new barrel, any suggestions?

[bow-n-head]

I have a 300 H&H in a winchester 70. I think the headspace is streached and need to put a new barrel on it. The problem I see is the new barrel is going to cost more than the gun did to begin with. Does this sound right to any of you?

[mossback91]

how long ago did you buy the rifle?

[AWS]

It's pretty hard to change the headspace on a bolt gun by shooting it even if you overload it alot especially a modern arm like a Mod 70.  I would spend a couple of bucks and get a headspace gauge (field guage).  Unless you've cleaned it to death a 300H&H will not wear out a barrel in less than a couple of thousand rounds.  If it is really a headspace problem and your rifleling is still good you can have the barrel set back a turn and rechamber the barrel.

As far as a new barrel you can figure $400 to $600+ to buy a new barrel and have it installed.

Why do you feel you have a head space problem?

It is easy to over size(if your a reloader) magnum brass as it headspaces on the belt and it is easy to set the shoulder back too far.  Backing off your sizing die a little will stop case head seperations.

AWS

[AWS]

Are these factory loads or new brass reloads?

AWS

[AWS]

Just run your new brass into your sizing die enough that it only sizes half way down the neck, a little soot from a candle on the neck will show you.   It sounds like your setting the shoulder back.   

AWS

[AWS]

Sorry for the delay, had to go to dinner.   

If you don't have any problems with the partially sized case then you can size the once fired cases just enough to barely touch the shoulder, again using soot on the nack and shoulder to tell you how fare you are going into your sizing die.

AWS

[Huntbear]

Exactly why I only neck size all my magnum cases.