Sell or swap barrels?

I have 2 7MM-08 Savage 12's, one with a bull barrel, the other a varmint barrel. I have the varmint barrel rifle for sale here. I want to get a 223 with a 1/8 or 1/7 twist barrel to shoot some heavier bullets, 68/69/75 gr. I have a Sav 10FP and Sav 12 with 1/9 twist barrels that just don't shoot those heavier bullets as well as 40 - 55 gr bullets. The 1/9 should be fine with the 68/69 gr ammo but the groups are not tight like the 40/50 gr varmints rounds. The 68/69 gr ammo is mostly Black Hills red box and Federal GMM.
Does it make more sense to sell the 7MM-08 rifle and get a new Sav 12 LRP or VLP with 1/7 twist or swap out the barrel on the 7MM-08 with a 1/8-1/7 twist barrel. I would also have to change the bolt head and mag?
The 7MM-08 barrel is a new Criterion 1/9 twist match barrel in varmint profile, unfired. I could sell it and replace it with the correct 223 barrel. There hasn't been much interest in the rifle for sale, it might be easier to sell the 7MM-08 barrel. Are all of the parts in the bolt head inter changeable?
Thanks, Ken

why dont you consider 22/250 as opposed to a 223?
that way your bolt face would work. you could just switch barrels back and forth.
i shoot 69 gr smks in my 9 twist 22/250ai. they are minit of prairie dog which is fine with me.
for real long shots use the other 7mm/08 you have or get another 6mm barrel for that.
the 40 gr bullets are ok on days with little wind but not on windy days. you could sell or swap
the barrel you have for the 22/250.

I live on Long Island and only put holes in paper. The 7MM-08 was for a rare trip to a range in PA to shoot at steel target out to 500 yds.
I have several 223 rifles and can share ammo among them. The are 2 "local" ranges which both have 100/200 yd targets. That's all we have plus too many people. Any real hunting is 3+ hours away.

New Pre-fit McGowen barrel $300, new PTG bolt head about $50 (add cost of tools if you don't already have them). New rifle for $350 plus you can sell the old barrel and make some back.

Savage 12 LRP about $1300 + or - with fees and everything else.

Swapping barrels on Savages is pretty easy to do.

Would I only need a new bolt head + barrel? Any idea on what the Criterion barrel would bring, it was only screwed on and head spaced? It still needs to come off the action but is unfired. Do I require special tools to swap parts on the bolt head?

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Originally Posted by Captk

I live on Long Island and only put holes in paper. The 7MM-08 was for a rare trip to a range in PA to shoot at steel target out to 500 yds.
I have several 223 rifles and can share ammo among them. The are 2 "local" ranges which both have 100/200 yd targets. That's all we have plus too many people. Any real hunting is 3+ hours away.

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i think the people problem could be solving itself. im told fl is now #3 and ny is #4 as for population.
actually 3 hrs isnt all that bad. i was always 4 or 5 hrs from where i hunted even when i lived in pa.
100 yds was about all that was available in bucks co pa also. center fire rifles are off limits for hunting
thruout the whole area there now.
im now about 1200 miles from where my guns live. i could choose to be there and not be using them
or here and not using them.

My 9 twist Hog Hunter shoots 69 and 75 gr well with loads I have worked up. It may not be the barrel or twist; it could be the ammo you are using just does not match up well with the barrel. If you don't want to start loading for max accuracy, maybe try different brand ammo first.

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Originally Posted by CharlieNC

My 9 twist Hog Hunter shoots 69 and 75 gr well with loads I have worked up. It may not be the barrel or twist; it could be the ammo you are using just does not match up well with the barrel. If you don't want to start loading for max accuracy, maybe try different brand ammo first.

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Good point. I have 25 boxes of the Black Hills 68/69 match ammo so I would like to find a rifle it shot well out of.
Ken