Would there be any accuracy advantage to rebarrel a M70 FW to have a slightly larger barrel diameter at the muzzle (.625)? The barreled action currently sits in a McMillan Edge stock. I want to keep the same barrel profile from action to end of stock and simply have less barrel taper from that point to the muzzle. I'm also thinking a slightly heavier muzzle diameter will move the balance weight forward a tad for better off hand balance.

Thoughts/suggestions welcomed.

I think it will. Seems to be well accepted that "heavy rifles" shoot better than "light rifles" in general.

I'm currently reading "Rifle Accuracy Facts" by Harold Vaughn. One of the first items he mentions is a factory chamber/barrel v. a custom bbl.

What caliber?

Well if you're replacing a factory barrel, most likely re-barreling is going to improve accuracy regardless of the countour. A high quality barrel matched with a good action job which any smith is most likely to do with a new barrel will be more in tune then with something turned out in a factory.

It will definetly move the POB forward, which should help no matter what you are shooting with it.
My only question would be what are you planning to do with it?
Prairie dogs or targets are about the only reason to carry a heavy barrel.
For everything else the gain you get in balance is offset by the misery you get from packing the POS.

Thanks for the feedback. The rifle is a FW 30-06...used for deer/elk hunting, primarily the latter.

quote:

Originally posted by Alan R:
Thanks for the feedback. The rifle is a FW 30-06...used for deer/elk hunting, primarily the latter.

You have a barrel maker in mind?

Thinking Pac-Nor 3 groove 1:10

Keep the same contour and change the caliber to a 280AI. That will give you a stiffer barrel, better brass life and a flatter shooting caliber. My first choice would be a Krieger barrel.

Excellent suggestion but I already have a 7x57 and a 270 Win. Gotta keep an '06 in the mix

quote:

Originally posted by Alan R:
Thinking Pac-Nor 3 groove 1:10

I have a PacNor on my 30.06 but it is not a 3 groove. Just FYI, but Lilja has #2 contour SS .308, 11 twist 3 groove in stock at $315.

Lilja in-stock bbls

I'd also strongly recommend you look at Brux barrels...been hearing a lot of good stuff on them lately. Of course I don't think you can go wrong with Krieger but you'll wait awhile for your bbl.

I got lucky, very lucky, with obtaining 2 Obermeyer D-3 SS 30 cal, 11 twist bbls. Sold one to a fellow AR member. As far as I know, he'll be making a 300 Dakota with it.

Huh, right after I posted this, I see this thread where Woods now has a Brux bbl:

338 cal Brux

PacNor did one for me. I had a Classic Featherweight in 7-08 and wanted PacNor to put a stainless barrel on it in 358 Win. They cut the barrel to match the factory profile from receiver to the end of the stock and retained the profile from that point to the muzzle to give the barrel a little extra meat at the muzzle because of the larger bore. I also kept the factory length of 22". Looks and works great. Lou

Seems like a waste of money to me..The Win. fwt. is a very acceptable rifle as it is..If I wanted a std weight, I'd sell the fwt and buy a std. wt. it would probably be cheaper..

If you want weight in the forend put some lead in the stock is an option..To rebarrel only to change the barrel contour is a practice in futility IMO unless your present barrel is inaccurate... Howsomever, if it makes you happy and fills you with glee, then have at it....

Accuracy is the reason for the rebarrel. It shoots "acceptably". It doesn't shoot like my other FW or std weight M70 sporter...I've sunk a lot of reloading and bench time into this '06 to prove that out.

quote:

Originally posted by Alan R:


Accuracy is the reason for the rebarrel. It shoots "acceptably". It doesn't shoot like my other FW or std weight M70 sporter...I've sunk a lot of reloading and bench time into this '06 to prove that out.

I was going to ask how it shoots now & what are you looking for? I have a M70 w/ a Pacnor ft.wt. bbl. It's pretty thin, 23" & shoots way better than I do on good days. My hunting loads easily hit subMOA for three shots, all the way out to 300yds, but you do have to shoot it slowly as the bbl. does heat up. I have never had to take more than one shot w/ it so far on game, but I know it will still shoot fine if I have to fire 2-3 in rapid order. It is full length bedded though, that may help a very thin bbl.

I'd far rather spend a bit of time scraping the barrel channel to free float the barrel than rebarrel.....And further I disagree that you will see an increase in accuracy......you may....but the chances are even odds you won't!