I have a Remington XP-100 chambered for 7MM BR. I think I want to rechamber it to 7MM-08. The BR ammo is difficult to find, expensive, and I have no interest in reloading. I think the 7MM-08 may be around for a while. While I've been a gun nut for over 50 years, this is the first time I've ever considered rechambering anything. So, I have some novice questions: Is this feasible? How much should it cost? Any recommendations as to who could do the work? What are the pros and cons for doing this? Thanks in advance and I look forward to your replies.
Rechamber Remington XP-100
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Sam1911
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Interesting. Another 1/2" of case length, another 7 or 8 gr. of powder, another 120-200 fps. of muzzle velocity, and a bit more blast and recoil.
They came chambered in 7mm-08 so it would certainly work with minimal fuss.
I'd think any "decent" smith could do this work as all you should need are some reamers, but I don't have any specific recommendations.
They came chambered in 7mm-08 so it would certainly work with minimal fuss.
I'd think any "decent" smith could do this work as all you should need are some reamers, but I don't have any specific recommendations.
straightshooter_la
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Mine has been converted already and it works. But a couple of things you should consider. The minimum amount of powder charge recommenced for 7 mm-08 means larger portions of slightly slower powder than 7 mm br. Meaning you will end up using more powder and quite possibly getting less velocity in the relatively short barrels a handgun than you would with the 7mm br. Also an unfired round will not eject from the very short 600 based action.
It does make pretty fireballs at dusk with double based ball powder like 748 though.
It does make pretty fireballs at dusk with double based ball powder like 748 though.
xphunter
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You should get a 2540 fps or more with a 140 grain and about 2700 fps with the 120's.
The 7-08 will always outrun the BR IMO.
One problem in rechambering the BR to the 7-08 is that the 7-08 reamer may not always clean up the body of the BR.
The 7-08 will always outrun the BR IMO.
One problem in rechambering the BR to the 7-08 is that the 7-08 reamer may not always clean up the body of the BR.
straightshooter_la
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If your gunsmith can’t clean up the chamber with a 7-08 reamer then you’re talking about setting back the barrel and that gets into some expense that may be better spent on a new barrel. Then you could always put the old barrel back on if you change your mind. The bolt face of a 308 lends itself to several different calibers, but not many that are commonly found on the shelf that will still eject unfired from the extra short action. I don’t shoot mine nearly as much as used to, but I always thought a bull barrel would have suited the gun better too. Mine has Wichita 4 position rear site on it, which reminds me if you do have to set the barrel back the front site will have to be re attached or the barrel correctly indexed making the whole process even more complicated. By the time you’re done you’d be talking the cost of a whole lot of 7BR brass.
I think some of the later manufactured guns may have had longer actions but I’m not sure. You may want to measure and compare the port on yours to whatever cartridge you want to run through it. I have to keep something with me to press the bolt release in order to remove a live rounds. Over all I wish mine where still 7BR. I didn’t have mine done by the way. I bought it at a gun show and only later realized the drawback of a long round short action gun. The gun is still usable but is not public range safe. I would never bring a weapon that cannot be unloaded without tools to a range where other people are present. I only shoot it here on my property and only by myself.
I think some of the later manufactured guns may have had longer actions but I’m not sure. You may want to measure and compare the port on yours to whatever cartridge you want to run through it. I have to keep something with me to press the bolt release in order to remove a live rounds. Over all I wish mine where still 7BR. I didn’t have mine done by the way. I bought it at a gun show and only later realized the drawback of a long round short action gun. The gun is still usable but is not public range safe. I would never bring a weapon that cannot be unloaded without tools to a range where other people are present. I only shoot it here on my property and only by myself.
It sounds like this is getting so complicated that it may not be worthwhile. What is meant by the reamer not cleaning up the body of the BR? Isn't the 7MM-08 the same body diameter as the BR, i.e. the .308 Winchester case? Wouldn't the reamer simply cut the forward profile of the 7MM-08 starting with the case diameter of the .308 and go forward about 1/2"? The possibility of not being able to extract a live round also concerns me. Does anyone know if Remington modified the action in any way when they offered the XP-100 in 7MM-08?
straightshooter_la
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Specs are similar for the two cartridges but not all reamers are created equal. For the rifle pressures involved in getting decent speed out of your bullet of choice the chamber needs to be perfect with no rough spots or you will struggle to get cartridge to extract. The xp-100 doesn’t exactly give you a lot of purchase to pry on stuck bolts. So I think your gunsmith is going to want to reface and cut deep.
After poking around on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remington_XP-100 I’m fairly certain the later longer barreled rear grip guns had longer actions. The XP-100 changed a lot over its production runs. The only way to know for sure if a loaded round is going to extract is to measure your personal gun and then compare it to the industry standard maximum cartridge length of the 7-08 which is 2.8 inches according to Speer Bullets Reloading Manual #14. When you measuring pull the bolt all the way back and measure from the bolt face to the forward part of the port.
After poking around on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remington_XP-100 I’m fairly certain the later longer barreled rear grip guns had longer actions. The XP-100 changed a lot over its production runs. The only way to know for sure if a loaded round is going to extract is to measure your personal gun and then compare it to the industry standard maximum cartridge length of the 7-08 which is 2.8 inches according to Speer Bullets Reloading Manual #14. When you measuring pull the bolt all the way back and measure from the bolt face to the forward part of the port.
xphunter
Member
A gunsmith can easily take out the old Bolt stop/bolt release and replace it with an external one which is easy to use and will allow you to unload a a loaded round without taking the bolt out.
