Barrel Question

[BikerRN]

I'm not sure where to put this, so please bear with me. While I've shot rifles with custom stocks and such, I have never had one "re-barreled" so I'm out of my depths here.

I'm on the hunt for a Mauser Action / Rifle that I want to turn in to a .308 calibered Scout.

If I find a Remington Barrel can I give that to my Gunsmith, along with a stock, and get out the door at a reasonable cost, or do I need to be looking at other barrels? I'm assuming he may have to rethread the barrel, but that shouldn't be an exstensive job, right?

Biker

[Devereaux]

Odds are that if you buy a Remington barrel it will already have a cut chamber. It can be threaded and headspaced to the action without a lot of issue, but will only give you the inherent accuracy of a Remington stock barrel - OK, but hardly anything to brag about. If you are already taking an action and putting a different barrel on it, you might as well buy a quality barrel and have your smith cut the chamber to whatever specs you want. It will probably be tighter, and so more accurate, and it will certainly be a better shooting barrel. Lilja, Kreiger, and Douglas have great reputations for making quality barrels. I have a Lilja on my varminter, and it shoots 1/4 MOA (with little wind - bullet are light, so wind is a factor). I believe the M1A1 I just acquired has a Kreiger, and I am told it shoots "tiny little holes" at 100 yards, but I haven't personally done that yet - a project for better weather. On a different note, Savage is making some nice barrels. They seem to have so basically good quality items that can be procured and shoot well, but my experience here is in the "sub-calibres" as Jim Fleming would label them (.204 - two friends with them who I trust say they shoot quite well).

Assmebling a rifle is a bit of a tricky business. Kind of like making a 1911 run really well AND accurately. One of the keys is finding a smith who actually understands rifles and what it takes to make it shoot well. So some of your question depends on just what level of accuracy you are anticapting getting. The Mauser action is an excellent platform to start from, but will need "attention" if you want to make it work really well. Same with stock-to-action. The newer pillar-bedded stocks are easier to get shooting right, but still need proper work.

In the end, it's all still a question of how much money you want to transfuse into your weapon. FWIW Gordie Gritter is a nationally known rifle smith who has reasonable rates. www.gordysprecision.com  Enjoy the trip.

[BikerRN]

Thank you for that information.

As they say, "The best laid plans of mice and men........." I will have to curtail my desire. I'm not in to custom rifles enough to justify doing something like this. I'll stick to factory stock with perhaps slight "massaging" from the local voodoo artist.

Biker

[Jerome from California]

It is often said that massaging a surplus rifle is usually more expensive than buying a modern one even for the purpose building a knock-about utility rifle.
If you intend to still use a Mauser action, E.R. Shaw makes a Chrome-Moly barrel for $165 (#1 contour cut down to what ever length you want).
I'm a cheap bastard (there's no shame), and if I wanted to have a scout rifle, I would start with a Savage/Steven in .308. Cut/crown the barrel down to 18". Use XS hunting ghost ring sight set. Finally have the barrel cut to receive Ruger rings for a scout scope. Similar to this: http://www.grizzlycustom.com/custom_rifle_10-22_scout.html

[Devereaux]

Jerome makes the case for a cheap Mauser action. You might consider simply hanging onto that Mauser action for a possible future construct, and just buying a Savage 110. There has been much said about the quality of that particular version, and the HUGE selection of models based on that action (if I have stated those terms correctly). It is suppose to be quite cheap, and may be a good idea as you get the whole shot in one, without needing to tinker with this and that.

[Chris]

E.R. Shaw does good work. If you send them the action they'll install the barrel (length and contour are up to you, you have options), properly head space it, and all you need to do them is have the forward scope mount bases installed in whatever configuration you want, and them put it in a stock. You can probably find a drop in synthetic stock on the internet. If you have the action, it's not that much work.
Chris Christian

[BikerRN]

Thanks all.

I've got some options, but I'll most likely go with something close that's already being made instead of a one off custom. As much as I don't want to, I'll probably get a Ruger Gunsite Scout. Of course the Savage looks good too. I really wish Ruger hadn't discontinued the Frontier.

Biker

EDIT TO ADD: I just acquired a Ruger Gunsite Scout. 

[Jim Fleming]

Hmmmm I was doing some snooping and my ears began to itch.

Dev, it's interesting to see that you're beginning to see the light, when it comes to the term, "Sub-Caliber."

[Chris]

Biker,
Let us know how you like that new Ruger Gunsite Scout. I have not played with one yet and am curious. Thanks.
Chris Christian