Which 4 cals in a Remington 700 for 1/2" MOA??

[VaniB]

Your input? Here's the cartridges I'm interested in trying;
280Rem, 7mm-08, 6.5CM, or the 308 Win. (I shoot 308 & 6.5CM, & have the dies/supplies, but now they kind of bore me.)



I'm looking for a precision rifle in police/sniper/sporter style. I will handload for accuracy. The goal is to see if I get lucky enough to find a 1/2" MOA factory Rem 700 right out of the box that won't need another $850 barrel with smithing. I will initially install an alum blocked H-S stock, Jewel trigger, and work up handloads. I'll add a DetachMag later if it's a keeper. I've been lucky before and got 1/2" 5-shot groups in a LVSF 221Fireball barreled action this way. I know it's a crap shoot, some factory 700's might do it & some will not. I own a like-new SS Rem700 in 270Win I bought on GB. I intended it as a donor rifle to be smithed into a 280Rem, but now do NOT wish to pursue expensive barrel & smithing.

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I like the flat shooting 7mm caliber bullet and power of the 280Rem, but suspect the long powder column doesn't help to arrive @ 1/2" MOA. Would love to hear the contrary & be talked into it. LOL A standard weight barreled action like the one pictured below sure would be nice for a change. My current stable has too many 12lb -16lb varmint rifles.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

A 280 will shoot with any of the 7mms. The long powder column and shoulder angle actually contributes to that

 

[DGP4]

I'd say either the 7-08 or the 6.5 CM. No need for a long action caliber and there is an infinite amount of good bullets and powders to play with in those calibers. My personal fav would be the 7-08 over the 6.5CM.

 

[jackieschmidt]

For inherit accuracy, the 308 is hard to beat. In my opinion, you have the best chance of scoring a 1/2 minute angle rifle in 308 than just about any Factory offering from Remington.

 

[ebb]

On a factory Remington or for that matter any thing else it is the luck of the draw. A friend had a 6mm rem rifle and it was a sure enough tack driver. Ive never seen one that was very good. If you get one that has a decent barrel and the chamber job didn't mess it up it should shoot. but those are pretty big ifs on factory gun.

 

[ebb]

I think i would rather buy one that I know needs a barrel for cheap and put a new barrel on it, than take a chance on a factory gun.

 

[Doug Beach]

A 280 will shoot with any of the 7mms. The long powder column and shoulder angle actually contributes to that

Dusty, please explain this. Thank you.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Dusty, please explain this. Thank you.

Think about case design and which ones always shoot and which ones are finicky. Think 300h&h, 30-06, 308, 270, 30-30, 243- the case styles that will shoot good no matter what you throw at them, then think of the ones that drift in and out of load windows, always tuning, etc. Think case shapes. A 280 and its similar shaped cousins are always easy to tune

 

[Gary in MD]

I’m thinking the 243 Win would be a good candidate to make 1/2 moa in a factory rifle.
Although it’s not on your list.

 

[Kermit in Va.]

280 or the 7-08...
Both have shot good for me.

 

[K22]

My Rem 700, 308 sporter weight, vintage 1990's, shot 1/2 moa with tailored reloads but I had to replace the factory plastic stock with a B&C, aluminum bedding block stock. This rifle had the old style Rem trigger and was very good.

The 308 is an inherently accurate cartridge. However achieving a consistent 1/2 moa accuracy in a sporter weight barrel was no small feat for me even with this cartridge so be prepared to do some serious load development and attention to detail in reloading if you're goal is that level of consistent accuracy.

Two of the best powders I found for 150 and 165 grain bullets were IMR 4064 and Varget. I used Federal 210M, match primers during load development but later discovered that standard Federal 210 primers worked just as well in my rifle.

You didn't say what the rifle will be used for and that would influence my decision / advice.

 

[pdog2225]

Take that Rem 700 in 308 win to a good smith and have him blue print the action and refit the factory barrel back on it. It will surprise you how accurate it will become (been there and done this). pdog2225

 

[joshb]

Every 5R Remington 308 I bought (4 so far) shot very well with my handloads. Easy 3/4” a lot of 1/2” groups at 100.
I bought one in 223 and it shoots just as well. These days, I shoot more 223 than anything else. Low recoil, small powder charge and lots of bullets available. It’s hard to beat getting 250 shots out of a pound of powder.

