Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Gunsmithing Reboring a 243 to 7mm-08

I have a Remington model 7 predator in 243 that never gets used so I thought of reboring to 7mm08. Any recommendations of who and what a reasonable cost might be? Thank you and stay safe

I'd just buy a take off 7-08 barrel and have it installed.

JES is who gets recommended on here. I agree with just get a new barrel with the same contour or slightly heavier and rock on.

JES only does 338 & larger rebores.

http://35caliber.com/8.html

Down a few posts is this thread.

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/17785501/reboring#Post17785501

A take off barrel might be easier, quicker, & cheaper.

Bingo

Where do I find one? Specifically, this is a fluted & camo dipped barrel. To have someone like ER Shaw do it seems much more expensive and impractical compared to opening up the bore 1 mm from 6 to 7. Something I am missing?

I should have bought one of those model 7s when they were out. My LGS was selling them for 500 bucks.

D-man,
Post a WTB ad in the classifieds. Maybe someone will have what you want in 7mm-08. If not, maybe someone will recommend a gunsmith they know who's sitting on a pile of take off barrels. Hill Country Rifles usually has a bunch in between trips to the recycling center. Another option is just to call around to a bunch of custom gunsmiths and ask them yourself.

Reboring usually provides budget-minded shooters an option that costs roughly the same as a new barrel blank before the cost of installation work. Just be aware that the work holding process for reboring can be harsh on custom barrel finishes like camo dips.

It never occurred to me the dip finish wouldn’t survive a reboring. I think I need to do more thinking. Thanks Dinny and to the perspectives of others as well

You'll likely only see some (few) scratches or impressions from the jaws of the lathe near the chamber end. I'm unsure whether the marks are made when the barrel is being rebored or rechambered. I hope to learn sometime soon though.

+1

I just had Wayne York in Pendleton, OR do one for me.. $375.

It was a 700 VS in .243 that I had rebored to 7mm-08. Varmint contour barrel. Had him twist it to 1:8" and cut the barrel down from 26" to 23" to make it a little handier. There are a few light marks on the barrel at the chamber end but nothing serious. The bore looks great but I am still in the process of getting it "broken in" so the jury is still out.

Interestingly, I had him also rebore a 700 VS .22-250 to 6mm Creedmoor 1:8". That gun. had been back several times in the past to the factory (extra barrel stamps) so I am assuming it had accuracy problems. I never shot it as I had no interest in a .22-250 w/ a factory twist. Fast forward to the present... the bore does not look nearly as nice as the 7mm-08 but it is shooting 3/4" during break in with factory Hornady ammo, better than the 7mm-08!!!

I called Wayne to discuss it with him as to the appearance of the 6mm bore. I knew there were no guarantees on a rebore. Both were done the same way. Wayne speculated that it could be problems with the factory barrel (.22-250) steel or even a problem with their 6mm cutting tools. This was all news to me but I guess they have to ?resharpen them on occasion. Interesting conversation to say the least.

I will keep shooting (and not look at the bore anymore!!!) and see how it all turns out.

I can't help you on the dipped barrel. That one may be harder to find in a factory take-off too. I wanted a faster twist as well so I was willing to give the rebore a go. If this doesn't work out for me, I will likely go the "Remage" route next time.

BTW, JES doesn't do smaller caliber rebores if you did not already know.

Good luck!

I have an unfired 708 barrel

I also have a 7-08 barrel off a M7. It's the light weight profile. Maybe 17" long. Blued. No sights. Will need the exterior reblued or finished with a coating to look good. Bore looks good.

$60 plus shipping if you want to give it a go.

I have been looking for one of those predators in 243. I already have one in 223.
That 243 would make a dandy 338 federal.

Mine is a regular barrel

Just FYI, I have a model 7 which was a 243, and a 700 ADL which was a 243.

I bought a barrel vise, action wrench, and head space gauges from Midway and a 7-08 barrel from a Rem 700 on the 'Fire classifieds.

The 18 inch 243 barrel came off the model 7. The 24 inch 243 barrel which had been rechambered to 6mm-284 came off the 700 ADL and went on the 7. Then the 7-08 barrel went onto the 700 ADL which got a Walnut BDL stock and bottom metal.

Headspace came out exactly right on both rifles when finished. Though I did have to relieve the barrel channel a bit on the model 7 for the heavier barrel.

If I can do it, anybody can.

Heck, if nobody else wants that new barrel from dennisinaz, I would buy it just for a spare, to swap out with the 6mm-284 because I know that throat will not last long.

I replaced a .243 barrel on a Rem Mohawk (predecessor to the Model 7) with a takeoff Rem barrel in 7mm-08. It was a youth model barrel, so length was 20".

It was a simple install for my gunsmith (read: cheap!) and gave me a rifle in a caliber I liked better - plus improved weight and balance on the little rifle.

I highly recommend it.

I keep a dozen or more recoil lugs on hand ,ground to different thicknesses, to allow me to fine tune headspace on 700 barrel swaps.

I’d love to find a model 7 stainless 243 or 260 to rebarrel our youth 243. It’s not exactly been accurate at 2” groups no matter what we try. But it’s fine for kids deer hunting

A fluted 243 would be even cooler

Wished I would have bought a couple of the predator models when they were available