Boring out a rifle barrel to smoothbore

[ravenousfishing]

I have a .50cal CVA mountain stalker that i got last spring for a good price. Hasn't been fired much, but it wasn't cleaned well either as the bore is rusted. Shoots OK, but thats it, and besides, I have other rifles that suit my needs better. What would be the practicality of having it bored out smooth to use as a handy little shotgun for squirrels? Who could do this type work and any idea what the cost would be? If practical, should it be jug choked or left full bore?

 

[gbsclohn]

Asked that same question of a riflesmith that recut and "freshed" barrels.He told me not to even do it. :surrender: His reasoning was that the thickness of the barrel was ok but the screwholes into the barrel would be the points that would pose a problem down the road.He would not turn down work but in this case he did, which told me something.Made sense to me that it didn't make cents for him. :rotf:

 

[bob308]

yes it can be done if you are worried about the screw holes just ream it so it just cuts to the bottom of the groves. don't try to make some big bore out of it.

 

[chuck-ia]

I would not mess with it, some say just ream it out, these people who say that have no idea what that would involve, sounds easy though. Even if you went through all the trouble to make it smooth, you would have a .50 cal. smoothbore, why not save your money and get a 20 guage fowler? flinch

 

[ravenousfishing]

Thanks for the replies. Not interested in a large bore, just a lil gun for thinning the squirrel population around my deer stands. Figured if I could have it bored out smooth for a reasonable amt, it would be cheaper than a new gun and more fun than a scoped .22.