Re-barrel my Browning?
 

I have a Browning A-Bolt II Composite Stalker in 7mm Rem Mag with the 26" barrel. Ever since the last elk hunt my old man took it on (gun was too long to fit in scabbard right, maneuever in timber, etc.) I have been thinking of either cutting the barrel down to 24" or having a custom barrel made for it.

I have always wanted a lil heavier contour barrel in the gun, and maybe a nice custom stock as well. What do you guys think I should do? You don't see too many custom A-Bolts out there.

RE: Re-barrel my Browning?
 

My smith rebarrels them, but they have to heat the action sometimes to remove the barrel. Its about the toughest barrel to remove. I say get it cut down. Usually decent barrels.

RE: Re-barrel my Browning?
 

I can tell you that some gunsmiths do not like rebarrelling A-bolts because it can be difficult to remove the factory barrel.

RE: Re-barrel my Browning?
 

After a barrel is cut down, is accuracy ever affected drastically? Right now the gun will shoot .5 to 1MOA all day long with almost any handload of mine I feed it. It really shoots the AccuBonds and TSXs very well.

RE: Re-barrel my Browning?
 

Well if crowned correctly it shouldn't, but you might have to adjust you handloads some and if shooting factory things can change as the harmonics can change.

RE: Re-barrel my Browning?
 

Since I've never had anything done like this before, how much does it usualy cost to have 2" chopped off and the barrel recrowned? And if I would decide on a custom barrel, who and where shoudl I start looking, as I would like to send the gun off now and have it back for deer season.

RE: Re-barrel my Browning?
 

Buy a longer scabbard.
7mmRemMags and 26" are kinda are made for each other.

If you go to a barrel band front sling mount the rifle will ride lower on your shoulder if you are going thru the trees with it slung. Otherwise, if you are holding it in your hands, then I have a hard time believing that 2" is going to save the day, my long magnum action CZ's have 25.5" barrels and sure don't pose a problem to me, especially whenI carry it in my hands.

Still want shorter bolt action for elk?
Get a 30-06 or 338-06 in a 24" barrel.
Now you'll have two rifles and they will each be like they aredesigned to be!

By the time you screw around with a new barrel and a new stock you'll have a bunch into it.
Have your dad spring for it since he seems to be the one wanting to use it.

RE: Re-barrel my Browning?
 

I have no desire to buy another rifle for elk, my Browning fits me like a glove and it shoots whereever I want it to. Old man only goes on an elk trip every couple years and he has the same results as me with the gun. I just found out tonite that I got turned down for my elk tags again this year :(

I realize that I will be loosing a lil velocity by going to a 24" tube, but I don't think any elk out to 400 yards will mind :D

RE: Re-barrel my Browning?
 

You sure you're wanting to mess with this based on a "once every two or three years" event?

RE: Re-barrel my Browning?
 

Yep because one of these years when I get some more money saved up I will be chasing elk every fall with either my 7mag or Hoyt in hand. Also would like to make my 7mag more user friendly for gettin in an out of pickups, stands, blinds, and carrying out west.

RE: Re-barrel my Browning?
 

Sounds like you have an excuse to buy a new rifle. Take it and run while you can. Also sounds to me like something that I would regret, something that shoots that nice and to change it? Or build another.
I'veread that there is a bonding agent applied tobarrel before fitting to the actionin the newer brownings. My 'smith would charge $40-50 to cut and crown a barrel but I've only done it to MIL actions.

RE: Re-barrel my Browning?
 

Go buy a new scabbard. Cabelas sells ones that easily take a 26" barreled scoped rifle. As far as a 26" barrel being too long, I've never heard such nonsense unless one iscrawling into a thicket after a wounded animal. I've hunted the "black timber " out westto the swamps woods in the northeast and barrel length has never been an issue

RE: Re-barrel my Browning?
 

I don't think that two inches will make enough difference to mess with it. If you wanted to cut it down to 20 or so then it would be a lot easier to handle in the brush. But two inches won't make enough difference, for me anyway.

RE: Re-barrel my Browning?
 

You have a .5 MOA gun and you want to cut the barrel:eek:

RE: Re-barrel my Browning?
 

It's your gun, knock yourself out. I'd get a longer scabbard myself and keep the 1/2 MOA performer.

RE: Re-barrel my Browning?
 

Get a ruger frontier, dont mess with that sweet gig! The dough it would take to "customize" it could be an excellent down payment on a new rifle. EJ

RE: Re-barrel my Browning?
 

I couldn't agree more.

RE: Re-barrel my Browning?
 

A nice barrel and its resulting installation will cost almost as much as a new Abolt. Ditto to the others that have said buy another rifle.

RE: Re-barrel my Browning?
 

I have had several 7 Mags with 24 inch barrels. I don't think you would suffer much velocity or accuracy loss. I love 26 inch barrel unless I can get them longer but if its handier for you to shorten it up a bit, I wouldn't hesitate.

RE: Re-barrel my Browning?
 

AAAARGH! Cut off a good shooting 26" barrel? Saints preserve us!

RE: Re-barrel my Browning?
 

I couldn't see the actual benefit of cutting off two inches. Why not just chop it off six so you don't have any barrel to worry about?:D

RE: Re-barrel my Browning?
 

If anything, with a good crown, it should shoot at least as well, if not better, as the shortening also stiffens it up!

RE: Re-barrel my Browning?
 

don't take this the wrong way but.. it's a .5-1.0MOA rifle and your cutting off the barrel?? i ought to slap the mess out of you.. have you lost your mind?? not so much that the gun is accurate, but that you are that accurate WITH THAT GUN is enough to be said.. 2 inches, wow.. if your that worried about it go chase after elk running bare naked through the woods with a Kabar in your teeth.. might as well scream HOORAHHH while your at it.. seriously, you'd be a fool to mess with that gun.. buy a longer scabbard.. 2 flippin inches, you gotta be kidding.. thats about as smart as cutting two inches off your manhood... but hey, what do i know?