I picked up a nice Remington 700 ADL on the cheap and I might be interested in rebarreling it. It is currently chambered in .30-06 but I already have another .30-06 and I don't really need two. What should I have it rebarreled to? The only two rifle calibers that I own are .22LR and .30-06, so I want something in the middle ideally. I have really only looked at the 6.5 Swede so I want to hear y'alls thoughts.

Also, who should I send it to to have it rebarreled? I want to be able to ship the whole gun and have it returned to me with a new barrel installed ready to go. Unless it's cheaper for me to buy a barrel separately and send it to someone, then let me know.

Thanks fellas

6.5x284 or 6.5-06

My choice was 338-06 in a recent 30-06 rebarrel. Fun gun but you really do need something in the middle of 22 and 30-06.

Sorry. No advice on a smith.

6.5x284 or 2506 possibly

Would prefer something with factory ammo available as I do not currently handload (that may change in the future but not any time soon).

You cant go wrong with the 6.5x55 it is a sweet round and light on the sholder and deadly on game performance. On a 700 action should be very accurate also, dont have any advice on gun smith, but you will be pleased with the Sweed!

With a .470" bolt face in a long action you have a lot of good calibers to choose from.

The 6.5x284 is a great choice. If you're looking for a little better barrel life in a 6.5mm, the 260 Remington is another good choice. In a 7mm, the 280 Remington makes a great rifle. You could go with Ackley Improved in the 260 and 280 if you're looking for more velocity.

All three of these can utilize high todays high B.C. bullets and can be used for long range.

If all you want is a rebarrel caliber change into another Long Aaction non magnum ...and don't reload your choices are a little limited but not all bad.

A simple barrel swap is not terrible hard but can be a litle spendy depending on what & who's barrel you order. Figure $2-$250 to $5-$6-$7??? for a barrel that is plain vanilla bead blasted Matte finished or tricked out with geegaws and flutes + whatever. Installation Smith fee's I'm guessing about $250-$300+ for a basic barrel swap depending on what else you want done in tuning while the gun is torn down....and who does it. Kinda like taking a car to get a valve job...and doing the rings and main bearings too.

Next Question is where do you hunt now and want to hunt in the future tha's you'd need something besides the 30'06 you now have 2 of?

If & I say IF you want a flatter shooter for Texas WTails and want to buy ammo at Academy I'd be looking at a 25'06 or 270 and a simple barrel swap, or for a heavy Hogzilla stopper with ammo from McBrides I'd be looking at mebbe a 35 Whelen, or a 9.3x62 and order ammo On Line from Graf's or Midway. These calibers all have the same Non Magnum bolt face as the 30'06. Reloading is the key to complete flexibility in a Non Magnum or Magnum bolt face caliber. It just depends on how much you shoot whether or not it is financially sound an idea.

If you want a more Classic LA caliber for WTails I'd look at a 257Rbts or 7x57 Mauser especially if you have a beginner shooter in the house to help ease into the wonderful world of recoil. The Rbt's is a proven deer killer and the ole Mauser is Elk Capable in heavier bullets - and I might as well say it now ...a White Hunter named "Karamojo" Bell in the 19Teen's & 20's killed bigtime Beaucoup hunnerts of Elephants as a Professional Ivory Hunter with the 7x57 Mauser... that the 7-08 of today emulates. I really really like the 6.5Swede but a wider selection of bullets in factory ammo is best bought on line or better yet reloaded...neither of which is a big problem & again at Graf's & Midway, Natchez etc etc. Just a very limited selection of factory ammo is availavle at retail and at $30+-$40+ a box for usuusally nothing but a do-all single bullet weight selection

As far as a gunsmith the Muy$$ Big Guys down there that come to mind at the moment are Hill Country in New Braufels?, Bill Wiseman in College Station - who builds guns that the Reloading manual companies use, the guy in Seguin, another guy I've seen some nice work out of is near Canyon Lake...ask around and ask to see their work before you ask for prices. You will get what you pay for though. Mo Cheap is NOT a good idea.
Have Fun
Ron

I'm in College Station and have visited with Bill Wiseman several times. Very nice guy and he does good work.

I'd also recommend 6.5x284. Heck of a round.

25-06.

Maybe a 6.5x284

My first choice would be for the 6.5x55, but I am a reloader. Hard to get the Swede's full potential out of factory ammo.

For the non-reloader, I would suggest the 257 or 25-06 as a mid-way point between the 22 and 30-06.

BOBO I know you are a big 25-06 guy, school me on it if you will. What setup are you running in terms of gun/bbl length/ammo, what game have you had success with it on, etc.?

I am leaning towards a 25-06 right now as a bridge between a 22 and an '06. Shooting 100gr bullets out of it seems like it would be pretty versatile for WT/pigs/coyotes.

Still need some recommendations on who to have do the barrel.

Thanks for the input thus far

You probably need at least a 24" barrel to reach full potential.
Order yourself a new stock also, A timney trigger at about 2lbs, and a custom barrel in the contour you want. Contour is up to you. I would do a 3 or 4 contour for a hunting gun. Bullets is up to you, but find the appropriate twist for the bullet you think you might want to shoot.

I second the .25 Whelen!

A. 30-06 that will be rebarreled should be with a 6.5mm or 7mm.

KDF in Seguin, Tx does good work.

I'm having my old 30-06 re-barreled ( blueprinting, trigger, ceracoted, etc) into a 280.

Remington made a run of 6.5x55 rifles. I would check with Remington to see if they have an availible barrel. If they do that would be your cheapest route.

257 Robert. For a hunting gun and for a man wanting to shoot factory ammo I don't see much use in a 280 when he owns a 30-06.