 

[Willie]

I have a safe full of custom rifles, but none of them will ever take as much game as my first 280 did. Somewhere around 40-50 animals taken in about 15 years, elk,bear, mule deer, whitetail, antelope and numerous exotics. It never failed me once. Back then I was shooting 140 Nosler solid base over H-4350.
My current 280 is shooting 162's over IMR-7828, consistently in .2-.3'. Just a great cartridge!.

 

[jelenko]

250 shots out of a pound of powder.

Isn't it closer to 300 for 223?

 

[joshb]

Isn't it closer to 300 for 223?

Yeah, but I just ate a big dinner and couldn’t do the math in my head cause I’m half asleep.

 

[SSL]

I'm with Dusty. I get .5" groups with selected loads in my .280 Ruger #1 from the bench. A friend has a custom .280 on a Mauser 98 action that shoots very well too. It's an interesting cartridge that is under loaded by manufacturers and load data. Careful loading can get within spitting distance of the 7mm Magnum.

 

[INTJ]

While there are always exceptions, what I have seen is any heavy-barreled factory bolt gun should be able shoot 1/2" 3-shot groups at 100 yds with handloads. Might even shoot an occasional 1/2" 5-shot group, though I think .6 to .8 is more normal for five shots groups at 100 yds for that kind of rifle. A factory sporter weight barrel gun is more typically .7 to .9 for 3-shot groups at 100. The brand of rifle really makes no difference.

So I don't even try anymore to get 1/2"
3-shot 100 yd groups out of a sporter weight barrel, especially a factory barrel. I am happy with 3/4" 3-shot 100 yd groups out of my lighter weight hunting rifles. I only chase the Nth level of accuracy in my LR BR rifles.

It's easier to get a 1/2" 3-shot gun that isn't overly heavy with a custom barrel. I'd think a 6.5 or 7 with a 22" #4 custom barrel would stand a great chance of consistent 1/2" 3-shot groups without weighing more than 8.5 lbs scoped. I think a 30 cal might need that to be a 20" #5 contour, and I have a factory FN PBR (CRF) rifle that is built that way.

I don't know what Remington has anymore, but if a 10.5 lb w/scope rig would be okay then one of those 5R barreled guns in .308 would probably meet 1/2" 100 yd 3-shot group requirement with handloads or even some of the match ammo out there.

 

[VaniB]

My Rem 700, 308 sporter weight, vintage 1990's, shot 1/2 moa with tailored reloads but I had to replace the factory plastic stock with a B&C, aluminum bedding block stock. This rifle had the old style Rem trigger and was very good.

The 308 is an inherently accurate cartridge. However achieving a consistent 1/2 moa accuracy in a sporter weight barrel was no small feat for me even with this cartridge so be prepared to do some serious load development and attention to detail in reloading if you're goal is that level of consistent accuracy.

Two of the best powders I found for 150 and 165 grain bullets were IMR 4064 and Varget. I used Federal 210M, match primers during load development but later discovered that standard Federal 210 primers worked just as well in my rifle.

You didn't say what the rifle will be used for and that would influence my decision / advice.

I can relate with much of what you say, as it kind of verifies my own experience with various sporters;

I'd use an H-S composite VSF/Sendero stock to test accuracy potential. My best 308 groups is also with IMR 4064. I use BR2's. But 3/4" 5-shot groups is with a light 18.5" chrome lined barrel in an AR10. It's comparing apples to oranges and I know a bolt action is entirely different and will produce tighter groups

Yes, doing 5-shot 1/2" groups with my 3 custom barreled 700's requires very intensive handloading that includes weighing bullets, annealing, concentricity measurement, etc. Wind flags, quality cradle, consistant hold, and letting the barrel cool between shots is all essential. But 3-shots groups don't mean jack to me. To each his own.

"You didn't say what the rifle will be used for and that would influence my decision / advice."
I enjoy firing 1/2" 5-shot groups at the public 100yard range. But my goal this time is to build it in a lighter "sniper" style rifle. I will add a DM bottom metal to take AIC mags. I want to know it's powerful and capable of long range shots too. I kind of like the 280 cartridge without the belt, which is right below a 7mmMag in power. But I agree with Jackie, JoshB, and others that the 308 is maybe a better bet. (plus I have all the dies for it already)

 

[jonbearman]

One thing you said has me curious, where do you buy 850.00 barrels plus smithing? I want to avoid any barrel at that amount. Truthfully the Remington 308 5 r rifle will fill the bill without doing anything to it.It comes in a HS precision with an adjustable trigger for now.