Rem 700 long action same as mag action?

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WestKentucky

WestKentucky

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I have a rem 700 basic parkerized gun that is shot out. Absolute trashed barrel. It is in .270 win and I cannot force myself to get rid of the gun. It was my first rifle that I bought for myself, and it has been a great deer rifle for 20+ years and has at times eaten well over a thousand rounds a year. My senior year at college it ate more like 3000 rounds as I had time to go to the range and always took at least 100 rds.

Looking at options for the action, I’m very tempted to rebuild it and keep using it. It’s monetarily dumb but sentimental value will not let me part with it. Can I use a short action barrel on a long action gun? Leaves VLD bullets as an option. Can I use a magnum barrel on the long action which opens up options like 277 weatherby or 35 whelen? I know my best bet is to just swap on a new .270 or 30-06 barrel but I want to explore options.
 
You'll want to stick with a cartridge with the same bolt face family as you can't swap it out like on a Savage.

You could mill it out and open it up to a larger cartridge, or weld it up for a smaller one (or buy an entire new bolt from PTG) but none of those will be cheap.

I'd stick with a 30-06 based cartridge personally. There's a number of great options. I like 6.5-06 or 280AI. Which is 30-06 necked down to either 6.5mm, or 7mm respectively. The 6.5-06 matches 6.5PRC very closely, and the 280AI runs right on the heels of 7mm Rem Mag. Both cartridges will simply require a new barrel, I'd go with a simple to set up "Remage" style barrel with a nut so it's easy to install by yourself, the hard part will be taking the old pipe off.

Both cartridges will allow you to run the VLD type bullets.
 
gotboostvr said:
You'll want to stick with a cartridge with the same bolt face family as you can't swap it out like on a Savage.

You could mill it out and open it up to a larger cartridge, or weld it up for a smaller one (or buy an entire new bolt from PTG) but none of those will be cheap.

I'd stick with a 30-06 based cartridge personally. There's a number of great options. I like 6.5-06 or 280AI. Which is 30-06 necked down to either 6.5mm, or 7mm respectively. The 6.5-06 matches 6.5PRC very closely, and the 280AI runs right on the heels of 7mm Rem Mag. Both cartridges will simply require a new barrel, I'd go with a simple to set up "Remage" style barrel with a nut so it's easy to install by yourself, the hard part will be taking the old pipe off.

Both cartridges will allow you to run the VLD type bullets.
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So far that’s been the primary thought, but I’m not opposed to other modifications. They would just take longer as this is a back-burner build and would take a bit of time for money to pile up in the Remington cookie jar. Meanwhile I have a .270 that works, but is less accurate than most of my handguns out past about 50 yards. It’s very sad and I rarely take the gun out of the safe due to the frustration it has given me. I really want it back in action but I really don’t want to take apart my first rifle to make that happen. I have very very seriously considered swapping to a stainless barrel in .270, 7-08, 7mm06, or 30-06, having it threaded for a brake (or suppressor at some point) and calling it done... but I know that it will eventually get a new stock and a Timney trigger, so I’m at that point where I can’t spend money because the options have me in analysis paralysis.
 
Were it my rifle I'd stick to standard '06 length cartridges and nothing to exotic requiring reloading dies. Actually there's a company that can rebore your barrel cheaper than a rebarrel. I think the company is JES and from what I've read he does fantastic work with a realivly quick turn around time.
 
Seamaster31 said:
Did you ever consider a .25-06 or a .257 Roberts?
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I did consider the Bob. I know that the 25-06 (and all .257 rounds) is plenty for what I do, but it’s a bit light for western hunting so I think I want to stay a bit higher up in bore size. I think .277 is my lower limit, and am absolutely not opposed to .284. There is something very intriguing about a 35 caliber though so I’m staying open minded.
 
Your options are endless with a LA Rem 700 receiver . Do you reload or shoot factory ammo ? I use LA for for a .308 that has a lot of freebore, with the longer mag I can reach out and touch the lands if I want . I also use a long action for my 6 BR , single feed so no mag to worry about . Sure gives me a lot of room to put one in the chamber .
 
