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Change barrels on Mark V or 788?
adisonrain
Member Posts: 35 ✭✭
I have a weatherby Mark V Lightweight in 7mm-08. I also have a Rem 788 in 7mm-08. I would like to re-barrel one of these to .223 or .222 with a Varmint barrel. I know on the Savages/Stevens you can just change out the head on the bolt, (if you had the bigger bolt) switch barrels, headspace, and you are good to go. I was going to get a Savage action and do this but I have these rifles sitting around and I would rather change one of them over if possible. I really don't want to sell either of them so if I can't do it, I'll just go the Savage way. I have found some barrel makers that will make a pre-fit for the 788 or the Mark V, the question is can I easily change the bolt head and if I can, where do I find these parts? I was just going to buy a Savage or Stevens .223 and re-barrel it but then I have to get a stock, another trigger, Glass bed it and such. I already have all that done with the other rifles so really the only expense would be re-barreling it and the bolt. Any help would be appreciated.
Comments
Seems money wise the Savage is your best bet............
If Savage still makes their 40 that's a good price, you might even consider a T/C Encore - it's single shot and Bergara makes barrels for it for about $160.00 each, used T/C barrels are about $150.00. Bought right you can get an Encore with a 223 barrel and a larger (7-08, 243, 308) caliber for about $600.00.
or you could rebarrel either to .22/250[;)]
IF you must destroy the best gun Remington ever made {788}, do it into 22/250. Everything will work for you, the mags, bolt. The 22/250 is among the best of the .22's. There is not much recoil or powder difference from it to the .223. And if you reload, you will find that there are NO bad loads for it. The 22/250 would shoot good out of a garden hose.[;)]
Well, I wanted .222 or .223, I am going to teach my girls (11 and 14) how to shoot, they have never shot a rifle before and I want as little recoil as possible. Plus, I want to save on powder, I will be shooting this quite a bit. Can you get pre-fit Savage Edge barrels the way you can do the other savage actions? It looks like the actions are different and I would like to do this my self. The factory barrels on those guns are not very heavy so I would want to change it out, no doubt about it!
Save the 788, and grab your daughters a CZ 527 carbine in 223, or an AR-15 type rifle. The CZ will cost less than rebarreling the 788, or Weatherby. Plus, those 7mm-08's can be loaded light for less recoil should the girls ever want to get into hunting.
Best