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Winchester Model 70 Featherweight Stainless 22-250 Rebarrel

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NFXAg09
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10:23a, 11/21/25
AG
I'm in the DFW area and am having hell finding someone that can help with rebarrelling my dad's 22-250. Maybe something about Winchester that I'm not aware of, because the guys I have around here that have done custom work for me before can't do it, or told me they would if I could get a barrel.

Does anyone know anybody that might be able to help with this, and also maybe could shed some light on what it is about Winchester that's making this such a hard thing to get done?

Thanks!
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Dirty-8-thirty Ag
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11:00a, 11/21/25
AG
Check with McGowen. I think they do pre-fit stainless barrels for Model 70 featherweights.
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Gunny456
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In reply to NFXAg09 • 11:02a, 11/21/25
AG
Rebarreling a Model 70 Featherweight is pretty challenging and lots of regular run of the mill gunsmiths either don't have the knowledge or proper equipment to attempt it.
The Featherweight barrel profile or contour is the first challenge because it has a lighter and thinner barrel geometry. Then it takes a lot of detailed machining and milling to make the new barrel index properly with the action and to properly feed and extract cartridges.....lots of machining on the breech face etc. so that the barrel will torque and index properly to the receiver.
I only know all of the above because my late FIL was an accomplished smith and always complained about the work required to rebarrel some Model 70's.
All of the above requires some pretty precise and knowledgeable machining and milling procedures so lots of gunsmiths just don't want to mess with it.....or don't have the proper machine tools to accomplish the task.
I would suggest maybe trying to find an "old school" smith or knowledgeable ex military armorer that may have that knowledge.
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Furlock Bones
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11:18a, 11/21/25
AG
talk to Mark Pharr at Tumblweed Custom Rifles.
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JuneBug07
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In reply to Dirty-8-thirty Ag • 8:05p, 11/21/25
AG
Dirty-8-thirty Ag said:
Check with McGowen. I think they do pre-fit stainless barrels for Model 70 featherweights.


This x100! McGowen makes some great barrels. You can order from their custom barrel page and go through the drop down menus for receiver threading and select Win Mod 70. They will also install the barrel if you send them your rifle. Their prices are very reasonable, especially for how accurate their barrels are. I had a McGowen barrel installed on a .223 of mine. It went from 1.5" groups to less than .75" groups.

Your current featherweight probably has a 22" barrel or shorter (just guessing). And a 1:12 or slower twist rate. This cartridge was originally designed for light flat based bullets for varmints, but a 22-250 is much more versatile than that.

If you are getting a new barrel, I would get a 24-26" tube that is rifled at a 1-10 twist so you can take advantage of heavier bullets if you want. I have an older 22-250 that is my favorite and most accurate rifle, but was hard to dial in due to its 1-14 twist rate. I use mine for culling deer and wanted a more durable hunting bullet heavier than 50 grains. It took some experimenting but we finally found a load that was brutal on deer at 1/2 MOA. Due to the slow twist of my rifle, I could not stabilize anything over 55 grains. Luckily, my dad is retired and his main hobby is hand loading ammo. We settled on a 3500 FPS Barnes 55 grain TSX with a flat base.
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Charismatic Megafauna
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In reply to JuneBug07 • 8:42p, 11/21/25
AG
JuneBug07 said:
Dirty-8-thirty Ag said:
We settled on a 3500 FPS Barnes 55 grain TSX with a flat base.


Mind sharing what powder and jump, if you know it?
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JuneBug07
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In reply to Charismatic Megafauna • 9:01p, 11/21/25
AG
Charismatic Megafauna said:
JuneBug07 said:
Dirty-8-thirty Ag said:
We settled on a 3500 FPS Barnes 55 grain TSX with a flat base.


Mind sharing what powder and jump, if you know it?


