Is it possible to re-bore a combination gun with either sodered or independant barrels without complete disassembly? Say from 22 Savage, 5.6x52, to another slightly larger caliber with the same general case size, such as a 6mm x 52?

Yes but it depends greatly on the gun and where you're going with it. I've seen some really cool things done with vintage guns while hunting in Austria. I remember one old guy bbf with hammers that had been sleeved from 9.3x72 down two a 7x57. Also remember a H&H royal that was sleeved from something down to. 243. You would need to be careful on reboaring though.the barrels are very thin.

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Originally posted by Akshooter: Also remember a H&H royal that was sleeved from something down to. 243.

There is a Hell just for people that do things like that!

I have seen in the auctions a few that have been sleeved down to 22rf/ hornet. Would give a new lease of life to something that was worn out / badly pitted. 20 years ago there was a wonderful gunshop in Bath that specialised in old doubles. He had a good number of old English double rifles that had been rebored to 410 or 28 bore, that he was exporting in good numbers to the US. Given the intro of stricter firearms laws in the 1970's, many old double rifles in the UK were becoming illegal, and rather than getting rid of grandpas old 450 nitro ( for which ammo was nt available) having it rebored to a 410 meant it could be used and retained in the family. I wish I had had some funds in those days as you could have got a nice English double for not a lot of money and then now had it relined. Also many single shot rook rifles also were lined to 22rf as a 22rf was much easier to get ammo for and to get licensed.

Cliff LaBounty developed a process to ream and cut-rifle double rifle barrels without breaking them apart. The trick was to have the cutter float and follow the curve of the bore induced during regulation. He did most if not all of H&H's rebored doubles.

Jim DuBell bought that business and advertises the service. $750 for a combination gun and $1300 for a double. Chambering would be additional if I read his pricing right.

Clearwater Reboring

Thanks for all your informative replys. You guys are an international resource!

I sure would never consider it. The barrels are very thin to begin with on most combos. Sleeving the barrels is about the only practical option, and that can be a problem that sometimes ruins a great old gun.

You also have to remember that after all is done, the rifle barrel needs re-regulating...no small undertaking and cost.

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Originally posted by HunterMontana:
Is it possible to re-bore a combination gun with either sodered or independant barrels without complete disassembly? Say from 22 Savage, 5.6x52, to another slightly larger caliber with the same general case size, such as a 6mm x 52?

I have a Savage 24V, rebored from .223 to 6x45 mm. I had written a letter to Savage asking for a 243 Winchester/20 gauge and they said no. The 6x45mm/20 gauge makes for a decent 200-yard gun for antelope and sage grouse, legal in most places for medium-sized game. Rifling is 1:9.5, and it stabilizes 85-grain bullets.

The reboring was done by an Oregon gunsmith by the name of Richard Nickles (or Nichols?). He had to counterbalance the weight of the shotgun barrel on the lathe, but did a nice job of it. By dumb luck and happy accident, the two barrels now shoot much closer to the same point of aim.

quote:

Originally posted by HunterMontana:
Is it possible to re-bore a combination gun with either sodered or independant barrels without complete disassembly? Say from 22 Savage, 5.6x52, to another slightly larger caliber with the same general case size, such as a 6mm x 52?

http://www.deltagunshop.com/cl..._reboring/index.html


This is the guy who worked for LaBounty who designed a machine to re-bore double rifles without seperating the barrels. Clearwater re-boring took the machine ficture and now does the re-boring. Hope the link works.

Check out their pricing sheet for info!

If there was something wrong with the barrel, ie rusted badly, and it shot badly I would consider it for sure.

However if the barrel was still in good shape I think I would prefer to go through the trouble to load the calibre it was already chambered for, IF I could get the componets.

Barrels on combination guns are generally much thinner than those on double rifles. I wouldn't consider a re-bore for the average drilling, cape gun, or BBF.

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Barrels on combination guns are generally much thinner than those on double rifles. I wouldn't consider a re-bore for the average drilling, cape gun, or BBF.

I think this is true..however, I also believe that barrels are "grouped" and outside dimensions are the same for that group of calibers. I have a combo gun from Suhl in 222 and I have measured the same gun in 243 and the OD on the rifle barrel is the same.

To me the cost is pretty steep. You might be better off just to stick a good barrel insert in the top barrel...a 7 or 8/57 would be the same price and you'd be increasing the value of the gun...IMO.