Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Gunsmithing Turning barrel down ?

Evening All,
I have bull barreled Savage model 10 in 308 Win. It shoots pretty good with hunting loads however it’s a stout barrel (.875” at the muzzle)
Is it worth turning it to a more reasonable .625” or so? Or just rebarrel/sell the rifle? Also who might do a good job turning it?

Thanks, Tom

If you have your own lathe and time it’s no problem to do it. If you don’t you’re likely money ahead to buy a prefit in the contour you want and sell the heavier one. Especially if it’s blued.

Also, If you turn down the barrel….then you’re going to need a new stock, unless you like a big gap in the forend….? Just something to think about.

Leftybolt

You can probably buy another Savage for what it would cost for a new barrel, fitting it, and a new stock unless you can do it all yourself

Don't be a wuss - man up!

I have a 98 I hunt with (sometimes - I have to rest up between). i It has a 27 inch (that's right!) heavy contour 30-06 barrel. The whole outfit with sling, scope, and loaded magazine comes in at about 11 lbs.

The barrel (to replace a ruined .270) came advertised as a Finnish sniper barrel, already parkerized, for $110 IIRC. A small price ($ and #) to pay for a gun that will put 3 into an inch at 300 yards. I'm not touching it.

YMMV.

For what another Savage costs, I'd just buy a new one with a lighter contour. A rebarrel will cost you what another rifle costs. Recontouring, well, depends on the smith's hourly rate. It takes a while to contour on a shop lathe. And, though I've had great luck, there is no guarantee it will shoot as well as it does now.

Prefit is probably the route I’ll take. It is blued so maybe I can recoup a little $. Also already have another stock for it. Thanks for your opinions.
Tom