$600, plus or minus depending on what additional work you want (half-octagon, profile, tulip, wedding ring, dovetails, d&t'd for scope blocks, etc.). If you start with a Green Mountain barrel (which are excellent) in the profile you want, then the cost is close to the $600. If you start with a round blank and want any of the above, it starts to add up. DZ Arms used to have a price for rebarreling and other 'standard' gunsmithing work on his website, so you could check there. Think Arizona Sharpshooters and few others do the same on their websites.

Chris
I have an original Ballard 1/2 round 32" barrel in 38-55 with a very nice bore and its original forend.  It would be less expensive than a new barrel. If you're interested in going this route, we can discuss it further.
Phil

Started down the same road about 18 months ago. Traded for a Remington #5 rolling block and am having it re barreled to 38-55 by my smith. He's still waiting for the Green Mountain barrel, but we hope to see it come in by this summer. I'll have about $700 in it at his end and that will include blueing and milling the barrel to a half round half octagon profile. Have purchased stocks from Treebone Carving and will have a go at fit & finishing them myself. BTW, saw your website. That's some beautiful work!
John 

Chris,  most of us started out like you are thinking about.  If you search through the accumulated threads there are a BUNCH of them on the topic of "getting started"   VERY few of us have deep enough pockets to afford to jump in at the deep end of the pool.    
A lot depends on what your goals are and where you live.   If you can get to a couple matches and spend some time you'll learn a lot and there are usually guys who are willing to help a new guy who is serious get started, even if you are not going to be a real obsessed competition type shooter. 
  A Lot of the matches have tables or areas where guys buy/sell/swap stuff they no longer need.   I have seen perfectly usable barrels sell for under 200 bucks, and there may be a locally well-regarded 'smith who can mount it for a reasonable amount.  Indeed some of the shooters themselves may be hobbyest or professional machinists who can give you a hand.  I have seen perfectly usable barreled actions and even complete rifles sell for under 600.  They may not be the jaw-dropping collectable art works you see posted here at times, but they will get the work done if you do your part and can be a real good way to get in at the shallow end of the pool to start learning and saving/trading for your personal dream rifle.
   I've been working toward mine, a piece at a time for about 10 years now. I just got the barrel from a member for a mutually agreeable price got the action f 4 or 5 years ago, did some horse trading for some work on the action, etc etc.

Phil,

If Chris C has no interest in the Ballard barrel.....I do.

Certainly Chris has first dibs.  I sent you a PM with my contact information.

Thanks

RoyB wrote on Feb 16^th, 2014 at 2:06pm:


Go for it..........I'm not interested.

Chris, 

I checked out your web site, very impressive woodworking.  You should have no problem making a very fine stock.  Now to fine a nice barreled action.  

Dave