I want to see if at least 10 people are interested in a 327 rifle build.
Here is my proposal.
Start with a Rossi Matched pair in 223 Remington and 12 guage that we each buy from our local dealer. We know the receiver on these rifle/shotgun combos will handle the pressures of a 327 conversion. We would then ship the shotgun barrel from our sets to a common gunsmith or a machinist. We would have the shotgun barrel destroyed by cutting it flush with the underbarrel lug and then boring/threading the remaining stub to accept coplimentary threads on our new rifle barrel. This will eliminate problems from trying to fit rifle barrels to the receivers or spending time trying to manufacture a lug with ejector. Using Green mountain 32-20 barrel blanks which are .312 with 1:20 twist, we would have them threaded to match the lug assembly, chambered, contoured to match the shotgun barrel down to the forend, then gradually tapered to .6 or .75 inches at the muzzle. Keeping them 25 inches will minimize noise with subsonic loads but they could be cut shorter to other lengths based on individual preference or a common desired length. A simple slot will need to be milled for the extractor cut in the barrel face once the barrel is threaded and the correct position for the slot is known. A factory .223 extractor from Rossi or modified shotgun extractor would make this a functional conversion. The forend lug can be either drilled and tapped to our 327 barrel or welded on like they are at the rossi factory.
Once the conversion barrel is created, they will need to be drilled and tapped for scope mounts or sights. As an option they could be dovetailed for sights. Finally the barrels would have to be blued or powder coated to give them a durable rust resistant finish.
I would think if enough people were interested in this project, a rossi shotgun barrel from a matched pair could be modified into a 327 rifle barrel for under $200 per unit including the $85 barrel blank. A custom TC barrel is about $350+ another $350 for the contender frame. I think the real challenge at this point is finding enough people that a skilled builder will be interested in taking on this project at reasonable cost to all involved. The only way to do that is to have mutiple barrels converted at the same time so each operation is not being done only on one barrel.
When completed, we would each have a custum mached pair with a 223 Remington barrel and an alternative 327 Federal barrel. If this project is even mildly interesting to you, please chime in... I would love to hear your thoughts on my proposal and suggestions particularly if you know of a good gunsmith who has done anything like this before.
Here is my proposal.
Start with a Rossi Matched pair in 223 Remington and 12 guage that we each buy from our local dealer. We know the receiver on these rifle/shotgun combos will handle the pressures of a 327 conversion. We would then ship the shotgun barrel from our sets to a common gunsmith or a machinist. We would have the shotgun barrel destroyed by cutting it flush with the underbarrel lug and then boring/threading the remaining stub to accept coplimentary threads on our new rifle barrel. This will eliminate problems from trying to fit rifle barrels to the receivers or spending time trying to manufacture a lug with ejector. Using Green mountain 32-20 barrel blanks which are .312 with 1:20 twist, we would have them threaded to match the lug assembly, chambered, contoured to match the shotgun barrel down to the forend, then gradually tapered to .6 or .75 inches at the muzzle. Keeping them 25 inches will minimize noise with subsonic loads but they could be cut shorter to other lengths based on individual preference or a common desired length. A simple slot will need to be milled for the extractor cut in the barrel face once the barrel is threaded and the correct position for the slot is known. A factory .223 extractor from Rossi or modified shotgun extractor would make this a functional conversion. The forend lug can be either drilled and tapped to our 327 barrel or welded on like they are at the rossi factory.
Once the conversion barrel is created, they will need to be drilled and tapped for scope mounts or sights. As an option they could be dovetailed for sights. Finally the barrels would have to be blued or powder coated to give them a durable rust resistant finish.
I would think if enough people were interested in this project, a rossi shotgun barrel from a matched pair could be modified into a 327 rifle barrel for under $200 per unit including the $85 barrel blank. A custom TC barrel is about $350+ another $350 for the contender frame. I think the real challenge at this point is finding enough people that a skilled builder will be interested in taking on this project at reasonable cost to all involved. The only way to do that is to have mutiple barrels converted at the same time so each operation is not being done only on one barrel.
When completed, we would each have a custum mached pair with a 223 Remington barrel and an alternative 327 Federal barrel. If this project is even mildly interesting to you, please chime in... I would love to hear your thoughts on my proposal and suggestions particularly if you know of a good gunsmith who has done anything like this before.