I expected to get flamed a little. The collector part of you guys automatically assumed Bug had a unaltered, collectible barrel on his sporter. Maybe he does, maybe he doesn't. The majority of "sporterized" Springfields that I have seen have had unsuitable barrels for restorations. Recut muzzles or previously shortened, diameters turned for banded front sights, markings and lathe marks turned or buffed off, holes drilled and tapped, dovetails cut, etc. I would love to see an original barrel get saved if thats the case but not when the owner would have to spend more or go through more hassles to accomplish it. The last two times I personally saw 1903's with bolt swaps they did not pass the headspace check. That would be another factor to avoid if he did a barrel swap. Bug can also just call Brownells and buy a piloted cutting and crowning kit for under $70. Chop a few barrels and resell the kit to get most of his money back.


Quote Originally Posted by chuckindenver View Post
swapping barrels and rechambering???
if you missed it , i offered to do the swap, as well..no chambering would be needed. I did miss your offer to swap barrels. That's a cool offer and I've heard nothing but good feedback about your work on these old rifles. If you did the work for free then he would only have about $30 in shipping.
isnt this hobby about saving these weapons, and not destroying them??
i dont know any real gunsmith with the right tools that would cut and crown for 50.00.

Here are some:
http://www.thehuntersden.com/charges.htm $45

http://www.shootersexpress.com/gunsmithing.html $40

http://www.mygunroom.com/dvgunshop/gunsmith.html $42

http://www.greygoosegunsmithing.com/pricing.html $45

http://www.lhpfirearms.com/service01.htm $50

My estimate was a little low, many others wanted around $55-65.


the board min, for gunsmith machine work is 85.00. no real machine shop would touch a small job like that and likely wouldnt have a clue as to how to crown it right.
they would have to make a special cutter to crown, and that would add more money.
ask any machine shop what they charge an hour for machine work.
likely 100.00 an hour, plus 1 hour min, set up time. Which is exactly why I would hope nobody would go to a general machine shop for gunsmithing work. That's about as bad an example as having a bumper chroming shop do the polishing on a rifle prior to a bluing job.
any real gunsmiths will have a min, charge, plus a setup charge. and the turnaround time would be close to 6 mos, or more.
if they would work on an 03, as most wont even touch them. Another stretch, any gunsmith that can chuck up and indicate a barreled receiver can do the job and not care if its a Rem 700, Win 70 or a Remington 03 as listed above. It's not like its a low numbered receiver or something with added liabilty.