I’ve got a Ruger M77 MKII 338 win mag with a Hogue overmolded stock with bedding block, timney trigger, and Nikon scope.

I’m considering having Williams gunsmithing install a FTC 7mm Remington magnum barrel (24 inch with whatever twist will stabilize a 140 grain bullet well, or a 120 grain barnes).Probably a Shilen, Hart, or similar barrel.

Here’s my questions for the guru’s :

1) With the 7mm barrel installed can I simply take a barrel wrench and barrel vise (after removing stock & scope) , remove the barrel, screw in the 338 win mag barrel, check fit with Go-No go chamber gauge and then reinstall stock and scope?

2) Roughly how long for a novice such as myself to do the above step? Not something I would do often, but when I finally get a chance to go out west, or get a moose tag.

Before anybody gets excited there is no arguments on my end that the 7mm mag wouldn’t do moose, or elk, but prefer to use the 338 mag on moose or elk, since its what I originally bought the rifle for. Know a guy at home that regularly shoots his moose with a 7mm mag.

I realize I don’t need a 7mm mag for deer either, but in the boondocks where I typically hunt deer I can drive 30-60 minutes and be 90% guaranteed of getting rounds whereas the 338 mag isn’t always guaranteed.

Still like my 30-06 bolt and pump guns ,but this rifle is slowly getting customized to where I want it. I’m fortunate that the gas station 3 miles from camp sells 30-06; never had to buy there, but enjoy having it handy.