Kinda think I'm going this route after thinking about it more. McGowen prefit barrels any good? They have 10% off right now.

I'm looking for a light recoil suppressed hunter, not a target rifle.

Try some pressure on barrel right where it leave the stock. Electrical tape is what I start with during testing, if it works then I replace tape with a spot of bedding compound on the stock.

Yes, tried reloads as well. Replacing the barrel allows me to go threaded and suppressed. The current barrel is only .525 at the end.

Sounds like you want a new barrel, so get one.

I know a few guys who are running McGowens on "budget" builds. I also know quite a few who used McGowens on their switch barrel Savages. Never heard a complaint about them in terms of accuracy. If you are sticking with 6.8, then McGowen or X-Caliber might be good for you. X-Caliber doesn't do Ruger pre-fits for the M77, but you can get a contoured blank from them for a reasonable price (25% off right now) and then have your smith thread and chamber.

Keep the 6.8

Whoever you use I would make sure that they are licensed properly to do this work. There are guys out there without the proper license's doing gunsmith work and that is very unfair to the gunsmiths that are doing it legally with all the proper licenses. There are gun shops that have been shut down the last couple of years ,or had to suspend business for months due to no license or the the the improper license. Apparently the ATF has been cracking down in the area . It's a pain if you get your gun tied up in that mess .

Completely agree. I'll probably just order a pre-fit and see if I can get a recommendation for a gunsmith in the area to screw it in.

For several years, there was things I was being asked if I could do, and yes I had the ability but it wouldn't have technically been legal per ATF, so I had to turn down that work. This past June I got my 07 FFL, which is a manufacturer of firearms and ammunition. It was not what I applied for, and the super helpful ATF investigator that called me, suggested the 07 gives me more latitude, and would be a better path to take. I thanked him for it. And it sure did make me busier last year, and the ability to do more than just the teaching stuff, which I am also still doing of course. There are lots of rules I have to follow, but the bit of extra work and documentation has been worth it.

Does that mean the person doing the lathe work also has the proper license.

JG,

I wasn't referring to you. I know you build customer target rifles now. I'm just looking for a barrel swap. I'm referring to when you look for a gunsmith in the area, you get a list but when you dig a little deeper, they can only install a drop in trigger and mount your scope.

The person running the lathe doesn't need a license. The license is only required for intake and "possession" of the firearm while it is being worked on. I know one very reputable gunsmith (the guy with the license) who only does stock work. The guy in his shop that runs the lathes is an amazing machinist and does superb work. His name is nowhere on the FFL, nor does it have to be.

You are correct the man running the lathe has to be on the premises of the license address. If he is not at that address with the lathe then he has to have a license to work on that gun.