rebarrel a win mod 88

[308magtip]

any one have any info on cost to change a win 88 from .308 to .243?

[765x53]

Looks like about $1300 to $1500. https://www.gunbroker.com/item/928259931 https://www.gunbroker.com/item/931733943

[44shooter]

Curious as to why you want to change caliber

[CowboyTutt]

That seems like a rather odd conversion to make to me as well. I don't think the recoil would be substantially different if that is the issue and would be far cheaper it looks like to just put a premium recoil pad on it (I like Kick Eez ones). Maybe a 8 ounce merc tube if its really a problem. I have a "full zoot" Model '88 conversion in the works from .308 Win to 416/284 McPherson. I will have about $2600 in it I think by time it is done. -Tutt

[44shooter]

Well his handle suggests he is accustomed to proper man sized cartridges

I would think the job is about the same as rebarrelling a bolt gun. Depends largely on who makes the barrel.

[CowboyTutt]

Well, its his gun and his reasoning and cost. I await his response as to why it would be worth it to him. Might be he has very good reasons for it. Just saying. -Tutt

[Old Savage]

Where did the idea come from that it is recoil? Though the .243 has markedly less in an 88 than a .308. It would be cheaper to just get a .243. Though I don’t get the worshipping some perception of power, some thing like a 270 or 30-06 will have plenty in reasonable actual hunting situations.

[CowboyTutt]

I'm awaiting his answers only, and I was just speculating as to reasons. -Tutt

[44shooter]

Well he owes no explanation and can do what he pleases with his rifle. I stated I was curious as I would be much more likely to turn a 243 into a 260, 7mm-08, 308, 338 Fed etc. For me the 243 offers no meaningful advantage over larger calibers on short cases other than lighter recoil and maybe really high velocities with really light varmint bullets. It is a better varmint cartridge than the others but not better on anything over 100 pounds or so. That’s not worshipping power. All the cartridges I mentioned are fairly mild in the grand scheme of hunting rounds but can do a lot of work in the field. My four picks can play 270 and/or 30-06 games credibly. The 243 can emulate up to about 250-3000, maybe the other standard 25s if you limit their weight to 100 grains. But put a 120 in a 25-06 and it becomes more 270ish.

But I wouldn’t modify an 88 in 308 unless the barrel was no good. If I wanted to shoot varmints with it I would load some light bullets. If I wanted a deer/bear load but for some reason the kick in that rifle was uncomfortable, I would load it somewhere around 300 Savage or less performance. That said the conversion should be a simple barrel swap. A bit more complicated if you use a factory barrel and need the sights to line up. Probably be cheaper to keep your 88 and buy a used bolt action 243.

[CowboyTutt]

Sorry, my short post came across wrong. He certainly does not owe us an explanation but I had to ask and he can answer or not. It just doesn't seem a very cost effective change at that barrel price! And the variety of 308 ammo is one of its biggest advantages in today's market. -Tutt

[Rockrat]

I would think around $500 for the barrel, contoured, threaded and chambered and about the same to get it installed/blued. I might be low however, so I would budget $1500 and if it comes in less, then great!!

[Old Savage]

With hunting bullets going to nonlead/copper in this hunting area I shot a deer with a .243 in an old 88 at 275 yds in a 30 mph quartering crosswind somewhat up hill. The load was an 85 gr bullet with a target shape at 3225 fps.

These bullets have proven to be very effective at both short and long range. You can see by looking at the ballistics that they have an advantage in both drop and movement in crosswind over anything from a .308.

Still for the money mentioned you could probably buy one in .243 and have both.

[CowboyTutt]

Good points and yes you could get a used '88 for less than the barrel change off of Gunbroker. -Tutt

[ywaltzucanrknrl]

Lots of "depends" when a person puts a new barrel on. I don't think an 88 is more complex than most of the others, but I may be wrong, I've never done one. I've had some new barrels put on lately and the main factors seem to be who makes the barrel, whether it is cut or button (cut barrels come at a premium to button), how long it is and if you can find a maker who has the profile you want as a standard offer.

Also, a big factor is who does the chambering, fitting and threading. Some folks are more expensive than others. Also, shipping costs can sure add up if it has to be shipped.

The ones I've had done recently have gone from $650 to $800 for everything.

I've also done a couple of pre-fits over the last few years and on the ones I didn't have headspace gauges for, they ran nearly the cost of having someone do it, if you count the cost of the headspace gauges and I didn't put a value on my time. The ones I did have head space gauges for were around $350.

[CowboyTutt]

Re-barreling an '88 is typical as the barrel lugs lock into the receiver. Re-barreling a BLR with the steel barrel extension is a completely different animal and highly not recommended except by the most competent specialists in BLR's. -Tutt

[Old Savage]

Don’t bother rebarreling either. Nothing to be gained even in Tutt’s imagination. I keep trying to educate the boy. If you want to experiment with anything that hasn’t been thought of get a Savage 110. There is nothing to be gained by any of this.