[taliv]

if i start with a rem700 in 243win, what is the largest cartridge i could use (assuming i rebarreled) while still keeping the same bolt?

would any of these cartridge be able to use the exact same bolt?

308win?
6.5x284?
6mmXC?

i'm almost certain these all use the same bolt

[The Deer Hunter]

Why not just buy a new gun?

everybody loves new guns!

[mnrivrat]

Off the top of my head - .308 is no problem . the .243 is nothing more than a necked down .308 Win. . I would have to look up the other two you mention.

If the gun were a long action then .270 Win. & 30-06 would also fit the same bolt face.

[taliv]

that's part of the challenge... short action only

[hoghunting]

The 358 Win, but I'm not sure about the availability of ammo. It's a necked up 308.

[steelhead]

Yes, all those will work with your existing bolt.

[mattw]

Wouldn't it be just as expensive to buy a new rifle at a gunshow or a pawnshop?

[db_tanker]

instead of a Remmy, go with a Savage...Get the long action in either 270 or 30-06...


later on, get a barrel wrench and action vise...


you can buy barrels from lots of diffrent places...

you can even change out the bolt face without changing the whole bolt, IIRC...

and its alot easier to swap a barrel on a savage than it is on a remmy, winchester or mauser. :)


D

[redneck2]

if i start with a rem700 in 243win, what is the largest cartridge i could use (assuming i rebarreled) while still keeping the same bolt?

By largest, do you mean largest diameter bore, most powerful, etc???

I have a book The Handloaders Manual of Cartridge Conversions that lists about every cartridge ever made. If you study it for a while, you kinda figure out that manufacturers keep the head diameters to a select few sizes (ease of manufacturing I assume). If you really looked thru the book, it wouldn't suprise me if you found dozens that would work depending on what you want.

Wouldn't it be just as expensive to buy a new rifle at a gunshow or a pawnshop?

I looked at new take-off 700 barrels on e-bay last week. Most go for about $125. If you had something like a varmint rifle that had the barrel burned out, you could have a "new" rifle (or at least new barrel) for less than $200.

Head diameter of .284 Win case = .473

Head diameter of .243 Win case = .470

diameter difference is less than the thickness of a sheet of paper.

[taliv]

By largest, do you mean largest diameter bore, most powerful, etc???

both, either. i'm just thinking about possibilities, really. i want a long range gun (something i could shoot 1000 yrd f-class with). at the moment, i'm leaning toward 6mm, but 6.5 would be nice if i could swing it. the advantage of 6 is that i could keep the existing barrel, cut it down a bit and rechamber.

that book sounds very interesting! i may have to get a copy. where'd you get it?

Wouldn't it be just as expensive to buy a new rifle at a gunshow or a pawnshop?

actually, no. the base gun is an etronx model. i can't get the ignition system in any other make/model, or even in a long action.