Looking for hunting rifle opinions.

[MHWASH]

Here's another what would you do question.

 There are three 270s in my safe. One is my Rem 78 than I've had forever. We bought my son a Tikka for his 16th birthday. I recently bought a stainless Abolt with muzzle brake that I have not shot.
 
I've been doing some backcountry hunting the last couple of years and every time it has rained and turned my 78 rusty, no matter how much prep I do to it. Hence I bought the Browning.

When we got my boy's 270 I noticed that I could not fully close the bolt on the brass fired out of my 78. Not too surprised because the other Tikkas I've dealt with had tight chambers. When I tried my fired brass in the Browning that bolt would not close either. So now I'm thinking I may have an issue with my chamber in the 78.

Here's where my question comes in. Assuming the chamber in my 78 is bad, what's my next move?
My first thought is to rebarrel, with a stainless barrel, and sell the Browning. But that would still leave the action and bolt exposed to the elements. Or I could keep the Browning and rebarrel the 78 to a different cartridge and only use it when the weather isn't an issue. So if I go this route, what cartridge?

I'm not too concerned with deer, my main interests are bear, Elk and coyotes. Also want to keep it under .308.

[hunter399]

Do you full length resize?
Or keep brass separate between rifles ?
Your 78 could be duracoat or ceracoat.
Turning it into a all weather rifle.If the 78 shoots good why rechamber?

[hunter399]

By the way I love the 270 cal. ,its a killin machine.

[jasnt]

I am getting very fond of ss.    Smaller than 308....could neck down 308  to .277 and use the same bullets as the other guns yet plenty of room to load em out long.

[Reidus]

cerakote to prevent rust.

chambers can vary a few thousandths and still be in spec. That's enough to keep the bolt from closing on a different gun. If it shoots good just cerakote it and use it.

[Westside88]

I can’t answer your question, but that A bolt is a good gun. Is that the one that was listed for sale? I have SS Abolt in 338. Love em, I was looking at the one listed, but timings just not right for me

[MHWASH]

Well I've already had the 78 parkerized. I suppose I could cerakote over that?

Brass was resized in a Redding die, and trimmed to length.

By smaller than .308 I meant bullet diameter, not cartridge.

Yes, it's the same Abolt that's in the classifieds.

[hunter399]

Hey MHWASH did you ever do that bicycle hunt ?Did you see anything?

The rifle If it shoots good it's a keeper.
Sounds like you might have to keep brass separate.
And some weather proofing.

[yorketransport]

You could try coating the 78 with car wax to stop the rust. I’ve done this on guns that would rust fast and it’s worked well. It strips right off when hunting season’s over.

I do love rebarreling guns though, so maybe a 6mm Gibbs is the best solution!

[MHWASH]

Hey MHWASH did you ever do that bicycle hunt ?Did you see anything
Sounds like you might have to keep brass .

Just got back from the hunt with a rusty rifle. Got a bunch of rain Friday night. My partner saw one bear, but too far to shoot.

I bought nickel brass for the Tikka to keep it separate.

Coated my rifle with Flitz gun wax in preparation for the hunt.

[BigGoonTuna]

since i handload, i intentionally only rifle in each caliber that i load for.  i mostly neck size brass, so this leaves me little worry about brass interchangeability.

i don't think your brass from your remington not fit in your tikka is an uncommon issue, different rifles will have different chamber dimensions, even among the same brand(the reamers get work from use and get replaced periodically).  if you really want to go nuts, have them all rebarreled and chambered with the same reamer!

i had good luck with frog lube for rust protection, but it's super expensive and not really compatible with "normal" gun care products.  for most day to day use, i wipe my barrels and actions down with ballistol before and after each hunt.

[Bill W]

I think your FL resizing die needs to be adjusted to make the brass fit your Browning.   I once had three .308's and set the die to fit the tightest chambered one.

[MHWASH]

I think your FL resizing die needs to be adjusted to make the brass fit your Browning.   I once had three .308's and set the die to fit the tightest chambered one.

After reading your post, I went back and check things out. My FL die was already set to the shell holder. But it turns out my trimmer had moved and I was not trimming the necks far enough.

Haven't decided if I want to shoot it or not, If it shoots really good I may not want to sell it.