Found an M77 Mark II (LH) Ruger in .270 winchester (For Ruger American price). Not really wanting another .270 win but this may be a good candidate for my .338/06. <BR><BR>Decided to start a poll to see what y'all would do when you come across something like this.Would you buy a rifle to rechamber/rebarrel instead of leaving it as is?Yes, I do it all the timeYes, If I like the model of gun but not the caliberNo! Leave it the way it is and find one chambered how I want itDon't buy anymore guns, it's against AR policyWildcat chamberings are interesting

318 Westley Richards

I bought a LH Ruger 77 Mrk. II and am planning to convert to .338-'06 also.

As a lefty I have always been forced to LH actions and custom or semi-custom rifles and shotguns. You're doing the right right thing, IMO.

Hi, I am Jeffe .. i have done this, once or twice ....

OMG! This is routine and I do it once a month; buy a rifle in a common caliber that I refuse to own like a 270 or 30-06. Convert them all to something interesting and unique. 338-06 is a good place to start. 400 Whelen is better. Anything but a 270.

To a fault

I have only bought one rifle to specifically re-barrel to another caliber, and that was a custom 308Norma built on a commercial Mauser action. The barrel was rough and dark and I picked it up cheap and had another stock and a new barrel chambered to 264Win screwed onto it. I don't think I would pay for a rifle with a good barrel with the intention of rebarreling when there are a lot of rifles that need a new tube.

I'm always on the hunt for an "action" from a beat-up rifle with the proper bolt face for whatever I want to build at the time.

Zeke

Ive bought a number of Sako small action used rifles with the intent to use the action for a custom rifle. Actually have done same with Rem 700. Usually I’m looking at a wildcat, or a cartridge that’s not chambered in that action. Example, I have a 240 weatherby built on a Rem 700 that was originally a 270 win. And a 20 vartarg on the small Sako action.

Have done it heaps of times and in most cases a new Rem 700 rifle. Out goes barrel, stock and trigger.

Heck! I have one rifle that's on it's 4th caliber and 3rd barrel.

You mean to say you buy rifles and use them as is?

quote:

Originally posted by dpcd:
OMG! This is routine and I do it once a month; buy a rifle in a common caliber that I refuse to own like a 270 or 30-06. Convert them all to something interesting and unique. 338-06 is a good place to start. 400 Whelen is better. Anything but a 270.

Anything but a 270???

That's worse than admitting you are a card-carrying member of PeTA AND Everytown, Michael Bloomberg's anti-gun organization!

My heart flutters, my world topples, I am devastated!

If you have a 270 Win, like the rifle, and want something else that is fine, and how I voted.

But if you do not have a 270 Win, you need and really want a 270 Win.

I used to hate it. Then I hunted with one for two seasons.

I think it's the perfect caliber to buy and make into something else.

I might not even re-barrel it I'd look into having it re-chambered and re-bored if it shoots pretty well as is.

I bought a Winchester model 70 sporter a few years back that was new and a very good deal. It's chambered in .300 Win mag. I plan on having it rechambered for .300 Weatherby, one of my favorite cartridges. Yes there are some that will argue that there's little practical difference but the Weatherby round has been very good to me for a long time. I like the way the Weatherby round handles heavier bullets. I also wanted something a little lighter than my Mark V Accumark.

So far all I've done is change the stock to a B&C Medalist. I've been playing with it as is just to give the Win mag a chance but the more I do the more than want to go ahead with the rechamber.

quote:

Originally posted by B L O'Connor:

quote:

Originally posted by dpcd:
OMG! This is routine and I do it once a month; buy a rifle in a common caliber that I refuse to own like a 270 or 30-06. Convert them all to something interesting and unique. 338-06 is a good place to start. 400 Whelen is better. Anything but a 270.

Anything but a 270???

That's worse than admitting you are a card-carrying member of PeTA AND Everytown, Michael Bloomberg's anti-gun organization!

My heart flutters, my world topples, I am devastated!

A .270 I can live without too it just never did anything for me. But a .30-06? Now that's a whole nother kettle of fish!

When it became apparent that I could no longer shoot off the right shoulder because of a condition in my right eye, I bought a LH Ruger 77 .270 and immediately had it rebored and rechambered in .358 Norma Magnum. This was because it is a caliber I have always been curious about since its inception and one I could load jacketed pistol bullets in for light load practice rounds. The rebore worked perfectly and I have had a lot of fun practicing rapid fire from the shoulder with it, but I have yet to use it on game.

(I have several .270's, including pre-64 Model 70's, a rebarreled 1916 Newton and a rebarreled 1922 Newton. Both rebarrels were done well before my time, one by Adolph Niedner in the 1930's.)

The mere thought of actually shooting a 270 makes me retch; I do have a couple of them, but they are destined for something actually useful and interesting. It is a caliber that should never have been invented. (It exists only because Americans were avoiding metric calibers because of WW1. It should have been a 7mm).
I also have several 270 barrels that I will sell very cheaply. Otherwise, I use them for tent stakes, the only real value they have. I have also used them for concrete re-bar. Not a joke.

Do what moves YOU. We all go through different phases in our rifle loony addiction. The recent purchase was a good deal justifying a few extra pennies to get what you want, do it.

