Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Re-bore question for Mule Deer and other JES customers

I'm about to send Jess at JES a couple 1903 Springfield sporters with original military barrels, one to become a 9.3x62 and the other a 338-06. I had a nice phone conversation with Jess yesterday and he answered all my questions, but I need some opinions from John and whomever else has had JES do a rebore for them:
A three groove barrel is standard - that's what you get for $250, which sounds to me like a smoking deal. For a 4 groove barrel, it's an extra $25. That's cheap enough that I'd pay it if it had any benefit, but Jess basically says it doesn't - no improvement over a 3-groove. It's just an option for those who can't abide the three groove for some reason. Said it wouldn't hurt anything either, and he'd be happy to do it for the extra $25.

What say you? Of those who have had a JES rebore, did you go for the standard 3-groove or more. and why, for either option you chose.
For those who got a 3-groove - have any of you been disappointed? I've heard nothing but glowing reports on JES' work but I am not sure whether it's the 3 or 4-groove barrels folks are bragging on.

Thanks in advance for the opinions and experiences.
Rex

I had JES rebore a Marlin 336 30-30 to 38-55. Went with the 3 groove on his recommendation and only shoot cast bullets in it. It's been far and away the easiest project I've done. Bore looks really nice with the borescope and it shoots great.

Have only shot the 3-groove JES rebores, which worked very well.

I have a 338-06 JES rebore, 3 groove.

Accurate with 4 different bullets I tried. Slow tho, cant get anywhere near book velocity. Throat was cut long, may have something to do with it.

Its my elk in the timber gun, so a little loss of fps is really no big deal.

I just (3 weeks ago) got back a JES rebore in 9,3x62. It was Ruger Guide gun in 30-06. It wouldn’t hit the side of a barn at 100yds. Jess said the 3 groove would be all I need. I remounted the scope when it came back and used cheap PPU 285gr to get it back on target. It shot 1.5 or less right off the bat. As soon as it warms up I’ll be trying JB’s 250gr Accubond load.

Thanks very much for the replies fellas. Maybe I will still hear from some more JES customers but it sounds to me like I can save myself $50 and just go with the 3-groove for these two builds. I do wonder a bit about the throats. Hawk Driver (fellow military pilot and Arizonan?) says his .338 throat is long. JES alluded to his 9.3x62 reamer having a long throat too. On the 9.3, I get an extra .100" of magazine length with the Springfield mag versus the original military Mauser for which this round was designed, so if the throat is a touch on the long side that might not be too bad. The same may not apply on the .338. Jess said I can send a dummy round for throating but I don't know that a custom throat is really happens - I think they just make sure your dummy round will fit, versus sneaking up on a perfect match to the lead.
Anybody know any different?

Thanks,
Rex

I'm going to send him a 12/22 HP O/U barrel set off one of my Valmet 300 series guns to see if he can bore it to 35-30. Since the HP is based on the 30-30 case, it should be easy enough, and the extractor won't require modification. The good thing about this Valmet model is the ability to regulate the barrels with a flat head screwdriver.

He'll also get a Husqvarna 8X57 on an FN 98 action to become a 9.3X62.

I've never had anything rebored yet. MileHighShooter has had a couple of barrels re-bored but not sure who did it for him. I think he's been very satisfied I believe.

I had a stainless Remington M700 .270 rebored to .35 Whelen 3-groove. Shoots great.

Oddly enough over the years I have stumbled on two pre-64 270's with rusted bores, No three grooves though, one is now a 4 groove 338-06 in a Pacific Research stock, the other a 35 Whelen riding in a McWoody, I don't know what 'Ol Jess, does other than finding new clean steel to work with, but damn, both those rifles are shooters, I remain a highly satisfied customer.

Jess rebored a remington 7600 into a 35 Whelen for me. 3 groove, 1:10" twist. Shoots 4 different factory loads into a inch.....from 225 grain to 310 grain. I couldn't be happier with it.

Andy3

I have not had JES do a rebore for me yet but have one planned to go to him for the Whelen treatment. The only reason I am debating on a 4 groove instead of a 3 groove is that as a frequent cast bullet shooter, it would be easier to measure bore slugs across the opposing grooves of a 4 groove....

Other than that, I have no aversion to a 3 groove.

To me this is a no brainer, pay the extra $25 for a 4 groove. A bargain at that price

All 3 grooves here, a Whelen, 35 Newton and 375 Improved. All took some lapping to smooth up, but they are all great shooting rifles. I’d do another in a heartbeat. Cannot beat them for the money.

Haven't had any rifles rebarreled though if I still had an 03A3, I'd be tempted to make a .40 Whelen.

I heard some place that a lot of 03A3s had 2-groove barrels and shot very accurately. If JES says 3-groove, I'd go with that.

Interesting thread - I hadn’t thought about what grooves were being done after a re-bore...

Had JES rebore a Tikka .270 to 35 Whelen it put 3 shots under 1" all day long.

Also had a Kimber Montana .308 rebored to 35 WIN it shot .225 TSX at 2500 fps under 1.4" at 100 with the first load I tried, I had no time to try any other loads so I used that load for hunting. Hope to get time to try some other loads in the 35.

both were 3 grooves

Anyone ever have him rebore a 1917? Clasic reboring claims his (Clasic) military barrel rebores are a 50-50 chance of coming out well.

Well now, you've left out the most important part of the answer to my original question...WHY?
Why is it a no brainer to pay the extra $25 for the 4-groove barrel versus the 3-groove?

[EDIT: I should add, this is coming from a guy who is kind of inclined to do so - I just want to be smart about it and not do dumb stuff for no good reason]

Thanks!
Rex

Good point. OTOH, a 3 groove might shoot cast bullets better.