Rebarreling a Marlin???
Oakie
Member Posts: 40,510 ✭✭✭✭
I want to rebarrel one of my Marlins to a 256 win mag. Been looking for a decent model 62, but the only one listed is just way overpriced. I then started thinking about a model 1894. I was wondering what caliber I could/should use to start with??? I was thinking a 25-20 or???? Maybe a 357??? I found two of these in decent shape. I'm not worried about redoing the stocks or what other work it needs. I just want something to take to the range to play with. I figure a rebarrel will run about 400??? Not sure. I have a beater 25-20. Besides the barrel, what has to happen to the action if I use something else??? I'm definitely NOT a gun smith. I figure on a 25-20, the action should be fine, but on anything else, it will need some work done to except the new round??? Thanks for any info. Hopefully I can find a model 62 before that, but they are now like hens teeth. I should have taken one of the members up on his offer to buy the one he had, but at the time I had other financial commitments. Oak
Comments
Yea I wish you had. Imo only finding a component smith around here would be impossible . I would take the high road and just get one for that caliber. IF I stumble upon one from any of my contacts will advise you and post auction.
Thank you very much. I have wanted one since I was in my twenties. Everyone I find, is either junk or has a broken underside . The one listed is just too expensive, and the other one needs a complete reblue and looks like it was severely abused. I actually thought about it, but from the looks, I doubt the barrel is in good shape inside.
Probably the donor rifle would be .357 because it shares the same rim size as the .256. A 25-20 has a smaller rim, which would necessitate lengthening the extractor. Carrier from a .357 might work OK.
A little more involved here than a new barrel, and all that starts adding up.
This was suggested by a gunsmith on another forum best help that I can be
"Brownells Stock No. 770-100-252
.25-20 Centerfire Barrel Liner .257" Groove Dia, .435" OD, 1:14 twist
$103.96
Have a smith reline the .357 barrel with a .25-20 barrel liner, then cut a .256 Win Mag chamber."
Yeah, I think I am getting in over my head in price.
Contender Carbine custom barrel by Bullberry. Sure like my 25-35.
You'd best snatch this one up and re-blue!
That is the one I was looking at. Just worried about what the inside of the barrel looks like, if he didn't take care of the outside.
I would be hesitant on that one Oak. The inside probably looks like the outside imo only. And yes the other one on here is overpriced - patience it will come, keep searching auctions-
Even just before the Rem-Lins are in the silly prices.
Couldn't you buy a new Rossi in .357/.38 for $400?
I wonder if the seller could get you some better bore pics. The one he has really doesn't show much, does it?
Good luck in your search!
I have never relined a barrel but instinct tells me the walls of your conversion would be too thin and might crack. (.435-.380)/2=0.0275. The chamber would expand outward and the shoulder would push the liner forward and there may be a crack right where the shoulder meets the case wall. Whatever you used to attach such a thin liner might fail at the interface. IIRC the .256 uses the same pressure as .357.
Long ago the Rifleman carried a story about the modifications the British tried in order to speed production of rifles in WW2. Their attempt to build up the Knox form instead of using a one-piece barrel was not successful.
I haven't bought any custom gunsmithing but it sure sounds like there's more work involved in reaming out an old barrel and relining, then rechambering, vs. threading, profiling, and chambering a new blank and putting on the sights.
KenK/84Bravo - I guess I'm behind in times? So I suppose it's the same price to retrofit the Marlin VS a new Rossi.