Can I just swap out a different caliber Remington 700 bolt between two rifles?

[VaniB]

Geees.....it seems each day opens up another possible alternative and question. Have patience with me guys.

I want to buy a stainless Remington BDL long action and have a smith install a 280AI barrel onto it. I want the repeater mode to function. I'm trying to get rid of my stainless steel BDL synthetic 7mmMag rifle and trade it for (or sell it and use the funds) for the same kind of rifle in a standard none-belted cartridge like a 30-06, 25-06, 270, or 280 cartridge. That rifle will be used as the donor action.

A guy contacted me to tell me that he would be willing to swap out the bolt from his 270 rifle for my bolt from my 7mmMag rifle. Will this work? Is it really an easy cookie-cutter fit like that to just swap out bolts and receivers? Are their fine tolerances that have to be checked and possibly adjusted at the factory during production, or is a swap out all their is to it and I need not worry? Also, do you think there will be much difference between the 270 and 7mmMag followers and other parts in the magazine box that might cause feeding problems between the different cartridges?

 

[Preacher]

99% of the time you CAN NOT use a different same caliber bolt in a individual receiver.
As long as your smith uses the new 270 bolt when he sets up to do the new barrel work you'll be fine..
You'll have better luck with feeding if you also use the 270 follower and box, rather than the 7 mag follower and box....

 

[Dans40X]

Indicating the bolt noses/faces/lugs & lug length between both bolts will eliminate any doubt of interchangeability.

 

[VaniB]

Ooops, I didn't indicate to you guys that I intend to only use the 270 replacement bolt and my existing 7mmMag receiver as a donor action and have my smith install and chamber a new barrel.

Dans,

Unfortunately it will be a bolt swap out via a parcel-post trade in the mail and I will not have the two different bolts on hand at the same time to compare the dimensions you mentioned. But, I hope now that you have heard a clearer explanation from me that I plan to have my smith install a barrel, hopefully you will agree that it will not be as critical with a new barrel chambering. Right?

Preacher,

I loaded a couple of dummy 30-06 rounds into my 7mmMag magazine to find that the bolt feeds them fairly smooth. This was a test suggested to me by a smith on another websight, and makes me almost feel as silly as a caveman that I didn't think of it on my own.

 

[fastergun]

If the bolt that you are trading for does not have a cut in the left locking lug a cut will have to be made in the bolt lug if your receiver has the anti bind feature. Also, I believe there are different cuts in the receiver for belted cartridges so feeding could possibly be an issue. Otherwise it should work. Dennis

 

[VaniB]

I never forgot what my Dad told me 30 years ago; "Nothing comes easy. Only trouble comes easy" . I have no clue what you're describing in my rifle, or how another bolt receiver interior could look and compare differently. Can you imagine I go trading out my bolt via the mail with some guy in Nebraska only to find out that what he sent doesn't work, and I end up with a boltless rifle.

Thanks for the input. You've just convinced me to continue to sell my exc condition 7mmMag rifle and go find a replacement 30-06 based rifle for the project.