- Location
- WMU203, Alberta (YCT)
This is something I've considered doing but I don't understand the process, I know I need to pick a calibre, a finished length... after that 
Is There a Beginners Guide to Upgrading Barrels?
- Thread starter angrygopher
- Start date
Blastattack
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Winnipeg MB
And pick your twist, material, profile. Then onto installation, thread the shank and perform any necessary breech work to fit the bolt, chamber, polish, muzzle threads (yes or no), finishes ("paint", nitride, bluing, polished, bead blasted etc).
This is something I've considered doing but I don't understand the process, I know I need to pick a calibre, a finished length... after that
If you don't understand the process, how, exactly, did you think you had the skills to pull it off? Or the tools?
It sounds a lot like you gotta pick a barrel make, pay your money, pick a gunsmith, pay your money, then hope it all works out, rinse and repeat if it doesn't.
It isn't rocket science, just a bunch of careful set up and decent machining. If you have the tools and the skillset you don't really need the beginners guide, and if you don't, the beginners guide is just going to cause you more confusion than help.
Or, were you looking at screwing a new barrel on to a Savage or the like?
- Location
- WMU203, Alberta (YCT)
I'm not a gunsmith, nor to intend to be, I want to understand the process of ordering a barrel. Specifically, I have 2 guns that I may or may not want to upgrade. The first is an older Parker Hale .270 that I'm tempted to switch over to a .280 Remington for hunting. The other is a 7-08 Rem 700 that I want to change to a heavier barrel with a faster twist rate for long-range 'plinking'.
Nice choices and there are mane companies and people who can help with your 700. There one of the easiest. I am at a loss on the parker Hale, a generation off I guess. I expect it just a screw on barrel like all the rest, barrel nut or not any reputable barrel company should be capable of offering you a chambered and threaded barrel in the twist of your choice. I only have 20-30 guns I have done myself and there is always a little surprise but I really enjoy it and find it very rewarding. Any questions shoot me a pm
Blastattack
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Winnipeg MB
Keep in mind the cost is going to be about $750 per barrel once installed. Maybe more depending if you want any special features such as fluting, muzzle threads, extra length etc.
- Location
- WMU203, Alberta (YCT)
The parker hale, in particular, has some sentimental value so even though it's probably not 'worth it' I'm not entirely shy of spending $750 on a new barrel.
686 Shooter
Regular
Don't let anyone tell you what is or isn't worth it. That is completely up to you. I have spent a pile of money on things that many said were not worth it. Everything from guns, to motorcycles, to women. I don't regret a thing.
You decide if it's worth it, not Tom, ####, or Harry from Toronto.
Parker Hale is basically a Mauser. Threads on and off. Little more measuring, but not appreciably more work than a Rem or similar. You might be able to rebore the PH barrel, but I’m not sure if there’s enough steel there to work with. Brownells, Shilen and Douglas all used to offer pre chambered and threaded barrels for a large ring Mauser, and that should work on your PH if you prefer that route. - dan
In the early days, it was common for some barrelmakers to offer barrels which were threaded to fit large ring mausers and were chambered deep. The idea was that the purchaser could simply shorten the breech end of the barrel with a file and establish headspace. A fine idea, as far as it went but most buyers had no understanding at all of headspace and, in addition, were not all that skilled at filing and fitting. Barrelmakers then started offering short chamber barrels in which the chamber could be deepened,by hand, with a finish reamer. Now, the barrel nut, like that used by Savage since the 1950's, has gone from being a cheap way of fitting barrel to a desired feature and offers another means for a shooter to change his own barrel. All he needs is a headspace gauge and a wrench.
Pick a gunsmith, talk to him... he can advise you. Barrel blanks are made with the correct twist for factory calibres and factory ammo. It really isn't rocket science when it comes to that.
The existing stock will limit how heavy a replacement barrel can be.
The existing stock will limit how heavy a replacement barrel can be.
- Location
- WMU203, Alberta (YCT)
The 700 has a Magpul Hunter stock.
