Funhunter,
I have talked to Fred about reboring the rifle and know others who have done business with him in the past. He is on the "short" list right now with a gentleman named Dennis Olson out of Montana. Does anyone have any experience with Mr. Olson?
Jason

I have just bought a No.1 Tropical in .416 Rem that I want to rebarrel. The idea is to rechamber it in a long range caliber, mainly to play with at around 500 yds. I am planning on a 30" barrel, either in 338-378, 378, or one of the wildcats based on 460 Weatherby necked up to 510. I have read that some gunsmiths recommend opening the action up to take a 1.250" barrel for the bigger rounds, any comments? Thanks in advance,

Jason

Can't help you with your question - in fact I'd like to hear a definitive answer myself as I've been told it can't be done.

However, I might be interested in your take-off barrel whenever you're ready to make the switch. I've got a 7 Rem Ultra Mag that won't shoot. 416 Rem might be a fun caliber to play with.

Personally I think you'd be better off going with a cartridge based on one of the Rem. Ultra Mags. I've enjoyed my .300 and .375 Ultra Mag Ruger #1's so much that I'm considering a .338 next.

Herb,
The Ultramags are attractive but the lack of belts show that they obviously are inferior! Just kidding. I talked with Mr. Olson and was quoted around $700 total for a 30" fluted carbon steel barrel in one of the big Weatherby, this includes opening the action for a 1.250" barrel, any other action mods needed, opening up the forend and remounting the rib. This was without naming a specific brand of barrel but with the understanding that it will be used for 500 yd "plinking". It will be next month before I move forward on this but I will post when I have further. I will also contact you when I have the barrel off.
Jason

OOOHHHH..my 416! You'll have to let me know how my poor Ruger turns out. Keep us updated.

BTW Herb117, the barrel is in exc condition..only about 100 rounds or so thru it. Have fun!!!!

PS Haven't got your check yet..keepin my eye out for it.

Old 4X4

Don't tell me that was your Ruger !?!?

Did you buy it new?

If so, I trust you broke it in correctly!

However, I don't think it would have helped if you did. Most of my #1 barrels are rough and really copper up quite fast. Now tell me it was a shooter and you'll make my day.

Broke it in? Yes..it was hard (for me) to fire it too many times in a row. I bought it new, fired 2, cleaned it, fired 2 cleaned it...for 20 shots. I never fired more than 10-12 shots in a session before bringing it home and cleaning it. I fired it at my brother's range at 200 yds one day with 350 gr Speer Mag Tips and fired a 1 1/4" group witnessed by him. I was astonished. The scope I had on it didn't have much eye relief, and I developed a good case of the flinchies. It has a long throat and does not short bullets like 300 gr Hawks. It liked the longer bullets seated very closed to the rifling. I never fired a 400 gr bullet thru it..I saw no need. If you're experienced with the big boys, you should be able to shoot it quite well.

I can imagine not shooting it too many times in a row. The only reason I can fire my .375 RUM a lot on the range is because I use a "Firing Squad" rifle rest/holder that I filled with lead shot. That sure takes the "sting" out of things and I can easily fire fifty in one session.

Any idea how the .416's recoil compares to the .375 H&H or the .375 RUM?

I had a Winchester SS Classic in 375 H&H with the synthetic stock and I don't think the .416 is much if any worse then that, although my Model 70 in .416 Remington weighs a bit more... I recently shot a buddy's .378 Weatherby with "magnaporting" and it was no worse the the .416 Remington. He has a 416 Rigby No.1 that I remember as being a little worse then my Model 70 but that may be the style of the No.1, I'll tell you when I shoot this one! I think the worse preceived recoil I have experinced is either a Benelli SBE left handed with a thin synthetic stock shooting 3.5 inch Magnum OO Buck or a HK side by side with no recoil pad (or a damn stiff one) firing 10 gauge 3.5 Magnum buck and slugs. Those both just plain hurt.

Jason

I got a Ruger #1 in .223 only shot a couple times, and a Lowthar Walther bull barrel to rebarrel it, but the Ruger shoots so well that I can't change it.
I am getting 5 shot groups less than an inch at 100 yards and less than 2" at 200 yards half the time.

Sharps54:

Dennis Olsen rebarrled a No. 1 to a 460 Weatherby for me about 10 yrs back. Very fine job, inluding remounting rib, opening forend, and muzzle brake. Total barrel length was 30". Shot very well with jacketed bullets but not with one brand of swaged lead bullets. He used Lilja barrels at that time.

The downside:

1 - On some No. 1's there needs to be additional work to get the breech block to move further down in order to completely clear big cases. Mine did not. It would eject cases if you worked the lever smartly but if you casually worked it the case would hang on the block.

2 - No. 1's are light actions and unless Dennis can redo the forend hanger the barrel must be 1" or less from the forend hanger to the end. Together this makes it hard to get a No. 1 up there in weight without ending up with a muzzle heavy gun, which mine was. Some may like that but I do not.

Dennis did some other work for me and there isn't much I believe he cannot do.