Cutting and rechambering a savage barrel

Colorado Redneck · May 22, 2014, 12:20 AM

Can Savage barrels be cut off and rechambered to reset freebore? I can see that the lands are pretty much gone for maybe 3/4 of an inch from the throat. I have done the bit about pushing a bullet into the lands and that indicates there has been some erosion. The thing still shoots prairie dogs, but groups are getting bigger. So the thought occurred to me that maybe I could get some extended life from this barrel by having a smith cut and rechamber to the same caliber. It is 22-250 in a 12 Varmint stainless barrel.

Any advice or experience is great!

hoghunting · May 22, 2014, 10:30 AM

Yes your barrel can be cut, shoulder set back, threaded and rechambered, but it might cost as much as buying a new barrel. There are many companies selling barrels for Savages.

Colorado Redneck · May 22, 2014, 08:34 PM

Thanks, hoghunting. I thought the same thing. Then got to thinking it over and wondered about using the old barrel, but before taking it to a gunsmith wanted to know if it is even possible. Thanks again!

Brian Pfleuger · May 23, 2014, 06:55 PM

Get a new barrel in .22-250AI and go for 5,000fps.

Colorado Redneck · May 23, 2014, 09:52 PM

Maybe make it a project gun. Shilen barrel, Boyd's stock (like the on you have) and then get after the prairie rats. It still shoots pretty good, so I have a while to consider. Then there are the other two guns that are slowly taking the place of that Savage.

Not really interested in 22-250 AI. The loads for the last 3-4 years for this gun have been more like hot loaded 223, so maybe the barrel life could be extended. 40 gr. Sierras at 3800 fps. when I could gettem. Now it is 50 gr. V-Max at 3600 fps.

Brian Pfleuger · May 24, 2014, 10:01 AM

How far away are you shooting these critters? I love the .22-250 but there are rounds with better barrel life and low recoil, or some combination of less noise and recoil with similar or better life... 6BR, 20BR, .204Ruger (love the .204, love, love, love) etc, etc....

Colorado Redneck · May 29, 2014, 09:01 PM

Brian-Up to 400+ yards. Don't hit a high percentage at the longer ranges, but if I hold my mouth just right and dope the breeze (luck) it is more fun to try those "reach out and touch something" shots. There is already a .204 Ruger that goes every time. And a 222 Rem. But that old 22-250 has my confidence (After a loooong drawn out learning curve on my part.) So keeping one of those in the safe is very appealing. The other day I lucked into a few acres of previously unshot over prairie dogs and the pups were well up and out of the hole. Over a 40 minute span I was changing rifles about every 12 shots, and they were getting pretty warm--darned uncomfortable to touch the barrels. 3 guns in the rotation was looking a bit thin for a few minutes there. Dang that's fun!

std7mag · May 29, 2014, 09:43 PM

Could always do a 220 Swift.

Just a thought....

Brian Pfleuger · May 30, 2014, 08:02 AM

Well, .22-250 is a fantastic varmint cartridge. 35gr Nosler and Win748 would be you're friend. A flatter and less drifting bullet combination you will not find. We don't even bother figuring anything out to about 375. Just a hold a few inches high and a few into the wind.

MDM · June 9, 2014, 04:14 PM

You probably are going to have a hard time setting the shoulder back on a Savage because they have none. The threaded shank is usually gonna be about 1.6" or so. Not to much past that and the barrel starts to taper so it makes it difficult to cut the whole chamber off and thread a new shank and get the thread engagement you need. Some aftermarket bull prefits have enough meat behind the shank to do a full set back, but for a factory barrel it will be tough to do.

May 22, 2014, 12:20 AM	#1
Colorado Redneck Senior Member Join Date: January 6, 2008 Location: Northeast Colorado Posts: 1,993	Cutting and rechambering a savage barrel Can Savage barrels be cut off and rechambered to reset freebore? I can see that the lands are pretty much gone for maybe 3/4 of an inch from the throat. I have done the bit about pushing a bullet into the lands and that indicates there has been some erosion. The thing still shoots prairie dogs, but groups are getting bigger. So the thought occurred to me that maybe I could get some extended life from this barrel by having a smith cut and rechamber to the same caliber. It is 22-250 in a 12 Varmint stainless barrel. Any advice or experience is great!

