re-barrel question

[hunter7474]

Hello All:
My wife and I have recently booked our first African Safari for early 2018. I'd like to set her up with a 308 vs forcing her to use the 30-06, etc. She's not overly recoil sensitive, but she's also not a fan etc. I have a NIB model 11/111 in 25-06 I'm wondering if I can just re-barrel this to a 308 or would this take a fair amount of work? I'm trying to decide if this is better option vs buying a new gun etc
thank you for the help

[hereinaz]

Besides the barrel, you'll need to make sure you get the right magazine set up--whether it is a blind or detachable mag. The bolt head is good to go.

[hereinaz]

If you are going to do more rebarreling, it can be cost effective and fun. But, for one gun, you can pick up a used .308 for pretty cheap. One benefit of rebarreling is you get a custom barrel...

[hunter7474]

Thank you.

[big honkin jeep]

Why go through all that when you can just load the 30-06 down to .308 velocity and recoil, or use factory Remington managed recoil or Hornady custom lite ammo?
The factory stuff is very good and H4895 works awesome for reduced handloads that kill very effectively and shoot very well for me.
http://www.wwpowder.com/PDF/Youth%20Loads.pdf

I have gotten to where I'm a huge fan of H4895 and shoot a lot of reduced loads as well as sharing them with the grandkids, nephews and nieces.
Maybe more than one way to skin your cat.

[strat1080]

+1 to the post above about downloading the 30-06. That is why I like the 30-06 so much. So flexible. If I was going to re-barrel though I would probably go 270 instead of 308. I've always found those two to recoil very similarly but the 270 takes advantage of the long action and gets you some nice range. Personally I wouldn't be content shooting a 308 out of a long action rifle. I would rather download the 30-06. If you don't reload there are low recoil loads for the 30-06. There are even low recoil 300 WM loads that generate 308 ballistics.

[243LPR]

What are the intended targets?

[RC20]

243 might be a good choice if the game is not larger sized.

I would say 6.5 CM but ammo is probably not nearly as available.

Might be a good idea to find out what is.

Unless its loaded down I don't find the 308 all that much less recoil than the 06.

[1953greg]

125g 30-06 or 120g 25-06 wil have much less recoil than 180-200g 30-06
hornady has a 125g sst light 30-06.