I have a Rem 700adl, short action, that I am trying to decide what to do with. I believe the magazine must be able to be lengthened somewhat. Any idea how long it can go and how much work it is to get it there?

I have lengthened some of these, usually no more than an eith of an inch.

I've managed .300" by cutting the front of the magazine box away and extending it, then rewelding. You then have to modify where it fits into the receiver and the stock and floorplate (if equipped) - Dan

Acy,

How long does it need to be? What caliber? Keep in mind that if you decide to convert this later to a BDL configuration, using factory hardware, then you will need to revert back to the factory length box...

Malm

Malm, I'm not sure yet on exactly what I want to accomplish. I currently have rifles in the following calibers: .223(2), .243(2), 7-08, 7mm Rem Mag(2),7mm Dakota, 30-30, .300 Savage, .300wsm, and 45-70. I have no plans to hunt anything bigger than moose/elk. Most of my hunting is done in mid-Michigan where ranges rarely exceed 250 yards. At various times I consider another 7-08(the kids have taken over the one I have), 25-284, 257 Roberts A.I., or perhaps, at the other end of the spectrum, a .358win. The reason I would want to extend the mag is to keep from having to seat the bullets too deep if I went with the 25-284 or the Roberts. On my 300wsm, I had it built on a Ruger long action throated to seat Barnes 180xlc to base of neck. With 25" barrel I get 3125fps and have 9 reloads on one set of cases so far. I believe there is a lot to be gained with proper seating. As you can see, I really have everything covered with what I have. I am also sure you can understand that I want more. Just not sure yet what I want to need next. What I may be able to do with the mag may help the decision process. I will definitely keep the adl configuratiion.
Thanks for the input, Al

Acy,

Sounds like you have everything pretty well covered caliber wise. Build this one into a dedicated benchrest rifle. A precision long range staple remover, no magazine, single shot.... Any caliber that will fit.

Malm

Malm, I hadn't thought of that possibility. Thinking can be a dangerous thing, you know!

and... expensive.

On the 700 ADL you can get about .10" from the rear where the magazine box goes in, until you hit the front trigger guard screw receiver threads. If you open the trigger guard hole and use a screw that threads into the wood instead of the metal (like some Savages) you can take all your length from the rear. On the 600/660's you can still get the .10" from the rear, but that's about it, because you'll start going into the trigger mechanism. If you don't want to trim the trigger housing etc., you'll have to take the rest of your gain from the front. This is most easilly done with a milling machine, but before I had access to one I did it with files. Hpe this help. - Dan

Dan- That does help. Thanks, Al

Malm, will all this work on a BDL? I'm in a similar bind, starting a new rifle on a BDL action, trying to lengthen the mag to take long-snooted 260 Rem handloads. Plan to cut & reweld the mag box, wallow out the receiver to match and shorten the bolt stop. Need to get an extra 0.200" of room for these loads. Probably have to sacrifice the threaded hole, but it's empty on my 308, and I don't even know for sure what it's there for, anyway. Advice?

You can lengthen either in the front. One has to be careful to not make the extension in the front of the mag box not to be bigger than that portion of the bottom metal.

brownell's also offers 2 kits for the rem 700. 1 is 3.0" and the other takes it to 3.1". i am pretty sure these are the lengths they offer. check it out........
woofer

It is best to lengthen the magazine inlet to the rear--it can be opened about .110 inch. I do it on a milling machine. The Remington BDL Floorplate can be modified to accept the longer box. Wyatt Outdoors sells the longer boxes.

lengthening the box in the front can reduce the bottom locking lug seat thickness in the action and this is NOT a good idea