Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles JES reboring

I have a Wards Westernfield Mauser (Heym) in 30-06 that I think would be a good candidate for either a 338-06 or 35 Whelen. Is the 338-06 A-Square the same as the 338-06 I have in my reloading manuals?
JES doesn't have an email address on his site and doesn't give any shipping directions, Does he want the entire rifle or just the barreled action? Curious about anyone's business with him.

I usually send the whole rifle to him. Stock and all so he can test fire it after doing the work. His shipping address is there on the site as well. I will put a note in the box telling him exactly what I want along with POC, address and phone number to call if he has any questions. I will usually send him a check Separately as well. Usually within 7-14 days my rifle is back in my hands.

I’m not positive on the 338-06 vs the A-Square but I think they are essentially identical.

He told me to just send the barreled action. I did and it all worked out.

Oh, and you have to call him. He's old school. And even though he only had my barreled action he still test fired it and told me the results.

Don't know if it's a consideration, but the Heym Mauser is an intermediate length. The mag box is opened up to accomodate 30-06 length rounds, but long, heavy bullets might be an issue.

I've had Jes do several re-bores and I always just sent the barreled action. All were done quickly and shot great.

another question, The bolt won't close on my reloads. Does fine with factory. Would what JES does likely fix this?

Are you full length resizing?

yep. Shot them in several other 06's fine. Not this one. Factory is fine.

Sounds like a head space issue. If full length re-sizing doesn't fix it then I would consider doing a chamber cast to see how the dimensions differ. If they are off a chamber re-bore might be in order. This is something you may want to consider as you might want a shorter custom throat due to cartridge OAL consideratons if you want to use a longer bullet.
This can be done with out altering the chamber but if you want loads that could be used in other rifles might be worth doing.

I’d send it to JES. He will sort out the headspace issue when he rebores it. He will test fire it with ammo and make sure it works. I would speak with him about the seating depth you would like to use. I’ve seen him short throat a couple of Whelens.

Can’t go wrong with JES. He rebored a Savage lightweight hunter for me from 7-08 to.338 Federal and it’s a true shooter/thumper rifle. Very happy with all aspects. I sent him the complete rifle minus the scope.

Interesting stuff. What’s the general cost of a rebore?

Yes,you have to call him.He probably wont answer,but he will call you back.Just talk to him about what you want and also put it in writing when you send a check.I sent a Remington 700 to him.All he wanted was the barreled action and he did test fire it.I had him rebore my 30-06 to a 338-06.I went with 5-groove and that was $250 for the work including return shipping.I was really please with the work and it shoots really well.

$225 for 3 groove as of August.

For 225 bucks it's kind of a cool option to try something out as well. That's how I ended up with the 375 Ackley... Now, I kinda like it and after shooting it some, I really like it. A bunch less money than a rebarrel and I was able to keep the old P64 looking pretty original.

I had the same problem with one of my rifles. Called RCBS and they asked me to send my dies and 5 fired cases. A couple weeks later, I received a custom die set at no charge. My reloads fit the rifle fine after that.

I had the same problem with a set of RCBS dies with one of my rifles.Worked fine in a couple of other rifles,but not the one with a tight chamber.Changed the dies and the problem was gone,From what I understand,they start with a reamer that is slightly oversized and use it until it wears down and reamers to the undersized demention.If you have a tight rifle chamber,your die might not be sizing the case down enough to chamber easily.

I had JES do a M70 into a 35Whelen/AI he got the chamber right but the throat was short so I had to send it back to him and pay shipping both ways but he did lengthen the throat at no charge. It thinks it's a sniper rifle when I do my part. He doesn't lap the barrel so expect it to eat cooper and fowl till you get it smoothed out.

ok fellas all the rebore sounds interesting but I got a question. if I send JES a 270 win to rebore to 280 rem can he redo the caliber stamp/engraving on the barrel to denote caliber the rifle is now?
thanks,
Big Ed

1) you can't rebore from 270 to 280

2) I don't think he does anything much smaller than 8mm for rebores

3) XXX's stamped over current and the new caliber is stamped.

Just curious....what, exactly, do you mean when you say, "...When I do my part"? Handing the rifle to a sniper, perhaps?

thanks for that steelie. as you see I'm green to this. so,not even a 243 win to 280 rem??? I'd love a tikka t3 or wby vanguard wilderness in 280 rem is all. just thought I saw a way to make that happen without having to buy a new tube.
thanks,
Big Ed

Buy a T3 7mm08 and have it rechambered to .280. Swap out the bolt stop and magazine and voila .280!

His stamp overs aren’t really pretty as SH mentioned. On my P64 that he just did he did not restamp it or mark the barrel in any way. I plan to have it milled nicely and stamped a little nicer looking. His rebores are excellent though.

I don’t even think he goes as small as 8mm to be honest. I think Pederson reboring will do the smaller calibers though. Don’t know, never had one done.

He stamped my Winchester "35 WLN". So he doesn't get too into the whole stamping thing. I'd prefer if "Whelen" was spelled out but he doesn't charge a lot of money either.

Thinking about calling him to see if he'd do a sporterized Arisaka 7.7 to 35 Whelen or .338/06. Anyone know if the chrome lined barrels would be an issue? The rifle was my dad's and I'd like to put it to use. Figure a rebore and a Timney installed would be 5-6 bills. I know that's more than it would be worth, but the gun actually handles nicely and either of those cartridges would fit well between my .270 & .45/70. I know these things are odd balls to work on but it would be great to have a purpose for it.

