Converting to 223

[johnfred1965]

Is converting a remington short action receiver from 308 to 223 as simple as changing the bolt, or are there other things involved? I figure I will need a new follower for the magazine, but will the action need any modification? Feed ramps, integral lugs, trigger mods, etc?

 

[msinc]

The receivers are the same. Some earlier ones had a very slight difference in the "feed rails". That is to say that the small bolt face ones were very slightly narrower, but not by much. I have converted all my 700 small bolt face rifles to H.S. Precision bottom metal with removable magazine. Suggest you do the same. If you don't want to spend that much money the MagPul bottom metal {actually plastic} is a very good cost effective option. If I remember right, the 223 uses a factory magazine box with a spacer in the rear. This is because the 223 follower is shorter. Some of those little "boxes" were removable and just used a standard short action mag box. It stayed where it belonged because the follower prevented it from moving forward. The receiver, feed rails and floor plate kept it from moving up and down. Later ones were welded in place. Brownell's has all the parts.

Edit: just an FYI...for converting to a 6mm PPC you use the standard {308} bolt face mag box and the 243 follower. Small bolt face bolt opened up or buy an aftermarket. You must use some sort of aftermarket extractor like the Sako style with this caliber as well.

 

[johnfred1965]

Thanks for the information. I am reducing my caliber sizesdue to neck problems. I was looking at the 6 or 6.5 TCU as a minimalist deer caliber, from a 308. I have a 223 single shot, but I felt that was going a bit too light.

 

[swd]

The 6BR uses the same bolt face as your action and has barely more recoil than the 223.

 

[mikeinct]

Have you tried the reduced recoil loads ?? If you reload they are easy enough to make that rifle work for you...I had neck surgery & fusion years ago...I had to go crazy finding Reduced loads for a Fav old 12ga ...You can get there....Good Luck...Mike in Ct

 

[Baddog0302]

Options for reducing recoil while retaining killing power;
1.Install a brake, like "The Beast" from muzzlebrakesandmore.com
2. Try "reduced" loads using AA 5744 or SR 4759 and use bullets designed for pistols or 30-30's
3.As "swd" suggested, go to a 6 BR, and built to use 85 th 95 gn. bullets

good luck

 

[johnfred1965]

Have you tried the reduced recoil loads ?? If you reload they are easy enough to make that rifle work for you...I had neck surgery & fusion years ago...I had to go crazy finding Reduced loads for a Fav old 12ga ...You can get there....Good Luck...Mike in Ct

I had fusion in my neck in 2010, now the disc's above and below the repair have bulged out. I have looked at subsonic loads to use with a suppressor, don't know why I didn't think of the reduced recoil than goes with it.

SWD- Like I said above, it just didn't occur to me. I've always thought of the 6br as a target load rather than a hunting load, but I guess it would be great considering the accuracy! More things to think about before a start switching up. Thanks guys!

 

[TimS]

Not sure about the bolt, but you will need a new barrel.

 

[johnfred1965]

Not sure about the bolt, but you will need a new barrel.

Yeah, don't want to forget about that!! I was thinking of going the Remage route, replacing several of my larger calibers with just barrels and an extra bolt.

 

[johnfred1965]

Have you tried the reduced recoil loads ?? If you reload they are easy enough to make that rifle work for you...I had neck surgery & fusion years ago...I had to go crazy finding Reduced loads for a Fav old 12ga ...You can get there....Good Luck...Mike in Ct

You don't have a good reduced load for a 20 gauge do you? I've sold off 3 12 gauges, I've got a couple of 20's and a 410 left

 

[swd]

I had fusion in my neck in 2010, now the disc's above and below the repair have bulged out. I have looked at subsonic loads to use with a suppressor, don't know why I didn't think of the reduced recoil than goes with it.

SWD- Like I said above, it just didn't occur to me. I've always thought of the 6br as a target load rather than a hunting load, but I guess it would be great considering the accuracy! More things to think about before a start switching up. Thanks guys!

A 6BR should push a 100gr Partition in the 2900+ range. Back it down if you want less recoil. I shoot our little 130lb local bucks around here with a 6x45. 95 Partitions going 2650. Full broad side penetration on a heart/lung shot. It kills the :-0 out of them.. A 6BR will get the job done very nicely.

 

[johnfred1965]

A 6BR should push a 100gr Partition in the 2900+ range. Back it down if you want less recoil. I shoot our little 130lb local bucks around here with a 6x45. 95 Partitions going 2650. Full broad side penetration on a heart/lung shot. It kills the :-0 out of them.. A 6BR will get the job done very nicely.

where I hunt the bucks aren't much bigger, the place is heavily hunted, but there are a lot of deer, they just don't get long to grow up!! Spikes and forks mostly. I always felt overgunned with a 308 and 7mm08

 

[mikeinct]

Your Neck thing sounds a lot worse than mine...Wishing you the best outcome...Mike in Ct. Oh & if you want a super light small deer size rifle try a CZ 527 w a custom 25 45mm sharps barrel..I call mine the 25/223 goofy...

 

[swd]

where I hunt the bucks aren't much bigger, the place is heavily hunted, but there are a lot of deer, they just don't get long to grow up!! Spikes and forks mostly. I always felt overgunned with a 308 and 7mm08

We do get some big bruisers now and then but our average is 100-130. And I like the ones that cut with a fork A 243 is almost overkill. I laugh at the guys with 300 mags.

 

[johnfred1965]

Your Neck thing sounds a lot worse than mine...Wishing you the best outcome...Mike in Ct. Oh & if you want a super light small deer size rifle try a CZ 527 w a custom 25 45mm sharps barrel..I call mine the 25/223 goofy...

I may have to cut back on the recoil, but I'll keep shooting til I can't bend my neck far enough to get a cheek weld!