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Offline scrounger

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Rechamber?
« on: April 01, 2006, 12:07:45 PM »
What's the consensus of opinion on rechambering barrels? Two I have in mind are .30-30 to .30-40 Krag, and .44 Mag to .444 Marlin. I am a long time reloader and I understand that you can blow up a barrel even with a small, low-pressure chambering if you put too much of a too fast powder. And you can make the biggest, baddest cartridge act like a pussy cat by downloading it. And that is what I have in mind, a wee bit of improvement over the .30-30 and a bit more than the .44 mag at a reduced pressure. Another thought is the .445 Super Magnum.
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Offline EdK

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Rechamber?
« Reply #1 on: April 01, 2006, 01:55:00 PM »
Safety issues aside I look at the economics of it:

1. Barring barrels you already own or bought for next to nothing: a factory barrel serving for the basis of the project will set you back $150-$225.

2. Depending upon the chamber-type and the gunsmith you will generally fork over about $100 plus shipping.

Now you are already into your fixer-upper for around $300. Why not just buy a custom barrel in the first place for a few dollars more where you can specify length, profile, finish, chamber (even throating/tight neck) and get it all made on a precision stress-relieved barrel blank?

True some custom barrels run upwards of $500 but there are makers out there who can deliver for not much more than that $300 mark.

Just my $0.02 worth  :D
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Offline handirifle

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Rechamber?
« Reply #2 on: April 01, 2006, 02:21:17 PM »
Or for the improvement on the 30-30 go with the 30-30 AI.  Lots of good comments about it.
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Offline RonF

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Rechamber?
« Reply #3 on: April 02, 2006, 12:48:55 AM »
I have a Super 14 barrel someone rechambered to .30-40 Krag from .30-30 and it shoots very well.  I paid only $100 for it, but that was several years ago.  It's even MagnaPorted.  Obviously, you can't give it Ruger No. 1 loads, but the Contender handles standard Krag loads just fine, and it drops deer dead every time.  I also have an older Bullberry carbine barrel chambered in this caliber that I bought used years ago from someone.  Same result.  To each his own....

RonF
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Offline hunter3040

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30/40 conversion is great
« Reply #4 on: April 03, 2006, 04:27:03 AM »
:-) I have a 30/40 Krag rechamber that started out as a Super 14, 30 Herrit.  I love mine.  Very accurate and the recoil is not bad.  Shot my cow elk last year with the Hornady 170 FP (designed for the 3030) pushed by IMR4350.  One shot behind the shoulder and down she went.  No blown up meat!
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Offline Catfish

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Rechamber?
« Reply #5 on: April 03, 2006, 12:04:49 PM »
If your talking Contenders I would recomand forgetting the .444. I have a friend that did that years ago and fired it 4 times, that`s all he could take and he has no problem with his .500 S&W. Contender frames chew up my middle finger bad with heavy kickers so I won`t even shot a .44 mag. on that frame. The Encore is a different animal. It is build for the higher presure rounds and is far better suited to heavy recoil.
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Offline w4dsb

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Rechamber?
« Reply #6 on: April 03, 2006, 04:32:00 PM »
I would go ahead and do the 444 marlin if thats what you want.
I have a 14" 444 marlin rechambered from a 44 magnum and it is great!
reciol is not bad at all , it does however have a break added to it.
PM me if you want more info on this.
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Offline EdK

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Rechamber?
« Reply #7 on: April 04, 2006, 01:57:42 AM »
Scrounger: I'd like to point out I said"

Quote from: EdK
Safety issues aside I look at the economics of it:

1. Barring barrels you already own or bought for next to nothing...


I still stand behind this statement. I've seen a lot of threads where folks lay out plans to do exactly this. However far be it from me to try to dissuade you if you've already got the barrels in hand and have the urge for something new and exciting. I've a couple of TC wildcats myself and they are fun. So if that's the case have fun with the conversions  :D
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Offline doncisler

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Rechamber?
« Reply #8 on: April 05, 2006, 04:22:20 PM »
although it doesn't seem like it would be a problem with the conversions you list one other thing to keep in mind is the difference is twist rate from one cartridge to another in the same calibur.
a .22 hornet doesn't use the same twist rate as the .223, which is different than the .220 swift which is different from.......
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Offline Steve P

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Rechamber?
« Reply #9 on: April 06, 2006, 05:36:34 PM »
The last .444 made from a .44 that I saw was in photos in a thread from this website.  I think that barrel was in 3 pieces.  Someone had put a 6 screw scope base on it.  Overloaded? Improperly rechambered? Drilled too deep for scope base?  Who know.  BUT, TC didn't do it.  So, they shooter had no recourse.  

Do what you wish, document what you do, and keep your receipts!!

Steve   :D

caveat emptor
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Offline georgemu

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My opinion
« Reply #10 on: April 07, 2006, 11:22:02 AM »
Normally you rechamber to get better accuracy. I would also consider getting a muzzle brake also in the larger calibers 445 & 444. For more info do a Google.com search on "contender rechamber".
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