rem 700 short action for new varmint rig?

[BRNEWB79]

Hows it goin everybody? Have a few questions from people who have a built varmint rig on a rem 700 short action. I'm currently a gunsmithing student Trinidad State Junior College, i've already had input from one of my teachers Speedy Gonzalez and i always trust what he says, but i just want to get some feedback from the members on this site who have built and who have shot rem 700 short actions as their shooting rig. I'm gonna be chambering a barrel in 6mm remington this summer. The action is coming from my rem 700 vls that is currently chambered in .223, and i plan on getting a pre contoured barrel to fit the stock. I'm a poor college student so i can't buy a fancy stock right now. I have been looking at getting a custom action from Jerry Stiller but that will have to wait a little bit. I know how to reload a little and Speedy said he would help me out if i needed it. But maybe some of you guys could suggest some other 6 or 6.5mm calibers i could go with. It's gonna be mainly a varmint rig but i also would like to get into some type of sporting rifle matches in the future down at the whittington center. Any advice and help would be greatly appreciated.

Bob Karczewski

 

[jerrschmitt]

I have three customs built on 700 actions. I don't compete, just a prairie dog shooter. Since my actions have been around a while, all the truing had been done on them. Two are 6MM BR and one is a .243 Ackley. If I was going to shoot matches I would go with a better action and different caliber.

 

[BRNEWB79]

They have the sporting rifle matches down at the whittington about once a month it seems like. I would just be doing those for fun and something to do. I'm not big into the competition aspect either. I thought i read somewhere that 6mm BR have trouble cycling in a 700 action? How do yours cycle? Thank you for the input.

 

[k80skeet]

I have not heard anything about 6mmBR not feeding well there are a lot of them out there and everybody seems to love them. I do believe that is where this site came from. It is a caliber that is hard to beat.

 

[JabaliHunter]

Its feeding from the magazine that can be a problem because the cartridge is so short. As you are training to be a gunsmith, this might be worth a try... http://www.6mmbr.com/Rem700magfix.html
As for other 6mm cartridges, I would look at a 6BR, 6XC or 6-6.5x47 chambering
As for 6.5mm - definitely a 6.5x47
Good luck with the project!

 

[BRNEWB79]

Thanks for the info JabaliHunter......I checked out that 6.5x47 caliber and it definitely looks very appealing....

 

[M700]

The little 6mm Remington is a dandy cartridge if you are interested in it. Sudden death on rock chucks, coyotes and mule deer - as well as any other varmint I ever zapped with it. My youngest son shoots it now. I used it for many years. Factory Remington short-action rifle, and by rights it shouldn't be shooting well anymore after 35 years and thousands of rounds, but it does just fine. Back in the 1970's and 1980's I never thought of keeping a round count, but it's been through more than a few...

Recoil is light. Accuracy is still good. Terminal results are excellent from varmints to mule deer. Just like I did, my son loves shooting this little rifle. 100 grains at 3,000 fps is easy with a 22" barrel, and for varmints we usually drop down to a 75 grain hollow point. Explosive & accurate. The 95 gr Ballistic Tip is a terrific mule deer bullet - as are the various 100 gr soft-points. Reloader 22 is a very good powder for the 95 - 105 gr bullets. I've often thought that when I re-barrel the rifle, it will get a 24" barrel, still a sporter contour.

Some field photos of my son with the little old 6mm Rem:

Oct 2009 with a mule deer doe:

High bipod, shooting chucks in and around the cherry orchard:

He was proud of nailing a rock chuck peeping out of that hole below the rock!

And with his first deer, several years ago - one shot through the heart, 275 yards:

I think it's a terrific dual-purpose varmint/mule deer cartridge! You're going to need to open up the bolt face going from .223 to the larger cartridges too aren't you?

Regards, Guy

 

[Mr.Smith]

I love my rifle, it's a .243AI built on a Remmy short action.

I can't fault it!

The local foxes don't like it!

It is an excellent long range varmint tool.

Regards
Mr.Smith

 

[bheadboy]

I have a number of 700 custom guns, from 7-08, 221 fb, 223, and for what you are considering, the action, trued will be a great base for any caliber you choose.

My suggestion for pd and up the 243AI is a great cartridge, it can be loaded effectively from 70gr up.

Bob

 

[357Mag]

Bob-

HOwdy !

Please check you PM's.

Regards,
357Mag

 

[bheadboy]

357mag

i having trouble getting pm- use rbrowne34@windstream.net

Bob

 

[357Mag]

new varmint rig?

Bheadboy -

I'll sne dyou an E-mail, per your address.

Regards,
357Mag

 

[Webster]

I have a REM 700BDL Varmint heavy barrel that was a 6mm REM for many years. I had it rebarreled to 6MM BR Norma throated for 65-75 grain bullets, no turn neck. Factory stock and trigger. Glass bedded. I am not the best shooter and I get groups under 0.350" I had one group at 0.190". I think the rifle will shoot under 0.250" by a better shooter. Very accurate, match bullets at $25/100/ small powder charge, great barrel and case life and good velocity. What more could you ask for. If you know a gunsmith that does high volume work you may be able to buy a good used barrel cheap. Most BR guns have barrels that are to short and fat for a hunting stock.

 

[armadillo]

If your action is for a .223 bolt face I think you would want to stick to that size case rather than modify it for the larger one.

It is too big a job to enlarge the bolt face for an easy to find action like the 700.

 

[flatlander]

Or, you could sell your 223 bolt, and apply the funds towards a PTG custom bolt with a .473" boltface.

Look into the 6x47 Lapua - great quality brass, and a case design that allows the heavier 6mm bullets to be seated out far enough to reach the lands and still feed through your SA magazine. You'll get all the velocity you need with 105-108gr. bullets out of a 6x47 to shoot the sporting rifle matches down at Whittington.