Remington 783 Heavy Barrel

I JUST picked one up on a strait trade for my 10/22 build.
Chambered in .223 and now mounted a 4-16x42 Nikon M223, threaded a Brake on the end and squeezed a few quick shots off.

Haven't really played around or tried too hard with it but I'm a big fan of it so far. I have only used it with a 3-9 cheapie bushnell before the Nikon and still the thing is well capable of my skillset with Fed 55gr FMJ.

And heck... for the price of a 10/22 ? Can't go wrong.

My only complaints are that I can't find any anything for it so far (mags or replacement stocks, upgrades etc.), the stock is pretty noisy/hollow but not much flex for a synth factory setup. Recoil pad is on par with the limbsaver on my Tikka and the knob is comfortable.

Feeds and extracts quite well so far too (only 30 rnds through it)

I reccomend!

Check out the MDT LSS line of stocks for an inlet for the 783 Ty500+ ! That was you get a more rigid, solid feeling stock and detachable, 10 round mags in one!

Kudu
 
Check out the MDT LSS line of stocks for an inlet for the 783 Ty500+ ! That was you get a more rigid, solid feeling stock and detachable, 10 round mags in one!

Kudu

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Kinda like these.... be real nice for a Gen 2 LSS-XL or ESS option... The programming has already been done for the inletting and mag layout.

Jerry
 

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Got one on the way. Doing a budget build since I am still a peasant student. Going to top it off with a bushnell engage 3-9x40mm as a cost/hunting/precision compromise optic. I've gotten sub moa groups on 3x without too much effort so I'm not worried about power, except that once deer hunting I had a 6-20 scope and had to shoot a deer at about 10Yds. learned my lesson that day.

It is good to hear it likes 150gr bullets, I might have to copy that load since I have a lot of IMR 4895 sitting around.

I will probably krylon the barrel and action immediately as my previous remingtons I owned all rusted at the slightest hint of moisture or humidity.

I'll load up some rounds and get out next weekend hopefully and see how she does.
 
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Here she be. Picture of the reticle is for a user on here that asked me about it. Its got a bushnell engage 3-9x40 on it in burris XTR med rings. It is very clear glass for the price, I am looking out a dirty window in the photo which doesn't make it look clear. I am literally under $800 all in for rifle, scope, scope rings.

First impressions:

Bolt is insanely smooth, like Tikka smooth. I can easily operate it with my pinky finger.

Trigger is fantastic as it came, I wont be changing it one bit. As soon as I think about firing it goes off :) .

Seems pretty light. Haven't weighed it, but I would assume it is the same as others have posted.

Stock is cheap and will require inletting for the barrel to free float and needs bedding (probably will slap it in a chassis down the road once there are more options available if it performs well). I might even just do some work on the stock and call it done.

Overall this thing seems like big bang for your buck. Very happy so far. Will post some pics after the range trip. People may look down on these rifles here, but something tells me she will do just fine in a budget precision/hunting rifle role.
 
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First range trip complete. I tested some handloads with Hornady ELD 168gr bullets, and 42-42.8gr of IMR 4895 in increasing increments of .2 grains using CCI #200 primers. 42.4 and 42.6 had the best success with approx 1" 4 round groups at 100m. 3 of those four rounds for each group were under MOA. Don't mind the top target bottom left bullet hole ( I covered it with an orange blob), as someone on the range apparently thought they could use other peoples targets if they felt like it... Seems to happen at least once a year...

I got her out to 800m after but since I didn't have a spotter for me to see where my rounds were going settled on 500m since I could ring steel without much issue at that distance. The bolt operation was smooth, and made more enjoyable with the bulbous handle. The ease with which it extracted brass from the chamber was incredible, it felt almost no different than operating the bolt with the firearm unloaded.

Overall I am very pleased with the rifle. It shoots well, and I think will shoot better once I inlet the stock for the barrel, continue my load development, and maybe bed the recoil lug. Someone had an LSS chassis at the range that I looked at and I hate the short handugard on the front, so I will be waiting for more options to surface for the 783 before I put it in a chassis (if I do).

Here are some photos:

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100m Steel at 9x
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800m steel at 9x
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Glad things are going along well... bed that recoil lug.. it will help alot.. clear that barrel channel especially LOTS on the bottom side/near the tip

1/2 to 2/3MOA would be what I would expect and you will have plenty of fun ringing steel at 800.

Yes, these actions do run very smoothly and case extraction/ejection very positive.

Give KUDU a shout and ask him to get on that CAD and make up some more chassis for the Rem 783 :)

Enjoy the 783...

Jerry
 
Hello Gents:

I just picked up a Rem 783 Heavy Barrel (16.5 in) in 223 end of October. I was looking for something relatively inexpensive for range use, with a relatively inexpensive factory ammo (already spend too much time filling cases). I like how well the rifle is built, better bolt handle design, and overall basically a sound design. I did the usual inspection, cleaning, and checking of action screw torque before range.

BUT. My first range experiences have been a bit alarming. I put on my Nikon Prostaff 4-12x40 from another rifle (almost new, works perfectly there) to test out. I have only tried it out with AE 55 grn FMJ BT rounds so far and will test other ammo. Also shooting off bags, very stable position. Once sighted in, I had some OK 5-shot groups at 100 yds (best about 1 inch) but at 200 yards the sky is the limit. The best I found was about 3.5 inches and the worst over 7 inches. None of the groups are consistent either. Some form a roundish groups, some string out in one direction, and others in other directions. I think I can throw a 55 grn projectile 200 yd downrange more accurately than this.

