Should I rechamber my Remington 700 in .308?

[Medic505]

either 6 or 6.5 Creedmoor

Don't even start. He has a man's rifle, doesn't need a manbun rifle.

 

[chromatica]

If you were building your own rifle you could order a Palma Chamber on your barrel, which accommodates the shorter (lighter) bullets.

 

[KY_Windage]

I would get a new barrel, prolly in 7mm-08. Lot more pleasant to shoot, just as accurate.

 

[searcher]

I've shot a lot of -.010" groups with barrels that had north of 3,500 rounds on them (mostly 6ppc or 6br). I have a .243 Winchester with a factory Ruger barrel that has more rounds than that and still shoots incredibly well (amazing?!) While most barrels just kind of fade away over time - some just stop shooting good groups at a certain point. For those unwilling to experiment and want to stick with a given load - the barrel is usually replaced. Often times though - it does not have to be replaced - but rather a load retuned or replaced with another. Sometimes this is as simple as seating the bullet out a bit or going with a longer bullet - or even a faster powder. If the fire-cracking in the throat gets so bad it creates bad scratches and non-uniform drag on the bullet - it is time to replace or set back the chamber.

 

[10XSHOOTER]

Find a smith that has a Reamer throated for 168's. Have him cut off 3/8 (.375) of an inch of threads. See what he would charge to lap the lugs. And then have him recut barrel threads to fit the receiver and rechamber your barrel. Also have him cut a new smooth crown. Start shooting with 168's and 175's see which one will shoot better. your barrel will now probably last you several thousand rounds and shoot the way you want it too! Should be around $250 - $300.00. This is not a full truing job on the receiver. Just a quick factory tune up.

 

[coldboreshot]

borescope, shb, post: 37717520, member: 1293079"]I would suggest keeping it as is and practice your shooting and reloading. Save up for a custom while you learn. After a while, you’ll have a better idea of what you want in a gun. I still shoot the Rem 308 I started with. It’s accurate enough, fun and brings back memories. Kelbly or Stiller actions would be a good start and won’t break the bank.
Sierra’s are good for those long throated factory guns. They like to jump. Maybe save those Berger’s.
Welcome to the forum, if I missed that!
Read read, read! Lot’s of good information here provided by some excellent shooters. I’ve been here a while and I’m still learning![/QUOTE]


Agreed. My barrel is on 3155 and still kicking. Keep shooting it as defined above. As far as the borescope, leave it in the box and follow the accuracy and performance. Save the $$ for a custom build later. I've always said in these forums...borescopes and chronographs should come with psychological disclaimers.

 

[coldboreshot]

"Snozzberries, post: 37717496, member: 1310826"]I have a Remington 700 Police in .308. Model 86591, 24" 5R barrel 1:11.25 twist, 40x trigger, HS Precision PST012 stock, oversized bolt knob. I haven't done anything to it except put on a Badger base/rings and Burris scope.

I've shot about 2000 rounds through it. I measured the throat both when it was new, and now after ~2000 rounds. I haven't seen much erosion. My math says, on average, over 7 different bullets, it's either shrunk by 2/1000 or gotten longer by 2/1000. I figure it's just margin of error. Seems like the barrel should have lots of life left. (Raw numbers attached in Excel)

I've picked up some new Lapua brass, and Berger bullets. I've been using Federal brass and Hornady/Sierra bullets with typically 43.5gr Varget. I measured the Bergers, and they engage the rifling at the point that they are falling out of the brass. So I won't be able to load them up at 10/1000 off the lands, or even try jamming them into the rifling. All of the ammo I've been loading have been seated quite long to be 10/1000 off the lands.

I'm just getting started in precision shooting, so haven't really worked up a load yet. I've needed to do lots of practice, to learn how to shoot before I could test loads. Been planning on using the Lapua brass and Berger bullets to figure out the proper powder charge and seating depth.

I've also picked up the classic Teslong borescope, and did some peaking. Looks like the chamber has some scratches/gouges in it. These are on the body, ending at the shoulder. They scratch the brass.

I'm thinking about getting the chamber re-cut, but not sure if I should. I'd rather not spend a bunch of money on a rifle that isn't "that good". This is after all just a production rifle, not a custom rifle. I also don't think this is worthy of a new barrel. But if for a small amount I could get it to be better, that would be great.

What do you think? Should I get a new chamber cut? Replace the barrel? Load the Bergers short? Save them for the next rifle? Do nothing, and save my money for the next rifle?[/QUOTE]



When u say Berger

I have a Remington 700 Police in .308. Model 86591, 24" 5R barrel 1:11.25 twist, 40x trigger, HS Precision PST012 stock, oversized bolt knob. I haven't done anything to it except put on a Badger base/rings and Burris scope.

I've shot about 2000 rounds through it. I measured the throat both when it was new, and now after ~2000 rounds. I haven't seen much erosion. My math says, on average, over 7 different bullets, it's either shrunk by 2/1000 or gotten longer by 2/1000. I figure it's just margin of error. Seems like the barrel should have lots of life left. (Raw numbers attached in Excel)

I've picked up some new Lapua brass, and Berger bullets. I've been using Federal brass and Hornady/Sierra bullets with typically 43.5gr Varget. I measured the Bergers, and they engage the rifling at the point that they are falling out of the brass. So I won't be able to load them up at 10/1000 off the lands, or even try jamming them into the rifling. All of the ammo I've been loading have been seated quite long to be 10/1000 off the lands.

I'm just getting started in precision shooting, so haven't really worked up a load yet. I've needed to do lots of practice, to learn how to shoot before I could test loads. Been planning on using the Lapua brass and Berger bullets to figure out the proper powder charge and seating depth.

