Rebarrel 98K

[2PaperTigers]

Hello Folks,
Anyone have any experience putting on or have had a rebarrel 98K? I'm thinking of restoring a bubba'd rifle and putting a new 8mm barrel on it. Can anyone suggest a gunsmith in or around Fresno?

[MosinVirus]

Might want to check in gunsmithing section.

[condor]

If it were me I'd think about re-barreling with a 7x57. Call up Herb Bauer Sporting Goods and ask if they can recommend a smith....

[kendog4570]

I am in Oakhurst. Have barreled many a 98.

[louie]

It can be done. Now, in a sporter caliber, or back to 8mm. You should have an action wrench, headspace gauges, and a decent barrel. Is your rifle a key holer? If not, why are u doing it? It is harder if you want to go military again, since now you must align the front and rear sight bases, and make sure they are true. Otherwise it can be a worse shooter. To do this you must heat the bases and align with a gunsmith type level. When u screw on the new barrel basically 100% of the time the sight base will be upside down, to the left/right, or just off center. Then you must drill a little, to put the base screws back in the barrel to stabilize it. Headspace with the extractor off to get a good reading. It can be a pain in the butt, but can be done if you have to.

[THBailey]

Your rifle is already "bubba'd" so why 8x57? Unless you are a reloader and already have the brass and bullets, you will find 8x57 a poor choice. Most all factory ammo is loaded way down in deference to the fools who will try to use it in the old Commission 88 rifles. Even as a reload proposition the selection of available 8mm bullets is fairly limited. And, if you look around a bit you can probably still find NOS Israeli barrels in 7.62x51 or maybe a NOS Norwegian barrel in 30-06. These are stepped like the originals and might be priced right if you are lucky.

[pacrat]

Hello Folks,
Anyone have any experience putting on or have had a rebarrel 98K? I'm thinking of restoring a bubba'd rifle and putting a new 8mm barrel on it. Can anyone suggest a gunsmith in or around Fresno?

I am in Oakhurst. Have barreled many a 98.

^^^There's your answer.^^^

In real world of economics. Usually it just isn't worth trying to "unbubba" a mil-surp back to Mil. config.

[fal_762x51]

Half of my milsurps are restored bubbas. Do it. Don't listen to the haters.

[2PaperTigers]

I do reload and would like to restore it. I understand that 8mm mauser is a forgotten pill that Hornady, Sierra and the like have chosen not to pursue development. Truth be told a 196 pill works for me.

[arrowshooter]

You Should Give It A Shot

I just did my first ever barrel change on a GEW98 using a factory new 8x57 stepped short chambered barrel. Bought the tools needed (barrel vise, action wrench, chamber finish reamer, cutting oil and headspace gauges) and off I went. I would have to say that is was a piece of cake, just need to take time with the reamer to make sure that you don't go too far. Mine just closed on the GO gauge and would not with a piece of scotch tape added to the back of the gauge. I had it Cerakoted when I had it done.



Still working on the load, but it's a shooter.

[6mmintl]

If interested i have a as new nowegian 7.62 nato 98k contour barrel for sale for $125 shipped