Odd request: Regulating Bolt action headspace?

[Varminterror]

This will strike as odd, but as they say, "I wants what I wants"...

My goal is to pick up a pair of Ruger Guide Gun (m77 hawkeye standard length's, stainless, in magnum cartridges, with UGLY AS SIN stocks), and have them regulated such that they could BOTH be switch barrel rifles, and share the same barrels.

The desire comes from this: "exotic hunts" that require "DGR's" aren't that common in my life, but enough that I do find myself needing DGR's. I've been through several of these bruisers in the past, and I'd like to build a rifle that's finally "everything I want in a DGR". But here are the caveats: an African DGR is overpowered for bear, and I've always believed in the "take two rifles" mantra, a DGR and a PGR. So I'm looking at a 416 Ruger or a 458WM Ruger Guide Gun, then a 338WM to match it, with "home barrels" or "lower 48 barrels" in 7mm RM and/or 300WM barrel to swap. Having the 'mid bore' barrels will let me have the option to actually use these rifles over the years instead of let them rot in the back of my safe like my other DGR's have.

BUT, just as a fun twist, I'd like to be able to strap the "home barrels" on either rifle.

SO.... The question:

How difficult/expensive will it be to have a smith 'regulate' the receivers and bolt faces such that the barrel shoulders will torque up properly, and the chambers will headspace properly if I play musical receivers with several different barrels? I'm recognizing that I'll probably have to pick the shorter of the actions and bolt faces, then cut the other one to match, AND set back the factory barrel(s) to reset headspace - and that all of that extra work costs money. I'm not expecting more than $200 or so, since it's not much more work than a normal barrel install, and certainly not as detailed as a full 'blueprinting,' but maybe I'm way off the mark?

 

[jonbearman]

I think you are way off in price but it will work. I would figure about 500.00 at least.

 

[Varminterror]

I think you are way off in price but it will work. I would figure about 500.00 at least.

That's why I'm asking the question! Local smith I've been using will rebarrel and set headspace (finish chamber or Savage set) for $100, so maybe I'm a little on the short side - not sure that I'll use him for this job. At $200, I wasn't figuring on the barrel adjustments or finish chambering, just on the machining to match up the two actions and bolts. I'm figuring that I'd put the deepest bolt face into the shortest action, then only have to 'operate' on one action. Both barrels (or all 3 or 4 barrels that is) will need to get 'adjusted,' which I figured would take $100+ each.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

For rugers it will be a pretty good chunk. But, if you find a good gunsmith that will true up a ruger they can chop both up enough to make them exactly the same and chamber 4 barrels to go between the matched set of actions. Thats no problem at all for a good gunsmith. Your problem is going to be getting somebody to agree to the ruger thing. if they hesitate at matching up 6 pieces they aint much of a gunsmith so look elsewhere.

 

[carlsbad]

Why not go with Savage with barrel nuts so the barrel switch and the smithing is relatively easy.

While switch barrels may not often make sense, especially when talking target accuracy, for what you are looking at with perhaps long periods between trips to Africa, this makes good sense.

--Jerry

 

[Varminterror]

I actually do have a couple Savages that I've swapped barrels around on, so that's something I've considered. BUT... I kicked it around for about a year now, and for a DGR, I really just want to have the CRF, so it's CZ, Ruger, or Winchester - which I've owned all of in DGR's in the past as well. I'm a Ruger fanboy, bit revolver shooter (have owned over 200 Ruger revolvers, still have about 40 of them in the safe), and my first deer rifle was a 30-06 M77MkII, so having a set of "Safari Rugers" makes me grin. I heavily considered the Savage, as well as the 700, since building them would be SO EASY, but I've ultimately settled on the Rugers.

 

[carlsbad]

I'm a big believer in buying what you want. Sounds like you'll really enjoy the rugers once you get them made. --Jerry

 

[Rustystud]

Any of the following custom actions will allow for interchangeable barrels of the same bolt face (on like actions) configurations:
Borden, Kelbly, Pierce. I build switch barrel rifles for many customers.

Remington and Savage actions can be trued the same and also share switch barrels. The savage, Mossberg, Marlin, and Remington 783 with Barrel nuts can switch out barrels but the text on the barrels may not line up the same.

Rugers are investment cast actions and many gunsmiths will not work on them.

