Converting Rem M700 from 300 Win Mag to 308?

[Dale Lusby]

I have a Remington model 700 300 win mag and I'm curious to know if it would be possible to convert it over to a 308. I'm told Remington doesn't make the model 700 in 308 anymore unless you go to the model seven. So my thought was to convert my 300 win mag over to 308 if it would even be possible. If I'm nuts tell me so. Just tired of getting kicked to death with the 300 win mag and would prefer a 308. If it's not possible then how do I go about setting a 308 in a model 700 being that they don't manufacture anymore? Curious to see where this conversation goes.
Thanks!

[Jim Shaper]

Who told you that nonsense? Not making a popular rifle in .308 would be like Jet not making a knee mill anymore.

http://www.remington.com/product-families/firearms/centerfire-families/bolt-action-model-700.aspx

[Dale Lusby]

After looking at their website I see what the issue was. They aren't making the 308 in the BDL and CDL. If you check out the pages on those two you will also notice they are discontinuing many of their cartridges like 300 win mag and many more. Do you know why that is? So unless I go with the tactical line of rifles it doesn't appear as though I can get it in the 308. Is it possible to convert the 300 win mag?

[JCHannum]

You would have to either set the barrel back and rechamber or rebarrel to convert to 308. Have you considered reloading?

For about the same money, you could probably set yourself up with a reasonable reloading set and add a great deal of flexibility to your rifle.

[deltaenterprizes]

Bolt face is different, 308 is a short action also so mag would need to be shimmed.
Hand loading is a good idea.

[Dale Lusby]

When you say reloading are you referring to running a light load for the 300 mag? I do reload but that isn't something I've tried so it certainly could be an option. I've also considered a brake on the barrell to take off a little on my shoulder with the 300 mag. My thought would have been to get a different barrell to rechamber the 300 to 308 however I may just keep the 300 and get a larger barrell and possibly put a brake on it. I'm just trying to think this through before doing anything so I end up with the gun I want after it's all said and done. I appreciate you all helping me sort this through. I know it has to be frustrating to be dealing with these types of questions but although I've been shooting my whole like I haven't gotten into the gunsmithing aspects of it.

[Jim Shaper]

http://www.hodgdon.com/PDF/Youth%20Loads.pdf

This is a list of recipes for youth loads (lighter recoil) and they have your caliber on the second page.

You might also try using lighter bullets and minimum charges. You probably already know not to go below the min charge in the book, right? Bad things can happen with too little powder just like with too much.

[mcskipper]

Looking at the Lee reloading manual you can get 308 specs w/o any trouble at all.
If you went with a slower powder you could get that gun down to a soft shooter.

I will NEVER redo a gun of any value, you take too much value out of it.
Sell what you have and buy what you wont. You will be cash ahead in the long run.

[chriskat]

If you just want a .308 there are a bunch of 30-06 and .270 BDLs on gunbroker now. I didn't see the section on the web site with calibers listed. The '06 and .270's could be rechambered if you want or just loaded to .308 ballistics.

Jeff

[pogo]

I am sure there is still a good number of factory new rifles in the jobber supply chain, or haunt gunbroker until you find what you want. Used, like new condition rifles, will be around another 25 years cheap enough.

Have you considered putting a good thick recoil pad on the rifle? I put a 1" thick Pachmeyer Presentation pad on my 7mm mag, taking off the thin hard rubber factory pad, and it felt like a whole new rifle. Percieved hurt changed from 7mm mag to a mild 3006 load. A $30 pad saved this rifle to me.

You would be looking at a pile of money converting that rifle. R700 bolts are expensive and not plentiful. Remington will make you send the rifle back to fit a bolt. The 300 Winchester is a long action, 308 a short. A 300 winchester is in high enough demand to make a straight across trade for a 308. Try advertising for a trade in the paper or on gunboards.

[Boucher]

Think about going to a lighter bullet if that is workable for what you hunt. I like and use a 30 cal 125 gr Nossler Ballistic tip in both my 300 Win mag and 308 Win. The recoil difference using a 180 gr bullet vs 125 is significant. Ferrell Hogs are the hardest thing to kill that I now shoot.

Not a solution that I like, but one of my friends had a muzzle brake installed on his Win Mag. He says it is about like shooting a 243 Win now. He now wears both ear plugs and muffs when shooting it. I just go to the house when he comes over to use the range. About three shots and the darts start falling out of the board in the reloading room from the concussion.

Premium quality recoil pads really are worth their increased cost if your shoulder is sensitive. The old Mercury type recoil reducers do work but at the cost of weight increase. You will probably have to order both because most shooting goods stores don’t stock them.

[Ken_Shea]

Not a solution that I like, but one of my friends had a muzzle brake installed on his Win Mag. He says it is about like shooting a 243 Win now. He now wears both ear plugs and muffs when shooting it. I just go to the house when he comes over to use the range. About three shots and the darts start falling out of the board in the reloading room from the concussion.


That's no exageration either, they do work but at a horrible cost in increased muzzle blast noise. A friend had very good accuracy using 110 grain, not MOA but under 1 1/2" as I recall and was not punishing to shoot at all.

[Rustystud]

This convesrion will cost you more in money and aggrevation than it is worth.

Sell your 300win mag and buy a 308Winchester.

First, you have Long action where a short action is the norm.
Second, you have a mag bolt face where a standard is needed.
Third, You have a magnum mag box wnere a standard is needed.

My analagy would be like making a fur coat for a mouse from a grizzly skin.
Nat Lambeth

[Dale Lusby]

So it looks like my choice is going to be to keep the rifle and see about changing my loads. I've thought about the brake but I'm not too excited about the noise increase. The reason for considering the change is more for target shooting than hunting. I have other guns I typically hunt with. Mostly hunt mule deer out here and have been using my Remington 7400 30-06 for that. The forest is old and thick here so no shots over 100 yards. The 300 win mag is mostly a target gun but I'm sure someday I will hunt more with it. I am considering getting a McMillan stock and heavier barrell which I assume will help with recoil some. I have a good pad on it but even with it after I shoot 30+ rounds it starts to wear on me. I'm no super experienced shooter but I do enjoy going out and shooting whenever possible. The other idea I am going to start saving for is to purchase a M700 .308 as well. That way I can shoot both:)

[38_Cal]

Dale, if you handload your ammo, you can load to just about any velocity/bullet weight/bullet type combination you desire. For low recoil hunting loads, you can load down to 30-30 velocities with 150 gr. bullets intended for the 30-30. If the heavier loads are punching you around too much, and you don't reload, take a look at installing one of the mercury recoil reducers in the buttstock and a smaller diameter one in the barrel channel. Brownells carries both sizes. They take the snap out of the recoil, though they do make the rifle heavier. Using one in the butt and another in the forend, I was able to tame the recoil enough on my 6 1/2 pound 20 ga. rifled barrel Martini single shot that my daughter (then 13 years old) was able to comfortably use it for deer hunting.

David