Of the many things I'm NOT, a machinist or gunsmith is certainly one. So if this is an ignorant set of questions, it's because I'm genuinely ignorant.
I have seen several centerfire rifles converted to .22 rimfire by moving the chamber of the new barrel (or insert barrel) to a position where the centerfire pin strikes it.
How exactly is that done? Most of the cheaper (T-C Contender, Savage Model 24, Rossi etc.) "convertibles" move the firing pin, not the chamber. Is making a barrel with an offset chamber/bore a very complicated and/or expensive operation?
If it isn't especially complex or expensive, why are most custom conversions done by altering the action, not the barrel (for example, J. Korzinek's Ruger #1 conversions to .22 LR and WRM)?
(What prompted this is that I have a friend who has a break-action Savage Model 219 single shot rifle with a factory made ".22 Shot" barrel. It also shoots .30-30s in its other factory barrel just fine. A cheap rifle barrel with an offset chamber and bore....and here I thought it was only for advanced custom jobs....
But I've long wondered how the RF insert barrels I use in my break action centerfires were made. The Savage just reminded me to ask guys who might really know!).
