I recently inherited and old Rem Model 700 in 7mm Mag that was owned by my late father. He bought it soon after the cartridge was released in the early 1960's and the barrel is pretty much shot out. I have a Rem Model 700 7mm Mag of my own that I have been carrying since I was 13 so I don't need another one but the rifle has a lot of sentimental value to me so I don't want to kust send it down the road.

I have a new unfired barrel for a Rem Model 700 in 30-06 that a friend gave me after he bought a rifle for the action to build a wildcat on. I'm thinking about removing the shot out 7mm barrel and replacing it with the 30-06 barrel since I don't have an 06 right now.

My question is two fold:

1) Do I also need to replace the bolt since the base dimensions for the 2 rounds are not the same. The 30-06 is slightly smaller in both base diameter and rim thickness but I don't know if it is enough to make a major difference.

2) Will I need to have any work done on the feed rails or will the 30-06 feed smoothly on the factory rails?

Any info that someone could provide would be greatly appreciated.

Tommy

Yes you need to change out the bolt. A magnum bolt face like the 7mag will not hold a 30-06 case. As to feed work that is a maybe.

If it were mine. I would leave the action alone. Take your 30-06 barrel and simply have it rechambered for the 300wmag. There are several other magnum cases that would work but the 300wmag would be the easiest to find ammo for. If you reload and don't want the power simply load to 30-06 levels.

Since you will need to pay to mount the new barrel and probably hit the chamber with a reamer a rechamber shouldn't cost you much extra if any. That leaves your fathers action alone

quote:

Originally posted by ramrod340:
If it were mine. I would leave the action alone. Take your 30-06 barrel and simply have it rechambered for the 300wmag.

I thought about that but the 30-06 barrel is only 22 inches long. That's a little short for a magnum round which is why I'm leaning towards simply using the 30-06 barrel. If I have to buy a replacement bolt, that is still a pretty cheap way to go about it if no other major smithing needs done.

Sako extractor can alter boltface.

When you say the barrel is "shot out" what exactly are you describing? Is the throat and/or rifling worn? Is the bore corroded? What does the crown look like in relation to the bore? A barrel should be good for 2-3,000 rounds. Did your dad shoot it that much?

I have received several rifles from customers who thought they were shot out, but were actually extremely fouled with copper. Some had been cleaned improperly from the muzzle and needed to be re-crowned. If you need to re-barrel you might just get a replacement stripped bolt, installing your bolts components and barreling with the '06 barrel. The feed rails may be an issue though. You might be way ahead just finding a used M700 and installing your barrel.

As Bobster says make sure your barrel is shot out. That doesn't happen often in a normal hunting rifle. Then again you said you don't need to 7mags.

I know that some use a Sako extractor and get by with a magnum face with 06 case heads. That's not my choice.

You give up 50fps or so with a 22 vs 24" 300wmag. Who will ever know.

Sako extractor, done correctly, alters the boltface to 30 06 size.

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Sako extractor, done correctly, alters the boltface to 30 06 size.

Unless I'm missing something a magnum bolt face will have a larger dia than a std bolt. Being one of the "rings of steel" to surround the case head. A sako extractor will capture the case head but the recess cut in the bolt face is still magnum sized not 06. Will it function yes. Do many use it to get by sure. I simply don't

When the Sako or M16 extractor alteration is made to a Remington 700 bolt a ring is turned and then soldered into the bolt face to fill the groove left by removing the original Remington extractor. The ring is made under sized on the I.D. and then opened up to the desired size after soldering This allows the bolt face diameter to be reduced/enlarged for the cartridge being use. If the old extractor groove is not filled, there's a chance the rim of a cartridge case can catch on it. I've heard of some using epoxy to secure the ring, too. I'd think solder, even low temp, would be a better fix. Use your magnum receiver for a mangum cartridge. Take-off barrels aren't worth the money it costs to install them. It's not a simple matter of screw one off, screw the other one on. Headspace must be checked and qualified, if needed. It'd be nice to have the barrel markings in the right place, too. Not drop-in

quote:

When the Sako or M16 extractor alteration is made to a Remington 700 bolt a ring is turned and then soldered into the bolt face to fill the groove left by removing the original Remington extractor.

Thanks for the clarification. I didn't think the one I had seen had a ring installed. I "guess" it must have and my Swiss cheese memory is at work again. Doesn't help that I'm also a CRF person. Still seems like a simple 300Wmag would be far easier and cheaper.

300 Win Mag take off barrels are cheap and easy to find. Just have one installed if the barrel is really bad.

quote:

Originally posted by Bobster:
When you say the barrel is "shot out" what exactly are you describing? Is the throat and/or rifling worn? Is the bore corroded? What does the crown look like in relation to the bore? A barrel should be good for 2-3,000 rounds. Did your dad shoot it that much?

The rifle has probably had between 15000 and 20000 rounds fired through it. The throat and rifling are toast. Dad had it checked out and ended up buying a new rifle rather than working on the old one. My brother has that rifle right now. I'd like to bring Dad's old workhorse back into the field and am trying to use a barrel that I have no other use for.

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300 Win Mag take off barrels are cheap and easy to find. Just have one installed if the barrel is really bad.

Yeah, I know. But I have a new 30-06 barrel that was free. I'm trying to use what I already have.