The thing about ordering a new barrel...is that YOU get to pick the barrel length, barrel twist and barrel profile...'cause within a wide range of options the barrel can be ordered with stuff the factory would never put on a rifle for the general public....for +/- 10% in cost. I'd most likely just buy a bead blasted SS barrel 'cause I am cheap and'd rather spend money elsewhere like a better brand of barrel than from glitzing up the outside of a cheaper made gun barrel. Look at the price list from ITD (ITDCustombarrels@Yahoo.com in Minerva Ohio)I think it is on their Douglas Supreme Airslot barrels...or Lothar Walther in Georgia, or Krieger or PacNor & Shilen yadda yadda. Are they better than a $200+ ER Shaw or $100 Adams & Bennet...ummm most likely they are for sure. Bill Wiseman in College Station builds barrels...he did all the work on the original PPC target stuff for SAKO, which is where I met him.

Case In Point...in a 25'06, which IMO I think is your best choice here when paired with the your current 30'06 since you don't reload...I'd be sure to get a longer than "factory normal" length like say a 26" instead of a 24"/22". I'd be getting the next barrel profile heavier so instead of a factory #2 Standard Sporter profile, I'd be looking at a #3 or even a #4 Profile for a Semi Bull or Varmint style barrel. Twist Rate is something I'd study hard and determine what I ordered more by the bullets styles & weights I intended to shoot, and a subject for understanding & agreement 'tween you and the 'smith or some other advisor you trust.

As far as replacing some of the other components...the trigger would be the 1st thing to address, since your wood factory stock can be "tuned" inexpensively with a float & 'glass bedding job.

All kinds of better trigggers available than the standard Remmy trigger...again a subject for agreement from your 'smith or advisor. I like Timneys that are easy to adjust for travel & letoff, Rifle Basix are pretty cheap but serviceble, but unless you are looking at really getting into Long Range +500 yard 'yote hunts or busting steel plates beyond that & a 25'06 with factory ammo is NOT your best choice for that... IMO, you don't need the expense of say a Jewel Target Trigger...a good enough trigger I think should cost you around $100 Plus installation & will be light years ahead of the untuned & mebbe difficult to tune factory trigger with a J Lock???....and you WILL wind up putting whatever trigger you select for the Project Gun on your other 30'06 as well. BTDT Once again if you've never driven a Jaguar it is amazing the rush that's possible when you feel the difference to a Ford or Chevy. Even my wife's 10 year old 67,000 mile V8 4Runner Sport Off Road has tighter steering & suspension than my 17,000 mile 2010 F150Crew.
This is the fun part...doing the research plotting & planning.
Ron

I totally jacked this but it's good stuff:

Some times when considering a rebarrel and chamber or cartrige change you need to
know what round will work without boltface and extractor work.

I have a cheat sheet/ready reference and thought I would share it with every anyone
that is interested.

All of these groups of cartriges should interchange without bolt face and extractor
work.( some work on recever rails may be needed to improve feeding ).

As far as wild cats what ever the parent case was it should work in the action listed.

I know this list is not complete but it's close.

Short actions with a bolt face .Dia of .384 +/-
17 Rem, 204 Ruger. 222 Rimingtion, and 223 Rem.

Short actions with a bolt face .Dia of .470 +/-
225 Winchester, 22/250 Remingtion, 6mm Norma BR, 243 Win, 250 Savage, 260 Rem,
6.5/284 Norma, 7/08 Rem, 284 win, 300 Savage, 308 Win, 338 Federal, 35 Rem, and
the 358 Winchester.

Short actions with a bolt face .Dia of .540+/-
223 WSSM, 243 WSSM, 25 WSSM, 7mm Rem saum, 7mm WSM, 300 Rem saum, 300
WSM, 325 WSM, and the 350 Rem Mag.

Long actions with a bolt face .DIA of .470 +/-
220 Swift, 6mm Rem, 240 Weatherby Mag, 257 Roberts, 25-06 Rem,
6.5x55 Swedish, 270 Win, 7x57 Mauser, 7x64 Brenneke, 280 Rem, 30/06 Springfield,
8mm Mauser, 338/06 A Square, and the 35 Whelen.

Long actions with a bolt face .Dia of .540 +/-
257 Weatherby, 264 Win Mag, 270 weatherby Mag, 7mm Rem Mag, 7mm Weatherby Mag, 7 STW,
7mm Rem Ultra Mag, 300 H & H, 300 Win Mag, 300 Weatherby Mag, 300 RUM, 303 Brit,
8mm Rem Mag, 338 Win Mag, 340 Weatherby Mag, 338 RUM, 375 H & H, 375 Weatherby,
375 RUM, 416 Rem Mag, 458 Win Mag, and the 458 Lott.

Long actions with a bolt face .Dia of .585 +/-
30/378 Weatherby, 338 Lapua, 338/378 Weatherby, 378 Weatherby mag, 416 Rigby,
416 Weatherby Mag, 460 Weatherby Mag, and the 470 Nitro Express.

I hope this information helps in deciding what your next build will be and minimize some
of the cost.

J E CUSTOM

I think if you change from the '06, the 9.3x64 would be the way to go. If not that one, I 'd go with the 35 Wheelen.

Why don't you visit a pawn shop in Austin? You will definitely get a good deal there.

8mm-'06.

Lots of responses that are no where between 22 and 30-06 like OP ask about.

With the OP not being a reloader 25-06, 257 Roberts, 6.5 Sweed or 7X57 would be good IMO

Since you don't reload and I presume you hunt in Texas, the 25/06 would be perfect. Just get Wiseman to screw on a new barrel for you.