Here is the deal. I just inherited my Dad's 270 winchester rifle. It's not a major brand but has an excellent mauser action. Dad said he must have shot it with a small obstruction in the barrel because as you feel the barrel you can feel a small swell about 1/2 way to the muzzel. I have not shot it yet but surely accuracy will be a thing of the past. New barrel you say, well it's not an expensive gun and I'm thinking a new barell with exceed the price of a new gun and if it needs a new stock, it surely will. I just lost my Dad and the gun has major sentimental value also. I may just retire it to the gun cabinet. Has anybody ever heard of having the barell cut off ( in front of the swell) and re crowned by a competent gun smith. I bet this would put barrel length at 10-14" and surely the muzzel blast will be enourmous. If I'm going to use it as close to "original" as possible this is the only way. Dumb idea? Please share your thougts.

This post has been edited by timezoneguy: Jul 22 2009, 11:07 AM

That length barrel would be illegal in a rifle. Besides the performance just wouldn't be there. Besides it's a remembrance of your dad don't cut it. Get a new barrel they aren't that expensive and remember your dad while you hunt with it.

+1
and Amen!!!

Bob

Sorry to hear about your Dad. I lost mine on April 2.

If you get a barrel with the same contour (or close), you shouldn't need a new stock.

Maybe i'm the one who's crazy, but i'd have that competant gun smith check out the swell in the barrel and determine if the gun could still be safely fired. If so, i'd actually see what kind of accuracy it might still have in it..who actually knows until it's fired. First off, it might not be safe to shoot..but I'd check that out. Did your dad continued to shoot it with the swelled barrel? If it's determined safe for shooting, I'd leave the gun the same for the nostalgia. Who knows until you try an zero it, it still might be a decent shooter, strange things happen all the time. Safety is the first concern, but it sure would make a cool conversation piece in the field.....and be the same intact gun your dad toted and hunted with. Good luck and sorry to hear about your dad.

Thanks for the ideas. I think I'll just leave it alone and remember my Dad and his gun. Who knows maybe I was with him when we got someting in the barrel. Thanks for your condolunces. I hope those who have lost their Dad had one as special as I did.

TZG

I think I would still have a gunsmith check it out. If it was safe to use you might get that much more enjoyment out of it.

I'm curious. If you can feel a swell on the outside and it is indeed an enlargement from the inside I would think you might be able to feel a difference in friction with a patch as you pass the spot. However, don't use this method to replace the gunsmith.

I feel my Dad was special. He almost made it to 99. Six weeks short.

Thats how my Dad discovered the swelled area, cleaning with a tight patch and it got loose and then tight again. I have not checked it out but I surely will, and then take it to a gun smith.

My condolences to you also. I meant to add them in my post above and forgot, I guess I'm getting old. My dad passed away this last October and I still think of all of the things I wish we had been able to do together. Keep the gun as is at least for now. Have it checked out like Mike mentioned above.

The rifle may still shoot fine. Shoot it and see how it works.~AMMOe

The same thought I had from the start of the post.

retire your dad's .270 and get yourself a new, or used rifle. I see a lot of used .270s in the local gun shops and pawn shops. You definitely don't want to make an SBR out of it. BATF would have a field day with that one.

What AMMOe said.

It's the last four inches of the barrel that are going to effect accuracy; the gun could very well still be accurate.

Please don't guess with a legacy rifle. Take it to a good gunsmith, tell him your story and see what he says.

I have a 22 pistol my dad used at work. He built telephone lines over the mountains of central Penna. He would go up the pole in the morning for a couple hours and after the sun came out the rattle snakes would sun themselfs on the rocks at the bottom of the pole. He would have to "shoot" himself a hole in the pile of snakes to get home. He used bird shot and it was an inexpensive pistol to start with so It doesn't shoot so well now. But I take it out to the range every so often. He passed over ten years ago.

This post has been edited by Mush: Oct 9 2009, 03:22 PM

keep it as a sentimental piece and grab a new rifle.