I have a Large Ring Mauser barrel, chambered in 22-250 that was underwater for a few months and the bore is rusted. It is super heavy, straight-walled with no taper. Is it worth having it rebored to something larger or am I better off going with a new barrel? I believe it was made from a Douglas blank.

https://www.brownells.com/rifl...arrel-prod22531.aspx

I've used a couple, don't know who makes them, but nice barrels for the price.

quote:

Originally posted by Mike in Michigan:
I have a Large Ring Mauser barrel, chambered in 22-250 that was underwater for a few months and the bore is rusted. It is super heavy, straight-walled with no taper. Is it worth having it rebored to something larger or am I better off going with a new barrel? I believe it was made from a Douglas blank.

No. You can buy a new barrel (that's never been under water and is now rusty!) for the cost of a re-bore/re-rifling.

Rebores seem to only make sense for special contoured barrels, or when you want to preserve lettering and/or engraving.

Buy a NEW barrel in the caliber of your deeams.

Do you have an attachment to the straight, non tapered contour heavy weight style bbl?

If so and a much larger caliber would not upset your shooting plans, then a rebore might be the way to go.

A JES rebore may cost you about $250 to $300 when you figure shipping it out and how many groove bbl you want.
He only does 35cal and up, so a smaller bore isn't in the picture for that big heavy tube, at least from him at that price.


Refinishing the outside is a simple one on that straight profile w/a spin polish and blue.

The bbl will fit right back into the stock as well as it does now.

If you go with a replacement sporter bbl, a pre-threaded short chambered, ect, there's the fitting involved and the reamer rent or buy. DIY saves most of that cost, but figure gunsmiths cost if you don't DIY.
It will involve rebedding into that larger inlet in the wood left by the old bbl. How nice that looks when done depends on your skills of the person doing it.
This gives you a much wider range of calibers, bbl contours, lengths than a rebore.
You can even go stainless bbl if you have that liking.

Add the costs up for each direction to go at it and simply compare.
Then decide what you really want out of the gun when finished up.

M98 take off bbls aren't all that rare either and can often be had at good prices, But being able to either inspect them first hand or knowing the seller is a good way to go.
Not being to picky about caliber helps too.

Good luck on your project.

Not sure whether it is "correct" or not, but that is the reality of todays dilemma. There are several "re-borers" online to contact, but I would just replace the barrel. There are a million ways to look at this "problem"...pick the one that best works for you.

Good Hunting

Thanks for all the info. Nothing sentimental about the old barrel. Growing up on a farm, I never toss out anything. At least I have a good piece of steel for making tooling or parts.

quote:

Originally posted by lindy2:
Is it correct that to rebore a barrel will cost more than to bore it the first time?

If so, why should that be?

No. That is NOT correct. Re-bore/re-rifling will be about the same, or just a little lower in cost, than a new barrel BLANK.

I thought Herters, Charles Daly, Remington and Zastava were re-boring Mausers.

I have rifles rebored all the time and it cost half as much as new barrel installation..I use High Plains reboreing and rerifleing, Norm Johnson..It will cost you in the neighborhood of $225.00 for a rebore and rechamber complete give of take $50.00 dependant on whatever..A new barrel cost, all things equal, cost at least $400. for me anyway. BTW every one he has done for me either direct or through Dennis Olson has shot 1/2 inch or better at my 75 yard range and at the 100 yard range in Jerome Id.