Is this a fairly easy oreration? Has anyone had this done? How did it function? What was the final cost? Sorry for all the questions. Two local smiths I contacted did not want to deal with lever action rebarreling. Any input would be appreciated!!

Any 358 barrels floating around???.............Thanks

Give some of the barrel factories a call. You'll get first hand info on cost. If your ok with a clean barrel (no sights) it shouldn't be that big of a deal. If yours is a 308 then feeding should not be an issue at all.

The conversion is supposed to be a simple matter of screwing in a properly machined barrel, but you might want to rebore your existing barrel instead.

Tim,
i've seen a couple done, and it works fine... the local smiths are either
1: ignorant of the 88 being a more or less a bolt rifle with a lever action for strengh AND that it was setup for the 308

or

2: have had trouble getting 88 barrels out..

iirc, the 88 barrel is pretty thin....

I've got a 99 in 358 i just love to death... and have shot some blr's in 358 (those little bastards KICKS)

I think the 88 would be a great 358

jeffe

Jeffe
Ditto on the BLRs in 358 kicks. I did some tests after
the brake was instaled. It still kicked like a bitch.
NASTY!!!!!!!!
Ltle

I had a .308 befored to.358 a number of years ago. Worked out fine. No feeding problems

I did it twice withan 88 win. Worked great and shot great. the late dick Nichols did me. there is a guy in Nebraska, Norm Johnson that does good work, about 300.00 go for it you will never be sorry !

They don't kick ! except from the bench a little but nothing to worry about. I've NEVER felt the recoil when shooting at game and I've been using a blr for the past 15 yrs.(on bear)