Advice on the 260 remington

[cosmic]

OP - If I understand you correctly, you want to rebarrel your existing Rem 788 in 308 to a smaller dia caliber such as 260 Rem, which is based on the same case. Accordingly, you are going to spend the following:

1) Barrel - 600$, unless you find a used barrel that is left-hand compatible?? (then 200$ plus extra machining)
2) Reamer, gages - 150$ used
3) Machining, bluing if needed 300$+++
4) Your time and effort, running around $$??

In the end, you will have a custom build based upon a budget rifle that has a street value of 500$. Why not just pick up a nice older left handed rifle in, say, 6.5 x 55 and keep the 788 as is, or sell it as student needs dictate...

 

[MilitaryCollectorMark]

OP - If I understand you correctly, you want to rebarrel your existing Rem 788 in 308 to a smaller dia caliber such as 260 Rem, which is based on the same case. Accordingly, you are going to spend the following:

1) Barrel - 600$, unless you find a used barrel that is left-hand compatible?? (then 200$ plus extra machining)
2) Reamer, gages - 150$ used
3) Machining, bluing if needed 300$+++
4) Your time and effort, running around $$??

In the end, you will have a custom build based upon a budget rifle that has a street value of 500$. Why not just pick up a nice older left handed rifle in, say, 6.5 x 55 and keep the 788 as is, or sell it as student needs dictate...

Try and find a Nice lefty in 6.5....... For the barrel, I'm going to find a used 788 barrel. If the blueing is bad I can always spraybomb the barrel. I'm not worried about my time since it's going to be a really good learning experience.

 

[cosmic]

Try and find a Nice lefty in 6.5....... For the barrel, I'm going to find a used 788 barrel. If the blueing is bad I can always spraybomb the barrel. I'm not worried about my time since it's going to be a really good learning experience.

I think you will have better luck finding a complete left handed rifle in 6.5 x 55, than a 0.264 bore 788 barrel. Tikkas come to mind...

 

[dan belisle]

Try and find a Nice lefty in 6.5....... For the barrel, I'm going to find a used 788 barrel. If the blueing is bad I can always spraybomb the barrel. I'm not worried about my time since it's going to be a really good learning experience.

788's never came in any 6.5 cartridges. With the proper bolt face your choices were 243, 6mm Rem, 7mm-08 and 308.

 

[dan belisle]

Try and find a Nice lefty in 6.5....... For the barrel, I'm going to find a used 788 barrel. If the blueing is bad I can always spraybomb the barrel. I'm not worried about my time since it's going to be a really good learning experience.

There will be no 788 6.5 barrels, you could try rethreading one from a 700 maybe. - dan

 

[MilitaryCollectorMark]

There will be no 788 6.5 barrels, you could try rethreading one from a 700 maybe. - dan

Yup, I'm going to find a 243 barrel and get someone with a 260 reamer to change the calibre.

 

[cosmic]

Yup, I'm going to find a 243 and get someone with a 260 reamer to change the calibre.

Well - You might want to rethink that concept.

 

[MilitaryCollectorMark]

Well - You might want to rethink that concept.

Yeah, spelling error, I was thinking of buying a 243 barrel?

 

[cosmic]

I wasnt questioning your spelling...

 

[MilitaryCollectorMark]

Ok.

 

[bcsteve]

What cosmic is trying to hint at his that the reamer will change the chamber but not the little hole down the barrel.

 

[MilitaryCollectorMark]

What cosmic is trying to hint at his that the reamer will change the chamber but not the little hole down the barrel.

Yeah, I'm not the most familar with all the stuff since this is my 1st time thinking of doing this.

Apologies if I sounded a bit snarky..

 

[tiriaq]

If you wanted to have a 788 barrel rebored and rechambered in .260, you could start with a .222, .223, .22-.250. A .243 could be rebored, but the existing chamber might or might not be OK without being reworked.
Basically, the barrel is drilled and reamed, then rifled. The chamber will have to be finalized when the barrel is fitted to the action.
I cannot suggest anyone who could rebore the barrel for you.
Reboring is a bit of a crap shoot, undertaken at your risk.

A rebore might be less expensive than a blank. Might be as good, not likely to be better.

Reboring an existing 788 barrel could be done; can't say if it would be practical or cost effective.

 

[MilitaryCollectorMark]

Just talking to Potashminer, He had a idea of using a swede barrel in 6.5x55.

Just mill down and make new threads?

Any idea if it might work??

 

[tiriaq]

I doubt that there would be enough meat in the shank to rethread for the 788. 96 Mauser threads are smaller than the 788's, and the diameter forward of the shank isn't large.

 

[hoytcanon]

Yup, I'm going to find a 243 barrel and get someone with a 260 reamer to change the calibre.

Wow...

 

[ShrtRnd]

Is the 788 platform based on what you have on hand currently?

 

[MilitaryCollectorMark]

Is the 788 platform based on what you have on hand currently?

Yes, I have a Remington 788 in 308.

 

[Potashminer]

I doubt that there would be enough meat in the shank to rethread for the 788. 96 Mauser threads are smaller than the 788's, and the diameter forward of the shank isn't large.

I just confirmed that to be correct and true - the chamber area ahead of the Mauser stop shoulder is about .040" or so less diameter than the Rem 788 threads - I lathed off that shoulder to the chamber diameter - might have taken 10% of the tenon thread in doing so - then realized I had better actually measure it instead of eye-balling it. Crap! Should have been first step!!!

A junky 788 barrel on top to compare tenon threads - my "learning lesson" below - that one used to be from a Swede M94 Carbine - pretty much pooched inside.

 

[ShrtRnd]

Yes, I have a Remington 788 in 308.

Have you given thought to possibly selling/trading it for a lefty 700 with a .308 bolt face? Would open up a plethora of barrel and aftermarket
options for you over the 788.