Reality check please: Rechambering a Rem 760?

A

alpining

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Hi all - I've no idea what this sort of thing should cost, and I'd appreciate any input that you more experienced folks can offer.

Let's say I want to get an early Remington 760 (30-06 or 270) rechambered for 35 Whelen, using the original barrel. How much should I expect a local gunsmith to charge?

Thanks
 
Unless your local gunsmith is a barrel maker, it isn't going to happen. The .30-06 barrel would have to be reamed and rifled to .35 caliber. Very few gunsmiths are equipped to do reboring.
On the other hand, installing a replacement barrel in a 760 is doable. A .35 barrel would have to be sourced and contoured. The barrel extension would have to be fitted, and the chamber reamed.
 
Dang - Not what I wanted to hear, but exactly what I needed to hear.

I'm guessing that reboring would be more costly than rebarreling, is that right?
 
Perhaps less costly. A lot would depend on what could be had in the way of a .35 barrel. If you had to buy a custom barrel, there's $500 right from the get go, without any work being done to install it.
There are few reborers in Canada. Have heard a waiting list of a year. Reboring could be less expensive. No fitting of the barrel to the barrel extension or reaming of an entire chamber. With a rebore, only the neck and throat would be reamed.
Some folks have set up their 760s as multiple barrel rigs. The barrels can be switched out easily with nothing more than the shank of a screwdriver to pop the barrel retainer loose. Watch for take-off barrels. You could have a .243, a .30-06 carbine and your .35Whelan. Change barrels, and magazines if necessary.
 
alpining said:
Dang - Not what I wanted to hear, but exactly what I needed to hear.

I'm guessing that reboring would be more costly than rebarreling, is that right?
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Reboring is almost always substantially less expensive than trying to rebarrel with a new blank, especially if you have bluing, markings, sights, gas systems or other “clocked” paraphernalia attached to the barrel that you want to preserve.
 
save your money and grief and buy a rifle in the caliber you want. your choice of platform is not ideal for conversions or work. the 760 is slightly more friendly than the 742.
 
Yes one suggestion would be to put up a want to buy ad for the rifle want. They are out there and come up on EE occasionally
 
Neilm said:
Yes one suggestion would be to put up a want to buy ad for the rifle want. They are out there and come up on EE occasionally
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That's what I'd do. I have a 7600 in 35 Whelen, first year of regular production. Good close range thumper. It was an engagement present from my late wife. Shortly after that there was a pile of them getting blown out at bargain prices; there just has to be some around.
 
Thanks folks - I've had a WTB ad up for a while, no luck. I only came across one .35 after a few months of looking, and the seller wanted crazy money for it. So, this rifle might simply be out of reach for me right now.
 
alpining said:
Thanks folks - I've had a WTB ad up for a while, no luck. I only came across one .35 after a few months of looking, and the seller wanted crazy money for it. So, this rifle might simply be out of reach for me right now.
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I know you’re kinda set on the .35 but a 760 or 7600 in 30-06 is a great firearm for pretty much all large game in this country. Ammo is plentiful as well.
 
I agree, nothing wrong with the -06, I own one already! I'd like one or both of the .35 options to play around with some special handloading ideas.
 
Does anybody remember 'big giant head' from either Elm Creek or St Claude Mb? It's been several years but he was working on making the 760 barrel?/chamber extensions for barrel swapping on the 760's.
 
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