308 Long Action build

Ruger007

Ruger007

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I have another barrel arriving next week. Remage style in 308. My original plan was to swap out my current 308 barrel with the new one. A nice SA 700.

Problem is now I have tuned a load up and got it to shoot incredible. I would hate to screw with it.

Now I have a couple 700 LA,. One SS and a older blued one. 30-06 and a 270 both DM. Who has built a 308 on a LA? Any real negative?

Before I end up on a hunt for another SA. Or put the barrel in the closet.

What do you think?
 
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I think its a great idea using a long action for a 308.

If you want to use this rifle for competition where guys are running heavy bullets seated way out, you cannot eject a live round from a Rem 700 short action. You'd have to remove the bolt.

Building a high performance 308 these days demands a long action. That way you can even feed from a mag.

I recently built a 223 on a Rem 700 clone, so I could get the OAL that I want. Most 223s are set up too short to allow a configuration that is effective for long range, so the 223 gets a bad rap.

In all reality, both the 223 and 308 are suffering from the same root problem.

Build on an action that is long enough to seat the heavies way out. Heck you can still shoot the short SAMMI spec rounds if you want to.

BTW, there was a time when a Rem 700 was really a nice action. I have a 222 that is nothing like anything recent. It looks like a high end custom action comparing to a new one.
 
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You brought up some interesting points. Might be a good idea in the end. 1-10 twist. 26" sendero profile.

More of a casual competition gun for informal range duty and long bombing with the buddies. Once we can get back together.

Will probably unscrew the 270 barrel.
 
Built a 308 in a Tikka set up in the long format. It’s ridiculous how much room the mag has. I had concerns about feeding but it feeds everything from 220g down to 110g.
 
Not a 308, but I had a custom 7mm Saum built on a 700 long action and it worked great! Like stated above, you can have a long COAL and not have to worry about ejecting loaded roads, you don’t run into the magazine being to short and mine fed rounds perfectly. I’m not worried about having a shorter throw of the bolt or anything like that. So Id say build away on the long action!
 
I've got a 308 target rifle that's a long action, and just has a spacer in the magazine for the shorter rounds. Once I figure out a good load for it, I'll see if it shoots better loaded long, and if that's the case I'll remove the mag spacer. Wouldn't have that option with a short action.
Kristian
 
Maple57 said:
I think its a great idea using a long action for a 308.

If you want to use this rifle for competition where guys are running heavy bullets seated way out, you cannot eject a live round from a Rem 700 short action. You'd have to remove the bolt.
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This is so true... if only I had this knowledge 3 years ago when I built my first F T/R gun using a 700 footprint.
I am currently using a Defiance Elite and it is impossible to eject a loaded round the port. A cease fire is called on the line, my bolt must come right out.

If I ever build another F T/R from scratch someday, I will definitely consider a long action (with single feed) if it does not add too much weight.
 
All of my match rifles are built on long actions, I have then in.223, 6mmBR,6.5 Creedmoor and 308.
I would never consider building a target rifle on a short action for the reasons stated about using long bullets.:)
Cat
 
There's really no downside to building a .308 on a long action for a target rifle. The case is efficient and feeds great, the extra barrel length will give you a bit more speed, should be a gentle kicker, ammo and components everywhere, lots of new high-BC projectiles available that can be stabilized at 1-in-10 twist and seated a ways out to maximize capacity. I'd go for it if that's what you have, no downsides. Would be a bit extra weight and length on a hunting gun, but for targets off bags/rest/bipod, not a problem.
 
Winchester did it for years, perks as mentioned above, longer ejection port, gives a better ability to single load and fumble with rounds in the port. I have run the rifles with and without mag spacers, and different followers, usually works well.
 
Ruger007 said:
I use the B&C M40 stocks. They seem to fit just about perfect for me. Easy to come by.
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I've never had one. But I hear a lot of PRS guys use them.
Been having some fiendish thoughts lately of building a PRS gun with either a B&C or a Manners.

Must fight the urge to spend tax return........ F Class is expensive enough for now.
 
Don't paint all the R700 actions with the same brush . I recently grabbed a R700 Milspec Gen 2 in .308 and it is terrific . Super smooth and tight . The barreled action is stainless , but , ceracoted at the factory . The coating job is flawless . This rifle puts my Savage Elite Precision to shame . I compared it side by side to a new Tikka CTR at the time of purchase and IMO , there was no comparison . I just did a basic evaluation at 100 yards . Started with an ice cold barrel and shot three , 5 shot groups back to back with zero barrel cooling and it printed a .291 , .313 and a .305 MOA off a crappy Caldwell bipod . This action bests my mid 80's R700 Varmint Special .
 
Is there anything gained with a 308 on a long action vs a 300 magnum caliber in the long action? I guess less noise, powder, and more barrel life but speed wise not so much
 
Hmmm. A couple of days ago I blasted and parkerized the receiver, bolt body, bolt sleeve and recoil lug from a salvage grade M700 long action.
 
Less recoil for sure. Not a bad thing for a target gun. I wonder what kinda velocity you could safely push 180-200 eldms with them seated out further. Sure have much more smack down on steel than the 6.5 creed has to offer
 
Mike112288 said:
Less recoil for sure. Not a bad thing for a target gun. I wonder what kinda velocity you could safely push 180-200 eldms with them seated out further. Sure have much more smack down on steel than the 6.5 creed has to offer
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I shoot 178's and 195's out of my F/O 308 out to 1,000 and and in my M70 irons rifle I am using 168's but have also shot 175's out to 1,000 with little issue as gar as recoil goes, but it is a 12 pound rifle. My 168's are running about 2750 - 2800 IIRC.
Cat
 
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