I've also picked up the classic Teslong borescope, and did some peaking. Looks like the chamber has some scratches/gouges in it. These are on the body, ending at the shoulder. They scratch the brass.

I'm thinking about getting the chamber re-cut, but not sure if I should. I'd rather not spend a bunch of money on a rifle that isn't "that good". This is after all just a production rifle, not a custom rifle. I also don't think this is worthy of a new barrel. But if for a small amount I could get it to be better, that would be great.

What do you think? Should I get a new chamber cut? Replace the barrel? Load the Bergers short? Save them for the next rifle? Do nothing, and save my money for the next rifle?

Which Berger bullet are you referring to? What is the process your using to measure base-to-ogive? I expect you are using the same bullet you used when you first started? How has the accuracy been with the heavier 168s and 175s. With that 1-11.25 twist, try a 155gn.

 

[Snozzberries]

When u say Berger

Which Berger bullet are you referring to? What is the process your using to measure base-to-ogive? I expect you are using the same bullet you used when you first started? How has the accuracy been with the heavier 168s and 175s. With that 1-11.25 twist, try a 155gn.

I bought 400 Berger 168gr Target Hybrid bullets. I measure with a Hornady COAL Guage, and modified .308 case. I just bought these bullets, so it was my first measurement with them.

The accuracy with the 168's and 175's has been good. I measured with them when the rifle was 500 rounds in, and then again just now, and the erosion is margin-of-error.

I talked to Remington, and they said there was fire-cracking in the throat, which shouldn't have been there, and have replaced the barrel. Rifle should arrive Monday. First thing I'll measure the chamber with the same bullets I measured the other chamber with, and see if the throat is any shorter.

 

[coldboreshot]

I bought 400 Berger 168gr Target Hybrid bullets. I measure with a Hornady COAL Guage, and modified .308 case. I just bought these bullets, so it was my first measurement with them.

The accuracy with the 168's and 175's has been good. I measured with them when the rifle was 500 rounds in, and then again just now, and the erosion is margin-of-error.

I talked to Remington, and they said there was fire-cracking in the throat, which shouldn't have been there, and have replaced the barrel. Rifle should arrive Monday. First thing I'll measure the chamber with the same bullets I measured the other chamber with, and see if the throat is any shorter.

The 168 and 175 have good stability factor in that barrel twist along with 155s. Obviously you will need to get your intinial base to ogive measure to establish your bullet jam or jump on the new barrel but I would wait until your first 100rnds are down the barrel before you begin to track your erosion. And again, always use that same single bullet ( one for each bullet weight that you use) to track your erosion. Don't invest in too much mental stress until that first 100 rnds are complete. You can additionally look for information from famed benchrest shooter and gunsmith "Speedy" Gonzalez regarding the idea. I'm sure the new rifle will provide you great success.

 

[swd]

A smart gunsmith would never put a good reamer in a barrel 2000+ rounds. The fire hardened throat is very hard on the reamer. Shoot it until it’s dead or your tired of it. Then do a light action true and put a new barrel on it.

 

[Snozzberries]

A smart gunsmith would never put a good reamer in a barrel 2000+ rounds. The fire hardened throat is very hard on the reamer. Shoot it until it’s dead or your tired of it. Then do a light action true and put a new barrel on it.

Oh fascinating. Thanks for that! So if the brand new barrel has a really long throat, I could consider getting it re-reamed immediately. If I wait, it's too late.

 

[Papa Charlie]

It depends a lot on the discipline that you plan to shoot as to what you would do with your rifle or if a custom is in order. To turn a stock rifle into a competition rifle is difficult and expensive. You will always be chasing poor tolerances and design/manufacturing flaws that will end up costing you as much as a custom rifle would but without the accuracy benefit. Sure it will get better as you upgrade and update but you will never have a truly precision rifle. Trust me on this, I tired to do it. I still compete with it because I spent my funds on upgrading and I will never get it back out if I try to sell it. Sure I will get a good portion of it if I part it out, but, well you know.

As for measuring the throat wear, if you are not using the exact same bullet that you used when new to measure the errosion then you are just guessing at it. Every bullet has a slightly different geometry even if they come from the same lot. But different lots, the difference will be even greater and as you use different bullets from different lots you are measuring thousands of and inch with a tape measure.

As for upgrading versus a custom rifle here are some quick numbers and they can vary;



You can fill in the cost of your rifle. When you do, you will see that depending on how fancy you go, the cost will end up being pretty close and the upgrade rifle may never be a truly competitive rifle against a custom one.

 

[swd]

Oh fascinating. Thanks for that! So if the brand new barrel has a really long throat, I could consider getting it re-reamed immediately. If I wait, it's too late.

Talk to your gunsmith and tell him what bullets your interested in. If they do much target rifle work they’ll have several reamers with different freebore.

 

[Snozzberries]

Got my rifle back from Remington. It has a new receiver with a new serial number, and a not-my-previous-barrel attached. The barrel appears to be in good condition, but it has a bit of copper in it. My previous serial number was 11k, this new one is 6k.

I measured the freebore with the exact same bullets I was using on my old rifle, and this one has 10/1000 less freebore. So I guess it's better than a kick in the nuts, but still not ideal. I still won't be able to load the Berger bullets 10/1000 off the lands, they'll have a bit of jump.

When I received the rifle, the bolt was flopping around loosely in the box:

Here is a bore-scope video of the new barrel, after I cleaned it with brushes and patches and CLP BreakFree.