I have an old Weatherby Vanguard in .243. Japanese action and 24" barrel (Howa action), wood Monte Carlo stock. I looked up the serial number and found it was make in the 70s or early 80s and Its been in the family since the 1980s and is in near perfect condition. My dad bought it from a guy in Ca. who didnt think .243 was enough for blacktail deer. Since then it has cleanly killed more than a few whitetails. That said I have nothing against the .243. I really have no idea how many rounds have been put through the gun but I know when the accuracy does fall off I may be looking at replacing the barrel and I plan to keep the gun forever. So to make a long story short, I have have a couple questions for you gurus. First what would it take to change this rifle to say .308? Would it be just a barrel change since its already chambered in .243? Also is this something I can do at home or would the gun need to be taken to a gun smith? Thanks.
- Thread starter valkyries
- Start date
It will just be a matter of a barrel swap everything else should interchange. This won't be a DIY project best leave it up to a smith.
I just called a smith a couple weeks ago & it seems the accuracy is great but the turn around time is close to 6 months.
Define great accuracy, as there are some smiths who think if you can hit a deer at 100 yards or so then accuracy must be great.
1/2 or better moa is what I consider accurate but I'm not the smith & I haven't used him but he had references on his web site showing at least that good. All I did was offer the OP a way to keep his rifle original but in the caliber he wanted, nothing more & I'm not going to argue about it. 
I don't see where anyone tried to start an argument. I asked you a simple question.1/2 or better moa is what I consider accurate but I'm not the smith & I haven't used him but he had references on his web site showing at least that good. All I did was offer the OP a way to keep his rifle original but in the caliber he wanted, nothing more & I'm not going to argue about it.
I re-read my post & don't see where I said you or anyone was arguing about it or anything. I just stated I was trying to help the OP & I wasn't going to argue about it. That's all, please don't read things into it that aren't there.
1/2 or better moa is what I consider accurate but I'm not the smith & I haven't used him but he had references on his web site showing at least that good. All I did was offer the OP a way to keep his rifle original but in the caliber he wanted, nothing more & I'm not going to argue about it.
243 & 308 are the same case size. Unless it's a pencil barrel & done by an expert there will be no problem. The choice is you can buy a new Howa for not much more than this will cost when you factor in shipping. I'd buy another rifle but it's not my choice. I checked on it for a high dollar rifle. It's the OPs call not ours.
JES reboring. Turnaround is usually a couple of weeks. I've had him turn a couple of 308's into 338 Federals for me.
Yes the cases themselves are the same size but the bore is different. He will have to redrill the barrel and then rerifle it. Don't see where that will work out well in the end. Unless he is very attached to the original barrel of the rifle then a new barrel properly installed will give him a much more accurate and consistent rifle than buying another factory rifle or the total overhaul you mentioned.
Nope. I burn a barrel out or want to change calibers I get a new barrel. I would rather trust a new Bartlein barrel put on by my smith than an old barrel reamed and rifled for close to the same cost. Just seems like a no brainer but if using the old barrel is what he wants then I hope it works for him.
I am looking to do the same thing with a Remington 700 Heavy barrel. As far as I can tell a new barrel is 300-400 dollars then the places want $400 to put it on. Not sure there is an advantage. Anybody know a place that will do this that doesnt cost 6 or 700 dollars to do a barrel swap?
