BARREL CHANGE

[naconst]

Ihave a rem. 700 in .243. to change the barrel to .223 what would it cost?I would think this can be done?

Of course the answer is "it depends"

Most gunsmiths I know, will chamber, thread, crown, headspace a barrel for 200-300 dollars. This is if you supply the barrel blank. Keep in mind a decent barrel blank is 250 to 300 dollars.

But if you bring him a already threaded, chambered barrel, they will do it for 100-130 probably.

[stubblejumper]

In this case you have an additional problem that being the difference in bolt face sizesbetween the 243 and 223.You will probably have to buy a new bolt.Additionally it may require more work to make it feed the much smaller cases properly.This is not a good choice for a rebarrel.

[bigbulls]

I agree with Stubble. In order to do this you will need to buy a new barrel and then pay a gunsmith to thread, crown, chamber, and set headspace. You will also need a new bolt since the .223 has a smaller case head. You will also need to purchase a new magazine well, follower and magazine spring because the .223 is a smaller diameter cartridge. Then you got the cost of finishing the barrel, either blasting or polishing the stainless and chrome moly and also blueing the chrome moly.

Add it all up.

New barrel - $200 chrome moly, $300 stainless
Labor fitting and chambering barrel - About $300
New bolt - $130
Mag well, spring and follower - $50
Finishing the barrel. $75 - $150

All in all you are going to spend $600 to $800 doing this little project.

You could get a new rifle in .223 and still have money for a scope.

[driftrider]

Rather than buying a new bolt/bolthead, I'd ask the 'smith if he can install a bushing in the existing boltface along with a Sako style extractor. The bushing could be made to much greater precision than the existing boltface (more accuracy), it'd probably be cheaper than buying a new bolt and then having it trued up (you are having the action blueprinted and accurized while the barrel is off, right? if you don't, then why bother changing the barrel in the first place.) Plus you get the Sako-style extractor which is a nice custom feature in itself.

Mike

[naconst]

thanks guys.i thought id pick up an extra barrel but i guess its not worth it