Can a 40X barrel be screwed into another Bolt action

[Shortfuse]

I have a heavy 40X barrel never mounted to an action and I can't find nor can I probably afford a 40X action will this barrel fit into another 22LR bolt action receiver or will I have to cut the threads off and rechamber it and install it on another action I do have an old Savage 342 in 22 Hornet with a sporter barrel that I could probably get this barrel rechambered and fitted to any advice welcome.

[BobSc]

It would need to be a .22 rimfire action to work with the barrel. Installing it on a centerfire rifle and rechambering to a centerfire cartridge won't work due to the 16 twist barrel...

If you could find a rifle that had a smaller barrel tenon than the 40X barrel, you could thread the action to fit the barrel, but you would probably need to either cut a few of the threads off or add threads and move the shoulder to headspace properly... Also, the barrel contour may be larger than some action diameters, so it may not look correct without some outside contouring on the barrel.

Are you planning on doing the work yourself or having a gunsmith do this? There are options, but all of them are going to cost money in the long run...

Bob

[52DH&R12]

The 40X has a really large barrel tendon. 1.062" where as .750 is more the normal. So a competent gun smith or machinist could turn it down, cut the chamber off, re-thread, cut extractor slots and re-chamber it. About 400.00 unless you can do it yourself. The barrel is worth about 125-150 now, if you alter it, that number becomes 0. A new action that would fit your barrel is 1050.00 so either way its not a cheap to use that barrel. I would sell it, there is a petty good demand for a unmolested 40X barrel.

[Shortfuse]

I believe those old Savage 342 used left over 22lr barrels with 16 twist I know mine don't like the 45gr bullets because of the slow twist but it likes 40 and 36 gr bullets I'm waiting to hear from my gunsmith if he can rechamber and thread it for me but I'd much rather keep it as a 22lr but can't seem to find out much about what to use

[BobSc]

Even if that were true, the Hornet rifle would have a firing pin set up for center strike- not rimstrike like the .22 would require. Will your gunsmith be able to do that modification also?

[Shortfuse]

No if I go the 22 Hornet route he will cut the shank and rimfire chamber off and re -thread and chamber it for 22 Hornet

[SBS]

Most pre-war Hornets were 16 twist, but with a .223 groove dia. Modern Hornets are .224 and usually 14 twist. .22 LR barrels are .222. Sierra still sells .223 bullets for the old Hornet barrels and with some freebore, .223 bullets would probably swage down okay in your .22 40X barrel. Since you have a gunsmith who can machine your barrel to fit, you could use it for about any .22 rifle you want. Having built a number of rifles on the 40X rimfire action, I've accumulated pulloff barrels and have used them on Anschutz, Remington 37 and just recently a Win. 52. Several years ago, I fitted one to a modern Savage .22 to make a economical LH target rifle for a junior. Always good to have too big of a barrel; you can always cut it down to needed size.