Barreling Question on a 6.5x284??

blue devil

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I have a Ruger #1 that was originally a .243 heavy barrel and it was turned into a .257 Ackley Improved. That barrel lasted for 40+ years and showed "fire cracking" this past year and is no longer usable. I am looking to send the gun back to RUGER to get a new .243 heavy barrel put back on it. My question is can I make a 6.5x284 out of that new .243 heavy barrel or is that not possible? Also, I would take any other caliber suggestions that would work with that new barrel. Thanks!
 
You can make it a wide variety of cartridges. Anything with a standard bolt face. I agree that rather than send it to Ruger I’d just find a good gunsmith familiar with the Ruger #1 and install an aftermarket barrel of your choice and cartridge.
 
I think I understand what you are asking.
You have ordered a .243 barrel install for now......
And, after you burn that one up, you want to see if it can be rechambered into a 6.5x284.
If this is what you mean, then yes it can be re-bored, rifled, and a new chamber then cut into it.
But the barrel being different diameter bore size makes it a job few shops handle.
If you really want to stretch the use of a barrel like that, a similar bore size caliber is a smarter choice.
Like, .260 or 6.5 creedmore to start. Then later on a simple reaming job will re-chamber it to any larger cartridge that uses the same diameter bullet.
As long as the twist rate is kept compatible for what you plan to use. A 1-8 twist is the 6.5s best choice for the calibers mentioned, I believe.
But, any good smith can steer you where you want to go in the twist rate and in the installation.
Ruger will likely only do new barrel swap. But you can ask them about your project. They are great people to deal with and knowledgeable.
 
I have reached out to no less than 20 different custom rifle makers, gun smiths, barrel makers, etc. from around the country and the same issues arise. I can get a new barrel from numerous places for anywhere between $350-400, but most of those places will not touch a Ruger#1 due to not having the tools for the square receiver and the mounting scope mounts directly to the barrel as needed. Every gunsmith I have then contacted won't either touch a Ruger#1, due to the same issues above or want another $700-$800 to do the job. So at $1,000-$1,100 total I might as well buy a new one for $1,400-$1,500!

Ruger will put the exact same barrel on it as it had when sold new (due to government law), which was a .243 heavy barrel to match serial number to caliber. That will run $450 and they will re-blue the gun. Then a gunsmith will re-bore to a new caliber for $150-$200. So my total would be around $650-$700. I would love to go back to the .257 AI, but finding brass is a huge pain in the butt! Or do I just shoot the .243 and call it good or re-bore to a caliber that I can get more "punch" with? That is my dilemma
 
I'm not aware of any law that states the manufacturer, or anyone for that matter, must put the same caliber barrel on a rifle.
The serial # is on the receiver, not the barrel.
You don't even need to do any paperwork if you ship it directly to them. They can ship directly back to you.
 
I'm not aware of any law that states the manufacturer, or anyone for that matter, must put the same caliber barrel on a rifle.
The serial # is on the receiver, not the barrel.
You don't even need to do any paperwork if you ship it directly to them. They can ship directly back to you.

I would think that for simplicity of recordkeeping that Ruger would prefer to keep everything simple and not deviate from their standard policy. Would they provide a custom rifle in a non-standard chambering, esp. if ammo is commercially available for it?
 
Is the barrel no longer useable because it is “firecracked” or does it no longer shoot to your standards? PacNor was a good suggestion.
 
Conversations with many Ruger people, I wanted another caliber other than the .243 and was told that Ruger cannot put a different caliber on that receiver since the gun was initially a .243 #1B and that they are restricted to put that same caliber and barrel type back on it. As for the Pac-Nor suggestion, they are great at what they do, but I run into the $1,100 issue that I might as well buy a new rifle if I spend that much on this one. The barrel is "firecracked" as it has been looked at by numerous gunsmiths and every one of them have come to the conclusion that it should be rebarreled or put in the gun cabinet and never used again in it's existing condition.
 
I have heard Ruger only does rebarrel of original caliber and taper.
But I am surprised at the cost you have been quoted by Smith's, for a #1 .
If those guys are getting that, then I should seriously consider quitting taxidermy and go pro with smith work. I recommend looking at the AR forum and ask on the gunsmithing section.
I can't see how a smith that has done a Ruger #1 barrel before, could be so expensive. They are different sure, but from what I have heard, they are not overly difficult. The rib on the barrel is the only iffy part for removal. But if a smith is Leary of doing one, then they aren't the right man for the job.
That being said, if you do go with the .243 from Ruger, it is still a good caliber. But I understand the want for a little more wopp in a single shot.
I would be surprised if you can't find someone that is not only affordable, but more experienced with the #1.
Good luck and I wish I new someone who works on #1s but they just aren't as popular as bolt guns and that certainly makes it a more specialist item for custom work.
 
What is the main purpose of the rifle? If it’s a deer rifle I think your cheapest route is Ruger and see what twist rate they offer. There are some gunsmiths that do work on Ruger #1 but they definitely are more expensive than a bolt gun. There is a lot more work involved that just chambering a barrel on a #1.
Another option would be can you rebore the current barrel to maybe a 7-08 or 308? Fire cracking is usually only the first few inches and rebore should clean that up.
 
Accurate Reloading.Com
Join, post on the gunsmithing section of the forum and wait for an answer.
Lots of actually experienced smiths on that site that can probably give you a quote or at least recommend a guy to call.
Surely, got to be some one that does those rifle barrels enough to be affordable .
 
Have only had one reply this morning. But the gentleman there seems to have done the job for about half of what has been quoted here.
I highly recommend looking into it.
But ultimately it is your rifle and your money.
It would be good to know the area you are located in for a general idea of a service area. But the shipping on a rifle is a small price for good work at a fair price.
 
I didnt know that anyone rebored barrels anymore. Rechambering yes, reboring no. If you get a .243 barrel and want that barrel to be something else, you’re pretty much looking at something longer and fatter than a .243 that uses the same bore diameter. A 6.5-284 uses a .264” groove diameter and a .243 Win uses a .243” groove diameter. Upping to the 6.5-284 would require a rebore. Either accept the accuracy of your .257AI, or have Ruger put a .243 Win barrel on it and use it like that. Fire cracking doesn’t make the gun unsafe or unusable. It just makes the barrel foul faster and degrades accuracy. It’s a near microscopic surface characteristic. Your barrel is it cracked. If you don’t want a .243 then send it to Ruger and sell it when you get it back and buy something else. That’s the financially soundest solution to getting a new barrel, but not a .243 Win.
 
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What is the main purpose of the rifle? If it’s a deer rifle I think your cheapest route is Ruger and see what twist rate they offer. There are some gunsmiths that do work on Ruger #1 but they definitely are more expensive than a bolt gun. There is a lot more work involved that just chambering a barrel on a #1.
Another option would be can you rebore the current barrel to maybe a 7-08 or 308? Fire cracking is usually only the first few inches and rebore should clean that up.

Even if someone rebored it, going from the longer, fatter .257AI to a 7-08 or .308 would require cutting the barrel back at the action face, which means that all of the work that the gunsmiths don’t want to do would have to be done.
 
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