Can a barrel be drilled out for a new caliber?

[RevJim]

1023- I might be way off on the price I quoted just for the Shilen barrel....I do know that a rebarrel goes for around $550 and up, depending upon what barrel maker you choose. I have had several rifles made up by Ray with shilen barrels, from 6.5 Creedmoor to 300 RUM and they all shot extremely well. I still think Ray can get you fixed up at a good rate though. Good luck to you.

 

[jb1023]

So I'm looking at a Weatherby that comes with a Leupold scope mount. I've never seen anything like this before. Can anyone tell me if this is a decent scope mount or like the barrel and stock would it be a throw away? Does not appear to have any cant to it so I'm guessing it would be a throw away.

P.S. Maybe I should change the title of this thread to "Help me build a rifle" or something;-)

 

[jb1023]

A local gunsmith (HTC), who has a very good online rep, publishes his prices on his site.
New Barrel (includes blueprinting action) $725
Install Customer Barrel $225
True Action $175
Blue/Hot Blue $75

Based on his prices I am looking at:
B&C stock $250
Used action $350
Sub Total $600

Then we have the barrel options:
Option 1
HTC made barrel installed/trued $725
Option 1 Total $1325


Option 2
Shilen barrel (what I am finding online) $350
HTC does install $225
Option 2 Total $1175

Option 3 (Will be calling and doing research on him today)
Night Owl Shilen barrel $175ish
Night Owl labor $???
Option 3 Total $775ish plus labor

Option 2 and 3(?) does not include truing the action. How important is that since this is not a match rifle?

So I just spoke with HTC as well as NightOwl. First what HTC had to say:

$725 is for the barrel, blueprinting and labor. He uses Lilja but will do Shilen or Douglas if requested at this price. Lilja however does have a 11-12 week back order. Shilen and Douglas might be in-stock, at mfg, but can't say for sure as that was based on something they send out and not actually calling them. I did not ask but on his website it looks like it would be an add'l $75 to blue the action and barrel. For a 7-08 he recommended a 1:9 which he said would stabilize up to 175gn bullets. Turn around time, would be about 2 weeks plus however long to get the barrel in.

NightOwl said it would be $600 for a Shilen barrel. He said Howa's don't really need much truing as they are usually pretty tight. I'm a bit confused on the pricing though and did not ask for clarification for some reason. But $300 for blueprinting and I think he said if it did not really need it then it would only be $40 to lock in the lugs. Does that sound plausible? I also did not ask about bluing but assume it to be in the $50-100 range. He said his turn around time would be 4 weeks depending on how quickly he was able to get the barrel. I would also of course have whatever shipping fees would be required. FFL?

Looks like I could order a barrel from Pac-Nor for $275 which would drop Option 2 down to $1100. I also heard about The Barrel Man but there is no contact info on his website so I'm guessing he is not still in business.

 

[RevJim]

Ray gets a ton of "OMG hunting season is upon me" business, which explains his 4 wk turnaround. In my humble opinion, he is worth the wait and price. However, I do not get a "kick back" nor even the "Tithe" off his work! ha! I just know I have had several rifles that shot way less than .5 MOA through the years...

 

[sable tireur]

RevJim,

You're certainly doing a great job of representing your GS.



I have had some experience fixing a couple of the problems that clients have run into using HTC, besides noting that his prices are higher than much of the industry.


I think you need to look into this a little deeper and do a lot more price checking.



You can get the top riflemaker in the U.S. to blueprint and barrel a Remington action you provide with a Bartlein barrel they provide for $715.00 and this is with the top barrel maker in the U.S. as well. They have the Remington actions in stock if you need one.


It's a 2-month turn around for a barreled action.


Seriously, look for some more prices and a better known set of gunsmiths with which to compare prices.


If you need help locating a few, post again or let me know.


Regards.

 

[jb1023]

RevJim,

You're certainly doing a great job of representing your GS.



I have had some experience fixing a couple of the problems that clients have run into using HTC, besides noting that his prices are higher than much of the industry.


I think you need to look into this a little deeper and do a lot more price checking.



You can get the top riflemaker in the U.S. to blueprint and barrel a Remington action you provide with a Bartlein barrel they provide for $715.00 and this is with the top barrel maker in the U.S. as well. They have the Remington actions in stock if you need one.


It's a 2-month turn around for a barreled action.


Seriously, look for some more prices and a better known set of gunsmiths with which to compare prices.


If you need help locating a few, post again or let me know.


Regards.

Sable, PM has been sent. Thank you. Post your response here in the thread or in PM, whichever you are more comfortable with, I just wanted to give you the option since we are talking about their contact info.

I've been looking specifically for a Howa action but if a Rem is available for a good price then that would be fine too. Not TOO concerned with turn around time. I figure this will be a winter project so as long as I have it back by February so I can finish it up for spring I will be happy.

I just received a reply from Rock Creek Barrels and they said they would send me a blank for $320 but if I wanted it threaded for a Savage a smith would have to do that. Not sure where that came from as I asked about a Howa. Probably the same response though, have a smith do it.

 

[sable tireur]

jb1023,

Check your pm.

Thanks!

 

[bigngreen]

RevJim,

You're certainly doing a great job of representing your GS.

At least he posted a name.

 

[RevJim]

At least he posted a name.

I know! You would think after 20+ yrs of doing business together I would at least get an 5% commission, ha. I have used other smiths, for different things, throughout, but my friend is local, does great work too, and as mentioned, has made some very fine shooters for me and others. But, like good Preachers, he "ain't" the only one around!

 

[sable tireur]

At least he posted a name.

bigngreen,

And what is that supposed to mean? I can't see that naming names has anything to do with the discussion except for the OP.

I have tried to keep much of the information I post as neutral as possible so folks won't accuse me of being prejudiced and pushing my agenda. Now you accuse me of withholding information as being bad behavior.

I have contacted the original poster in order to suggest a list of people that can handle his particular problem within a range of real prices based on better barrels and known reputation.

It's not that I doubt the abilities of any other suggested 'smiths (although there are exceptions) but I am just not aware of them (not unusual) and some of the prices seem a tad high based on my work and the work of others well known in the industry.

Regards.

 

[bigngreen]

Hint dropping, acting like you have quality info then just creeping on PM's is in general considered poor forum conduct.

 

[sable tireur]

Hint dropping, acting like you have quality info then just creeping on PM's is in general considered poor forum conduct.

bigngreen,

There was no hint dropping at all. I stated all the information except the name of the gunsmith. And PMs are a simple solution to keeping some information between the OP and another poster when it doesn't have a bearing on the other posters. If we're not supposed to make use the PMs because it's 'bad form' then maybe we need to get Len to remove that function to keep you from missing anything.

Regards.

 

[jb1023]

Re: Help me with a new build

So I picked up a Savage 110 30-06 w/accu-trigger yesterday. Not the SA Howa 1500 I was looking for but for the $300 I paid I am very happy. Of course there is a near new Weatherby 270 for auction right now and the current bid is $205 with only 7 bidders and 4hrs left so that might end up going for $300 or less too. Anyway, I'm now on to the final gunsmith cuts, leaning towards Mark Chanlynn @Rocky Mtn Rifle Works but waiting on a call back from G.A. Precision, and determining what caliber to go with. I was going to build a 7-08 but since I now have a LA to work with I'm debating between a 6.5x55 and a .280 with the .270 in the mix but leaning towards the Swede. I kept the 7-08 in the comparison only because it was my initial choice.

 

[sable tireur]

jb1023,

Good for you! One down and one to go.

Good Luck with your project!