Rebarrel remington 700 ?

Rmart30 · December 11, 2013, 12:23 PM

I have 2 questions regarding rebarreling remington 700's ...

First, I have a 700 in 243, and have found a factory take off barrel in 7mm-08 I want to install.
The take off barrel is $65. What can i expect for smithing charges for changing the barrel?

2nd. I have found a 700 chambered in 17 caliber. I have not seen it in person but the guy describes as the "higher end" 700 and in like new condition. It is about 20 years old and has been shot less than 50 times. I can pick it up for $400. I really dont have a use for the 17. I try to stick to the more common cartridges, but for that price I thought its hard to pass up.
On that action what could the 17 be rebarreled to with out changing the bolt or getting into a lot of work and cost?

James K · December 11, 2013, 02:07 PM

The .17 Remington is based on the .223, so you can avoid bolt work if you rebarrel to that or a caliber having an identical base size. Going to .308, for example, would involve either bolt work or a new bolt.

Using a take-off barrel may be simple or not. If the headspace works out to be right on, you are OK. If it is short, the chamber can be reamed. But if the headspace is too long, the only way to make the barrel work is to set it back and rechamber. On that, it sort of depends on cosmetics. If you set it back a full turn, the stock inletting will off. If you set it back less than a full turn, the markings and sight holes will not be in the right place.

On the .17 caliber rifle, the cost of the work would remove it from the bargain category to the so-so. I would keep the money and look around for a rifle in the caliber you want.

Jim

Wyosmith · December 11, 2013, 02:07 PM

#1
243 to 7-08 is super simple, but you may or many not have the 7mm barrel come up to 12:00 if it has sights on it.
If you don't care about the sights and you take off the sights and plug the holes the job is very simple. If you want the sights to come up to 12:00 you will have some machining to do.
I cannot say what to expect to pay because different smiths charge different amounts. On the simple end the job would be about 20 minutes to complete. On the other end it will take about 1 hour and 20 minutes.

#2 The 17 can be easily rebarreled to 222 or 223. The job will also be about like to one above. Rebarreling Remington 700s is next to only a Ruger M-77 or a Mauser in their simplicity.

Around here (middle of Wyoming) you could expect to pay about $250-$275 for a re-barrel of the 17 to 223 for barrel and installation.
Bluing is about $35 more. Sights more again. And so on. Stainless is more costly for the barrels but the labor is the same and there is of course no cost for finishing like there would be with a blued barrel.

TATER · December 11, 2013, 02:12 PM

Little more info, Just of the top of my head there is: .17 caliber what???? i.e. .17 Rem, .17 HMR, .17 Squirrl, .17 Jet, .17 CCM or .17 PPC.. The PPC and rim fire would be a problem I think.

TATER · December 11, 2013, 02:20 PM

Ah, the CCM would also be a problem.. However, A lot of these are kinda rare cals.

Rmart30 · December 11, 2013, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Little more info, Just of the top of my head there is: .17 caliber what????

Im assuming its a 17 remington. he just said factory 17 and I havent put eyes on the gun yet.

Thanks for the replies.

And the 7mm-08 factory take off barrel I found is SS and not drilled for sights.

I will call some local smiths and see what they quote for the 7mm08 barrel swap.
If I can keep it under $150 I will go that route.

If not a new bare SS sps 7mm08 will run $625ish, and the 243 i have in the same form I should be able to get $550 out of.
With that close of cost difference in changing my 243 to 7mm08 vs selling my 243 and buying the same model in 7mm08 its sorta a toss up.

TATER · December 11, 2013, 03:06 PM

WildKats All but, You never know.. I went to look at a 338 this week.. .338 Win?….No, .338 Lapua?…No,
What the Heck is this thing?………………….Turns out 330 Dakota....Temptation is High ...Price of dies, OUCH!

Rmart30 · December 11, 2013, 09:24 PM

Well I got to lay hands on the model 700 in 17 Remington.

Its a pristine Deluxe BDL with a engraved receiver still in the original box. Way too nice of a gun for me for what I use them for. I passed on it and advised him he was pricing it too low.

