Remington 788 .222 to 6.5 Grendel Project

[SixFive]

No doubt some of you will recoil in disdain over the fact that I am going to sacrifice the beloved Remington .788 222 but the rifle has no practical use for me. I do not live in a varmint hunting state, I am not interested in target shooting the .222 and I do not want to part with the rifle. The Remington 788 in my experience is a spectacularly accurate action and should be a great platform for a 6.5 Grendel.

I mostly hunt larger caliber rifles like the 6.5-284 Norma but my small framed wife is now interested in hunting. Several of my friends and their wives have purchased the Ruger Americans in 6.5 Grendel and are successfully hunting and killing white tail deer out to 300 yards, To my knowledge there are only three production rifles in the Grendel, the Ruger American, The Hoiwa and the CZ. I am looking for something custom and unique.

Politics and opinions aside, the project begins.

Hurdles

1. The Remington 788 .222 has a small bolt face that will not work with the 6.5 Grendel. Being a Remington it uses the spring metal extractor in the bolt face. This must be removed, the bolt face opened, then sleeved to the correct size,. I will then machine the bolt for a Sako extractor.

2. I will need to build a jig to do the bolt machining.

3. The .222 action will need to be milled to accept a .30-30 magazine that will feed the 6.5 Grendel

I ordered a Green Mountain 6.5 1:8 barrel to turn on the lathe and a nice Boyds stock.

This will be my build thread for those whop wish to follow along the journey!

Below is the bolt jig I started on this evening -

 

[HandgunHTR]

Since you already ordered the barrel and started on the bolt jig, I assume it is too late to talk you into building a 6X45 instead of the Grendel. All you would have to do then is the barrel work. The bolt and mag would work fine.
The other option would be to go with a 6.5TCU. Again, not bolt or magazine work to do, dies are readily available, brass is super easy to find and cheap (unlike the Grendel), and the performance is just about the same.

All that said, if you are doing it because you like putting in the work, great! I will follow along with interest. I have 2 Grendels and love them both. I have killed 4 axis deer with my Encore, and I plan one using the Ruger for another TX exotic hunt this spring as long as it is back from getting chopped and threaded in time.
(BTW, I have also killed deer with my 6X45 and my 6.5 TCU)

 

[SixFive]

Since you already ordered the barrel and started on the bolt jig, I assume it is too late to talk you into building a 6X45 instead of the Grendel. All you would have to do then is the barrel work. The bolt and mag would work fine.
The other option would be to go with a 6.5TCU. Again, not bolt or magazine work to do, dies are readily available, brass is super easy to find and cheap (unlike the Grendel), and the performance is just about the same.

All that said, if you are doing it because you like putting in the work, great! I will follow along with interest. I have 2 Grendels and love them both. I have killed 4 axis deer with my Encore, and I plan one using the Ruger for another TX exotic hunt this spring as long as it is back from getting chopped and threaded in time.
(BTW, I have also killed deer with my 6X45 and my 6.5 TCU)

Yeah I guess I am kinda in to deep now, reamer is ordered and barrel. I am not familiar with the 6x45 but I am interested to read up on it. Thanks for the reply my friend!

 

[ebb]

Let them recoil in distain, it's your gun and you paid for it use it as you see fit and i hope you enjoy your project and rifle. I hear so many talk of Bubba did this and Bubba did that, unless Bubba came in your hose and stole your rifle, Bubba can do what he wants to his own. I've been known to take a 6 foot long rifle that was a WW1 reject and make it into something I can use. $59 Turk Mausers no one wanted even at $59 now they are collector guns that were worth preserving. All these knowledgeable collectors are too afraid to take one out of the stock and clean and oil it so they rust below the stock line till they are garbage.

 

[Bully]

@SixFive Get it!!!
I'm doing similar with a 700 action. I don't have the machines any more to attempt the work but have the action out to a friend/gunsmith and I'm doing a RemAge barrel.

You should consider re-starting this in the Gunsmithing sub-forum on here. You'll get some disdain, a few off comments, some decent humor, and some great knowledge.

