I bought a Remington 700 in .223 about 8 years ago and have hardly touched it. I decided to dig it out of the safe and use it for a custom .260 I want to build. I found the action is too short. The action opening is only 2.375". Any info I find on the internet says Remington only makes standard short and long actions. Obviously they also made these shorter ones. Anybody have any input?
Confused about Rem 700 action length
- Thread starter Lank Thompson
- Start date
There are only two receiver lengths. .222/.223 and all the .308 based rounds use the short length - although the receiver rails differ. The .222/.223 magazines have a spacer at the rear. I suspect that it why you are thinking that the feed opening on the bottom of the receiver is too short for .260.
.223 receiver rails might not feed .260 optimally.
.223 receiver rails might not feed .260 optimally.
The loading port of the 700 is 2 3/8". The loading port of my model 7 is 2 7/8". I thought the 700 was supposed to be a slightly bigger SA and maybe there was a short run of .223 specific actions. All my other SA's are Rugers and have a 2 3/4" loading port.
Sask_Hunter
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Saskatchewan
It's probably way easier and cheaper to sell your 223 action and buy a new action. I'm sure your smith and pocket book will thank you.
I bought a stainless action from wolverine this spring for around $500 to my door, it's a 260 now even.
I bought a stainless action from wolverine this spring for around $500 to my door, it's a 260 now even.
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
Remington 700s have only ever come in two action lengths. When they chamber a .222/.223 size cartridge, a spacer is placed at the rear of the magazine box, making it appear as though the ejection port is shorter than it really is. If one of these rifle was to be used for a .308 sized cartridge, a .308 sized magazine box would have to be acquired to achieve the desired length and width, and the bolt face would have to be opened up to accept the larger case head. It would be less expensive if you found a 700 with the correct action size to build your .260, or just buy a new or used 700 already chambered for .260.
samsplacci71
Regular
- Location
- Toronto area
You can always convert your short action to 7mm08...just a thought. Unless you're set on .260.
The problem with your .223 action is it is not a suitable candidate to alter to a .260, a 7mm08, or anything not based on the .223 case. The bolt face is wrong, the action feed rails are wrong, the spring and follower and magazine box are wrong. It is a very expensive route to go. You will be way better off selling or trading or even buying a suitable action.
Yup! You bet!
samsplacci71
Regular
- Location
- Toronto area
Good to know!
Just to add to everything else !
the 7mm08 is based on the same case as a 243 Win 260 Rem 7mm-08 Rem 308 Win 338 Federal & 358 Win so how do you FIGURE it would be a easier conversion - ITS the same case with a diff diameter neck ! Cheers RJ
