need barrel advice????

mo30284 · #1 07-13-2008, 02:23 PM

I need a little help... My friend has a 30 inch 7mm mag., with a 6 inch shank, that is a real shooter!!! Recently he had a case separate in chamber, he had to take barrel off to get case out of chamber. He has decided to go with a 30. cal.

He said I can have barrel, and my question is it worth me re-chambering the barrel? I want to make it a 284 Winchester. Please keep in mind this barrel has been shot 2 to 3 thousand times and had throat erosion. I guess my question is does rifling wear out in barrel???

Thanks Moe

britz · #2 07-13-2008, 02:55 PM

I would assume that you could make a 26" barrel out of it and it would last another thousand rounds or so. but it will cost you a couple hundred dollars to do that. ??????

Dan Carey · #3 07-13-2008, 07:28 PM

Even if he gave you the barrel, you will have more money in it than its worth, before you fire the first shot.

mo30284 · #4 07-13-2008, 11:24 PM

The barrel has been fluted, cyro, and muzzle brake. If I buy a new barrel have it fluted, chambered muzzle brake that's a chunk of change!!! What I want to know does rifling wear out on a barrel??? The barrel was still accurate up until the day he took it off, even with all the throat erosion. The barrel is free. Thanks Lance

mo30284 · #5 07-13-2008, 11:44 PM

My buddy told me he counted the left over bullet boxes, and the barrel has no more then 1200 rounds down it. Moe

specweldtom · #6 07-15-2008, 12:51 AM

mo, if you can do the work yourself, and it's about a 9 twist, try it. If you set it back a couple of inches, the .284 will have a new throat, and you'll have a seasoned barrel that is a known shooter. If I had to pay someone to do it, and didn't need 1/8 moa, I would still use it and save the $300-$400 that a new blank will cost.

You can wear out a barrel, but 1200 rds of 7 Mag is not going to do it. The crown might be a little tired, though.

Hope it works out for you, Tom

On edit: If you decide not to use it, P/M me. I can always use a proven 7mm barrel.

eddybo · #7 07-15-2008, 01:23 AM

I would chop a couple inches off then re chamber and never give the fact that it was used a second thought. I had a 6x284 built that would never shoot. I burned the throat out of it in short order and had it re barreled in 6.5x47 and the gun shot lights out. Since I had used a palma taper barrel it had enough meat before the taper to cut a couple inches off and have it look presentable in a sendero take off stock. I had the shortened barrel re chambered in 243Ai and couldn't be happier. Lo and behold the barrel that wouldn't shoot before now shoots itty bitty groups.