What would you do?

[Bob Mc Alice]

The factory barrel on my Ruger 77 7x57 is nearing the end of it's life. At 4300 rds. over the last 12 years it is still shooting good, but probably wont last another 500-600 rounds. The Hawkeye borescope shows major throat erosion. I bought it new from a local gunshop that had it in their inventory 8 years unsold. I got it for cost.

A call to Douglas barrels to check on a replacement was enlightening. Their match grade stainless cost $327. plus shipping. Only a $10 dollar increase from my last purchase a year and a half ago. I would have to spend another $50. to have the contour cut to match the Ruger barrel ( so I would not have to alter the stock barrel channel ). I will do the barrel installation work myself.

I have always had short case life when using domestic brass due to the wall thickness is .014 at the neck. Three to four firings results in a consistant verticle neck split. This is due to the neck diameter in the chamber being the normal .323. A 7-08 chamber runs at .315. All that working of the brass expanding and resizing causes them to become work hardened and brittle. The more expensive Norma brass is correctly sized with .017 walls and lasts much longer.

Stan at Douglas suggested going to the 7x57 Ackley Improved chambering instead. The chamber neck is sized at .315 (same as the 7-08) and this will eliminate excessive brass neck expansion issues. I currently have 300 pcs. of new W-W brass and 300 loaded rounds.

I made a call to Ruger in NH today to see if they could install a new factory barrel for me. The service dept. told me that few parts remained for the old tang saftey model 77's. There were NO barrels of any caliber left to be had for that rifle. She told me that current production barrels are not compatable with the older guns, different thread size. They do not have a custom shop. I was told that I could send the old rifle back to them for credit towards the purchase of a new rifle, although they dont offer 7x57 anymore. I would get it at distributor cost. Without hesitation I said "no thanks".

So here is my dilema: To get this rifle rebarreled in the improved version will cost me close to $600. The reason is that Redding class D diesets costs $180. with the necksizer.

Barrel...$327.
Contour cut....$50.
Headspace gage...$25.
Class D dieset....$180.

So what do you think you would do?

A...Rebarrel to improved and spend the xtra $ on the dies.
B...Rebarrel to std. 7x57 and use only Norma brass.
C...Rebarrel to 7-08 (long action, why not?) checked, feeds OK.
D...Retire the rifle, use for yearly hunting , occasional practice.
E...Sell the rifle "as is" while it still shoots good.

[sobrbiker883]

Do you really like the 7X57 and does the stock fit you really well??
If so, spend the money, you only live once, and AI will probably lengthen the life of the new barrel.

Personally, I'd go 7-08. Some long VLD loads in 308 in hunter would be sweet!

Oh. by the way, Hi Bob!

[Bob Mc Alice]

Hey Steve...yes, the rifle fits me perfect. The 7x57 & 7-08 have nearly the same performance on anything hit with them. I have shot my three highest scores over 30 with that gun also. It has also taken a half dozen game animals, too. I even won Wyoming state hunter rifle champ in 2004 with it. So it has a spot in my heart. It is a very well made gun.

So option D & E are out!!.....I am leaning towards staying with std. 7x57 and investing in a good supply of Norma brass. Changing to 7-08 is tempting as 5 rounds in the long action magazine feed and function fine. But both my heavy and hunter guns are in 7-08 and I am in the process of setting up another 700 based hunter in 7-08. As for the .308, I've got the 788 and the Classic .

Going to the AI is also tempting, something a little different. The 5% increase in performance is no real advantage in our game. Rather expensive reloading dies. But I could make use of my supply of domestic brass, too. Decisions..decisions....I am not in a rush to do this. I'll fire the remaining ammo on hand and plan on doing the change later this summer.

[Jim Beckley]

McAlice, I've never had enough greenbacks laying around that I had to take a poll on how to spend it!

[chickenchoker]

If the 7x57 works and you are going to do your own work, why not load a dummy round in your most favorite brass and send it to one of the reamer makers and have one ground to your needs? I saw where Shilen has some pre-threaded and chambered barrels. I'd buy a sizing die with a bushing to reduce working the brass.

[sobrbiker883]

Since you other guns are 7-08, you can really simplify.........I still say C (got to, I just had a 7-08 put together!).

[Bob Mc Alice]

JB...can you say "Economic Stimulus Check"?...I am doing my patriotic duty to help get the American economy back on track. Chickenchoker...The Douglas barrels come FTC (finished, threaded, chambered) for that price. A little material taken off the shoulder to set the headspace is all that is needed. Hadn't thought about the bushing dies, will look into it.

[Bob259]

JB...can you say "Economic Stimulus Check"?...I am doing my patriotic duty to help get the American economy back on track. Chickenchoker...The Douglas barrels come FTC (finished, threaded, chambered) for that price. A little material taken off the shoulder to set the headspace is all that is needed. Hadn't thought about the bushing dies, will look into it.

Well Bob if you REALLY want to stimulate the economy why not have a whole new one built like I did Love my 6.5x47

PS: and the rumors about how good they shoot are true

[Bob Mc Alice]

Bob...as you well know...I'm a dyed in the wool 7mm fanatic. I won't ever go down in size. Besides, I have a huge stash of 7mm bullets to destroy! Come on you guys, not everyone is down in Winnsboro ! Lets hear your thoughts on my barrel changeout.

[Bob259]

Well then Bob I'd try the 7x57 Ackley Improved chambering. Sounds like your case life would be better and you can always change with the next barrel

[xpilot]

Bob, I have never used the Ackley Improved 7x57 in the silhouette game but did build a hunting gun years ago. I was very impressed with the performance and accuracy with quite a range of bullets. Some of the loads that shot the best were HEAVY on the stiff side but I never detected any brass migration at all. I too think the 7mm is THE caliber for most of anything I do with the exception of volume varminting. Good luck with your build. Shoot well

[metalhead]

Bob..you're right.. not everyone is down in Winnsborro..

If I may, from my perspective only Sir, and no offense intended...If I was to do a rebarrel on a gun with a std. bolt face, and, on a gun that was primarily intended for HP Rifle Silhouette, then why not chamber it in a caliber specifically designed for the target sport useage of primary intention ? Not any one atelope or plains deer would know the difference.

The single most caliber that has kept me busy in th HP game lately 6.5 x 47 Lapua Ctg......

Up here, it works great, but if you absolutely have a .284 dia. bulet...perhaps, look up Mark Pharr, I think he has a 7mm x 47 Lapua Reamer.

I know, the brass is way more expensive, but from what I hear you get way more consistant shots over and over again out of every piece of brass.

Also, keep in mind, more powder only leads to more muzzle blast. It's one of the things to seriously consider in a stand up HP Rifle Silhouette target rifle.

Mr. Marv

[Silo65]

Bob

If it were my gun, given your criteria, here

[chickenchoker]

If you neck 308 down to your 708 will that thicken the neck walls enough to use a standard chamber? I annealled some once fired Lake City 308 brass and necked it down in a few sizing steps to fit a sloppy 708 chamber in an xp-100. It was alot of work but the brass lasted a long time with an occasional annealing and minimal neck sizing. Just another option and learning experience.

[sobrbiker883]

I've only just begun, but I necked down Remington 308 for my 7-08, fits great in my Douglas/EMcD chamber. We'll see how long it lasts.

I talked to a few folks in the "precison tactical" rifle circles and they recommended I try to stay away from necking down my LC Match 308 brass unless I wanted to turn the necks.