Over the years I have seen a number of rebarreled rifles at gunshows and gunshops for sale. A lot of these have been priced at a VERY modest premium to the base model rifle. Many have been priced at much less than the cost of the rebarrel job. I remember being tempted by some bolt guns with Douglas, Shilen, and Pac-Nor barrels at prices that don't reflect much of any of the barrel work.

How much of a bargain do these guns offer? If the barrel looks good and the rest of the gun looks to be in good condition how much trouble can one get into buying one of these?

I remember a Herter's Mauser in .243 Winchester with a Douglas barrel in VG+ condition that sold for $350 before I walked up.

you're asking for opinions.....and we all know about them!!!

For the most part if the gun has been rebarreled I just don't want it regardless of whose barrel it wears.....unless I can get it so cheap as to rebarrel it myself again!......and that never happens.

I have bought a few rifles in the past that had new barrels installed. Some shot incredibly well and others were a let down. But one thing I have learned is to always try a barrel on any rifle I buy before I do anything to it. Twice I have picked up re-barreled rifles with plans for new barrels - but after taking them to the range I discovered I had sub-MOA rifles already.

The dealer I primarily buy from will not sell an unsafe firearm. That being the case I buy with confidence if the gun appeals to me.I have yet to buy one that would not produce acceptable groups. If there is a way to tell how a gun will shoot without actually SHOOTING it I have yet to find it. This also applies to NEW guns and the best customs built.

I guess I'm optimistic, but I've seen more re-barreled rifles that shot well than those that didn't. I assume you're talking gun show purchases, where it's yours the moment you fork over your hard earned cash. Just have the headspace checked & go for it, if it looks like it was done right. No ugly re-contouring or sloppy crown. Look to see if the smith put his/her name on the bottom & indexed it. Little indications that they may have known what they were doing. If it doesn't shoot well, you can often cut some off the action end & re-chamber to true things up. They are often great bargains.

quote:

Originally posted by M1Tanker:
I have bought a few rifles in the past that had new barrels installed. Some shot incredibly well and others were a let down. But one thing I have learned is to always try a barrel on any rifle I buy before I do anything to it. Twice I have picked up re-barreled rifles with plans for new barrels - but after taking them to the range I discovered I had sub-MOA rifles already.

I bought box stock Ruger #1s with plans to rebarrel that came in 223 and 7mmRM.

I made the mistake of test firing them.

I can understand a factory .223 that shoots moa, but a 7mmRM?

That is an elk guns that shoots well enough to be a varmint gun.

Thanks folks! I am debating whether to rebarrel a Ruger M77 MkII from 30-06 that I already own to 257 Roberts or to find a good used rifle out there that someone else has already done. Decisions, decisions!