Buy new or Rebarrel?

[ryback770]

I have a sporterized 30.06,1917 Enfield (with it's original barrel) that I kept, hoping one day to rebarrel in .416 Rigby to go after the "big ones" in Africa. (even had it "proof-fired" and Magnafluxed).

The old knee prob. nixed that idea, so I'm thinking about rebarreling it in an intermediate caliber like .260, 6.5x55SE or 7mm-08.

The stock, trigger etc, are "keepers".

What is advantage/disdvantages?

What kind of money am I looking at? (assuming a Hart or equivalent barrel)

[Jimi]

If you otherwise love this rifle (action, stock...), by all means rebarrel it. With the quality available today it will only make it better.

[Mikey]

ryback770:  Buy something new.  My old Enfield (3/18 barrel stamp) shot everything I put through it and it liked them hot.  I would leave it as it is for that reason.  The '06 is a great cartridge.  

The 3 cartridges you mentioned are of intermediate length and may give you a dickens of a time with reliable feeding in that long magazine.  

Having the Enfield rebarrelled should not be that expensive but then it wouldn't be the same rifle, although it would still weigh in at about 9 pounds or so.

There are so many new rifles out there in just those calibers you mentioned that you just might want to consider something new.  Add a few personal custom touches and she just might become your 'go to' huntin' rifle.  For me, it would be a 6.5 Swede.  IMHO.  Mikey.

[Lawdog]

ryback770,

I agree with "Mikey" completely.  I don't think it's worth the expense of having the action shortened to accommodate the shorter cartridges.  Buy a new rifle or action.  Lawdog
 

[Ramrod]

I'd like to give some advice here, but I'm a dumbass who sold my "sporterized" 1917 with original (and almost unused) barrel for $75.00 when I was younger, and I hope, dumber.

[buffalobob]

Go to the 06 cases

270 Win
6.5-06
25-06
6mm-06
240 Wby

Thes  will eliminate bolt face problems, magazine problems etc.  just rebarrel and go.

of all of the above the 270 and 25-06 are the gold standards.

[lilabner]

I cut my teeth on a 1917. Very long, strong action but a real heavyweight. It doesn't seem like a good fit for those lighter cartridges you mentioned. It would make a good magnum, though. I would either leave it in the present caliber or as suggested, go for 25-06, .270 or .280 Rem. or .35 Whelen. That would reduce your rebuild costs to the minimum. If you want a smaller cartridge, I would suggest you look for a lighter action to work with.

[ryback770]

thanks for info & insights.....

think I'll leave it as is and go to a shorter action