont knock either but I just question the recoop on a a custom barrel on a 200 dollar gun

[stimpylu32]

How many more caliber markings can you get on that barrel.  I know you are partial to NEF's but for the money you could easily get a custom encore or contender barrel from top names like SSK or MGM.  I own both brands and wont knock either but I just question the recoop on a a custom barrel on a 200 dollar gun

For some of us its not about the $$s , its more a case of I WANT IT !  Myself it comes down to do I want a custom , one of a kind , sure I could spend the money for a custom bolt gun - and I have - but the resale price of those are no better than a factory rifle in the same cal.

The same goes for putting a $600 scope on a $200 rifle , never saw much point in doing that either , but have done that too . Its all about choices and what YOU can live with . 

stimpy

[PHATINJUN]

Why would anybody who wants to have a custom chambering made even be worried about recoup. I 've seen some of them on the T/C classifieds try to be resold and not many get the money out of them that they got into them. And unless you have done it you got know idea of the feeling you get when you paste clover leafs from a $200 gun next to a guy who's shootin a$2000 gun kinda puts a grin in your chin that lasts for days.Kurt

[Singleshotsam]

I don't understand why you wouldn't put the best optics possible on a gun that is clearly capable of shooting sub MOA.  If you can't see it you can't shoot it...   JMHO. 

[quickdtoo]

What works for each of us in firearms as well as glass is a personal decision, I have several custom H&Rs, forty-four total,  I have one Encore, it's the first I'd consider selling of any of my firearms if and when any get sold.

Tim

[LONGTOM]

They say you should spend at least as much on your optics as you did on the gun.
That's why I buy scopes in the $150.00 to $250.00 range. HA HA HA!


LONGTOM

[Guy Pike]

Pm me and I'll tell you of two gunsmiths who do this. Both are banned names on this site.

[trotterlg]

This stuff is not rocket science, anyone with a thread cutting lathe can do it, there are dozens of how to and how it is done pictures posted on this site, take a look, it is dead easy, plus there are probably other ways of getting it done also.  Larry

[Singleshotsam]

A man can get a dang nice scope for $250.00

[Sourdough]

Well guys, I am the guy that put a $700.00 scope on a $200.00 gun.  I put a Shepard scope on my Handi 30-06, back in the late 90s. 

For a while last year my .223 Ultra had a Night Force 3.5X15X50 scope on it.  That was six times the value of the gun.  But at two pounds the Night Force was a bit heavy for a carry around gun.   

[jammer308]

Personally, I like the encore for the handgun offerings. I hate the grip of the encore as a rifle. The ergonomics make it unfavorable for me to carry around all day. I just don't like the shape and feel of the grip in it's rifle form. Even the pro-hunter is awkward if you ask me.

For me the handi is much better balanced and comfortable to carry around all day. For a few hundred dollars less, you get a great shooter and can put the money you saved on some good glass for the gun. Handi all the way.

Barrel swapping? Haven't done much but a .22lr and .243 set up that worked out with no fitting. I'll tell you what though. For about $75-$125 more and some tweaking at home, you can get yourself one hell of a combo set up. Makes perfect sense if you're inclined to do it.

[tykempster]

The smith's names are censored in PM's too, a guy tried.

Wonder why.

[striker525]

They say you should spend at least as much on your optics as you did on the gun.
That's why I buy scopes in the $150.00 to $250.00 range. HA HA HA!


LONGTOM

+1
I could never see the sense in putting 600.00 optics on a 200 dollar gun. I stick with Longtoms stance and always have.

[vinpar092]

I have a Leupold scope on my 45-70. What difference is the cost of a scope compared to the cost of a gun? If the gun groups well, does it matter if its a used $100 gun, a NEF, Savage, Howa, Sako...No. A rifle is only as good as your optics and your ability to shoot it well. I hunt real thick stuff in southeast Louisiana and feel the benefit of better optics are what make the difference. My NEF 45-70 shoots great. If I could afford it I'd put a Khales it, because I love hunting with it. But unfortunately I can't  .

Vince

[dpe.ahoy]

Damn, man.  I don't spend that kind of money on my glasses, why the hell should I get better scopes than what I can use anyway?  DP

[vinpar092]

For me its to help distinguish better horns or horns at all near dark. The owner of the private land that I hunt in MS is stringent on the quality of deer that I harvest. If its an old or declining buck its not a problem but younger deer better be something worth shooting. Anyway from this I learned that decent glass is a must. I mostly use nikon buckmaster scopes, they are definately not anything special. But I definately would rather spend the dollars on a good scope and put it on a low dollar gun than the other way around.

Vince

[trotterlg]

There is a lot more to the quality of glass than how clear it it.  How it returns to zero after being turned ten clicks up and then ten clicks down or whether it moves left three clicks when you dial it down 5 clicks.  There are plenty of clear scopes out there that don't meet all the standards, but if what matters is clear and holding zero then some of the cheap ones will do fine once you get them dialed in.  I have found Barska to do very well if you do not have to rely on what the click setting tell you.  Target turrets would not work for them, but for clear and holding zero once they are set they are better than fine.  I just cannot bring my self to spend more money on the scope than on the rifle.  Larry

[LONGTOM]

To each his own but for me I will use what ever scope that does what I want, be it a high dollar one or in some peoples mind a piece of crap. Who cares as long as it works. I will put my old style SIMMONS AETECs up against any brand or price scope out there and not be ashamed of it's performance. The same goes for some of my lower end scopes. Just because it's cheap in price doesn't mean it's cheap in quality!
If I were to put even the medium priced scopes on all of my guns I would be broke!!!
Why not spend this same amount of money on a good quality set of binoculars and have something that you can use with all of your guns.
I really dislike someone who uses their scope for glassing, having been on the other side with someone looking down the barrel of a loaded rifle at me from afar. Much safer to use binoculars.
Just my thoughts!!!


LONGTOM