Remington 700 build - buy an action only or strip an existing gun?

[curtism1234]

All this recent talk about 35 whelens and 9.3x62's has me interested but I would want the weight to be in the 7 1/2 - 7 3/4 pounds fully scoped.

Thinking about picking up a Remington 700 action (action only). Obviously I would have to find a gunsmith to put a barrel on.

How hard is "making" the rest of the rifle? I am, frankly, not very handy. But if all you do is buy drop-in parts, I could figure that out in an afternoon.

Or is it just better to find the cheapest model 700 you can find that fits your magazine desire and just do a rebarrel / stock swap?

Thanks

 

[sestoppelman]

There are factory made Rems in .35 Whelen out there, may have to hunt for one. For 9.3 you would have to go custom or find one in a smaller caliber and have it bored out to caliber of choice. That's a less expensive way to go than full custom.

 

[curtism1234]

There are factory made Rems in .35 Whelen out there, may have to hunt for one. For 9.3 you would have to go custom or find one in a smaller caliber and have it bored out to caliber of choice. That's a less expensive way to go than full custom.

Yeah I saw a couple 35's out there. The weight on those wood stock guns are close to 8 pounds without the scope. I'm not sure a McMillan type stock could get me down to my desired weight of no more than 7 3/4 pounds with scope. It seems the factory barrels are pretty beefy as well.

With neck and shoulder problems, recoil doesn't bother me but carrying it does.

 

[postoak]

I think it going to be hard to get your rifle down to 7 3/4 pounds with scope. Those larger caliber barrels usually weigh a bit more. For example, the Sako 85 Hunter in 9.3 x 62 weighs 7 pounds. Have you thought about addressing the carrying issue by going to a sling with two straps so you can just let it hang off your back?

 

[DrBob]

There are plenty of options of already available rifles in those calibers but not in that light a build. Pacific Tool has "blue printed" 700 actions that are really nice and matched with the appropriate barrel contour and stock can create a nice rifle. You could buy a "Remage" barrel in your caliber and do the install yourself.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

If there aren't any factory Rem 700 35 Whelen's that interest you, how about getting one in 30-06 and simply re-barrel it.

https://www.gunbroker.com/Bolt-Action-Rifles/search?Keywords=remington 700 cdl&PageSize=96&Sort=13&View=2&Ch-Caliber=.30-06

 

[Hogpatrol]

If you have the budget, add these to your Remington. The trick will be finding a scope to meet the weight. One big caveat though is whatever is done with a Remington, in the end you'll still have a Remington with very little ability to reclaim your total investment.

https://agcomposites.com/stock/3/ag-carbon-all-terrain-cat

https://proofresearch.com/barrels/

 

[HuntingGold]

Sir,
I have been buying Remington Sportsman 78's which are essentially a model 700's with a birch stock. The earlier models have a round bolt knob and the later have the traditional knurled 700 bolt handle. The bolts on the round bolt knob versions have developed a reputation for being weak. I seek out the knurled 700 handle version. I find most in .30-06 and have about four or five now. I can find them for less than 300 US shipped and seem to average about 285 each. The stocks are plain and will need to be replaced.

As for a 35 Whelen, the barrel can be re-bored to 35 Whelen from the 30-06. There is a gent in Oregon that specializes in this and has good reviews, though I have not used him myself. I am considering using him but just haven't pulled the trigger yet.

In the end, it would be easiest to find one already in 35... but where is the fun in that?

Have fun in your search.
Randy

 

[sestoppelman]

The Oregon guy is JES Reboring. I have had two rifles rebored to .35 Whelen with them. They do good work and are very reasonable.

 

[postoak]

Here's a .338-06 that I would really like to own if I didn't already have one!

It appears to be a JES rebore job. I'm just saying your best bet would be to watch gunbroker for a used version of what you want.

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/861849496

 

[curtism1234]

Thanks all

I've been reading about JES for a while. He def has a good rep.

I might even look at the 338 federal as the short action would get me my goal weight easier.

I wish Savage did not use a cheap magazine. I'd buy a 6 pound walnut 30-06. I hate when companies sell you a $800 rifle with a piece of junk magazine.

I might look at a factory Kimber classic. They are very light

Thanks, I'll have to think about things

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

All this recent talk about 35 whelens and 9.3x62's has me interested but I would want the weight to be in the 7 1/2 - 7 3/4 pounds fully scoped.

Thinking about picking up a Remington 700 action (action only). Obviously I would have to find a gunsmith to put a barrel on.

How hard is "making" the rest of the rifle? I am, frankly, not very handy. But if all you do is buy drop-in parts, I could figure that out in an afternoon.

Or is it just better to find the cheapest model 700 you can find that fits your magazine desire and just do a rebarrel / stock swap?

Thanks

Curtism1234
If you can find a 35 Whelen in a Remington, if you can't just get one in 30/06 and have it rehired to 35 or 9.3. No other changes needed. If not you could always rebarrel.
I did mine on a savage 110 action, apparently you can by a profit Whelen barrel for them, makes life easier. Be sure to get a 1 in 12 or 1 in 14 twist barrel.
Cheers mate
Bob Nelson

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Yeah I saw a couple 35's out there. The weight on those wood stock guns are close to 8 pounds without the scope. I'm not sure a McMillan type stock could get me down to my desired weight of no more than 7 3/4 pounds with scope. It seems the factory barrels are pretty beefy as well.

With neck and shoulder problems, recoil doesn't bother me but carrying it does.

Curtism1234
Layne Simpson built one that was about 7 1/2 pounds with a 20 inch barrel and a manlicher full wood stock.
Can't remember the details tho.
Cheers mate
Bob

 

[fourfive8]

700 Remington action is a cylinder. Many decent gunsmiths can build/blueprint an accurate rifle using the 700 simply because it's straight forward to face and thread with concentricity a good barrel like a Krieger to a 700 action and bolt. Really doesn't matter if it's used (cannibalized) as long as it hasn't been "tweaked" by a severe overload or simply worn out. Blueprinting a Winchester 70 or conventional Mauser is more problematic and labor/tool intensive so many smiths don't or won't do it.

Some will convert the 700 extractor to a Sako or M16 type. That increases the positive extraction for the 700 but at a possible cost. It many times changes the geometry of ejection and usually changes that angle upward. So there's a possible issue with ejected cases hitting rail mount or scope or scope turret. Just something to think about.