Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats Rebarrelling w/ factory takeoffs?

I have read numerous accounts of great shooting factory takeoff jobs on this site. CAS' 7-08, bxroad's 270,oklahoma's 22-250 etc...

I have contemplated changing calibers or reaming a takeoff out to an AI or larger caliber and having it installed. The few gunsmiths I have contacted seem to have reservations about doing so. I can understand their concerns if the factory tube doesn't shoot or looks like crap they don't want to be associated with it. Any of you that have had this done, what was the smith's reaction? Has anyone had less than satisfactory results? I'm not looking for sub 1/2moa results.

I personally feel you'll have no problems, and if you AI it you'll have no issues.

If your smith doesn't want to do it then I would find another smith. This is not rocket science from where I stand.

MD

I've rebarreled a number of rifles with take-off barrels bought here and on Ebay. I have yet to get a bad barrel, but figure that there is a dog out there. When you can buy a new Remington take-off for the cost of an A&B, why not do it? Some 'smiths won't install used barrels, but a lot of them will. If you want the barrel stamps to line up in the proper position, you'll probably need to recut a couple thousands of an inch of new chamber, so you'll need to work with a 'smith who has the reamer you're looking for. Try talking to Ray Montgomery in Grand Junction, CO, if none of the 'smiths in your area will do the work.

Jeff

I'll second Little Ray, he does good work.

MD

i do it for people if i have a reamer for the cartridge with the following conditions. the lettering is put proper or down in the barrel channel. if in the channel the muzzle gets cut off after the front sight hole so the barrel is clean.
if it doesn't shoot as expected, i'm sorry but i am only responsible for the headspace. i also tell them they may end up with a line where the original shoulder was as most of my reamers are ground toward the minimum size, not the sloppiness of some of the factory chambers encountered. it is a time job and the only work really saved is cutting a tenion and thread.

The 22-250 take off barrel that I used came from our friend Big Stick and he told me in our phone conversation that it was a shooter. So I had know doubt it was gonna be a great barrel.

What all did you smith do when he installed it?

I just finished a 6MM-06AI from a Rem 700 30-06 w/crapped out barrel. I re-barreled with a new Ebay take-off Rem 700 barrel in 243. Reamed with 6MM-06AI reamer and it shoots great and I have less than $400 in everything.

Don

I have been sticking on new factory take-off barrels on my guns for years.

I have the late Harry Lawson to thank for the idea. I wore out a M77 Ruger in 6 mm Rem chambering. I called his shop to see if he had something that would work with this short action. Harry recommended taking a new 7 mag barrel and setting it back approx 1/2" and rechambering it to the 284 win. That rifle is on it's 3rd 284 barrel.

As time went on I discovered a few tables at gunshows with new takeoffs and I still browse Lawson's takeoff rack. Lawson's is the shop I go to for all the barrel installations.

All the barrels I have had put on have shot well. Most 1/2 MOA or better.

Lawson's cost to have it installed, rotated so if there are iron sight holes or printing put underneath is generally under $140.

Lawson has quite a few Rem 7 mag and a few Rem 300 win mag takeoffs as well as a few winchester CRF barrels. They take them off to build customs on the actions with aftermarket barrels.

This is a cheap way to try new chamberings. You don't have to build an entire rifle just rebarrel it. A few of my rifles are set up for full float of the barrel so I can just take off one barrel and install another. Cheaper than playing golf!

AZ-do they have a web site or a phone #, I kind of need a take off for a M70.

Thx

MD

I've also done it with good results. I have 2 factory take-offs right now that I would sell. One a Win 270wsm ss, as new. One off a Rem 700 mtn rifle ss in 270 win. Both are good shooters---2MG

Hi Mark,

Here is Randy Lawson's phone: 1-520-327-1117. Weekdays from 9-5. I saw at least two of the win CRF barrels and I think one is a 300 win mag. If you have a push feed not sure of the compatable threads of rem and win, but you could always set it back some. Do know that rems and rugers have the same threads per inch, just that the rugers are about .100" smaller OD.

We have a mutual friend in Bill O'Connell. I figure you know ol Rimrock? I used to hang out at campfire lodge on the madison near Quake lake in the summers. Went for 13 in a row. I meet him on All Outdoors and have visted him several times. Great guy and wonderful family. Hope to get back up there one of these summers.

Figure you know Brad Admonson (sp). I bought a Ti stock from him a year or so ago.

FYI there is one 26" 300 win mag SPS CM barrel that just came in. Randy now uses the SPS as the builder action since the demise of the ADL. All the other takeoffs are CM 24".

Ross

I had a new, unfired 30-06 win barrel in blue, screwed it on my favorite & lucky 270 action (stainless), shot for accuracy and sent to birdsong for teflon coating. installed in a mcmillan stock and it is a dandy. it is the only factory barreled model 70 I own to date.

P,
Not only was my smith open to the idea, but he actually urged me to try it, even though he had a brand new Shilen tube in stock that would have worked.

If you're not looking for a one-hole rifle, then you can have nice results with take-off barrels. I especially think that the stainless Remington barrels are worth a shot, they seem to be universally good.

IME, a barrel has to be REALLY good to be an exceptional barrel, and REALLY bad to be a dog. Most barrels will shoot very well with a proper chamber and crown.

I had a take off 30'06 barrel installed onto my Savage from another Savage. It shoots great, but it copper fouls really bad. The lettering ended up being down in the channel, but I think it is because I put on a thicker recoil lug so that is probably where it ended up after headspacing.

If you're looking to try a new chambering, and are happy with factory performance levels, why not. My latest 458 lott was built that way, and It saved me a bundle. I picked up a Ruger #1 458 take off barrel, with front sight and sling swivel for $25, and had it fit to a VZ-24 mauser action for a nominal fee. It shoots as well as I can shoot an iron sighted 458 Lott, so no complaints here.

If I have the factory take-off barrell and take that along with the rifle to a 'smith for a rebarrel. What should I expect to be charged for the re-barrel job using my factory take-off barrel?

Thanks.

If all he has to do is pull the old barrel and put on the new one, I am guessing around $40.

I believe that is around what I paid, but all he had to do was unscrew the old one, screw on the new one and check headspace.

I reckon I've done it to 15-20 of my rifles and have always been tickled.

A good chamber,coupled with a good crown,will yield good results...................

The datum line on an ackley is actually aft of the line for a standard - at least on the 22 250 and 257 rob. Dont mean a thing as long as the same brass is used in the same chamber it was fire formed in.
My smith rebarrels for me.I'm paying so if the sight holes and lettering being in the wrong place don't bother me it don't bother him. But then he is not an ego freak and his name ain't on it anyhow.
I'm having my fourth one done now. I had the chance to shoot all the take offs before they were took off so I knew they would shoot well.The 6 mm barrel I'm going to use would outshoot some custom barrels so it should shine as an AI.