To Rebarrel or Not to Rebarrel?

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BigBore585

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So I bought a Ruger RSM on EE last fall. Awesome rifle! By far my favorite 375H&H I have owned. I have no plans on selling it. The Rifle fits me very well, and is very accurate. But it still leaves me wanting more. Id like a cartridge that has a little more reach. I know the 375 H&H is good to 300 yards, but id like cartridge that will do 500-800 yards with out a rainbow trajectory. I was thinking 300 RUM, 338 RUM, 338 Edge or the 340 Weatherby. Id like to keep the Standard Magnum bolt face so I can still use the 375H&H barrel. So what would You do in my position? Rebarrel the RSM so You can switch barrels back on forth, or just build another longer range hunting rifle and not mess with a good thing?

Your opionions would be great!
Thanks!
 
What gave you the idea that the .375 H/H is limited to 300 yards?

Jim
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I know its not limited to 300 yards.
Like i said I dont want rainbow trajectory. Id like something that shoots flater, faster, and has lots of horse power. I dont see very many people making long shots 600-800 yards on an animal with a 375H&H. Not saying it cant be done.
 
What long range are you reaching for? I have never shot more than 320 yards, Alberta plains and B.C. mountain elk. I have sold more rifles that are for long range than any other gun in my life. If you have extra the coin to re-chamber then why not consider just saving the $$ to go on a hunt with the 375H&H overseas, to have and enjoy something that you can take advantage of. I have a 375 H&H and was just about to book 2 hunts in 2 different places in the world. The price of oil dropping f**ked me over for my trips for now. An early RSM from what I've read is a good rifle, and to have that caliber and shoot good groups in that rifle is one to hold on to. It is a good idea to keep it. If your not into hunting overseas then build what you want off of it, then there are many options to pick from. Just remember there are many actions that are long, but nothing will be as cool as the RSM in H&H that that you had. I say keep it for a good hunt over seas, if not sell it to me for cheap:) I bought a Kimber 338 win mag for my everyday hunting in northern B.C. and its good for now, but its not the rifle I want to hunt the world with, I bought a 375 H&H for that. I will buy your RSM for cheap if your not happy, I love the mauser claw.
 
Yeah, there is no chance of me selling my RSM any time soon. I figured if I got another barrel I can switch them back and forth. The areas I hunt in consist of large hay fields and some bush. Most areas a 400-700 yard shot is not uncommon. One area my average shooting distance is 400 yards. I limit my shots to 150 with Iron sights. I sold off a few of my long range rigs, not that I couldn't use them, I just wanted to try different rifles. But now I want another long range magnum. I have a 6.5x284 Norma, but I still want a big nasty long range hunting rifle, just because. Id also perfer to use a magnum Mauser action. Kinda like the CZ BadLands 338 Lapua, but on the RSM action. I guess I could just wait, find another RSM and modify it.
 
As much as I love my RSM I don't think that it would be the best platform for a Long Range or switch barrel build. The accuracy potential isn't there and given the funky bedding system taking it apart over and over will be a major PITA. You would be better off to use a more appropriate platform for the LR job.
 
Don't touch it... you have a nice platform in a cartridge that suits it. Build another gun in the cartridge of your choice... I guarantee you will miss the H&H and will want it back. I would recommend a .30 cal magnum"ish" cartridge... .300 WM, .300 RCM, .300 WSM. 300 RUM etc...

Bolt action swap barrel sets are a PITA and require rechecking of POI and finicky adjustment of torque etc... worse if you are using QD mounts and a single optic... if you have never done this, take my word, it is not worth it. There are ways of getting it done, but expect to drop a pretty coin to achieve a functional system.

Swap barrel sets can be functionally achieved in a break barrel single shot or double set.
 
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I would don't re-barrel simply because their resale value is so good. They are very sought after and you don't see them for sale very often.
Why not just buy the CZ 550 Badlands in 338 lapua? I think MSRP is around $2500 and a project like this would be around that price anyways. You would have your magnum mauser action in a cartridge that can REALLY stretch out there and it's in a package that is still carry-able.
 
If it were me and you wanted a flatter shooting rifle I'd ream 'er out to 378 Wby, your action is big enough and 270 gn bullets at 3100 fps+ shoot plenty flat out to 6 or 800 mtrs..................Just a thought........
 
If it were me and you wanted a flatter shooting rifle I'd ream 'er out to 378 Wby, your action is big enough and 270 gn bullets at 3100 fps+ shoot plenty flat out to 6 or 800 mtrs..................Just a thought........
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I do like the idea of a 378 Weatherby! One day Id like to build a 375 Cheytac..... But thats a few years away!
 
Assuming you reload your own bullets, a .308 warbird would be nice. I have a custom warbird working its way through the import process as we speak! My dads shoots surprisingly flat out to around 500 yards and he just zeros it for 100. You can load them pretty quick to. They compare to a 30-378 weatherby but I like the lazz cartridge better for some reason
 
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