Thanks for all the replies.

December 11, 2013, 12:23 PM	#1
Rmart30 Senior Member Join Date: June 20, 2008 Posts: 602	Rebarrel remington 700 ? I have 2 questions regarding rebarreling remington 700's ... First, I have a 700 in 243, and have found a factory take off barrel in 7mm-08 I want to install. The take off barrel is $65. What can i expect for smithing charges for changing the barrel? 2nd. I have found a 700 chambered in 17 caliber. I have not seen it in person but the guy describes as the "higher end" 700 and in like new condition. It is about 20 years old and has been shot less than 50 times. I can pick it up for $400. I really dont have a use for the 17. I try to stick to the more common cartridges, but for that price I thought its hard to pass up. On that action what could the 17 be rebarreled to with out changing the bolt or getting into a lot of work and cost?

December 11, 2013, 02:07 PM	#2
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	The .17 Remington is based on the .223, so you can avoid bolt work if you rebarrel to that or a caliber having an identical base size. Going to .308, for example, would involve either bolt work or a new bolt. Using a take-off barrel may be simple or not. If the headspace works out to be right on, you are OK. If it is short, the chamber can be reamed. But if the headspace is too long, the only way to make the barrel work is to set it back and rechamber. On that, it sort of depends on cosmetics. If you set it back a full turn, the stock inletting will off. If you set it back less than a full turn, the markings and sight holes will not be in the right place. On the .17 caliber rifle, the cost of the work would remove it from the bargain category to the so-so. I would keep the money and look around for a rifle in the caliber you want. Jim

December 11, 2013, 02:07 PM	#3
Wyosmith Senior Member Join Date: December 29, 2010 Location: Shoshoni Wyoming Posts: 2,713	#1 243 to 7-08 is super simple, but you may or many not have the 7mm barrel come up to 12:00 if it has sights on it. If you don't care about the sights and you take off the sights and plug the holes the job is very simple. If you want the sights to come up to 12:00 you will have some machining to do. I cannot say what to expect to pay because different smiths charge different amounts. On the simple end the job would be about 20 minutes to complete. On the other end it will take about 1 hour and 20 minutes. #2 The 17 can be easily rebarreled to 222 or 223. The job will also be about like to one above. Rebarreling Remington 700s is next to only a Ruger M-77 or a Mauser in their simplicity. Around here (middle of Wyoming) you could expect to pay about $250-$275 for a re-barrel of the 17 to 223 for barrel and installation. Bluing is about $35 more. Sights more again. And so on. Stainless is more costly for the barrels but the labor is the same and there is of course no cost for finishing like there would be with a blued barrel.

December 11, 2013, 02:12 PM	#4
TATER Senior Member Join Date: November 19, 2002 Location: Mississippi Posts: 963	Little more info, Just of the top of my head there is: .17 caliber what???? i.e. .17 Rem, .17 HMR, .17 Squirrl, .17 Jet, .17 CCM or .17 PPC.. The PPC and rim fire would be a problem I think.

December 11, 2013, 02:20 PM	#5
TATER Senior Member Join Date: November 19, 2002 Location: Mississippi Posts: 963	Ah, the CCM would also be a problem.. However, A lot of these are kinda rare cals.

December 11, 2013, 03:06 PM	#7
TATER Senior Member Join Date: November 19, 2002 Location: Mississippi Posts: 963	WildKats All but, You never know.. I went to look at a 338 this week.. .338 Win?….No, .338 Lapua?…No, What the Heck is this thing?………………….Turns out 330 Dakota....Temptation is High ...Price of dies, OUCH!

December 11, 2013, 09:24 PM	#8
Rmart30 Senior Member Join Date: June 20, 2008 Posts: 602	Well I got to lay hands on the model 700 in 17 Remington. Its a pristine Deluxe BDL with a engraved receiver still in the original box. Way too nice of a gun for me for what I use them for. I passed on it and advised him he was pricing it too low. Thanks for all the replies.