Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Gunsmithing REBORE or REBARREL--A Good Question

Some time ago I bought a Win M-70 pre-64 3006 for a sweet deal. I didn't need another 3006 but that is my favorite all time bolt action. I wanted to turn it into a 338-06 real bad. So I went to my gunsmith and we talked and talked. He said why not make it into a 338 win mag; all we need to do is change out the barrel for $450. I didn't go for it but found another rifle in the 338 mag caliber so I bought it and killed an elk with it that year, its a little heavy. So that pre-64 is still in the safe with a carbonite bedded stock. I like the 338 cal bullets for shere knock down power, its magical even marginally hit animals slow down enough to get that second shot in. I can't remember how many cartridges that M-70 rifle holds but it holds more than the 338 mag, it's lighter in weight and light on recoil. I reload everything and have plenty of 3006 brass to make into 33806. Found some good references on smiths that do reborring work. After many conversations with them I will go with Jessie in College Grove OR. I will report on it when its finished. And post pic's if I can figure it out. Got to have it for Colorado elk this year.

My brother just bought a Mauser based 30-06 that was rebored to 35 Whelen by JES in Cottage Grove. Once we got the scope dialed in, in was making tiny little three shot groups just like in the movies. He did good work on that one.

"this is from an earlier posting I made"

I had my Tikka T3 SS .270 win rebored by Jesse Ocumpaugh in Oregon.

The gun shoots MOA with 200 gr TSX's with no trouble at all!


My range report

Upper Left group .5 MOA
Barnes TSX 225 gr. 60 gr RL-15 2590 fps

Mid Right side 1 MOA
Barnes TSX 225 gr. 56 gr VargetRL-15 2600 fps

How much does it cost to rebore?

should run around $400....give or take. i think JES specializes in 35 cal only.
Google REDMANS and also RIFLE REBORING and there is another out there...ummm.....Cut Rifle?

I spoke with Jessie this morning and confirmed the work on my rifle from a 3006 re-bored to a 338-06. Rifle goes out this week with payment of $225 and includes return shipping. Redman is only doing relining of barrels at this time. I am pumped to get this rifle done and ready to work up some good loads, been waiting a long time. Got to find 338-06 dies, I'll try Huntingtons.

$225.. man that's cheap.. Unless I'm misunderstanding the process seems like a hell of alot work for $200 bucks. Even after reboring it you still gotta cut the chamber and throat. $200 worth there. Not including crowning it.

It cost slightly more on some guns, my Tikka was $275. Sako barrels are hardier to rebore was told that by several shops that would not touch them.

Still that was less than half of what a rebarrel was going to cost and more important the turn around time with JES was very quick!

This is Jim Dubell's price list. His work is top notch.
http://www.deltagunshop.com/clearwater_reboring/rebore_prices.html
Butch

Wow it's really expensive, why not just get a new barrel???

highridge1,
I had a Mauser in 8mm with a full rib and intregal iron sights. Rather than throw a nice worn out barrel away, I had it bored and rifled in 9.3. I chambered it in 9.3X62.
Butch

Rebore involves no chage to bedding, iron sights, stock etc.

Ted;
Did you rebore for 338-06? I was thinking of this project for a Sako fiberclass currently chambered in 25-06 and was hoping to find such a post here on 24Hr. Thanks

When are you expecting this project back? I have a pre-64 30-06 featherweight I have been very seriously considering having the same thing done to, I really would like to have a .338-06. I would be very interested in an update on your project when you get it in and have a chance to shoot it.

A new barrel don't need to make any changes in stock, maybe a SLIGHT on the bedding, of course one would need to get the sights soldered back on.

As long as there is enough "meat" reboring is the way to go.
Cheaper and no refitting to the stock.
#1 Remington Classic 300 H&H rebored to 400 H&H
#2 Browning 1885 25-06 rebored to to .411-40-82 (a 400 Whelen on Steroids)(the top one)
Work done by High Plains Reboring in Turtle Lake ND. Both will hold 1" or less with max loads of 400 gr Woodleighs. Also great fun with cast bullets.(the top one)

And a reblue. I have three Cliff LaBounty rebores that are just wonderful shooters so I will tend to lean that way.

A rebore of the same quality as a new barrel is almost always cheaper and - in addition to the above benefits - will often shoot better than a new barrel as it has already been stress relieved by being shot a lot.
Plus you can order special twist, bore dia, or chambering for little or no additional fee.

Danny Peterson at Cut Rifle Barrel in Prescott is another great one to go to.

Haven't sent it in yet, looking to go with JES for the re-bore. Still piecing it all together in my mind, thinking of iron sights for bear hunting only.