WestKentucky said:
I did consider the Bob. I know that the 25-06 (and all .257 rounds) is plenty for what I do, but it’s a bit light for western hunting so I think I want to stay a bit higher up in bore size. I think .277 is my lower limit, and am absolutely not opposed to .284. There is something very intriguing about a 35 caliber though so I’m staying open minded.
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You won't regret going up to the 35 Whelen , great round.
 
Dale Alan said:
Your options are endless with a LA Rem 700 receiver . Do you reload or shoot factory ammo ? I use LA for for a .308 that has a lot of freebore, with the longer mag I can reach out and touch the lands if I want . I also use a long action for my 6 BR , single feed so no mag to worry about . Sure gives me a lot of room to put one in the chamber .
Click to expand...
I reload everything I shoot that’s not centerfire.
 
WestKentucky said:
I reload everything I shoot that’s not centerfire.
Click to expand...
Excellent , that opens things up wide . 35 Whelen would be simple , but plenty of wildcats out there to experiment with . Building a gun with your boltface would be a good time to get a round you have always been interested in . Have fun.
 
I have an old 700 30-06 from the 1970's, my 1st rifle too. I haven't used it in years for a variety of reasons and have considered using it as a platform for a custom. I've had 338-06, 35 Whelen and 280 in the past. Between the 3 I'd lean hard toward going 280 AI if I ever decide to do this. On paper at least it is a small improvement over 30-06. It is just enough out of the mainstream to be a little unique without any real negatives.

I've had 338-06 and 35 Whelen in the past. They kill game just fine, and shoot flat enough to be used at ranges farther than most people will ever shoot. But if you look closely at the numbers a 30-06 loaded with 200-220 gr bullets does everything as well or better than either with 225-250 gr bullets. For most people you gain nothing but recoil.

You don't see any gains over 30-06 until you start shooting bullets 250 gr or heavier. If I were inclined to go bigger than 30-06 I'd go 9.3X62. It is just as easy as to do 35 Whelen, but now you have a platform better suited for true heavyweight's. And while factory ammo is not in every gun store, it's just as easy to find as 35 Whelen and easier than 338-06.

Realistically, any of the above rounds, 280, 280AI, 338-06,35 Whelen or 9.3X62 are going to need to be reloaded.
 
If you can do the rebarrel yourself you can rebarrel the 700 with a brand new SS 270 or 280 barrel. Just go to McGowen and run a custom barrel, if you do a 1-8 twist it will stabilize heavy bullets if you want and the light bullets also. The #4 contour will make a nice barrel or you can just do a Remington contour or even a Remage barrel with a nut, like a savage so you can change barrels yourself if you have two or more. They make several different style barrels for the 700 plus they will rebarrel your action for you.

I have about a dozen McGowen barrels on several different actions all good performers.

I am building two custom M 700 trued and squared LAs at the moment, a 35 Whelen .010 over and a 270 Win with a full turn set back. The 35 is with a McGowen blank and the 270 is with a new Rem take off. If the 270 does not shoot right, I will have McGowen turn me a 280 AI barrel with a .010 over sized trunnion for a .250 recoil lug.
 
ER Shaw makes perfectly fine barrels. I have several of their barrels. None of the needed a “break in” to become accurate.
Cartridge options are plentiful. If you don’t rebarrel it for a 270 Winchester then I will suggest getting it done for a chambering / caliber (with a standard bolt face such as the 270 Win) that you don’t have.
 
TheClasonater said:
That made me think of something......... wait for it............ 35 Whelen AI. Just to say you own one. It would be a mean sob
Click to expand...

I've heard tell, that P.O. Ackley thought the 35 Whelen was the cartridge that gained the absolute least by AI'ing it with something like less than 2% capacity gain.

You do gain more positive headspacing and better brass life though, so it does have some advantages.
 
In my opinion the heavy 35s really needs a bigger case than the '06.
I like the 358 Norma personally.

For the 06 case I think 30 cals about is larger bores I really want.

Personal opinion of course.......
 
Ha ya, I went down the Google rabbit hole with 35 whelen AI after I posted that out of curiosity and saw the 2% deal. Ate my words a little. Would be a neat iteration to have though.
 
Since you’re open to suggestions...

338-06 A-Square is another option. Slightly better shoulder area than the .35 Whelen offers with plenty of punch for anything you’ll encounter in North America.

Stay safe.
 
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