If you set-up the bolt-stop correctly you can even unload loaded 284 Win family of cartridges without removing the bolt.
The XP-100 has plenty of caming force to removed fired rounds.
I have XP-100's chambered in the 7mm Dakota and the 338 Lapua Magnum Improved cartridges, and have no problem shooting them to the same pressure level that once can in a Remmy 700 action.
What I meant earlier is that than depending on the spec of the original chamber may be ever so slightly larger in diameter than the specifications of your gunsmiths reamer, so it may not be a clean chamber.
The 7-08 is a great cartridge in the XP.
I would buy a barrel blank from McGowen barrel that matches the factory contour, then have the gunsmith fit and chamber that barrel to your XP-100. McGowen could even do the work for you.
Now you have a new/better barrel than factory.
The 260 Remington would also be a cartridge worth considering as well.
I have taken a lot of game with both cartridges. A bull and cow elk have been taken by my children with the 260 Rem. cartridge.
Cheapest way still is to have your smith see if his 7-08 reamer will give you a clean chamber with the original barrel, then have him install a Wichita bolt stop/bolt release, and you will be good to go.
If you have any questions please email me at [email protected]
As mentioned I have XP-100's chambered in all kinds of cartridges:
6mmx47 Lapua, 6mm-284, 243 Winchester, 250 Savage Ackley Improved, 6.5x47 Lapua, 6.5-284, 6.5 Winchester Short Magnum, 7mm Short Action Ultra Magnum, 7mm Dakota, and the 338 Lapua Magnum Improved.
Ernie Bishop
If you set-up the bolt-stop correctly you can even unload loaded 284 Win family of cartridges without removing the bolt.
The XP-100 has plenty of caming force to removed fired rounds.
I have XP-100's chambered in the 7mm Dakota and the 338 Lapua Magnum Improved cartridges, and have no problem shooting them to the same pressure level that once can in a Remmy 700 action.
What I meant earlier is that than depending on the spec of the original chamber may be ever so slightly larger in diameter than the specifications of your gunsmiths reamer, so it may not be a clean chamber.
The 7-08 is a great cartridge in the XP.
I would buy a barrel blank from McGowen barrel that matches the factory contour, then have the gunsmith fit and chamber that barrel to your XP-100. McGowen could even do the work for you.
Now you have a new/better barrel than factory.
The 260 Remington would also be a cartridge worth considering as well.
I have taken a lot of game with both cartridges. A bull and cow elk have been taken by my children with the 260 Rem. cartridge.
Cheapest way still is to have your smith see if his 7-08 reamer will give you a clean chamber with the original barrel, then have him install a Wichita bolt stop/bolt release, and you will be good to go.
If you have any questions please email me at [email protected]
As mentioned I have XP-100's chambered in all kinds of cartridges:
6mmx47 Lapua, 6mm-284, 243 Winchester, 250 Savage Ackley Improved, 6.5x47 Lapua, 6.5-284, 6.5 Winchester Short Magnum, 7mm Short Action Ultra Magnum, 7mm Dakota, and the 338 Lapua Magnum Improved.
Ernie Bishop
straightshooter_la
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It never occurred to me that the bolt release could be extended. Thanks Mr. Bishop. I now have a new project for the weekend. This is why I keep coming back to The High Road. The signal to noise ratio is much better than any other forum I’ve stumbled across.
xphunter
Member
You are welcome.
I do not frequent here a whole lot, but stay on a site dedicated to primarily specialty pistols, like your XP-100and a couple of others.
I do not frequent here a whole lot, but stay on a site dedicated to primarily specialty pistols, like your XP-100and a couple of others.
MCgunner
Member
No interest in reloading and you bought a 7mm BR? Rather odd. I have a 7mmTCU barrel for my contender. Try buying THAT one even online. 
Hell, try buying BRASS for it. Neck and fire form isn't that tough, fortunately.
Just seems to me reloading would be a lot easier and cheaper, call me crazy.
Hell, try buying BRASS for it. Neck and fire form isn't that tough, fortunately.Just seems to me reloading would be a lot easier and cheaper, call me crazy.
Boxhead
Member
I would only do such a rechambering if my barrel is long enough to support the increased powder burned by the '08. Not sure what model you have but my XP-100 Silhouette Model 7 mm BR has a 10 1/2" barrel so I doubt much would be gained IMO.
Mine has the longer barrel--14 or 15" I think. In response to MCgunner, it would seem rather odd, but acquired the pistol in a package deal from a widow friend. Anyway, at the time, I knew nothing about the XP-100 or that 7MM BR had been discontinued. Judging from the cost and availability of the ammo, I reason that the 7MM-08 rechambering would pay for itself in ammo cost savings. I lost my interest in reloading because in the mid 60's, I was in a company trap league and I reloaded shot shells. I had to have three boxes a week ready to go and it got to be a pain to keep up. (I had a cheap Pacific reloader.) My group bought shot by the ton (80 bags) and used AA shells for a penny apiece. Anyway, after several years, we all had had more fun than we could stand.
xphunter
Member
Your 7-08 (if you get it rechambered or re-barreled) will do just fine with that barrel length
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