Case Overall Length: 2.338"
Powder: 34.5 grains Varget
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Charismatic Megafauna
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In reply to JuneBug07 • 9:03p, 11/21/25
AG
Thanks!
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Gunny456
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In reply to Charismatic Megafauna • 10:44p, 11/21/25
AG
Question, if hand loading for best accuracy, would not the distance from the bullet ogive to the lands (OTL measurement) be specific for each rifle? ….so COL would/could vary as well?
Asking cause I've never had the same two rifles of the same make or cartridge seem to like the same OTL distance …. and consequently different COL as well.
You find that true as well?
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jpistolero02
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In reply to Gunny456 • 7:47a, 11/22/25
I find this true as well. I can usually get close but I prefer to find a node for length as well. I load for several buddies I hunt with. For example, they might all have different 6.5 Creedmoor's. I will typically know about where to start with powder and length but they all vary in final loads. Having said that, if you are happy with 1MOA, I could probably use the same load, but I always strive for 1/2MOA or better on hunting rigs. This usually requires a bit of fine tuning on depth and powder.
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Gunny456
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In reply to jpistolero02 • 7:48a, 11/22/25
Gunny456
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In reply to jpistolero02 • 7:59a, 11/22/25
AG
Good info. My late FIL shot BR competitively and was responsible for starting me into hand loading way back in the late70's.
One of his main "tricks of the trade" was measuring bullet concentricity. It really opened my eyes to how much a bullet could be "crooked" in a case, even though using quality bullet seating dies.
It takes time, but I've improved MOA by as much as .5" just by making sure bullet concentricity is correct.
Sometimes it's made more difference than OTL distances.
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Charismatic Megafauna
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In reply to Gunny456 • 9:16a, 11/22/25
AG
Correct, that's why I asked about jump (ogive to land) rather than coal, particularity because tax/ttsx are pretty sensitive to it... but I have a bunch of varget and will get it figured out
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Gunny456
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In reply to Charismatic Megafauna • 10:02a, 11/22/25
AG
Yes sir. Thanks!
Have a blessed day sir.
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ldg397
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12:31p, 11/22/25
AG
Not local but hill country rifles in new Braunfels or brown precision in Cameron both do excellent model 70 work.
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JuneBug07
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In reply to Charismatic Megafauna • 7:38p, 11/22/25
AG
Forgive my ignorance, but wouldn't COL and bullet land depth be synonymous? I am not doubting just want to learn more.
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Charismatic Megafauna
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In reply to JuneBug07 • 9:57p, 11/22/25
AG
Every chamber is different, and chambers change as throats erode, and changes of just a few thou (while remaining within saami) can affect chamber pressures and barrel harmonics, and thus accuracy
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Gunny456
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In reply to JuneBug07 • 10:03p, 11/22/25
AG
It is not the same. The freebore dimension can change from rifle to rifle because of manufacture tolerances and throat erosion. Two brand new rifles of the same manufacturer and model and cartridge type can have different freebore dimensions due to variations in tolerances held.
Your COAL (Cartridge Over All Length) can be one measurement whereas your OTL can change from rifle to rifle even though your COAL may be the same.
You can get a OAL (Over All Length Gauge) which uses a modified cartridge case with a set of calipers where you insert the bullet type/size you are using and it will give you a very accurate way of to determine the maximum cartridge length that will fit into your specific firearm with your specific chosen bullet.
It's just important to remember that the OAL can be different for the same exact rifle with the same exact cartridge due to individual manufacturer tolerances or throat erosion.

ETA: It is important to also say that if you hand load and back out your seating depth to obtain a tighter OTL measurement, you need to make sure the cartridge will properly fit into your magazine and will correctly feed through your action.
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JuneBug07
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In reply to Gunny456 • 7:30a, 11/23/25
AG
I see what you are saying now. As mentioned my dad does the reloading not myself, so I only have a basic knowledge at this time. This particular load originally had a slightly longer overall length, but I had to force the bolt closed. He made tiny adjustments just until the bolt would operate smooth. I would imagine we are somewhere between .001" and .002" from the lands. For reference this was on an early 90's Remington 700 rifle that had only been test fired with a 26" barrel.
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Gunny456
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In reply to JuneBug07 • 7:46a, 11/23/25
AG
Yes sir. Your dad seems very knowledgeable on hand loading. Hope you get into it as it's really enjoyable imho.
There is always something to be learned in hand loading and every rifle is different so that makes it even more fun.
There is a lot of satisfaction in taking a rifle and developing a load for it to make it shoot accurately yourself.
Learn from your dad and lots of guys on the OB can help you with knowledge and good advice if you need it.
But be careful…..it's very addicting!
Good shooting sir.
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Charismatic Megafauna
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In reply to JuneBug07 • 11:59a, 11/23/25
AG
Wow! Very unusual for Barnes monos to shoot well without a lot of jump, I think Barnes even suggests starting with 50 or 60thou. Thanks for the info, we may have the same rifle (laminated ss varmint)
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ghollow
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In reply to NFXAg09 • 5:41p, 11/23/25
AG
Check with Cajun Gunsmith in Plano. They have done some work for me in the past including a rebarrel. They do great work.
So the greatest civilization is one where all citizens are equally armed and can only be persuaded, never forced. It removes force from the equation... and that's why carrying a gun is a civilized act.
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herbie
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6:32p, 11/23/25
S
If no takers in Dallas then might try these folks
check with Burdett & son they probably won't do the work but would know "a guy"
also MG Arms (Match Grade Arms) in Spring. They would probably do the work
herbie
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NFXAg09
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3:59p, 12/1/25
AG
Thanks for the insights, as well as the considerations on twist to allow for stablization of the heavier bullet. Probably will give this some thought, as he would definitely use it more for whitetail. I've checked on McGowen a handful of times, because I had someone close by tell me they could do it for me if I could get the barrel. Someone had told me about McGowen's site, I checked on my phone and they had the exact barrel in stock... was going to order the next day when I was back at my computer, and it was gone. I'll reach out to them and see if they can help me out.

Thanks!
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