I bought a rebored 30-06 to 9.3X62 on the fire. JES did the rebore on a Savage. A wonderful shooting gun and light with the Tupperware stock. Shoots my 286 gr PRVIs and Nosler Safari fine. Rusty.

The chamber is so tight in my 35 Whelen Ackely JES did that it won't chamber a round if you get a little varnish from dried oil in.

Jesse's Rebores represent a great value and level of practicality unobtainable with any other gunsmith. For cheaper than a decent scope, a short action comes back a 358 Winchester. A cheap 30-30 comes back a 375 Winchester, a standard length rifle comes back a 338-06, 35 whelen, or a 9.3 x 62 mauser. Some hunters of today, are getting too dmned obsessive about accuracy. Very rarely, does a hunter need a match-grade chamber or bore. Just look at that whole "creedmore" fiasco that's running rampant over the landscape. Any promise of more "accuracy" from some bench rest idiot lobbing gopher bullets, and the herd of sheep get all sort ah frenzied.

I've used Jess rebores for many years:
30-30 to 375 win:





An old savage 99 from 308 to 358 for two good bulls:



And finally, my custom 1895 scout in my wildcat cartridge named the 41 O&M (Ocumpaugh & Manzo)

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbt...ng-1895-scout-rifle-project#Post13233780

This is a strange post. How and why are you oiling ammo?

Edit: Disregard, I think you mean dried residual oil in the chamber.

My bad I failed to finish the sentence and didn't preview before I posted.
I use a rust preventive treatment in my stored rifles and it dried out leaving a varnish on the chamber surface which when I swabbed the barrel before shooting the patch failed to remove the varnished oil.

Can anyone post a pic of how he stamped the new caliber on the barrel? Thanks

It's hand stamped and not one of his strong points at least it wasn't on my rifle barrel.

This is the stamp on a Marlin 30TK Jes Rebored to .375. Looks fine, I think.

It all depends on what is the cause...could be a problem with the chamber...or bolt.

I am considering sending an M38 and a M99 Japanese Arisaka to him to rebore to 7x57mm and 35 Whelen.

I’ve been told that Arisakas are difficult to re bore and rechamber these Japanese barrels.

Anyone anyone try doing this using JES’s services?

Anyone know where I can get replacement parts for Marlin’s Model XS7 or XL7 bolt action rifles?

It seems that neither Marlin or Remington does any service work on these discontinued Marlin rifles.

Also GunParts or Brownells do seem to carry many parts for these bolt action rifles.

I need an Extractor, detent “ball”, and extractor spring for my XS7 Rifle. (a 243 Winchester)


I love these handy little Marlin rifles! Handy and accurate, and priced right.
I’d hate to think that this little 243 has permenantly become a muzzle loader 243 !!

Not sure about the parts you need, but if Jess can get the barrel off he can rechamber and rebore it. I’ve had a few done and like Mainer mentioned you don’t need match grade accuracy from a bolt gun but all of mine have been excellent shooters.

He doesn't do smaller than 338 caliber, at least the last time I inquired.

Try Numrics. I typed in Marlin X7 extractor....

https://www.gunpartscorp.com/search#query=Marlin%20X7%20extractor

Jes has yet another one of my rifles for reboring right now. It's either the 5th or 6th one he's done for me. Some time spent reading the few pages on his website will answer most questions. All the rest get answered after you leave a voicemail and he calls you back.

Thanks, Dinny

Bingo, nowadays I just put a not in a box with the twist I’d like, in the cartridge I want. Two weeks later I get the box back with a fired case. Ease of use is high with him.

Tag

JES rebored a Tikka T3 into a 35 Whelen for me. Shoots very well

I have my eye on a Sako Mannlicher at a local gun shop. Currently in 270 Win, but would make a fun 338-06. I will be driving right by his shop in 2 weeks, so makes it easy.

If it is virgin brass then it is an issue. The FLR die will not resize all the way down to the head. So if they were fired in a previous chamber maybe they ballooned the head a little.

Has the same issue with a 378 Bee I built years ago.

My only complaint with JES was that I thought I was very clear that I did not want the original .30-06 stamping altered as I planned to have that milled out locally and restamped nicely. He didn’t alter the original but did stamp 35 WLN right above it. The stamping looked kinda crude to me. I ended up getting the original and his stamping both milled out and it looked a little better but not great. Pretty minor deal. Kinda like a pimple on a hot girl.

Would definitely use him again as the bore and chamber turned out good and he is quick. Previous poster is correct about not lapping and the barrels fouling quickly at least at first.

JES did my 30-06 Kimber Montana into a 338-06. Clean work, he simply stamped “338” above the 30-06 roll mark. Looks fine and shoots great for a 5 pound naked rifle.

Do you think he could do a rem 700 223 to 350 legend? I picked up some Walmart 223 adl's for $199 the other day and I'm looking for ideas. I wonder if it would feed ok?

Bb

Here is what the caliber stamp on my Whelen looks like.
Works for me

He will forgo stamping it if you ask him as well. I had him leave the stamp off of my 375 Improved, so I could have it milled and stamped.