Why re-barrel?

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petew

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It seems to be quite popular to re barrel a rifle these days, but for the life of me I don't see why people are doing this when you can buy a new or very good used rifle in the desired caliber for the cost of re barreling. In the end you have 2 rifles. Perhaps a competition shooter wanting a custom barrel can justify the process, but for the average hunting / plinking shooter it doesn't make sense.
I don't get it . I considered a re chamber for a while on a 6.5 x 55 , but again the cost to do it didn't make sense so I dropped the idea.
I am curious as to why re barreling is so popular today with the Joe average shooters.
 
There are a lot of reasons one might choose to re-barrel. Some are very practical reasons, while others are simply "because I want to" reasons. In practical terms, if one has a cherished, well-used rifle that has a shot-out barrel, then one might decide to have a new barrel fitted in the same or a different calibre to put the rifle back into service and add to the memories already made with it. Others may have a rifle that is functional, but is in an odd or obsolete calibre that can't easily be found or made, and they might also choose to re-barrel in a more main-stream calibre. Under the "because I want to" reasons, some might want to try a wildcat or rare calibre, others might just want a longer or shorter barrel; the list goes on. In my opinion, as long as the owner is keeping their firearms in working order and enjoying them safely and properly, I say do what you want, unless the firearm is a collectible.
 
I rebarrel or rechamber/rebore, when I can't get the desired cartridge in the platform I want... I have two of those projects underway.
 
Caliber change (often a less common one) in a familiar rifle is probably the best reason. Also, match barrels are more accurate, especially semi custom chambers. My brother gained 0.3MOA with an aftermarket barrel on his 700. Same reason hunters don't stop at 1 rifle, even though a 300WM would fill most needs in North America. It's like getting your significant other a boob job, instead of starting all over with an unknown partner.
 
Once the throat is eroded , and the accuracy has deteriorated on a good quality rifle, do you just throw the action/trigger, bottom metal/stock away? Or do you just let it all sit around unused, because the accuracy is sub standard? The obvious solution is to rebarrel the rifle, and to keep using it.

As well, you might not be able to find a rifle in the desired chambering, with the twist rate, or barrel contour that you desire. Or you desire a cartridge that isn't chambered in the rifle that you desire.
 
For an average hunter/plinker it really doesn't make a lot of sense cost wise to rebarrel a rifle.

However you don't need to be involved in competition of any type to seek after the level of accuracy that only comes with a custom barrel.


Once you are bitten by the accuracy bug, all logic and practicality goes out the window.
 
I will re-barrel if I have a particular rifle that fits me like no other.. for example a '50s vintage Mod. 70 Winchester with a tired barrel.
Also if I want same rifle in a chambering that hasn't existed for decades.... 256 Newton.
Or maybe I feel the need for a shoulder-breaking thumper.... a Ruger # 1 in 450 / 348 Ackley Imp. ( does nothing more than my 458 but I like it ).

In my world there are lots of reasons to re-barrel a rifle, I can find another valid reason every day , and to help my interest I also know a couple gunsmith / friends who are more than willing to help my addiction..
 
I have two rifles that can't be bought today, and are quite rare but the throat is eroded quite bad in both. Both will get new barrels. The STW will be on its third or fourth barrel, can't remember right now lol. The last one was a Douglass, next barrel is yet to be decided.
 
Here is an actual case. Bought a Remington 700 BDL made in 1972 in .243. The barrel was not worn out but was worn. I paid $350. Took the barrel off and sold for $75. Bought a 243 takeoff in sporter configuration for $100 shipped to me. This barrel is pristine. Spun the old one off and the new one on for $50. That gives me $425 in a quality Remington 700 BDL. Cannot buy one for that.
 
Whatever twist rate you want;
Chamber cut how you want;
Contour you want;
Finish you want;
Crown you want;
Barrel length you want;
Type of rifling you want (cut, 5R etc);
Shot on barrel on a rifle you want to keep for sentimental reasons;
and....because that's what you want to do.
 
1899 said:
Whatever twist rate you want;
Chamber cut how you want;
Contour you want;
Finish you want;
Crown you want;
Barrel length you want;
Type of rifling you want (cut, 5R etc);
Shot on barrel on a rifle you want to keep for sentimental reasons;
and....because that's what you want to do.
Click to expand...

nailed.

I would add...

"to do something different and satisfying."

I simply cannot convince myself to buy a new, modern firearm anymore. Everything these days seems to derive from a project for me.
 
Hey Everyone, I have a sort of related question. If you do decide that you will re-barrel when the time comes, how long (in barrel lives...) can you expect to keep that firearm? I'm guessing: "it depends..." What I'm thinking of is a modern firearm. For instance, I just bought a Tikka T3 Lite in 6.5x55.
 
salon_1928 said:
Hey Everyone, I have a sort of related question. If you do decide that you will re-barrel when the time comes, how long (in barrel lives...) can you expect to keep that firearm? I'm guessing: "it depends..." What I'm thinking of is a modern firearm. For instance, I just bought a Tikka T3 Lite in 6.5x55.
Click to expand...

Often I see a rifle I have built (and one that shoots very well) up for sale on the EE...within a year and at a loss to the owner and with very few rounds through it...
 
Gerald said:
Here is an actual case. Bought a Remington 700 BDL made in 1972 in .243. The barrel was not worn out but was worn. I paid $350. Took the barrel off and sold for $75. Bought a 243 takeoff in sporter configuration for $100 shipped to me. This barrel is pristine. Spun the old one off and the new one on for $50. That gives me $425 in a quality Remington 700 BDL. Cannot buy one for that.
Click to expand...

You usually can't buy a 700 for $350 either...
 
I know Dennis but sometimes things just come together. The wood on this rifle is well used and shows use but for what I use it for it is quite servicable. What I am trying to point out is that this is one instance where rebarrelling was more cost effective than buying a new rifle. I like cruising the parts for sale in the EE for just this reason.
 
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People re-barrel because gunsmiths have spent years telling them it's a good idea. Quit trying to screw it up!
Seriously, of the many rifles I have re-barreled, only a very small percentage were re-barreled because the original barrel was worn out. Some were done to improve accuracy, some to change the cartridge for which the rifle was chambered and some to change configuration.
 
I'm rebarrelling a 1910/MKIII Ross Rifle to .300 Win Mag for no other reason than I can and I want to. Sometimes having something different is it's own reward.
 
Leeper said:
People re-barrel because gunsmiths have spent years telling them it's a good idea. Quit trying to screw it up!
Seriously, of the many rifles I have re-barreled, only a very small percentage were re-barreled because the original barrel was worn out. Some were done to improve accuracy, some to change the cartridge for which the rifle was chambered and some to change configuration.
Click to expand...

LMAO .. I think Bill is quite an honest gentleman.
 
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