Cost to rechamber a barrel

[quickdtoo]

FYI concerning shooting a bullet larger than the bore and the bullet swaging down,  a friend of a member here accidentally loaded(don't ask!) and shot a 7.62x39 round in a .243 Handi a couple years ago, the bullet exited the bore, but the pressure damaged the underlug and they were unable to open the action, the rifle was returned to H&R for repair,  due to underlug damage, they replaced the barrel, the frame was undamaged.

Tim

[R.W.Dale]

 BCall that may very well be the case but apparently it depends on who's drawings you go by. My measurments on unfired cases also back up my assertation that .308win could be reamed


these are drawings from the reamer

[quickdtoo]

A chamber cast would settle it one way or another, what the cartridge diagrams show and/or what SAAMI specs are is kinda moot, and the reamer used would also make a difference, a new reamer would cut a slightly larger chamber.

Tim

[R.W.Dale]

A chamber cast would settle it one way or another,
Tim

not really, you could cast the chamber of an ancient 91/30 but would you really want to take the measurements you got as an accurate representation of what the 7/62x54r reamer would cut.

If someone would sell me a problem child (tomato stake) 308 barrel I'd be the guinea pig and find out for certain

[BCall]

A chamber cast would settle it one way or another,
Tim

not really, you could cast the chamber of an ancient 91/30 but would you really want to take the measurements you got as an accurate representation of what the 7/62x54r reamer would cut.

I think what would probably be needed would be a chamber cast of the particular barrel to be used, and compare it to the actual reamer to be used. That might be the easiest solution, as I realize chambers can vary a little. Sizing the brass was my only issue if it did clean it up, but that may be a moot point as well. JMO, Billy

[Badnews Bob]

I am looking at the two side by side right now, I think it would work almost perfectly to rechamber a .308, The two cases are almost identical except the russian is a little longer. I think even if it was slightly diffrent it would be so close that when you shot it, it would just fire form to the chamber after that neck size only. Should work great, You could still shoot standard factory 7.62x54 in it and have fire formed case after you do

FWIW the two are so much alike that unless you just want a rimmed cartridge sticking with a .308 is the all around better choice.

[BCall]

FYI concerning shooting a bullet larger than the bore and the bullet swaging down,  a friend of a member here accidentally loaded(don't ask!) and shot a 7.62x39 round in a .243 Handi a couple years ago, the bullet exited the bore, but the pressure damaged the underlug and they were unable to open the action, the rifle was returned to H&R for repair,  due to underlug damage, they replaced the barrel, the frame was undamaged.

Tim

I have personally seen a 307 Winchester that was fired in a 7mm mag rifle(bolt gun) by accident. Happened at my Father's house by some friends who were sighting in some deer rifles. He still has the case, I will post a pic of it this weekend. The bullet exited, and the gun was unharmed, but I won't shoot around those guys anymore. I don't want to be around if it happens again. I kinda like my facial features right where they are. Billy

[R.W.Dale]

FWIW the two are so much alike that unless you just want a rimmed cartridge sticking with a .308 is the all around better choice.

I think there's a reason that the 30-30 barrels are some of the most constantly accurate handi barrels

I hypothesize that the more positive headspace of the rimmed cartridge for the break action platform would be benifical to accuracy and may well be a way to restore some usefulness in total crapshoot 308 barrels. But again why rechamber a 30-30 to 30-40 when you can get a 308win. Just because is as good a reason ans any.

[Badnews Bob]

Well I kinda like the just because reason myself.

[R.W.Dale]

Well I kinda like the just because reason myself.

That's my favorite as well

[quickdtoo]

A chamber cast would settle it one way or another,
Tim

not really, you could cast the chamber of an ancient 91/30 but would you really want to take the measurements you got as an accurate representation of what the 7/62x54r reamer would cut.

I think what would probably be needed would be a chamber cast of the particular barrel to be used, and compare it to the actual reamer to be used. That might be the easiest solution, as I realize chambers can vary a little. Sizing the brass was my only issue if it did clean it up, but that may be a moot point as well. JMO, Billy

Bingo, you got it Billy, that's what I had in mind, doing a chamber cast of any other barrel would be a waste of time!

Tim

[BCall]

I like the just because reason, cause I like oddball stuff. Don't own and probably never will own a 30-06, 308, 7 Mag, ar any of the staples you normally see. Needs to be a little different for me to want it.

Of course if all you wanted was a rimmed cartridge, couldn't you just cut a rim on the chamber of a 308 and shoot 307 brass? I thought they were supposed to be the same dimensionally except the rim? Just a thought, Billy

[quickdtoo]

That's been done by our departed friend Deadeye47, bless his soul, John had that done to his Survivor, the pics in his links are gone, but I've got one saved.

Tim

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,48840.msg285028.html#msg285028

[grumpyErik]

My friends have asked why get your 30-30 chambered to 30-40 when you can get a .308? I tell them if I have to explain it to you, you'll likely never understand. Kinda like explaining why you ride a motorcycle IMHO.

[BCall]

Thanks for the confirmation TIm, that's what I thought. Probably what I would do if'n I wasn't  more interested in the 7.62x54R. For now, I think I'll stick to my original plan of rechambering a 30-30. Thanks, Billy

As a side note though, are the 308 and new 338 Marlin Express rounds rimmed or rimless? Wonder if the new bosses might consider a Handi in 338 ME, that I would buy, especially if it was rimmed.

[quickdtoo]

Remington is interested in new chamberings, I would think the 338MX would be a good one, Marlin will have all of the tooling to do it and they've been making most of the barrels for H&R,  the 338 Federal has been on the wish list ever since it existed! But I think Remington is a little more interested in making improvements in the product line than Marlin/H&R was. 

Tim

[quickdtoo]

Forgot the links, it's rimmed!!

Tim

http://www.chuckhawks.com/338_marlin_express.htm

http://www.hornady.com/story.php?s=787

[FW Conch]

Erik, I don't think anyone intended to hijack your post but you sure did generate some interest.  Some
really good stuff coming out of this one!  Let us know how your re-bore works out !    Jim

[trotterlg]

If all you did is cut a rim recess you could shoot both the rimmed and rimless cartridge in the same barrel by just changing ejectors.  Also, I checked today, My apologie to our advertiser, it is another reamer renter who makes you rent a rougher.  The money still seems steep, I got a new reamer delivered to me for $101.00 and a rental will cost you about $40.00 with shipping, so cut three chambers and you make money.  Larry

[Badnews Bob]

How do you cut the rim recess? I don't plan on doing this but I am very interested in the work.

[trotterlg]

Here is how I do it:  I chuck the muzzel in the lathe, I put a live center in the chamber, then turn the part of the chamber area just in front of the recoil lug round and consintric with the chamber.  I then put a steady rest on the just turned protion of the barrel, remove the live center and then just cut a rim recess.  Again, be careful, too deep and it all over.  Most rims on brass are not as thick at the drawings would suggest they should be, so cut it to the minimum they say the rim thickness can be, if not you risk having too much headspace.  Larry