Have had gun at smith's 2 1/2 yrs, all parts to build 458lott conversion on barreled reciever. Was supposed to have already done the conversion work but now wants an additional $500 to complete!! Have lost faith in him! Does anyone think the original mag well and trigger guard can be kept? Would it be best to get a new assembly from Wyatt? Is this going to have to have the bolt face opened up and ejector work done? Is this guy jerking me around? Anyone have ideas, suggestions or recomendations on how to/someone who can do this and an approximate cost on just this operation? Am into this 3k+!!! HELP

Might want to post this on the gunsmithing forum further down this page!
Peter.

If it's a model 30, yes. You'll have to open up the bolt face. You will need some feeding work and magazine work done.

It's possible to keep the factory magazine and modify it to gain the necessary internal length. Ditto on the trigger guard.

I know you have already spent some serious $$$, but best route would be to send it to one of the gunsmiths that frequent these forums. John Farner , goes by toomanytools, is who I would recommend you contact.

ah, the devil is in the details
We can't judge what's been what, but you can ...

1: did you agree on a price
2: did you pay him
3: GO AND INSPECT "progress" MADE --- anything bought? any work done, mods made .... or, frankly, did he loose something
4: have a CONVERSATION about what has changed, why is exactly going to cost more, and then why you are paying all of the difference, if there's a change in material purchasing price, due to his delay? WHY are you being asked to pay more than the agreed on price, what has been done, whats to be done, when can it be done, etc etc etc....

5: if nothing has been done, lost, or broken, its an easy decision to make if you want to continue that relationship ..

If he has charged you $3k, and now wants more, well, I better not say what I am thinking that he did to you. That is way over billed unless he did vastly more work than just the conversion. I a sending you a PM.

It should not cost $3K to convert a M30 30-06 to a big bore. Mainly a new barrel, front sight, blue, bolt face, feed ramp and perhaps a little magazine work. I had one converted to 458 Lott a few years ago for about $1200 which included the above, tigging the bolt knob hole and repointing the checkering.

I have built many big bores on the Rem mod 30, and Id say it should not cost you more than $2000 and that includes all the bells and whistle such as new barrel, surface grind, Mod. 70 safety, trigger, barrel band sights and swivel, all the magazine and feed work, or even a quarter rib. Give Dennis Olson a call in Plains, Mt.