I would expect better from any new rifle. Without making any modifications to the stock (as suggested in other posts here, ie scouring out the barrel channel to ensure free float, bedding the recoil lug), any suggestions on what may be happening or what else to try? Like I said, I will try some other ammo out, but my experiences with Fed AE in 243 in another rifle was truly spectacular (down to 3/8 inch in 3 shot groups at 100 yards). Is this ammo in 223 known to be inconsistent?

Thanks Gents.
 
You will likely find better performance from better ammo shooting a more accurate bullet.... or best option, reload for the likes of the barrel.

Sub MOA is certainly possible with the right ammo. Look for ammo in the 68/69 to 75gr range.

Jerry
 
I don't get out to shoot all too often, so things are slow going with my little rifle here..

I have noticed the recoil lug is pretty sloppy in its channel, AND the free floating wasn't happening..

There was a fairly lengthy (2"~) contact point on both sides of the barrel, just behind the small circle in the webbing (where you could drill and thread a stud into if desired) as well as the central web on the underside of the bbl right at the nose.

Once that was cleaned up, lug still not bedded, and switched my ammo to Hornady 75gr. Match HPBT rounds, I seemed to have controlled my fliers.

I'd like to try out to 200+yds but unfortunately just don't have a location to do so.
 
Thanks for the quick reply Mystic and Ty500+

I also noticed that the barrel isn't free floated on mine (notice how Rem does not mention this in the 783 HB info,even on their web page) and is certainly sloppy in the recoil lug channel. Very true on both counts. But seriously, for a heavy barrel rifle, only 200 yards, a light cartridge, and shooting slowly, would it necessarily have to free float to be consistent? I've got a WW1 era M1917 based BSA 30-06 that has contact with the stock along most of the barrel, and is very consistent. Painful after 30 rounds, but consistent.

Also, I will try out some better quality ammunition and different bullet weights. I would like to try Hornady's match steel and some others. At least that way I could eliminate that from the equation.

Now, I'm not putting any blame out there (Mystic), but it really was your review of the 783 action that pushed me in this direction. Just kidding about the blame part, your reviews are very thorough and professional. I definitely don't have your long distance accuracy experience or credibility sir! I should have time later next week to try out some different ammo and I'll get back to you.

Thanks again to both!!
 
You can have contact all the way down the barrel and still shoot great, but it has to be consistent contact all the way down the barrel.

Free floating is a lot easier and cheaper.
 
Free float, open the barrel channel up alot especially along the bottom at the front of the stock, bed the recoil lug while centering the barrel in the channel.

Now run some quality ammo (better handloads) and I bet it will shoot just fine.

Lever30, proper rifle prep matters and I am sure you will get that sorted out. Firing pin spring can be iffy so keep an eye on that.

Otherwise, enjoy the rifle .... If for some reason you do have a bad barrel, a quality match prefit will most certainly resolve the accuracy issues. Rem is taking a page out of the Savage playbook wrt to factory barrel manf. Typically, these can shoot sub MOA (load tuned a couple locally that are approaching 1/2MOA)... but it is still a factory barrel and some just don't work

Jerry
 
A bedded laminate Boyd's stock cut my groups in half on my 30'06 783.
I got my mags from Wolverine Supplies.
 
picked up one today in .223. I was looking for a coyote rifle for the winter and was thinking I could only afford a .22 mag. then I can across these. Read Jerry's write up and checked out a few other reviews. after handling it at the gun shop and I was sold (but I played it cool, I didn't jump up and down and giggle). I'll have to do some work on to get the barrel free floated. mount my nikon and try to get up to the range this weekend.

How complicated is it to bed the recoil lug? would it be much more difficult or worth while to bed the entire action?
 
picked up one today in .223. I was looking for a coyote rifle for the winter and was thinking I could only afford a .22 mag. then I can across these. Read Jerry's write up and checked out a few other reviews. after handling it at the gun shop and I was sold (but I played it cool, I didn't jump up and down and giggle). I'll have to do some work on to get the barrel free floated. mount my nikon and try to get up to the range this weekend.

How complicated is it to bed the recoil lug? would it be much more difficult or worth while to bed the entire action?

More difficult to bed the whole action. I bedded the lug and it didn't seem to do much for my rifle, perhaps I did it wrong, not sure. I have it in an MDT LSS now and its shooting great.
 
Got one at SAIL for $499 AND got a $50 in store bonus. Didn't have time to bed or adjust the trigger, and didn't have time to work up a load. Just put together 2 loads topped with 165's using middle of the road recipes from LYMAN manual then off to the range. Both loads (different powders) gave JUST over 1" 3 shot groups @ 100 yards with a Leupold 1-4 set at 4X. Good enough for now, I can do the bedding/tuning over the winter. Carried in the field for a couple of days and this may end up being my new favourite arm. Easy to carry in the bush and very handy in a tree stand. Sorry, I have to disagree with whoever said they didn't like the sling swivel studs being molded as part of the stock. I think that's a great idea, no sling swivel "tapping" and it certainly doesn't look as it it would pull out from the stock as I've seen happen to other studs.
 
Guys sorry if I missed it, but I coulda swore someone posted something about a Canadian company that would be offering a chassis for the 783 la in the future? Can anyone refresh me?
 
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