Gday, I've got in mind to re-barrell a .222 rem with a .204 ruger barrell.
This will be the first time I have done anything like this so I was wondering is there anything you should do with the action whilst the barrell is off?

It will be used as a varmint rifle more than likely, but I would like the rifle to be as accurate as possible.

cheers Nick

If the action looks a bit worn, it would be a good time to reblue it.

Why are you rebarreling? Is the barrel worn out? If you just want something new and different fine but I don't see a whole lot (actually, I don't see any) of advantage of a 204 Ruger over a 222 Remington and I have both.

something different, rifle was a gift and I already have a 223 which I love using. So I thought I'd use the oppurtunity to delve into customizing. Whats the go with trueing the action?

Most reputable gunsmiths will not re-barrel without truing the action first!!!
Truing is nothing more than making sure that the action and barrel are in perfect alignment with one another.
Most smiths will also lap the bolt lugs as part of this process.

This would be the time to give your action any cosmetic changes such as bluing, coatings, jeweling the bolt, changing the bolt handle, etc, etc.

I have 3 rebarrels and waiting on a 4th. Unless you are having a stainless barrel installed, the barrel will come "in the white" which means it has no finish. After reaming, threading and installing the barrel, the gunsmith will send it out to have the entire gun refinished. At that time they will refinish the action and barrel together. Most will want to do a matte black and I prefer that finish.

When working on the gun, the gunsmith will square the action. You will have to ask to have the lugs lapped or at least checked out. You will get to choose the diameter of the chamber neck unless you want him to use a factory reamer. If you want a certain OAL then send him a bullet seated in an unprimed case and tell him to set the lands to fit. Magazine length is a concern and needs to be taken into account. If you want any markings on the barrel other than the caliber then they can do that also. If you do get a certain neck diameter for a "tight" neck, then it is advisable to have them stamp it on then


Choose your barrel carefully and make your own decisions on the barrel maker, the twist rate, the contour and the finished length. There is not a lot of difference between a very good premium barrel and a just run of the mill barrel. You will have to live with the results, so $100.00 is a small price to pay for later not wishing you had done it to begin with.

Choose your gunsmith carefully. There are lots of horror stories out there.

If you don't have or can't find a gunsmith call the barrel maker of your choice, they install barrels as well.

Nicky...if you are having difficulty finding a Gunsmith...check out this link.

Deer Sniper

Deer Sniper is one of our members, although I haven't seen him in here for a little bit, but his work is second to none looking at the pics he provides.

Well worth contacting him for advice and / or a quote on the work you are thinking about having done.

Cheers, Vince

+1 Vince.

+1 to that..
Yah Deer Snipe make beautiful rifles.

And the hobby of his (long range deer sniping 1000yards+) made sure that he is aware of what needed to get the rifle accurate too.

Vince wrote:

Nicky...if you are having difficulty finding a Gunsmith...check out this link. Deer Sniper Deer Sniper is one of our members, although I haven't seen him in here for a little bit, but his work is second to none looking at the pics he provides. Well worth contacting him for advice and / or a quote on the work you are thinking about having done. Cheers, Vince

Cheers Vince I'll look into it. What unit where you with?

Nicky wrote:

What unit where you with?

Gidday mate...several Infantry Battalions mate...8/9 RAR, 5/7 RAR (MECH), 6 RAR, 51 FNQR and a couple of Reserve Battalions.

Cheers, Vince

Goodo, I was with 6 for a bit.

Great mate...when was that?

I was there from Dec 94 till Aug 98.

Cheers, Vince

I just missed you, 2001 to 2005. Did you hear they raised 8/9RAR again.

Sure did mate...my parent Battalion.

Had a long chat with my first RSM the other day...he was RSM 8/9 RAR 1977-1979. He is pretty happy about the Battalion being re-raised.

Whereabouts are you these days Nicky?

Cheers, Vince