Cutting a rimfire barrel for a different action - OK idea or not

[tominboise]

Is it an OK idea to take a barrel chambered for one action and cutting & rechambering to a different action? Say I wanted to replace the barrel on my rimfire benchrest rifle and picked up a used barrel? Or just cutting the chamber off my existing barrel and rechambering? I bought the rifle used and it shoots pretty well, but the chamber has what looks like some erosion in it.

 

[RCE1]

I once wanted a Martini 12/15 in .17HMR, so I bought a GM .17 barrel for Ruger 10-22, cut the Ruger tenon off and fitted it to the Martini. The hardest part was figuring out how to make the cut for the extractor on the equipment that I had and making a laminated forend that (kinda) matches the original laminated buttstock, but it came out great. I ordered a .17HMR chamber reamer and put in a new chamber.

People frequently put new chambers put into target rifles when they feel like the throat is gone but the barrel is otherwise usable. It depends a lot on whether you can do the work yourself or have to pay a gunsmith to do it, along with the wait time and shipping hazards, etc. Also, the length of your barrel might be a determining factor. A lot of benchrest rifles are set up with a barrel long enough initially to allow a set-back or two.

 

[ggshoots]

I have done a number of them. If its a good barrel and the reworked configuration makes sense why not. Makes a difference if you can do it yourself or have to pay a gunsmith.

 

[Tad_Earhart]

Nothing wrong with re-fitting a barrel from one action on to another as long as you can dimensionally get to where you need to be. There has been and will be a ton more in the future, swapped around among people trading and things. A bunch of the newer manufactured actions are close enough to swap barrels from one action to another of the same brand, such as nearly all barrels chambered for a 2500/trident action will fit about any 2500/trident. A lot of times the newer Turbos between the v1/v3 will swap between each other as well. The key to all of it is to make sure the headspace is correct and that the extractor slots will line up. If that is all good and the threads are not to tight, then you would likely be good to go as is.

Doing something like a 0.900" straight fitted originally for a turbo to a large thread action like a 40x or Vudoo is a different trick entirely but also something that can be done. It just takes some doing.

 

[Jonnyofalltrades]

I do it lots. Scan for good deals on barrels, then reuse, rechamber, recontour as needed.
If I didn't have my own lathe and mill it would probably be a stupid waste of money.