Can i change the caliber of my Remington 700 bdl?

Netskimmer · February 14, 2010, 10:42 AM

Can i change the caliber of my Remington 700 BDL from 270 to 30-06?

I got a beautiful 700 bdl at a gun show the other day and I've only put a few shots through it but it seems to be functioning perfectly. The only problem is that it is a .270 and I am used to a 30-06. If I should decide that I don't like the .270 or I decide to hunt something that I am not confident a .270 can drop efficiently can I just swap the barrel?

Clark · February 14, 2010, 10:52 AM

It would be a barrel swap.
If the Rem700 is glass bedded, there may be a little fooling around over the recoil lug changing orientation a degree or two [ The lug is attached like a washer between the receiver and barrel shoulder].

I only have (3) .270s and have lost count of how many 30-06s I have.

I like the 270 much better for shooting deer.

Try hitting targets the size of deer kill zones at 500 yards with the 30-06 and the 270. You may fall in love with the 270.

Netskimmer · February 14, 2010, 11:03 AM

Thanks, I hope I do. My brother did, but it's nice to know that I have options if I need/want them.

Not sure if I should make a different thread for this but should I free float the barrel or leave it pillar floated?

kraigwy · February 14, 2010, 11:45 AM

I cant imagine hunting something with an '06 that cant be hunted with a 270.

My 270 is my elk rifle.....................with thousands of 243 deer rifles out there (I use a 257 Rbts for deer).......I'm sure the 270 will work.

As for bedding, first see if it shoots.............if it isnt broke, don't fix it.

Harry Bonar · February 14, 2010, 02:05 PM

Sir;
That's a fine rifle. I'd get a 30-06 and keep the 270 too. You could hve almost that much in a caliber change!
Harry B.

James K · February 14, 2010, 09:37 PM

You could run into headspace problems in a barrel swap, but a good gunsmith should be able to handle them. I think I would shoot the .270 a bit first, though, before changing anything. Quite a few experts have considered the .270 equal to or better than the .30-'06 as a hunting rifle, and some say the only advantage of the .30-'06 in the old days was cheap surplus ammo, something less true today.

Jim

Netskimmer · February 15, 2010, 02:15 AM

I definitely intend to shoot it a fair amount before I really consider changing anything and hopefully I'll love mine as much as my brother loves his.

Clark · February 15, 2010, 10:50 PM

In 2008 and 2009 I shot (8) mule deer between 329 and 510 yards.
All were with the same 270.

I have rifles I could shoot a deer with in; 19 Badger .222,.223, 22-250 .243, 6mmBR,.243Win,.250/3000, 257 Roberts Ackley, 6.5 jap, 6.5x55, 270,7x57mm, 7mm Rem mag, 30-30, 303Sav, 300Sav,.308, 30-06, 300 Win Mag, 300RUM, 7.5 French, 7.5 Swiss, 7.62x39mm,303Brit, 7.62x54R, 8x57mm, 338WM, 35 Whelen, 44 mag, 45acp, 45Colt, and 45/70.

I think that choosing the rifle faces a number of trade offs, and weight, range, accuracy, and killing power are up there.

I can't think of a cartridge that is markedly better than the 270 for hunting deer.

SSG-Gibb · February 16, 2010, 09:29 AM

A man by the name of Jack Oconner Traveled the world using Mainly his 270 to anything he could put in his sights. I was inspired by his exploits as a kid and made that my first distance gun in a CZ-550 American. The 270 is a winner when it comes to dropping anything out @500yards, but for me even with a flat based Spitzer "they were the cheepest I could get my hands on" no ground-hog or crow stood a chance inside of 512yards. Enjoy it like any other weapon once you've put the time into learning what it can do you will not be disappointed. As for glass bedding it Personally I would free float it unless it's an B-bar.

February 14, 2010, 10:42 AM	#1
Netskimmer Junior Member Join Date: February 14, 2010 Posts: 3	Can i change the caliber of my Remington 700 bdl? Can i change the caliber of my Remington 700 BDL from 270 to 30-06? I got a beautiful 700 bdl at a gun show the other day and I've only put a few shots through it but it seems to be functioning perfectly. The only problem is that it is a .270 and I am used to a 30-06. If I should decide that I don't like the .270 or I decide to hunt something that I am not confident a .270 can drop efficiently can I just swap the barrel?

February 14, 2010, 11:45 AM	#4
kraigwy Senior Member Join Date: June 16, 2008 Location: Wyoming Posts: 11,061	I cant imagine hunting something with an '06 that cant be hunted with a 270. My 270 is my elk rifle.....................with thousands of 243 deer rifles out there (I use a 257 Rbts for deer).......I'm sure the 270 will work. As for bedding, first see if it shoots.............if it isnt broke, don't fix it. __________________ Kraig Stuart CPT USAR Ret USAMU Sniper School Distinguished Rifle Badge 1071

February 14, 2010, 02:05 PM	#5
Harry Bonar Senior Member Join Date: December 5, 2004 Location: In the Vincent, Ohio general area. Posts: 1,804	270 Sir; That's a fine rifle. I'd get a 30-06 and keep the 270 too. You could hve almost that much in a caliber change! Harry B.

February 14, 2010, 10:52 AM	#2
Clark Senior Member Join Date: December 4, 1999 Location: WA, the ever blue state Posts: 4,678	It would be a barrel swap. If the Rem700 is glass bedded, there may be a little fooling around over the recoil lug changing orientation a degree or two [ The lug is attached like a washer between the receiver and barrel shoulder]. I only have (3) .270s and have lost count of how many 30-06s I have. I like the 270 much better for shooting deer. Try hitting targets the size of deer kill zones at 500 yards with the 30-06 and the 270. You may fall in love with the 270.

February 14, 2010, 11:03 AM	#3
Netskimmer Junior Member Join Date: February 14, 2010 Posts: 3	Thanks, I hope I do. My brother did, but it's nice to know that I have options if I need/want them. Not sure if I should make a different thread for this but should I free float the barrel or leave it pillar floated?

February 14, 2010, 09:37 PM	#6
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	You could run into headspace problems in a barrel swap, but a good gunsmith should be able to handle them. I think I would shoot the .270 a bit first, though, before changing anything. Quite a few experts have considered the .270 equal to or better than the .30-'06 as a hunting rifle, and some say the only advantage of the .30-'06 in the old days was cheap surplus ammo, something less true today. Jim

February 15, 2010, 02:15 AM	#7
Netskimmer Junior Member Join Date: February 14, 2010 Posts: 3	I definitely intend to shoot it a fair amount before I really consider changing anything and hopefully I'll love mine as much as my brother loves his.

February 16, 2010, 09:29 AM	#9
SSG-Gibb Member Join Date: June 25, 2009 Location: The Free state (For now) of PA Posts: 60	A man by the name of Jack Oconner Traveled the world using Mainly his 270 to anything he could put in his sights. I was inspired by his exploits as a kid and made that my first distance gun in a CZ-550 American. The 270 is a winner when it comes to dropping anything out @500yards, but for me even with a flat based Spitzer "they were the cheepest I could get my hands on" no ground-hog or crow stood a chance inside of 512yards. Enjoy it like any other weapon once you've put the time into learning what it can do you will not be disappointed. As for glass bedding it Personally I would free float it unless it's an B-bar.