Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats Re-bore Ruger Liberty in 7MM Mag to ???

Greetings Folks,

Long time lurker finally registered and uncloaked to ask a question...

I have a Liberty Mdl. Ruger M77 (aka: tang safety) in 7mm RemMag that the bore from the muzzle back approx. 18 inches is severely rusted/pitted. The rest of the rifle is is good to excellent shape and I have exactly 0 dollars in to it as it sits. I would like to keep the original barrel on it (since that is where the Liberty engraving/rollmark is) and am considering having it bored out to something between .358 and .375

One option that is definitely on the table is the .375 Taylor and I am leaning toward the .375 bore regardless of final chambering.

Suggestions?

Thanks,
John

What is muzzle diameter? And what is it 2" back from muzzle? Look at a 375 barrel muzzle diameter and find a profile you like and compare. Thinking most early 7 MM Ruger barrel were a fairly light contour.

That's an excellent question... I'll check and get back. What's a safe minimum?

I'm not overly worried about final weight coming out too low as I'll be putting a Boyd's laminate on it.

John

.358 Norma for me, if'n you are keeping the original tube.

All right... here's the barrel dimensions: .561 at the muzzle (24 inch), .593 2in. back (22 inch), and .629 at 4in. back (20 inch).

I would love to make this into a lightweight .375 H&H (I've already got the magnum magazine box, follower, bolt stop and ejector) but even with cutting the barrel back to 20in. I'll have .125 +/- barrel walls once it's bored/rifled.

I'll go for it if this is safe but I'm not going to play loose and fast just for the sake of keeping the original barrel.

What says the 'Fire?

John

if you're ok with cutting it back i would go that route. I would think about keeping it Ruger and go with the .375 Ruger. that way you won't run into any mag length issues by going to the longer H&H cartridge. i have a 9.3x62 (.366")that is .650" at the muzzle.....and the guy who had it before me couldn't handle the recoil and installed a screw on muzzle brake threaded 9/16"x 24tpi and it shoots well. that thin of a muzzle at the threads looks scary and i plan on removing the threaded portion soon. but for now it is fine.

advntrjnky

That action won't do a .375HH without a LOT of work..too short

308 Norma, 338-375 Ruger, or your original 375 Taylor.

My issue w/ the latter two is I think of them as being dangerous game rounds best suited to true CRF actions.

30-338 (almost identical to 308 Norma) would take no changes whatsoever 'cept rebore.

Thank you all, methinks this one will be set aside for the time being... Or perhaps a new tube in .458 Win or American might be applied...

This particular rifle has been knocking around in the back of the closet for the past 8 yrs. and only recently crawled out into the light which again got me to thinking on what could be done to the old girl to breath a little new life into her.

I appreciate everyone's responses with regards to the re-bore and will keep them in mind for the future,
John

338 Winchester magnum would be an easy fix, and highly effective on any game animal short of Africa's Big V.

Gunner

Sounds like a perfect candidate for a 375 Ruger- works in a standard length action, and would end up at a good weight for the 375, IMO- Equal or better ballistics than the H&H, easy to reload.