Which Rifle Is Best To Rebarrel..M70, M7, X-Bolt???

Tabacco Brook

Tabacco Brook

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OK guys,...I've got a new storm going on in my head,..I'm thinking about rebarreling a rifle to .358 Winchester and I'm wondering which is the easiest/best/cheapest to rebarrel,...the Model 70 featherweight,..the Model Seven,..or X-Bolt.
Also,..what barrell,..and who or where is the best to get it done?

Thanks
 
Jerry @ Mystic Precission being a site sponsor should be able to shed some light on a barrel.
Time is of the essence with most GunSmiths as they get booked up fast.
Just some information to assist you along in your quest.
Tight Groups,
Rob
 
Tabacco Brook said:
OK guys,...I've got a new storm going on in my head,..I'm thinking about rebarreling a rifle to .358 Winchester and I'm wondering which is the easiest/best/cheapest to rebarrel,...the Model 70 featherweight,..the Model Seven,..or X-Bolt.
Also,..what barrell,..and who or where is the best to get it done?

Thanks
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Three words that don't go together - easiest/best/cheapest

If the Model 70 is the pre 64 style requiring an extractor cut in the barrel, it is the least expensive requiring more labour.

I would prefer the X Bolt, it's a 3 lug action and is nice to carry in the hand and has a nice detachable magazine, and a tang safety with allowance to open the bolt.

I would also prefer doing it as a .338 Federal.
 
OK guys,...thanks for the info so far. My rifle of preference would be the X-Bolt,..but I haven't seen or read too much about them being rebarreled. My plan is to buy the rifle and have it rebarreled,...I don't already have it on hand. There are a few reason I want to go with the 358win, and one of the main reasons is I already have a BLR in 358 and have all the reload gear and components,..plus I just have a thing for the 358.
I want a short action with a 20" barrel so I figured if I picked up a 7, 70, or X-bolt in 308 I would be good to go. Correct me if I'm wrong but most other rifles, (Tikka, Rem 700s, Howas, etc), are long action.
I am "green" about rifle builds so I am open to any and all advice. Just so you know, this rifle is a want and not a need,..like I said it's a brain storm that has been brewing in my head for awhile so I thought I would ask for some advice from people who know what is the best route for me to take before I pursue it any further.

Thanks

PS,..Merry Christmas to you all.
 
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Best Bet would be to contact somebody in your area and see which actions they prefer to work on not sure what/who in your area would be best to contact, I know Hirsch precision is your direction but if they are close to you I have no idea.

Merry Christmas :)
 
Tabacco Brook said:
OK guys,...I've got a new storm going on in my head,..I'm thinking about rebarreling a rifle to .358 Winchester and I'm wondering which is the easiest/best/cheapest to rebarrel,...the Model 70 featherweight,..the Model Seven,..or X-Bolt.
Also,..what barrell,..and who or where is the best to get it done?

Thanks
Click to expand...

Ok, now I realize that you have made rifle choices but here is what I went with... a factory built 358 in the Ruger Frontier with the 16.5 " barrel.
Like you, I would have preferred a Winchester Mod. 70 and I was still licking my wounds after buying and dealing with two problem Rugers but something made me buy this one and seriously I could not be happier with it.
One trip to the range with a box of 225 gr. handloads with a load out of a manual ( no load development ) showed that it had real potential and first trip out it filled a tag, now that makes it a keeper for me.
Pick the rifle of your choice and stick with the 358 plan, despite the critics it is a fine cartridge and you would be able to make good accurate loads with a decent range of available bullets.
 
Fredericton Gun Shop does custom builds which would be close (kinda). Not sure if these guys are still around: Armurerie DC Gunsmith NB 506-826-9017
 
make the purists cry and order a remington prefit barrel that utilizes a barrel nut to headspace...........

I have a CM 12 twist pre fit savage barrel on order from Jerry in 358 Win, just a heads up that shillen is hand lapping them now..........savage 14 repeater off the EE for just under 400 bucks and a 4 month wait, until the pieces show up I'll just stay entertained with the savage 35 rem stainless laminate toy
 
SuperCub said:
I would do the Model Seven.
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I once had a old style blued/walnut Model Seven in 358 with 20 inch bbl. It was a sweet little rifle that handled very well. The gent I bought it from expressed desire to have it back so back it went.

If I was to do another, I would do the same with 20 - 21" blued bbl with Rem factory sights and a Leupold 1.5-5 with a decent 1/2" pad.
 
You are mistaken as the 700 Rem comes in both short and long actions. My preference would be a short 700 Rem with a LW 21" barrel in a Brown Precision Kevlar or fiberglass stock with a good recoil pad. I have a 358 in a mod7 Rem now and it is a wonderful shooter, it is in an old Schnabel walnut stock from the very first run of mod 7s. Great cartridge and rifle.
 
I would have thought the M70 would have been the easiest. It's what I used to rebarrell a 375H&H to 404 Jeffery. Fitting a PacNor barrel was no problem just had to make a couple of extra extractor cuts, trim the feed ramp a bit, open up the barrel channel and that was basically it. Corlanes in BC did the work.
 
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