What is involved in changing the caliber of a rifle? ie. I have say a 223 rifle that I want to change to 257 say. Both are short action and I know I will need a new, chambered barrel,but what do I need to be aware of in considering the feasability of something like this? I guess magazine capacity and feeding would be one of these items. What about cost? Just trying to figure out the cost effectiveness of something like that.
Peter.

JMO but if the donor rifle is chambered for a cartridge that is smaller or larger in bolt face size I`d rather go with a different action with the correct bolt face. I feel it`s cheaper and is one less change in the rifle to possibly error on.
A simple rebarrel to another cartridge that fits the bolt face isn`t a big deal. You can just screw a new barrel of desired chambering on and headspace it, or spend as much extra as you wish on action trueing, rust blueing, polishing, bedding, ect.
I`d expect to pay ~$600 on average depending on who does the work with the new barrel included. If you go to another barrel weight or conture figure in a few extra bucks to open the stock channal to fit.

To change a .223 to a .257 is not a cheap thing to do. You need a new barrel and a new boltface and the action lengthened and opened.

I promise you.....trading the gun is far cheaper than converting it.

Now there is another option and that's to make a .25-223. Neck the .223 case up to .257 and all you need is a new barrel.

This actually is a fine cartridge for bullets to 87 grains. It's a surprising performer, but it's a wildcat and requires custom dies.

No free lunches here!!!

It is usally easier to go to a smaller caliber. Many interchange (300 WM and 300 UM withoout barrel), but you generally have to consider long action and short action. Also consider magnum and standard actions in Remington.

I don't claim to know anything... But how hard would it be to turn say a 700 standard bolt to a mag case head, with a sako stye extractor? I really can't see how "reaming" the bolt face would require that much trouble time and money... maybe I'm missing something here.

It would have to be cheaper than bying a new bolt, or people would just spend the $150 for a new bolt wouldn't they?

Ahh, I think I understnad what your saying about the $$$ now, since the action would be worth the same regarudless of case head for the most part, and opening up the face would be a waste of money, cause you could basicaly just trade it in for what you want... Sorry I'm a little slow...

On a side note, aren't mauser surplus actions turned into magnums quite often?

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On a side note, aren't mauser surplus actions turned into magnums quite often?

Yes they are and some folks do a superb job of it.

Personally I recommend finding a commercial Mauser already built for this job. It just costs less and you have a better feeling for the metalurgy of the action. As much as I detest Chas. Daly, they have mauser actions already to go in standard and long magnum. I'd actually recommend this over a converted '98 Military action.

So, Vapodog, where can I get a Charles Daly action only?
Thanks, peter.

anyone with an FFL can order them.....I got mine from Ebay but ask your local dealer. $300 should land you the one you want. (probably less)

Compared to rebuilding a military these are very cheap. Their warranty might as well be tossed in the garbage when you get it because they don't honor it anyway. Plan on the smith spending a little on getting it worthy of your needs.....but this is normal....most smiths will spend a bit of time on a M-70 before rebarreling it as well.

Don't recall EBAY allowing gun sales.

If you are spending $300 an a Charles Daly action then paying for more work to get it right and rebarrel consider this:

You can buy any number of very good milsurp mauser actions for less than half that. The smithing required to bring it up to sporter status would run very little more than the difference in the cost of the actions.

I'm not talking full on custom here just your basic Charger hump removal, if wanted, D&T, & new bolt handle. The cost of rebarreling would be the same for either. For very little more you can have a rifle to be proud of.

True but you can order a Chas Daly barreled action for a fraction of either and they shoot pretty well.

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Originally posted by Poleax:
Don't recall EBAY allowing gun sales.

If you are spending $300 an a Charles Daly action then paying for more work to get it right and rebarrel consider this:

You can buy any number of very good milsurp mauser actions for less than half that. The smithing required to bring it up to sporter status would run very little more than the difference in the cost of the actions.

I'm not talking full on custom here just your basic Charger hump removal, if wanted, D&T, & new bolt handle. The cost of rebarreling would be the same for either. For very little more you can have a rifle to be proud of.

I probably meant gunbroker and not ebay.....I don't buy guns on the net much and probably misspoke there.

On the rest of the post: If you can get the milsurp mauser drilled and tapped, bolt handle alteration, adjustable trigger, safety alteration, properly heat treated, bolt face opened to magnum, rails modified to magnum, and the hinged floor plate for $300 total you're a darn sight better bargainer than me.

quote:

Originally posted by vapodog:
On the rest of the post: If you can get the milsurp mauser drilled and tapped, bolt handle alteration, adjustable trigger, safety alteration, properly heat treated, bolt face opened to magnum, rails modified to magnum, and the hinged floor plate for $300 total you're a darn sight better bargainer than me.

I never said it would cost $300, I did say it would cost not much more.

Granted, it would cost more to make a milsurp into a magnum.

What makes you think the Charles Daly is properly heat treated?

That hinged bottom metal is a joke. Fugly is the word that comes to mind.

I'm not that happy with the amount of material they removed from the feed ramp/bottom lug web. It appears that they make up one action for the .30-06 through .375 H&H. I can't see any reason for the .30-06 action to have that much material removed.

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Posted by Ivan: On a side note, aren't mauser surplus actions turned into magnums quite often?

Please remember the issue here is a magnum as posted by IVAN

Allow me to quote you the rough costs of building a magnum from a Milsurp (data from Brownells average gunsmith charges)
1. milsurp rifle $100 (VZ-24)
2. Drill and tap $32.50
3. new bolt handle $77.50
4. Heat treat action $95.00
5. Install adjustable trigger $65.00
6. Safety alteration $52.50
7. alter bolt face to magnum and extractor $50.00 (my estimate)
8. alter feedrails for magnum $80.00 (my estimate)
9. hinged floor plate 104.25 (aluminum cast)
$440 if you want steel like Pete G.

FWIW I bought my Daly for $250 on the net and it's now shooting the .300 Mag and with no difficulties. Yes I did have to do some repairs to it as the floor plate didn't shut and the extractor needed to be filed to improve feeding. Lets say $50 in my cost.

Making rifles from Milsurps can produce very beautiful guns.....and some are actually works of art. To say they are cheap is purely is misunderstanding of the real world.

Peter- The cost varies directly with the brand of action you use. Some action designs require less work than others. Push feed actions with internal extractors(Rem 700) will require the most work($), almost all actions set up for 223 will require a different magaazine box and follower to function properly with a 257 Roberts. I would guess that if you advertised the "small" BF action, someone would trade you a "Standard" BF action- probably even up.