Ok, I got a XP in 7BR that I want to rechamber or re barrel. Can you recommend a caliber that will work? I will mostly use the gun for paper punching and white tail hunting.

Regards

Lou

Don't know for sure if the chamber would clean up without setting back, but 7MM -08 should work if the chamber area of your XP barrel has enough beef. 7MM -08 in an XP will be a bit snappier than a 7BR with no brake.

I really like my Lone Eagle 7 BR, it is a great cartridge. Brass is getting a bit hard to find but you can neck up the excellent 6BR Lapua brass but you might have to turn a small portion of the neck. The 7BR is a great whitetail cartridge.

Do you want to rechamber because you want more power or a more common cartridge? I'd load for 7BR rather than rechamber. Lots friendlier cartridge in the XP.

If you want to rebarrel you have lots of choices, 22 BR, 6 BR, 30 BR, 243, 260 Rem, 308, 338 Fed, 358 Win.

Lucky,

Thanks for the reply, I do reload for the 7mmBR I have a barrel for the encore. I will look into the 260 I have read good reviews for that cartridge. I got a strike on 308 that shoots exceptional well.

260 Rem is one of the best choices for a SSP in my opinion.

I did some searching about rechambering 7BR, and it has a larger diameter shoulder than a 7MM - 08 so the chamber usually won't clean all the way up.

Although I had a custom barrel on my XP, it was in 7BR. My gunsmith opened the chamber to 7-08 and man does it shoot. Have taken bear with it already.

The BR would likely do what you request of it and burn less powder doing it. If you just want a new cartridge, the the 7-08 should fit the bill.

I have shot some 7-08 Encore rounds over my Chrono for a fella and recoil was very tolerable. Seems it was 120s or 140s at 24?? something.


Of course there is nothing wrong with 260 or several of the other 6.5 mms.
If you just want to cut little round holes in paper then a quest for the best cast projie loading could provide hours of entertainment.

Guys,

Thanks for the information, too many options, the more I look into the 260 the more I like it. Any of you familiar with the MCgowen(sp) barrels?

LUIS
My chronographed loads, well within pressure limits, with the 130 grain went 2730 with only 6 fps deviation. and the 139 gr loads went 2600+. Just for your information.

That is some pretty good velocity. I got a rifle in 7-08. Anyone shooting a 260 out of pistol lenght barrel?

I have had two rifles barreled by McGowen. I am very pleased with the results though neither was for a "benchrest" caliber. I had them do some custom things. They were very accommodating, easy to interact with, and the turn-around time was as they told me to expect.

Grenadier,
Thanks for the information. I have been researching McGowen and it seems like they have a good reputation.

Regards


Lou

I have at least half a dozen assorted McGowen barreled rifles(they did the contouring and I did the chambers/threading and crowning) and I'm working in a 50-70 "SHUSH" right now that's almost finished.

They ALL are more accurate than I am and I won't stand for a rifle that isn't capable of .2-.4 accuracy depending on caliber. I have a 17 FB, 17 Rem, 20 Practical that are 5 shot one holers when I do my part.

I will continue using McGowen barrels.

I had ER Shaw do two barrels(220 Swift and 6mm-284) a few years ago that ended up with bad chambers...I sent them back and the replacement barrels ended up just fine. The 6mm-284 had a neck for a 25-284 and the Swift's chamber was out of round like the reamer was wobbling. Both operator error, maybe going too fast and not watching...or Monday morning shakes.

With todays CNC machinery and metallurgy , barrel/rifle making has become almost passé.

Thanks, for the information I really appreciate it.

You may have to research the pressures of some of these cartridges but this is a list of what your pistol can be rechambered for without any barrel setback.


Possible candidates for ReChambering (no rebore):



#

Name

Bullet
Diam


Case
Len


Rim
Width







1. .275 H&H Belted Magnum
.284 2.500 .532 [Compare case diagrams]

2. .276 Enfield
.284 2.350 .521 [Compare case diagrams]

3. .280 Ackley Improved
.284 2.540 .473 [Compare case diagrams]

4. .280 Howell
.284 2.600 .473 [Compare case diagrams]

5. .280 Remington
.284 2.540 .473 [Compare case diagrams]

6. .284 WRP
.284 2.850 .532 [Compare case diagrams]

7. .284 Winchester
.284 2.170 .473 [Compare case diagrams]

8. 7.21 Lazzeroni Firehawk
.284 2.800 .544 [Compare case diagrams]

9. 7mm BH Magnum
.284 2.850 .532 [Compare case diagrams]

10. 7mm Bellm
.284 2.225 .514 [Compare case diagrams]

11. 7mm DEL Challenger
.284 2.155 .514 [Compare case diagrams]

12. 7mm Dakota
.284 2.500 .544 [Compare case diagrams]

13. 7mm Holy Grail
.284 2.502 .587 [Compare case diagrams]

14. 7mm Long Range Magnum
.284 2.514 .528 [Compare case diagrams]

15. 7mm MK Super
.284 2.524 .579 [Compare case diagrams]

16. 7mm Mashburn Super Magnum
.284 2.635 .532 [Compare case diagrams]

17. 7mm Remington Magnum
.284 2.500 .532 [Compare case diagrams]

18. 7mm Remington SAUM
.284 2.035 .534 [Compare case diagrams]

19. 7mm Remington Ultra Magnum
.284 2.850 .534 [Compare case diagrams]

20. 7mm Shooting Times Easterner
.284 2.015 .506 [Compare case diagrams]

21. 7mm Shooting Times Westerner
.284 2.850 .532 [Compare case diagrams]

22. 7mm Weatherby Magnum
.284 2.549 .5315 [Compare case diagrams]

23. 7mm Winchester Short Magnum
.284 2.100 .535 [Compare case diagrams]

24. 7mm YRM
.284 2.695 .610 [Compare case diagrams]

25. 7mm-08 Ackley Improved
.284 2.035 .473 [Compare case diagrams]

26. 7mm-08 Remington
.284 2.035 .473 [Compare case diagrams]

27. 7mm-300 Weatherby Magnum
.284 2.825 .5315 [Compare case diagrams]

28. 7x57 Ackley Improved
.284 2.235 .473 [Compare case diagrams]

29. 7x57mm Meunier
.284 2.242 .542 [Compare case diagrams]

30. 7x57mm Rimmed Improved
.284 2.253 .521 [Compare case diagrams]

31. 7x61 Sharpe & Hart
.284 2.402 .532 [Compare case diagrams]

32. 7x61mm Super
.284 2.402 .531 [Compare case diagrams]

33. 7x66mm Vom Hofe SE
.284 2.580 .510

If you can just do a rechamber I would go with the 7mm-08. It's a very nice pistol round, I have a 15 inch Encore and recoil is very controllable and it is very accurate.

Steve.........