Altering your bolt face will cost more than a new 300 mag barrel; Remington 700 take off barrels are one step above tent stakes so they tend to be cheap. I mean they do not have much demand. I can re-chamber your barrel for you but the bolt face alteration to handle a 30-06 will cost a lot more than the chambering job. Best thing for you; since you wanted a 30-06, trade your mag action for a standard one and use your 06 barrel on that.

I have a Remington 700 in .270 that I would like to convert to magnum for a project.

If you want, you are welcome to swap bolts with me. It is a stock 700 bolt with standard bolt face and standard extractor.

Shoot me a PM if you're interested.

Jeremy

quote:

have a Remington 700 in .270 that I would like to convert to magnum for a project.If you want, you are welcome to swap bolts with me. It is a stock 700 bolt with standard bolt face and standard extractor.

Tommy there is a good chance that your 30-06 barrel will need to be set back to get headspace correct etc.

quote:

Originally posted by ramrod340:

quote:

When the Sako or M16 extractor alteration is made to a Remington 700 bolt a ring is turned and then soldered into the bolt face to fill the groove left by removing the original Remington extractor.

Thanks for the clarification. I didn't think the one I had seen had a ring installed. I "guess" it must have and my Swiss cheese memory is at work again. Doesn't help that I'm also a CRF person. Still seems like a simple 300Wmag would be far easier and cheaper.

I'm with ya',,,,,, .300 Win Mag would be my choice, too.

quote:

Originally posted by TommyII:

quote:

Originally posted by ramrod340:
If it were mine. I would leave the action alone. Take your 30-06 barrel and simply have it rechambered for the 300wmag.

I thought about that but the 30-06 barrel is only 22 inches long. That's a little short for a magnum round which is why I'm leaning towards simply using the 30-06 barrel. If I have to buy a replacement bolt, that is still a pretty cheap way to go about it if no other major smithing needs done.

T2,

Don't discount that 300 win idea so fast.
You'll still get a step up in performance with the 300 in a 22" barrel compared to 06 with same 22" barrel. Plus you may like the shorter barrel?!

You have a 7mm of your own, why would you alter a sentimental gun just because (put in reason here).

It won't be dad's gun after - I would just leave it alone. JMHO --- John

And there is an equally good chance that your barrel will screw on and headspace fine, but the chance that the markings will line up is about zero.
Sentiment only goes so far with me and I would not hesitate to make an inherited rifle actually perform instead of having a wall hanger.

quote:

Yeah, I know. But I have a new 30-06 barrel that was free. I'm trying to use what I already have

Some times trying to save a few bucks ends up costing you more.

I most likely would turn into something bigger like a 416 ruger.

I would rebore the original barrel to 30 cal. and chamber for the 300 win mag. You would still have your dad's rifle that way.

Could the .30/06 barrel be rechambered to 308 Norma mag? Cartridges might be a challenge but at least the magazine might feed with less complication.

If just replacing the barrel and leaving it 7mm Rem Mag is an option I have anew un-fired take- off barrel.

quote:

Could the .30/06 barrel be rechambered to 308 Norma mag? Cartridges might be a challenge but at least the magazine might feed with less complication.

Yep easy. I have a 308 Norma built with a factory 30-06 barrel. While I have dies, cases and bullets I need to get rid of a 300wmag would be just as easy and ammo is at every Wal-mart

Why would anyone recommend a 308 Norma over a 300 WM? You are just complicating ammo availability whilst gaining nothing in terms of ballistic potential.

Because it is cool. It is and always has been a better cartridge design than the 300 Win Mag. Sadly, it comes up short in terms of practicality. Regards, Bill

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Because it is cool. It is and always has been a better cartridge design than the 300 Win Mag. Sadly, it comes up short in terms of practicality

Exactly why I built mine.

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Originally posted by dpcd:
Why would anyone recommend a 308 Norma over a 300 WM? You are just complicating ammo availability whilst gaining nothing in terms of ballistic potential.

The .308 Norma Magnum is nothing more than a factory version of the .30-.338 wildcat which was all the rage for 1000 yard shooting back in the 60's, when I started shooting in competition. Cases can be easily formed from 7mm Remington Magnum cases. I have been forming .358 Norma Magnum cases from the same basic case for some time now, with virtually no loss of brass.

My .358 is a rebore from a 7mm Remington Magnum, and it has performed like a charm. It is a real pleasure to shoot.

I do understand coolness but not with cartridges of .308 caliber; remember that Elmer said that any and all 300 Magnums were strictly pest cartridges. If I need something better than an 30-06, then I really need something much bigger.
If I want cool, I will go to a bigger bore. Lesser stuff is, not cool, but boring.
Only to me.
No hate mail please; I know there are lots of 300 mag lovers out there. .

quote:

Originally posted by dpcd:
Why would anyone recommend a 308 Norma over a 300 WM? You are just complicating ammo availability whilst gaining nothing in terms of ballistic potential.

As others have hinted, my suggestion of the 308 Norma mag was purely to do with feeding ease. You might remember the Zimbabwe PH training survey that advised against changing calibres in dangerous-game rifles because of magazine troubles. Though some minor work on the ramp might still be required, the 308 mag should fit the 7mm mag magazine without alteration, unless there's some tight restriction at the shoulder to prevent cartridges moving forward under recoil.

Though I, like you and Elmer, would prefer heavier calibres for big bear, hunters after something else might have to make do with a 300 mag if caught out. They would not want a hang-up when recycling.

Have you checked to see if the 30.06 barrel has the same taper as the original barrel? That could be ugly.