 

[K22]

It's a hobby, you don't have to justify desiring a specific cartridge. Researching the specifics of a cartridge and gathering experience information of other shooter with said cartridge can help you make an informed decision but ultimately, it's your choice. If you have visions of greatness for this cartridge you will probably never be happy until you try it. I know, I've been there. Most of the time my visions were illusions from reading too many gun magazine articles written by "experts."

Personally, being ultra-conversative , I prefer the old boring standard cartridges like the 243, 270, 308, 30 06 for deer hunting. But that's just me, the more complicated it gets the more stomach acid I seem to develop. I go out of my way to make things as simple as possible probably to a fault.

Probably most members are tired of hearing me go on and on about this but after 50 years of shooting, reloading, hunting, and about 30 years of competitive shooting the one thing I learned is that the specific cartridge, within reason, really doesn't matter as long as it's suitable for the intended purpose. What really matters is the shooter's ability to use that cartridge, i.e., marksmanship.

Good luck with your project.

 

[Sandstorm]

I like it my friend..Im a big fan of the Grendel, and this should be a fun project.

 

[Litespeed]

Sounds like a great project to me, love my 6.5 Grendel(s). One AR and a CZ527 MTR. Looking forward to following your build and hope you can find the ammo/components needed to shoot it.

 

[Uncle Grinch]

I think you’re on to a great unique project!

I like being different, that’s why I just bought a 9.3x57 Husqvarna.

 

[Bogusname]

Which sako extractor are you using? Size wise and brand.

 

[Riesel]

788's are selling for 600.00 to 750.00 depending on it's looks and it is, in my opinion, that you changing your 788 to 6.5 Grendel would actually make it unique enough to bring a very good price. A friend of mine picked up a .222 from his cousin for 60.00. No magazine, no bottom screws, no trigger guard, no trigger. I had a trigger on hand and managed to scrounge the other parts. Now for 340.00 he has his very own 788. Borescope says barrel might be iffy, I would recommend a rebarrel in 6X45 as I'm a bit partial to that cartridge.
I will follow your project with great interest.

 

[paperpuncher]

Put a 8 twist green mountain on a 700 chambered in 6.5 grendel shoots 1/2” at 100 yards with regularity Have fun with your build

 

[SixFive]

Finally got some time in the shop Sunday. Opened the bolt face, made a bushing, inserted bushing. Next I will cut for the standard size Sako extractor.

I also started working on the RAW barrel blank from GM. Got the chamber end threaded for the receiver and am working the taper profile I want on the old SouthBend lathe, thank god for the taper attachment. So much metal to turn off these blanks!

 

[SixFive]

Which sako extractor are you using? Size wise and brand.

PTG Extractor Sako-Style Remington 700 308 Winchester Bolt Face Steel purchase from MIDWAYUSA.

 

[7887mm08]

Its still going to be a 788 when your done.
You are the only one that has to like it, so go for it and tell us how you make out.

 

[SixFive]

I got the barrel profile turned down from the 1.25" blank finally. It is a very mild taper (3.5degrees) muzzle is .635 I want this to be a light rifle for the most part.

 

[Sandstorm]

Whats your finished barrel length,
and thats a target crown and un-threaded as well correct.

 

[SixFive]

Whats your finished barrel length,
and thats a target crown and un-threaded as well correct.

I threaded it already for the receiver end, I am not threading the muzzle and I have yet to cut the target crown but it will be a simple 2 step. I do not see where Grendel will ever need a brake, would just make it loud. 21" finish length, I got a good deal from GM but the barrel was not long, I would have preferred 24" but it shouldn't be an issue.

 

[Sandstorm]

Yup..thats how I would do it also ..Nice project.

 

[snert]

Maybe some of the naysayers would think differently if it was called the 6.5 PPC....



I think it is a cool project. I own an old custom BR from the 60's that Fred Sinclair opened from 222 BF to PPC. I love it.

I love 788's and am waiting to find a "closet find" (like a barn find car, but smaller scale) that old uncle Cleetus left to his nephew who would rather have a video console. I am hoping for a two'fer...maybe a 788 and a Parker DHE in exchange for the latest gaming device??