WhAt to do with this barrel?

[kragluver]

I was given a bull-barrel for a Winchester Model 70 chambered in .300 Win Mag. I don't shoot .300 Win Mag but this is sure a nice (almost brand new) barrel. I started out hobby gunsmithing a few years ago and have a few refinishing projects under my belt. I'd sure like to find something useful to do with this barrel that wouldn't cost me an arm and leg.

First question - will Winchester barrel threads fit only Winchester receivers? Will US Milsurp receivers fit or am I going to have to find another Win receiver?

I don't have the tools to measure or set headspace, so I'll need to take it to a real 'smith for that work. However, I'd like to someday build a rifle around this barrel.

I'm assuming since the barrel was chambered for .300 Win Mag, there's not much else I could have it re-chambered for!

I wouldn't feel right about selling it as it was given to me by the wife's uncle - him thinking that I'd find something useful for it. He wasn't happy with the rifle he had it on as he could only get it to shoot 1.5 MOA and was convinced it was the barrel.

Any thoughts how to make this a useful project that I could learn from?

 

[SARGE907]

BOLT ACTION RIFLES by De Haas states that post 64 Model 70's have a 16 V TPI thread.
Most of your mauser type actions use a 12 v thread.

I imagine that a good smith could rechamber it for one of the .30 cal Ultras, or cut and rechamer for one of the .30 short mags.

If you have a 70 action, I would cut the barrel to 22 or 24 inches and then turn it to "pencil" profile. You will then a a light 300 Win rifle that will be easy to carry and very accurate. I have a Husqvarna 300 with a very thin barrel and it is a dream to both shoot and carrry.

 

[MMCSRET]

It will make you a fine and very servicable, high tech jack handle.

 

[kragluver]

BOLT ACTION RIFLES by De Haas states that post 64 Model 70's have a 16 V TPI thread.
Most of your mauser type actions use a 12 v thread.

I have that book - I should have thought to look in it! Thanks for the ideas.

 

[NCsmitty]

Model 70 Win barrel shanks are 1" x 16tpi. Small ring Mauser barrels are .980" x 12tpi. Large ring Mausers are 1.100" x 12tpi.

The only way to properly use that barrel is to refit it to another M70 action, a Ruger 77 or Ruger #1. They all show the 1"x 16tpi as the proper thread.

I not sure if that holds true when they started chambering for those short, fat mags or not.



NCsmitty