May 23, 2014, 06:55 PM	#4
Brian Pfleuger Moderator Emeritus Join Date: June 25, 2008 Location: Austin, CO Posts: 19,578	Get a new barrel in .22-250AI and go for 5,000fps. __________________ Nobody plans to screw up their lives... ...they just don't plan not to. -Andy Stanley

May 24, 2014, 10:01 AM	#6
Brian Pfleuger Moderator Emeritus Join Date: June 25, 2008 Location: Austin, CO Posts: 19,578	How far away are you shooting these critters? I love the .22-250 but there are rounds with better barrel life and low recoil, or some combination of less noise and recoil with similar or better life... 6BR, 20BR, .204Ruger (love the .204, love, love, love) etc, etc.... __________________ Nobody plans to screw up their lives... ...they just don't plan not to. -Andy Stanley

May 22, 2014, 10:30 AM	#2
hoghunting Senior Member Join Date: March 27, 2006 Posts: 1,559	Yes your barrel can be cut, shoulder set back, threaded and rechambered, but it might cost as much as buying a new barrel. There are many companies selling barrels for Savages.

May 22, 2014, 08:34 PM	#3
Colorado Redneck Senior Member Join Date: January 6, 2008 Location: Northeast Colorado Posts: 1,993	Thanks, hoghunting. I thought the same thing. Then got to thinking it over and wondered about using the old barrel, but before taking it to a gunsmith wanted to know if it is even possible. Thanks again!

May 23, 2014, 09:52 PM	#5
Colorado Redneck Senior Member Join Date: January 6, 2008 Location: Northeast Colorado Posts: 1,993	Maybe make it a project gun. Shilen barrel, Boyd's stock (like the on you have) and then get after the prairie rats. It still shoots pretty good, so I have a while to consider. Then there are the other two guns that are slowly taking the place of that Savage. Not really interested in 22-250 AI. The loads for the last 3-4 years for this gun have been more like hot loaded 223, so maybe the barrel life could be extended. 40 gr. Sierras at 3800 fps. when I could gettem. Now it is 50 gr. V-Max at 3600 fps.

May 29, 2014, 09:01 PM	#7
Colorado Redneck Senior Member Join Date: January 6, 2008 Location: Northeast Colorado Posts: 1,993	Brian-Up to 400+ yards. Don't hit a high percentage at the longer ranges, but if I hold my mouth just right and dope the breeze (luck) it is more fun to try those "reach out and touch something" shots. There is already a .204 Ruger that goes every time. And a 222 Rem. But that old 22-250 has my confidence (After a loooong drawn out learning curve on my part.) So keeping one of those in the safe is very appealing. The other day I lucked into a few acres of previously unshot over prairie dogs and the pups were well up and out of the hole. Over a 40 minute span I was changing rifles about every 12 shots, and they were getting pretty warm--darned uncomfortable to touch the barrels. 3 guns in the rotation was looking a bit thin for a few minutes there. Dang that's fun!

May 29, 2014, 09:43 PM	#8
std7mag Senior Member Join Date: June 23, 2013 Location: Central Taxylvania.. Posts: 3,609	Could always do a 220 Swift. Just a thought....

May 30, 2014, 08:02 AM	#9
Brian Pfleuger Moderator Emeritus Join Date: June 25, 2008 Location: Austin, CO Posts: 19,578	Well, .22-250 is a fantastic varmint cartridge. 35gr Nosler and Win748 would be you're friend. A flatter and less drifting bullet combination you will not find. We don't even bother figuring anything out to about 375. Just a hold a few inches high and a few into the wind.

June 9, 2014, 04:14 PM	#10
MDM Member Join Date: November 3, 2005 Posts: 28	You probably are going to have a hard time setting the shoulder back on a Savage because they have none. The threaded shank is usually gonna be about 1.6" or so. Not to much past that and the barrel starts to taper so it makes it difficult to cut the whole chamber off and thread a new shank and get the thread engagement you need. Some aftermarket bull prefits have enough meat behind the shank to do a full set back, but for a factory barrel it will be tough to do.