For whatever reason, I am thinking about building a .308 Norma Mag based on a Ruger tang safety action.

My question is which option is better ?

Using a donor rifle in one of the magnum calibers (such as a 7 mag), rebarrel, and avoiding having the bolt face opened.

or

A donor rifle in a 30 caliber (like 06), rechambering, and opening the bolt ?

I am looking for a working rifle in a wierd caliber, not a show piece.

Thanks for any input.

I'd use a doner rifle in a magnum chambering and rebarrel. This is not only cheaper, it's better in that the receiver, bolt, magazine box, and follower are already set up properly, and you then have the advantage of a better-quality custom barrel.



It's the only way to go in my opinion. If you have, as you mentioned, a rifle in 7mm Rem. Mag., etc., available, you're in business.



AD

well Jimmy,I think that the cheapest way would be to re-chamber and open the bolt face but is it the best..Who knows..A rebarrel job is gonna set ya back at least $400,which is $250 for the barrel and $150 to fit and chamber..If ya don`t need a tack driver go with the rechamber job,but if all out tack driving ability is
your goal better spend the extra bucks and do it right..My .05 worth...

Are you going to do the smithing yourself?? If not, I'd talk to the smith first and see what he allows is best for him. If this is a once in a lifetime rifle, I'd buy a magnum action in the white and give it to a competent gun smith. Avoid the high assed ones that can't or won't tell you a time frame of completion. Explain to him exactly what you want and he should be able to tell you (within reason) when the job will be completed.
After that, its merely a matter of driving by his shop every once in a while and throwing handfuls of money thru the door.

No, I wont do the work myself.



You guys got me thinking. How about a 7MM mag donor, and pick up a nice clean 30 caliber take off barrel ?



Do Mk II barrels fit the early 77's ? That would provide still more latitude.



I don't own any donor right now. I am looking for a little brother for my .358 Norma Ruger.

If you are going to spend money on gunsmithing there is little point in dicking around with a take off barrel. It is nearly as much work to rechamber an old barrel as it is to fit a new one. In addition it may not be possible to make as good a job of it due to eccentricity in the original chamber. A Douglas premium barrel blank is around 180 bucks I think and is well worth it from a performance standpoint. I have used some takeoff barrels but only if there was something special about the particular barrel. Regards, Bill.

Jimmy,
Bill nailed it. Get a new quality barrel, Ruger was not known for good barrels, particularly on the tang safety models, in fact they were known as having the "best" $7 barrel you could buy.

i got hooked on that dellimea some time ago....

i could buy a 300 win for a bout 400, or get an action, stock, barrel, and 200bucks and make a 308 morma, for zero gain...

instead, i rechambered a springfield to 300 win, grand total, minus scope, 225 bucks...

3/4 or so inch groups....

get yourself a NICE win classic in 300 win, and put the money towards hunting gear
jeffe

I saw a 308 norma built on a p17 enfield at the gun shop on their on the floor rack . The ears were machined of nice and all the work looked good tell I saw the front scope base hole was drilled all the way through the lug meat area just behind where the bolt lug contacts the reciever meat.