Re barreling my BLR

[Mozz]

I am thinking of re barreling my 243 BLR to 6.5 x55 swiss, so i can use it legally on all deer in the UK.

From what i am learning its a difficult beast to work on., do we know of anybody who has re barrel a BLR?

If its too difficult i am happy to keep it as a 243, its a great riffle and shoots well to boot.

D

[Mk42gunner]

Mozz,

Not to dump too much rain on your parade, but I don't think a BLR will handle the length of the 6.5x55; at least if it is a short action, and I never saw a long action in .243. A better choice might be the .260 Remington, same basic case as the .243 and the 6.5mm bullet of the 6.5.

Robert

[waksupi]

I can't tell you much on your re-chambering project, but please inform us on the regulations for deer and stag there.

[OuchHot!]

I am only familiar with the older BLR and I do not think that would handle the 6.5X55. Do you have anyone that can rebore the existing barrel to .260? That is commonly done here in the US, and is cost effective once you tally up the refinish cost and new barrel. I have heard that the BLR holds on to its barrel with a passion and is not a popular job with gunsmiths.

[Mozz]

I think I will keep it as it is then, its a shame i will need to put a silencer on it and i didn't want to ruin the original barrel.

[Mozz]

As for our deer regulations.


Five deer species are protected by close seasons, related to the breeding cycle. The Muntjac has no specified close season because of their ability to breed at any time of year. Chinese water deer do have a breeding season, but the sexes are very hard to tell apart. Its recommend that Muntjac females are not shot unless obviously heavily pregnant or immature with no fawn at heel to avoid orphaning dependent young.

Shooting is permitted between the following dates:

Red Stag Aug 1 - Apr 30, Hind Nov 1 - Mar 31
Fallow Buck Aug 1 - Apr 30, Doe Nov 1 - Mar 31
Sika Stag Aug 1 - Apr 30, Hind Nov 1 - Mar 31
Roe Buck Apr 1 - Oct 31, Doe Nov 1 – Mar 31
Red/sika hybrids Stag Aug 1 - Apr 30, Hind Nov 1 - Mar 31
Chinese water deer Buck Nov 1 - Mar 31, Doe Nov 1 - Mar 31

Hope this helps.

[rintinglen]

Wow--here in California the season runs just over a month, though the actual dates vary from zone to zone. You guys can hunt over half the year!

[TXGunNut]

How about reboring to .358 or .308?

[MtGun44]

A rebore to .260, .308 or .358 would work easily, function in the action well
and probably meet your power or bullet diameter requirement. This can be much
less than replacing the barrel.

Bill

[TCLouis]

How come everyone forgot the 7-08?

[Mozz]

7-08 mmm.
I don't know its specifications, I will have to look at this one.

D

[FergusonTO35]

Wow, nice long deer seasons!

[Suo Gan]

Why can't you shoot your 243 at all those species while a 6.5 swede is allowed? What are the regulations? If it is caliber have it bored to a larger member of the 308 family. Or if no one does this, rebarrel it to a larger member of the 308 family. That way you won't have to rework the internals.