REM 700 .308 to 7mmWSM???

[Buzzsaw]

I have a GAP .308 and am thinking about re-barrelling to a 7mmWSM or 6.5X.284. Will my Rem short action .308 bolt require any modifications???

 

[Preacher]

The 6.5x284 will not need any bolt work done to it but the 7mmWSM will......

 

[MLC]

You could buy a short action magnum bolt for the rifle and make it a switch barrel.

 

[Wild_Bill]

Hi you can buy a coned bolt with Sako type extractor in the correct oversize dimention to correctly suit your Rem Action from PAcific Tool ANd Guage and as said you could switch the barrels and bolts but i would lap the new bolt in and just leave it as a magnum. You can also have the boltface opened up and then a Sako type extractor fitted to your existing bolt quite easily by any competant gunsmith so dont let that deter you from the short mag. The 6.5-284 will work on your action as is but bite the bullet and get the WSM their is a good reason the US F Class team is not using the 6.5-284 for Open F Class any more nad has gone to a variety of short 7mm AMgs instead as the targets now have a 1/2 moa X ring instead of the old 10" X ring.

Also when you have your rifle built up have the face of the action squared fir a larger thicker recoil lug and have the bolts lugs lapped to make sure they contact 100% on the locking lugs in the action then have the bolt mods done or fit another bolt and fit the 7mm WSM barrel you will never look back.

Cheers Bill
Australia

 

[chrisj]

You can simply give the bolt to any Good gunsmith and he can "open uP" The boltface and install a Sako extractor for around $100-125. I have done it many times and never had a problem.
Mark King in PA> opened my 223 to a 308 boltface and installed a Sako extractor and his work was as nice as I have Ever seen!

Chris

 

[Buzzsaw]

Thanks guys, your making feel better about my decision. I want to build a hybrid "Tactical/F-class." How's the recoil on the 7mmWSM? after 60+ round in a day?

 

[Spotcheck_Billy]

Thanks guys, your making feel better about my decision. I want to build a hybrid "Tactical/F-class." How's the recoil on the 7mmWSM? after 60+ round in a day?

If you're going to drive 180gr. VLD's to over 2900fps MV you'll definitely feel the recoil after 60+ rounds, especially if your hybrid rifle is built light enough to be practical in Tactical competitions. How that might effect you is purely subjective.

Since you've got a Tactical requirement for your build you need to be aware that a 7mmWSM loaded optimally with bullets on the order of 180 gr. VLD's will push the standard magazine length capacity of the M700 SA past its,approximate) 2.800" limit. The Tactical competitors that I know using this cartridge are loading them to around 2.910" COAL. A very popular magazine system for this is the detachable magazine system for the M700 SA from Badger Ordnance that uses the AICS short action magazines modified by removing the spacer to gain the additional length. You can get the details for this from George Gardner @ GAP or Marty Bordson @ Badger Ordnance. Of course, there are other methods of increasing the M700 SA magazine length, but this detachable system seems to be the state-of-the-art for Tactical rifles at this time.