Does anyone rebore used barrels to next cal.bigger ?

[noload]

I have always thought a bbl maker could take in used barrels, say a long 6mm and recondition the bore to a 6.5 or 7mm and sell them. Just like the core charge deal in the auto parts industry. I would think that a lot of the work would already be done from the previous bore and it would save a lot of time ? Reusing barrels would be the upside..whats the downside??

 

[JRS]

To rebore a barrel would cost as much, or more, than a new barrel.

 

[fredhorace77]

Let's say a barrel blank made to your specs cost you $400. In my opinion it would cost close to that to do what your stating. Ok...No big deal, but where I think the difference is going to be is in the accuracy or lack there of, of the reconditioned barrel.
So basically, I imagine it's not a smart financial move to recondition a barrel, unless you can repeatably make them accurate. Which may end up being more work than just making the barrel from a blank.

 

[MrMajestic]

Most rebore when the cost to replicate an original contour are great as in lever guns and the like. I have a Martini Cadet that was re-bored and chambered in 357 Mag and it shoots amazingly accurate!

 

[noload]

I do know I woud much rather drill a ..say 29"long hole in steel bar on a lathe if it already has a pilot hole in it. That process would go a least 300% faster. I also don't understand why I would not be as accurate as a new barrel ? You would be starting with brand new bore material to work with.??

 

[JRS]

If that 29" hole isn't straight, your steel bar in the lathe is going to follow the existing hole. The maker of a new barrel offers a guarantee on that barrel. With a rebore, there is a consumer assumed risk. Entirely your choice.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Does barrel steel workharden with all the constant pressure and temp spikes? If you took a barrel thats been cut off to 26" the best you could ever hope for is a 25" new one too.

 

[stansrifles]

For exception of people that cut rifle in which my understanding shape there barrels prior to drilling it is not a easy process to redrill a caliber bigger because of the contact to the face of the existing hole because the leading edge of the drill would have to make contact with the face out side of the existing hole people that cut rifle would be the only ones that I think could do it because they preturn barrels prior to drilling that is what I understand. Barrel makers that use raw steel that drill ream an rifle an stress relieve it would not be cost effective for them to even consider redrill an rifle a barrel an stress relieve all over again.

Stan

 

[nmkid]

Interesting thought. JRS mentioned possible problems if the original hole isn't true. Can't that be checked before any work is started? However, I wouldn't want to spend my hard earned pennies on such a project.

 

[stansrifles]

In deep hole drilling if you don't get contact outside of the existing hole it definitely will follow the existing hole an there is know way of knowing if you have a straight hole till you are done it is a crap shoot it is much better to buy a new gun barrel period.
Stan

 

[noload]

I do not see a problem following the original hole that was in the $375 to begin with. If it was straight to begin with, it will it will be straight when rebored, If it was not straight to begin with ....we should not have spent $375 on the blank. I would be willing to try a rebored barrel,,,you never know what any barrel will shoot like till you shoot it. I bought a BIG NAME maker barrel for $350 3 yrs ago. just chambered it and it does not shoot as good as I would like. My thoughts are to take it off and try again with another new barrel blank. Would I take a chance on a reconditioned barrel....after that, sure I would. Hopefully there would be a savings on the purchase of a recon bbl.

 

[wboggs]

PO Ackley used to do it in the 60's. I had several done and all were as accurate as originals and it was cheap. Of course, barrels are better now.
Bill

 

[Eddie Harren]

http://www.cutrifle.com/reboring.html

Actually, Mr. engineer, this outfit will re-bore and re-rifle your barrel for $250.00. That is considerably less than the cost of a new barrel.

 

[noload]

On that link, it looks like you could save $100 over the cost of a new blank. Plus on the testimonials, those rebore targets look great.

 

[JRS]

Now add the shipping cost both directions, and the lack of warranty. I remember my mother driving from grocery store to grocery store to save 30 cents here and 50 cents there. She wasn't considering the 3-4 dollars in gas she ran out of her car while saving that 80 cents.

It's your money. Go for it!

BTW, EddieHarren. I'm not an engineer.

 

[fguffey]

Reusing barrels would be the upside..whats the downside??

I will add 'WHY not?'. No one posting here remembers, purchasing a rifle at one time could come with an agreement/contract. First the owner would purchases a 25/06 then shoot it until it wore out or they wanted a bigger bullet. At that time they would send the rifle back and get a 270 Winchester. Then they would go to the 30/06 etc.., etc..

I am surprised none of the catalogs have survived.

F. Guffey

 

[people]

Most rebore when the cost to replicate an original contour are great as in lever guns and the like. I have a Martini Cadet that was re-bored and chambered in 357 Mag and it shoots amazingly accurate!

This is the main reason to do have this done.

 

[RGRobinett]

Though many years ago, I had two barrels re-bored and rifled, both of which shot as well as they did originally, which was pretty well! 8) Both makers, R.G. West, Oregon, and Cliff LaBounty (sp?), Washington, guaranteed precision equal to B4 the work. Both men may now reside in heaven, as that was long ago. Both advise to not send "junk", as junk would remain just so. Keep 'em on the X! RG

 

[noload]

I'm glad to see that some of you, have positive results in the rebores, I did not not hear any negitive remarks. I just can't stand the thought of throwing out a barrel that was new 2000 rounds ago, now its considered useless.

 

[fredhorace77]

Now add the shipping cost both directions, and the lack of warranty. I remember my mother driving from grocery store to grocery store to save 30 cents here and 50 cents there. She wasn't considering the 3-4 dollars in gas she ran out of her car while saving that 80 cents.

It's your money. Go for it!

Couldn't have said it better, for me I'll pass on the rebore. For others, it may be the best thing they've ever done. In my experience, the best thing Ive ever done to a barrel that wouldn't shoot how I wanted it to, was to send it on down the road. I'm not much for throwing good money at bad.