Barrel replacement

[Snoepie]

I have a Sako Forester in .308 Win. It often happens that after having fired a round, I would have to use extreme force to open the bolt. This is an old rifle that I inherited from my dad and I have no idea how many rounds have been fired through it. I reload and my loads are always mild.

I have been told that the chamber is worn, causing the case to expand too much.

My questions are:

1. Is this indeed my most likely problem and if so, do I need to replace the barrel;

2. If I need to have the barrel replaced, what will the approximate costs be;

3. Will I be able to retain the existing sights on the new barrel so as not to change the character of the rifle;

4. Will I be able to change to a different caliber (thinking of .243) and will this affect the costs;

5. Can anybody recommend a reliable gunsmith to do this (preferably in the Calgary area);

6. Lastly, the pistol grip cap on this rifle is broken - any suggestions of where I might find a new one?

Your input will be appreciated.

 

[H4831]

Clean the chamber and look at it. If it is not all rusted and pitted, it is not the chambes fault. Chambers don't wear out from shooting regualr loads.
Bolt opens hard, case is stuck in chamber. Sticking cases caused by overloading and/or very dirty, maybe pitted chamber.
Clean the chamber, maybe with a bronze brush for a 410 shotgun.
Thoroughly dry the chamber, with no oil or grease left in it.
Fire some factory loads and see what happens.

 

[Snoepie]

H4831,

Thank you for your response - I was hoping for some more input from all those clever members, but in the end you were the only one responding.

What you are saying makes sense and I will certainly do it. However, if the chamber is pitted, do I then have to replace the barrel or is there another solution?

 

[maynard]

Clean the chamber as H4831 suggested. Also put a dab of grease on the locking lugs and on the bolt handle where your primary extraction cam is. Your bolt cocks on opening so if you have a very stiff firing pin spring it will cause a heavy bolt lift.

 

[SuperCub]

I had a rifle with a very light skim of rust in the chamber and it would hold brass like a vise, even with very light loads.

I polished the chamber with some fine steel wool on a split wooden dowel chucked in a drill with some oil to lube. Problem solved!

.

 

[blargon]

However, if the chamber is pitted, do I then have to replace the barrel or is there another solution?

Try cleaning/polishing the camber first. If it is pitted, you could likely have a smith set back and rechamber it to .308 again. This would clean up the chamber walls and the throat, but your barrel would be slightly shorter. Still should only cost ~$200, where a new barrel will be ~$700 installed.

 

[StoneHorse]

H4831,

Thank you for your response - I was hoping for some more input from all those clever members, but in the end you were the only one responding.

What you are saying makes sense and I will certainly do it. However, if the chamber is pitted, do I then have to replace the barrel or is there another solution?

You may get a better response if you post your question in the Gunsmithing Forum .
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=91