Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Winchester Collectors Pre 64 with a P.O. Ackley barrel

I have a pre 64 Featherweight in .308, probably only factory fired with a PO Ackley 22.250 barrel. Has had any more of these combinations been around ?

Excuse me, your question not making sense! A Featherweight in .308 with a 22/250 barrel... ??? The term "factory", pertaining to Winchester or the Ackley Firm operation? Winchester never built rifles with Ackley barrels! Ultimately PO Ackley firm to my knowledge, long out of business and presumably no records available for decades. Perhaps an Ackley custom cartridge fan perhaps to help. Might check handloading forums and post there. Yet, still need to rethink & restate your question!

Just my take trying to understand your question. Please feel free to restate!
Best!
John

Your right, doesn't make any sense to me either.........what I am trying to say is that I have a pre 64, Featherweight in .308. It is currently fitted with P.O. Ackley barrel in 22-250. I also have .308 barrel, which I don't think it was fired after it left the factory.
It does not look the rifle was modified in any way. I am wanting to put the .308 barrel back on the rifle thinking that is a simple
gunsmith job, am I correct ?

Is there much value added with the extra barrel/caliber ?


Thanks

Simple job to re-install the .308 barrel, Ackley barrel unfortunately adds zip to the deal.

Just noted your PM this afternoon & returned here. Barrel swaps of same contour typically stock inletting surviving intact. Occasional small alterations where such easier to adjust inletting than adjusting barrel steel! Resulting possible return swap gap problems. Glassing too, another concern! Often not considered is the non-obvious alterations over the 60+ years which may affect such return-swaps. Such ever as wild cards.

Remove your barreled action and verify the .308 barrel laid in place yet fitting. If the Ackley firm did the barrel swap, likely headspace should be restorable with original barrel. Getting into 'other smiths', possibly quality of work or different approaches as issues. Such as "squaring/seating bolt lugs" as sometimes accomplished with rebarrels, a cause of concern but such not commonly performed.

A lot of knitty-gritty factors. I'd bet if Ackley work, chances of screw on & cinch up swap w/ bang on headspace retained, very probable. I'm no gunsmith, but have been involved is observing 'pre 70 barrel factory to factory swaps, amazingly within tolerance & buttoning right up in headspace! Whether your magazine follower & spring to stow & feed properly, ???

Thanks for the clarification!
Best!
John

I have seen PO Ackley barrels installed on Interarms Mark X actions, but never any other actions