Harold - don't despair. My friend's .338 Remington 700 made 2 1/2 to 3" groups with all factory makes and bullet weights and would do only 2" with handloads. Remington said at that time, it was within their 'specs' which were 5". He sold it and hasn't bought another Rem. in these last 15 years and never will.

I helped a guy set up (bedded) his Stainless Remington .30/06, found 165gr. Fusions went 1/2" to .6" for 5 shot groups for pratise and 165gr. TSX Federal ammo went 3/8" to 1/2" for moose, elk, deer, goat and sheep. He managed sheep, deer and elk in one fall - a happy man with a Remginton.

To rebarrel requires someone to cut the threads and re-chamber and maybe re-fit to the stock if the contour is different is all - as long as that is the saem action used for the .375 length of ctg. You may need to do some work to the mag is there is a shortening block installed for the shorter .338's. It's simple, but work just the same. Prices vary.

Corlanes in Dawson Creek does this sort of work to custom rifles as well. There are gunsmiths in Alberta but I don't know any. I've ben told Corlanes does good work.

Dawson Creek "thinks" they are in Alberta, does that count?

It is unlikely handlapping (properly, with a lead lapp) will improve it over the firelapping, if that is done well, with a kit & proper abrasive grades, soft lead bullets, loads etc. Necco, I think, sells them.