Then pretty much what you need to do is decide, buy, and talk to a gunsmith. Or, likely even better, decide, talk to the gunsmith, then buy. Talking to the smith, may or may not cause you to consider buying something different than you were looking at.
Ever seen a 'beginners guide' to buying a set of tires for a car? I have not. It's about that kind of decision. You decide at about what price point it no longer makes you happy to be there. You can buy what you decide to buy, from wherever you want.
Then you hire who you want, to install what you bought.
If you already have an idea that heavier bullets need a faster twist to stabilize, you pretty much got the idea.
Otherwise, it's about like asking for the beginners guide to buying a can of soup at the grocery store. You gotta decide for yourself.
It really does sound like you think their is some secret handshake you need to know to be able to buy a barrel, or some dark art to it. There isn't.
You figure out what you want, you find someone that has that, or can get it, you buy it.
There are stickies related to importing stuff from the Excited States yourself, or you can hire someone to do the paperwork for you for a price. Or you buy the exact same barrel from a Canadian vendor that has done the same paperwork already, and is spreading their costs over a entire shipment of barrels and other stuff, so they might be able to sell at a profit while still being competitively priced. Or you track down a Canadian barrel maker and buy from them.
Milofficer
CGN Regular
- Location
- Vancouver, BC
Send an email to Ryan at IBI. They can definitely help you out. if you send them your current barreled action, they can remove the old barrel, whip up your replacement to your desired length, twist, profile and chambering, and install it for you as well.
This thread was a great topic for discussion and learning a few things at the same time... It would be great if there was a bit more information on Canadian gunsmiths who are familiar with barrel work and other work... So in response to above comment by Milofficer most of us may not know what IBI stands for. A little more details helps...
Milofficer
CGN Regular
- Location
- Vancouver, BC
Sure, I'm happy to provide more info. IBI is International Barrels Inc. it's a Canadian owned and operated barrel manufacturer located in Chilliwack BC, a stone's throw from MDT chassis and Ultimatum Precision. They're still relatively new, but there's a ton of knowledge and experience in that shop. Full disclosure, I used to work there as one of the barrel manufacturing techs. I'm not paid or sponsored by them, but I believe very strongly in what they are doing, the product they produce and in supporting a Canadian business.
IBI makes everything from rifled blanks to finished, contoured and chambered barrels. They primarily work with 416R stainless but also produce barrels from 4140 steel. IBI barrels are hand lapped, double stress relieved, button rifled, and CNC honed to within .0001" for exacting bore dimensions (not in that order).
Ryan Steacy at IBI is a very accomplished shooter and is super helpful. If you have questions about a project, he is the guy to talk to. ht tps://www.internationalbarrels.ca/
You can send in your existing barreled action to IBI, and they'll make your new barrel to your specs, and install it for you as well. Look them up on Facebook - the proof is in the pudding and a lot of happy customers post their results in the IBI page.
IBI makes everything from rifled blanks to finished, contoured and chambered barrels. They primarily work with 416R stainless but also produce barrels from 4140 steel. IBI barrels are hand lapped, double stress relieved, button rifled, and CNC honed to within .0001" for exacting bore dimensions (not in that order).
Ryan Steacy at IBI is a very accomplished shooter and is super helpful. If you have questions about a project, he is the guy to talk to. ht tps://www.internationalbarrels.ca/
You can send in your existing barreled action to IBI, and they'll make your new barrel to your specs, and install it for you as well. Look them up on Facebook - the proof is in the pudding and a lot of happy customers post their results in the IBI page.
I would suggest visiting the major barrel manufacturers' sites - Shilen, McMillan, and the like. They generally have a great description of what makes a barrel special, or not, normally list the variations options, finishes and whatever else, and they have prices. Sure, they are US products, with US prices, but they do provide a basis for comparison. Get a current list of Canadian barrel manufacturers if that spins your crank, and read the reviews, and then find a rifle smith who can get what you want, do what you want, in the same general time-frame you want, for the money you are prepared to spend, and go for it.
