Mosin-Nagant question

[Westbound]

I've searched high and low, and it seems no one makes aftermarket barrels for the Nagant rifles.  That kills my dream for a 6.5x54R!!
I know most people will say they aren't worth customizing, but this is more for fun than anything.
The thought I'm having is to take an existing barrel and have it rebored to .338 then handloading some .338x54R rounds for it.  I think it would be a potent little round.
Does anyone know if there is enough steel on these pencil barrels to do this?

[Mikey]

Westbound:  Have you run this past any of the Greybeard sponsors??  I know there is at least one barrel maker if not more on the 'links' list.  I know that some barrel makers will rebarrel mil-surp actions in the original calibers but might elect not to with others. 

Is there a 6.5x54R cartridge now or is this a concept of yours?  And if you take a 7.62x54R case and neck it to 6.5mm might it not be a 6.5x55R??? 

I know the Montana Rifleman will rebarrel mil-surp in the original caliber but I don't know about working with the Moisin.  Give them a e-holler.  HTH.

[Frank46]

There was an excellent article some years back in the gun digest on various calibers done I believe in Finland. I'm going from memory but seem to remember 6.5, 7.62, 375 and a few others. So in all probability your choice of caliber isn't out of reason. There was one article somewhere in that a moisin was rebored to 50-70 with some stout loadings. Might have been in the CBA fouling shot journal. Check the CBA website see is the article is available. But the rifle was only a single shot, had the cut in the receiver filled and welded. Frank

[mrbigtexan]

you can always buy a barrel blank and have your gunsmith cut threads on it.

[pslshooter]

the barrels on these can be a real bear to get off.

[anweis]

the barrels on these can be a real bear to get off.

and special tools are needed to clamp and hold the receiver, otherwise it will twist and bend. By the time all is said and done, it will be a $800 rifle with a new barrel, that still has a horrible trigger, an uggly birch stock that is too short, and would need new sights or scope mount, which needs to be on the side of the reciever.
And after all these are done, you could have just bought a Merkel or Sako, or something.