Ream existing or new Barrel

[Pappy B]

I recently obtained a remington BDL 243 Hvy barrel and i'm debating on reaming it to a 6mm ai or 243 ai, or maybe rebarreling any idea guys?

I have a Browning Safari 243 hvy barrel so I don't need 2 but the price was right.

 

[jonbearman]

I would suggest rebarreling as the .243 isnt very kind to barrels.

 

[Erik Cortina]

I would rebarrel it to a 6-284 as no set back would be required due to the bigger all around dimensions of the 6-284.

 

[BradY]

Shoot it first and see what its like... if its better than your current one then do something else with that. We all dont NEED rifles, but having a few of them is nice.

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

I wouldn't invest the time or money to rechamber a factory barrel. I'd go with a good quality aftermarket barrel in the caliber of your choice.
If you decide to use what you have, the 6mmAI doesn't require any set back, but just running the reamer in and setting the headspace. The 243AI does require setting it back. FWIW.--Mike

 

[jscandale]

I have no idea what your skill livel is, but it may be a good excercise with little to lose if it doesn't go as planned.

JS

 

[Erik Cortina]

I wouldn't invest the time or money to rechamber a factory barrel. I'd go with a good quality aftermarket barrel in the caliber of your choice.
If you decide to use what you have, the 6mmAI doesn't require any set back, but just running the reamer in and setting the headspace. The 243AI does require setting it back. FWIW.--Mike

I agree that the 6mmAI would not require setback if the current chamber is fairly concentric. But, if it is not, it would need to be setback and the chamber bored out to ensure new chamber is concentric. With a 6-284, indicate it, bore it out, and re-chamber. But, enjoy it while it lasts, as it will not last as long as the others if pushed hard, but man will it be fun!

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

I wouldn't invest the time or money to rechamber a factory barrel. I'd go with a good quality aftermarket barrel in the caliber of your choice.
If you decide to use what you have, the 6mmAI doesn't require any set back, but just running the reamer in and setting the headspace. The 243AI does require setting it back. FWIW.--Mike

I agree that the 6mmAI would not require setback if the current chamber is fairly concentric. But, if it is not, it would need to be setback and the chamber bored out to ensure new chamber is concentric. With a 6-284, indicate it, bore it out, and re-chamber. But, enjoy it while it lasts, as it will not last as long as the others if pushed hard, but man will it be fun!

I don't disagree at all. It's that it's a factory barrel that is probably worth about $40-$50. To indicate it in properly, set it back, recut all tenon surfaces, bore it true, and ream...is just more labor than it's worth, even if he has the ability to do the work himself, IMO, but most certainly if he has to pay someone for it. After all of that, there still is no way to know that it'll shoot any better than before. It might, but no way to know.


On the other hand, simply running a 6AI reamer in could be done by hand without even pulling the barrel. Not that it's the best way, but is practical in this instance, particularly if he wants to do it himself and doesn't have a lathe or the ability to do it as you mentioned. i just think what you are saying is very true, technically, but not necessarily practical. I seriously doubt the difference would be seen on target, being a factory barrel with unknown rounds and in a hunting rifle.


I've done it both ways...sometimes it works great and other times not so much...by either method. A new premium blank is another story. It's worth it and the difference can be seen as the barrel likely holds the potential to shoot far better than the factory, to begin with.


I think you know this. Technically, I agree with what you said, though.


The above is JMHO. Often we do things just because we can.--Mike Ezell

 

[Erik Cortina]

I wouldn't invest the time or money to rechamber a factory barrel. I'd go with a good quality aftermarket barrel in the caliber of your choice.
If you decide to use what you have, the 6mmAI doesn't require any set back, but just running the reamer in and setting the headspace. The 243AI does require setting it back. FWIW.--Mike

I agree that the 6mmAI would not require setback if the current chamber is fairly concentric. But, if it is not, it would need to be setback and the chamber bored out to ensure new chamber is concentric. With a 6-284, indicate it, bore it out, and re-chamber. But, enjoy it while it lasts, as it will not last as long as the others if pushed hard, but man will it be fun!

I don't disagree at all. It's that it's a factory barrel that is probably worth about $40-$50. To indicate it in properly, set it back, recut all tenon surfaces, bore it true, and ream...is just more labor than it's worth, even if he has the ability to do the work himself, IMO, but most certainly if he has to pay someone for it. After all of that, there still is no way to know that it'll shoot any better than before. It might, but no way to know.


On the other hand, simply running a 6AI reamer in could be done by hand without even pulling the barrel. Not that it's the best way, but is practical in this instance, particularly if he wants to do it himself and doesn't have a lathe or the ability to do it as you mentioned. i just think what you are saying is very true, technically, but not necessarily practical. I seriously doubt the difference would be seen on target, being a factory barrel with unknown rounds and in a hunting rifle.


I've done it both ways...sometimes it works great and other times not so much...by either method. A new premium blank is another story. It's worth it and the difference can be seen as the barrel likely holds the potential to shoot far better than the factory, to begin with.


I think you know this. Technically, I agree with what you said, though.


The above is JMHO. Often we do things just because we can.--Mike Ezell

I agree.


I have a factory .243 and I have been thinking about ordering a 6-284 reamer and do an accuracy comparison before and after. I wonder if it would matter much at all... Only one way to find out.

 

[Pappy B]

thanks for the input gentlemen! I'm gonna shoot it first and see how it handles the 105's! if it shoots I'm gonna leave it! if not then I will proceed in a different direcrion and I will be sending pm's to both of you! BTW rounds count is a little over 100 rds!