I have a second hand Remington 700 in 6MM Remington.

I love the fit and balance and fit of the rifle. It is also extremely accurate and fun to shoot, but I feel the cartridge is a little light for deer and I prefer a 22 cal for plinking and such. So, I have only really used it as a primary gun when hunting turkeys in Texas and as a truck gun in case I spotted a coyote.

It is my understanding that the case is the same as the 7x57 and the 257 Roberts. I would love to play with an 8mm Mauser (8x57). Is it a simple rebarrel job for these cartridges?

The action is shorter than my new 30-06 model 700, but seems longer than a model 7 (didn't actually measure, so I may be wrong). Is this a "short action" model 700? Would there be any problems using long 7 or 8 mm factory ammo in this action?

Any other cartridges that I am missing?

Thanks

Well,
If you want another caliber you'll be money ahead to sell what you have and buy another rifle. A rebarrel job will run around $350 not counting postage and that's not for a premium cut rifled barrel which will run over $500 when its said and done.
Don't know why you feel the 6mm is a little light for deer. A 90-100 grain premium bullet at 3100 + fps will nail any deer on this continent and have no problem with a shoulder bone. Especially those scrawny southern deer that rarely go over 150....
Only thing I'd be a little concerned with the 6mm Remington is the twist rate on that barrel in terms of stabilizing heavier 6mm bullets.

As long as the barrel is stamped 6mm instead of 244 it should have the faster twist rate, so there shouldn't be a problem there. Economically, as stated, this probably isn't the cheapest way to go about this, but if you like the way the rifle feels, and you want to try out the 8 Mauser, I say go for it. The only problem I see, is that it is a short action which will effect your COL, especially with heavier bullets. - Dan

If it is as accurate as you describe, you might consider keeping it. I had excellent performance with Sierra 85gr HPBT Gamekings in my 243 and I am currently loading them in my 6mm. They are highly regarded as "game" bullets and accurate too.

Someone will say 24 cal's are next to worthless for deer but that has not been my experience.

I'd like to have your problem. I regard the 243 and the 6mm as one of the best deer cartridges available. The only ones in my mind that outpace them to any appreciable degree are 270/280/7mm-08 which are all ballistically nearly the same. Loaded with Sierra 85 grain HPBT bullets, a 6mm will slam a deer of any size like it was hit by a truck full of cinder blocks. Nothing kills like speed and the 6mm/243 has it in spades.
I think a lot of hunters feel it is unmanly to use anything less that a 30-06 or a 300 Win Mag. There's nothing wrong with these calibers if that's you favorite, but they are by no means all that's needed to hunt deer. I gurantee you a deer never would know the difference of being hit with a 6mm correctly loaded or a 30-06 loaded any way you want.

I don't care to sell it, as my father gave it to me. I am fine leaving like it is. It shoots cheap 100 grain core-locs into 5/8" (about as well as I can see). It is just that I always grab another rifle because the chambering is not my favorite.

Just wondering if the mechanics of conversion to a 7 or 8 mm Mauser was feasible or if I would be opening a can of worms.

If cost and practicality were issues - none of us would be on this forum I would just like to play with one of the above, as I never had either before, and this rifle would be a perfect test bed. Fit and weight just "feel right" when I do carry it.

A little light for deer?

Hit a deer with an 85gr Barnes XLC BT at 3500fps and see what you think.

MM

MetalMan go to 224tth and read about this, it will change your mind .

Thats what I've been looking for just so that I can do that.

Metalman, if it is like my 6mm Rem it only handles a cartridge length of about 2.83" in the magazine. The 7x57 has a loaded length of slightly over 3" and the 8x57 is about 3.25". It is more than a simple rebarrel to make these work.

I wish my 6mm was a accurate as yours. My wife uses it for a deer rifle. I load 90 gr. X-bullets to about 3000 fps. I could probably push them faster but never tried because the wife won't shoot beyond about 125 yards. No matter, the rifle is sure death in her hands. Those bullets smash shoulders and keep going. I used to think the 6mm was light for deer but no more!

Yanking a good 6mm barrel out of a 700 has to be near sacrilege!A great cartridge, I've had 4 of 'em,(including one 722/244) wish I had one now.I watched a friend roll a pile of 'yotes and deer with a 700/6mm over an 8 year period.Leave it "as is" and get another rifle in a larger cartridge if you think you need one.Something like a 270,or a 7mm08.If you REALLY wanted to rebarrel the 6mm/700 to something bigger, a 260 or a 7mm08 would be the way to go.The 7mm and 8mm Mauser are too long for the short 700 action.

[ 09-07-2003, 04:22: Message edited by: rembo ]

Thanks guys, that is what I needed to know.

Guess I will keep it as is.

Guess I need to shoot a few deer with it after the rave reviews

MetalMan,

I think you made the right choice to keep your 6mm. One thing you can do is develop some reloads that might show more performance.

I like to use WW .257 Roberts brass for my 6mm R. They hold more powder than the Remington stuff. My Rem brass averaged 180 grains in weight, while the W-W was 160.8 grains.

I had good luck with Norma MRP and the 95 and 100 grain Nosler Partition bullets for deer. I developed thess loads years ago, and haven't seen the need to change.

jim dodd

Metalman,

There are no flies on the 6mm Rem.. My dad swears that his 257 Roberts was THE finest deer rifle he ever owned and the 243 Win has a reputation that speaks for itself. Guess what, as far as the dead deer are concerned there is NO difference between any of those rounds, and from a ballistic point of view the 6mm Rem actually has some advantages. Especially since you already have an 06, keep your dads rifle original.

If you want to try out an 8mm Mauser then you can own a millsurp rifle for less money than it would cost to alter your 6mm. Its a fine round but is way redundant when an 06 is already on the wall. (Did I say that?)