Nat Lambeth

 

[Varminterror]

Borden, Kelbly, Pierce....

Remington and Savage actions can be trued the same and also share switch barrels. The savage, Mossberg, Marlin, and Remington 783...

Correct me if I'm wrong, but are not all of these actions (or rather all actions offered by these makers) push feed only?

Without interest in reopening any debate about Controlled Round Feeding vs. Push Feeding, I'm looking for a CRF or CRPF (aka beveled extractor CRF) for these rifles. As such, I'm limited to Mauser and Mauser clones, Rugers, Winchesters, CZ's, and a scattered handful of others (mostly Mauser clones themselves). I have owned bolt action DGR's from Ruger, Winchester, and CZ, and have nostalgic reasons to go with Ruger for this project over the other two. I'm currently building a 458Lott CZ 550 Magnum, so I'm not an action snob by any means, but like I said at the outset, "I wants what I wants..." For this project, I "wants" a matched pair of switch barrel stainless steel CRF DGR's.

 

[mikecr]

Savage WSM actions are set up with CRPF, and standing blade ejection, which is excellent.

 

[hothead]

I don't think what the op is asking is at all overboard, and could easily be done at his 200 limit. I'd even mark the barrels at 2 places if need be.
If he came to me with 4 bbl, chamber jobs , I wouldn't pass the work up. it is a lot better work then a lot of people dream up. I have one customer who has a Rem.7600 pump gun that is a switch bbl. 220 swift, 270win and 375 Whelen. and he changes barrels regularly.
HH

 

[Eddie Harren]

HH, Pearls before swine.

 

[matthias]

why not barrel nut them ala savage ? other than ugly .
i would think about 150 per barrel and 150 per action to match them up would not be a hard project just time

 

[Spook]

HH, Pearls before swine.

Good one

 

[dalewoolumjr.]

Well I am not familiar with the Ruger barrel tenon. But I did a matched pair of pre 64 model 70 Winchesters. Made a fixture to hold the receivers vertical in the mill. The actions lug abutment, receiver face were squared, threads were opened up and thread milled to 1.062 - 16. This way the threads start at the same place. Now the extractor cuts could be indexed between the two. This work was way more than $200. The client wanted a pair of classic safari rifles that were switch barrel capable. If the Ruger has extractor cuts it will be expensive.

 

[Varminterror]

why not barrel nut them ala savage ? other than ugly .
i would think about 150 per barrel and 150 per action to match them up would not be a hard project just time

First reason, I suppose, is "ugly"... Second reason... "ugly"... Third is that I guess I'm honestly not sure why? I've had a 700 switch rig and have a couple Savages, once the barrel is headspaced, it's just a matter of hitting the same torque and lining up the witness mark (double confirmation), then checking with a go and no-go. The rifles I'm building will have open sights also, so it won't be possible for these, but on the Rem 700, I was able to remove the barrels without removing from the stock (precludes bedding the chamber area of the barrel.

Savage WSM actions are set up with CRPF, and standing blade ejection, which is excellent.

I've thought about these actually, but I'm not really in love with the WSM options for heavy cartridges. While I've heard great things about the 500 & 458 B&M, the 458 and 500 B&M Super Shorts seem to be quite lack luster in terms of DG killing power: sub-4000ft.lbs. just isn't what I'm looking for at the top end.

Well I am not familiar with the Ruger barrel tenon. But I did a matched pair of pre 64 model 70 Winchesters. Made a fixture to hold the receivers vertical in the mill. The actions lug abutment, receiver face were squared, threads were opened up and thread milled to 1.062 - 16. This way the threads start at the same place. Now the extractor cuts could be indexed between the two. This work was way more than $200. The client wanted a pair of classic safari rifles that were switch barrel capable. If the Ruger has extractor cuts it will be expensive.

Hmm... This is why I asked here!!!!

While Ruger's don't have extractor cuts, these barrels will still have to clock properly on both rifles, as they'll have open sights. I hadn't yet considered the thread orientation for the action or barrels yet! I'll have to think on this one.

"Way more than $200" is ok. 5-10 times more than $200 might put the breaks on this aspect of the project. All else fails, I suppose I could only put sights on the heavier cartridges, as I don't really need them on my deer rifles, but want them on the 338wm and 458wm barrels.