Custom 260 Remington Varmintmaster

[84Fibermark]

I'm interested to know if it would be possible to re-bore and chamber an existing Varmintmaster 22-250 barrel to the new 260 Remington round? I'd prefer Weatherby Custom shop do this if it's possible.

[Chip]

Just change the barrel on it. It would be a whole lot more simple and cost effective.

[84Fibermark]

I would think the bolt would need to be re-worked as well. I'm thinking it might be easier to change out the barrel to a 250 Savage as Wby offered this a few years back. Decisions, decisions. 

[bustinbirds]

I'm with Chip, just re-barrel it. Your bolt shouldn't need any work if you are converting from the 22-250 to the 260 Rem. If you aren't set on the 260 rem, check out the 6.5-284. The 22-250 is fast, flat, and light recoil. I'm not sure the 260 rem is the perfect varmint cartridge but it is a great cartridge for deer sized game. The 6.5-284 is a little more popular for long range shooting. Take it to a gunsmith and discuss the options with them.

[wyldgene]

...for the .260 rem, it would just require re-barreling, the 6.5x284 will fit in a short action, but just barely & requires seating the bullets way back to fit the magazine, or lengthening the mag to use the longer, higher BC bullets. Another option is the 6.5x47, a reworked .260 case w/ a small primer pocket, less case taper, set back shoulder, & longer case neck. Pretty much cures the problem w/ COAL you might run into w/ the .260 & seating longer bullets, it was developed as a international competition round w/ very impressive ballistics...

[Chip]

The bolt will not need any work to go to 260 rem.  You might also want to look into the 6.5 Creedmoor.  The 250 was a good round before the 243 killed it off. What are you going to use the rifle for?  If your just looking for a long range varmint or preditor rig I would take a good hard look at doing it in 243.  The 6.5 has a lot going for it from a bullet bc stand point.    Just comes down to what you really want.
any 308 based or 300 savage based case will work in it without any bolt work needing to be done. Now all you have to do is make up your mind about what it will be. Easier said then done huh.

Chip

[bustinbirds]

243 Win and it's Ackley Improved variant are very popular. I think the most well round 6mm. Not sure how the case length compares on the 6mm Remington, but that is a cool round as well.

[84Fibermark]

I'm planning to use it for stalking whitetail with a Kahles 3x9 topping it off, of course with a gun chap as the stock is mint. I'm leaning towards the 260 Remington in stainless now that I know the bolt won't have to be re-worked.

[bustinbirds]

Fibermark: That sounds really cool. 260 is a great whitetail round. If I'm not mistaken, the varmint master is a wood stock, much like the deluxe, and probably has a 24" barrel in the 22-250 that you have? Is the current barrel heavier than a standard sporter contour? What contour would you put on, a sporter or slightly heavier?

[Weatherby Custom Shop]

There's not a whole lot that we can do with the Varmint Master. We have some old  .22-250 barrels in inventory, but we aren't making any new barrels for these guns. I hate to say it, but unfortunately you'll have to go elsewhere to get this work done.

[84Fibermark]

bustinbirds,

Yes, it is a slightly larger contour than the typical sporter and it is the deluxe wood stock. I was hoping the WBY shop could do the work, but it doesn't sound like it's possible. I might have to give up on the idea as I'm not sure I'd feel comfortable with anyone else. 

[bustinbirds]

Don't give up yet, if you really want it re-barreled there are plenty of good gunsmiths. Keep in mind it won't be inexpensive. Depending on what barrel manufacture you go with the price can vary. The barrel blanks themselves range from about $100 up to $300+. Then you will need a smith to cut the threads to your receiver, crown, chamber, and finish it, and install it to your receiver. Then bed the action, etc. It won't be cheap especially if you have a quality job done. With that being said, you will most likely get a rifle of awesome accuracy and it will be exactly what you want in terms of cartridge, barrel length and contour. It's up to you.

[dubyam]

If you'd like to know what a quality job would cost you, contact BIghornWby on this board.  He's done a number of rifles for friends of mine, and will get my business when the time comes.  If you have trouble finding him, PM me and I'll hook you up with contact info.