As a fellow lefty, I recently purchased a LH Zastava action only for a fair price. I already had a Douglas .338 unchambered or threaded barrel. I also picked up a three position safety from Gentry and an old Ted Blackburn bottom metal at a recent gunshow. It will be a .338-06 A square. Now I have to find a beat up used stock that fits the action and I will make a pattern stock for my dimensions. It will be in an English walnut stock with pleasing character. With rust bluing, it will be my gem. When it’s done this summer, I hope.
I will Then start my .300 H&H project. I already have a blank Walther barrel in 5120 contour of a pre war Mauser And to die for English walnut blank. oh my, I am releasing my secret to happiness. No cure needed.

The Addiction IS the cure. But it will come back so you repeat the process.

Anybody can buy a 270, 308, 30-06, and even a 7 Mag.... I have too, but they became a 6mm Rem, or 6.5x55, or 7x57, or 358 Win, or even a 9.3x62.

You can’t walk into Walmart, or Academy Sports, or sometimes your local gun store and pick up these interesting caliber rifles.

quote:

Originally posted by dpcd:
The mere thought of actually shooting a 270 makes me retch; I do have a couple of them, but they are destined for something actually useful and interesting. It is a caliber that should never have been invented. (It exists only because Americans were avoiding metric calibers because of WW1. It should have been a 7mm).
I also have several 270 barrels that I will sell very cheaply. Otherwise, I use them for tent stakes, the only real value they have. I have also used them for concrete re-bar. Not a joke.

Please be frank and tell us how you really feel. ;-)

depends on the price, To re-barrel a gun with a good quality barrel, then rechamber, then perhaps buy dies, brass and bullets or ammo, you could have bought an new gun in the same or near the same caliber..I never made any real gain monkeying with conversion est..but had a lot of fun...Also it can be frustrating as hell, it takes the better gunsmiths forever to do work, because they are backed up, if not be suspect as to why!! and two years later, you have more interesting projects to get entwined in..

If I had it all to do over I might consider buying a 30-06, and a 375 H&H and 1000 rounds of factory ammo for each...and be done with it! well maybe not! but its a damn good idea!

quote:

Originally posted by Alec Torres:

quote:

Originally posted by dpcd:
The mere thought of actually shooting a 270 makes me retch; I do have a couple of them, but they are destined for something actually useful and interesting. It is a caliber that should never have been invented. (It exists only because Americans were avoiding metric calibers because of WW1. It should have been a 7mm).
I also have several 270 barrels that I will sell very cheaply. Otherwise, I use them for tent stakes, the only real value they have. I have also used them for concrete re-bar. Not a joke.

Please be frank and tell us how you really feel. ;-)

Most people shoot 140 grain bullets out of the 7mm/.284.

The 270 with a slightly smaller, but still 7mm bullet is better suited for 140 grains.

7mm are for 160-175 grain bullets.

That is how I use them.

But for deer it does not matter. The 270 can do anything the 30/06 can do. Or at least what it should be asked to do.

I will go you one better!

I buy brass in calibers I am interested in when I can get a good deal on it.

I put the cart before the horse daily.

I once bought a scope for a rifle I did not have. I used the scope so I could say, “Sweetheart, I got this scope. I need a new rifle.”

It worked. Let us know your decision.

Go for it. May not be a prudent use of money but if we were all just focused on most bang for the buck we would be shooting ruger America or Mauser m18 rifles.

I don’t get re boring rifles or wildcats. But then I don’t reload.

I spend money remaking some rifles I own. Really nice wood - stage 3 ahr upgrade for my ahr 375 that I no longer hunt with.

I have installed a nice McMillan stock on ruger 77 left handed 300 win mag. I will never get my money out of the ruger. I then bitch it shoots no where as well as my blaser barrel. Then I start working on a McMillan for a ruger 375 Alaskan.

It’s just your money - spend it on what gives you pleasure.

I bought and am eagerly awaiting a 270 barrel for a blaser k95.

Mike

Do It! I'm guilty to. I once bought a stainless/laminated M77 300W solely in order to turn it into a stainless 375H&H on my favorite action.

quote:

Originally posted by Big Wonderful Wyoming:
I will go you one better!

I buy brass in calibers I am interested in when I can get a good deal on it.

I put the cart before the horse daily.

Local store has a bucket of .348win brass and .50-110 brass. I've thought about buying it all up in case I fall completely off the wagon and decide I need a Winchester '71



Thanks for the responses everyone! I'll probably end up picking this up this weekend. Although now the .318wr and .400whelen are thrown into the mix

That is the right attitude.
Price is not the issue either; Grinch gets it; the goal is to never walk into the woods with a caliber that someone else is likely to have. Like the 9.3x62 Mosin, used successfully by a prominent AR member. Won't see another one of those- I guarantee it.
Common calibers and off the rack rifles are for guys who aren't really interested in rifles. They are like hammers; just tools. I understand it because I feel that way about shotguns. Tools to be used and forgotten.

DPCD,
The 270 makes you upchug, c'mon its not that bad a caliber, sometimes I think you could look through a keyhole with both eyes at the same time!! but I do enjoy your posts and respect your opinnions!!

*update*

Purchased 2 projects today. This one in question and another that will make a neat .400 whelen.

That one made me laugh, Ray.