I've got a poor mans big bore custom rifle going, picked up a Winchester 70 Classic in 7 RUM, want to rebarrel into 404. I know I can send it out for a fantastic shooting very expensive barrel, but can anyone recommend the least expensive alternative, which I suspect would do for me at the moment?
thanks
Rick

mcgowen barrels .. install, feeding, and bluing

I went Pacnor, great guys to work w/ a a really good product. I did a bit more on my 300RUM when I did it though.

I second Jeffeoso's suggestion of Mcgowen. They took care of a poor shooting Ruger for me and did a nice job.

ER Shaw is another alternative, but I have not used them to date.

I think your barrel is heavy enough for a REBORE and that is the least expensive and I am on my first one as we speak..I rebored a Rem 30-S 25-06 to a 404 Jefferys and I'm in love with the rifle..Its a tad light at 8-3/4 lbs with a 3X Leupold and Weaver Mounts, quarter rib and barrel ban swivel and sights, Talley bolt, trigger job, but the recoil is not abusive to me and its a dream to carry and most of all its a one inch 3 shot group rifle at 100 yards. I cut down the factory stock and refinished it and made a working gun out of it. It feels good and looks decent, but I just dragged out a super nice dark piece of walnut from Russia and I fear its destined to greater things. A custom stock with point checkering, mullard borders, leather covered recoil pad, a 3/8 inch floor plate to make it accept 4 or 5 rounds in the magazine and my working gun is no more, its a beautiful closet queen, NOT !

Pacnor, McGowen, Hart, they are all great. If you are doing a 404, my advice would be to skip that God awful looking .404 Jeffery which was really adapted from a double rifle and go with the .404 Dakota. Just my two cents.

How about a Lothar Walther bareel ordered ready to screw on & blue?

Nakihunter,
Lothar Walthar barrels are the best barrel out there today IMO, but they are not the least expensive and that is what the posters inquiry is about..thus my recommendation for a $200 rebore.

Ray
Anybody you would recommend to contact for the possible rebore? I like the idea, in particular because I don't have to pay for a rechamber in this case!
The only problem is I bought a Win.Safari classic stock to put it in, and the barrel contour is smaller than that. Oh well, guess I get to shop for another (I have the plastic thing it came in, but I like wood stocks)!

Thanks to all for the suggestions.

Best
Rick

I went the Pac-Nor route.

Dennis Olson did my 404..I think he sent the barrel out for rebore and got it back within 30 days, pretty amazing..He did the rest of the work for me such as quarter rib sights etc.
His tele is 406-826-3790