If I buy a R700 take off barrel (308), how likely it would headspace okay when put on another R700 receiver? If it doesn't headspace, how much work (and the cost) will be for a gunsmith to fix it? I know it's hit or miss but want to get a ballpark. I have a project (sort off) in mind. Thanks!
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Gunsmithing Swap Remington 700 barrels
- Thread starter yej0001
- Start date
I replaced a barrel on my 700 308 with another prefit 308 - since my old lug had been thicker I had to get a standard thickness lug from PTG as well as the lug alignment tool from brownells, then torque to spec (?) 90 lbs with a SAC barrel vice, then had to do a couple passes with a finishing reamer so that the go guage would clear (was (estimate) about 2 thou short) after all that rebed the receiver - it shoots okay not great, maybe 3 /4 moa - for me it is a fun learning project but for others I would recommend a proper gunsmith
It could very well fall within the Go and No GO as is or maybe not.
If it comes up too long on the headspace, it would be an easy bump back on the shoulder to bring back to acceptable.
If it comes up too short on the headspace, it will need to be hit with a chamber reamer to bring back to acceptable.*
*Alternate method would be to be creative with an appropriately sized recoil lug.
Do you know the history of the barrel? Round count? Accuracy? Or is it a crapshoot?
For a NOS takeoff, worth a shot. Used barrel of unknown accuracy and round count, wouldn't do it without borescoping (and even then still a roll of the dice). Keep in mind, still a factory barrel. If you don't mind potentially throwing a $100 bill after it, go for it.
I am a professional gunsmith, with a fair amount of experience. I get asked to do this kinda thing once in a while.
From my experience, the likelihood of you having some kind of problem swapping 700 barrels like that is pretty good.
Most 700 receivers are not faced off, and a lot have receiver faces that are way out of square(to use layman’s terms). I’ve had a couple come through that wouldn’t even go back in the stock on account of this problem. I almost always end up doing some kind of truing work when I change 700 barrels for this reason.
And 700 barrels also have the recess for the bolt. So it’s not just chamber depth that’s the issue.
Now, if you do indeed find a suitable barrel and don’t have any of the other problems except being a bit tight on headspace, you could use a pull through reamer to correct that.
From my experience, the likelihood of you having some kind of problem swapping 700 barrels like that is pretty good.
Most 700 receivers are not faced off, and a lot have receiver faces that are way out of square(to use layman’s terms). I’ve had a couple come through that wouldn’t even go back in the stock on account of this problem. I almost always end up doing some kind of truing work when I change 700 barrels for this reason.
And 700 barrels also have the recess for the bolt. So it’s not just chamber depth that’s the issue.
Now, if you do indeed find a suitable barrel and don’t have any of the other problems except being a bit tight on headspace, you could use a pull through reamer to correct that.
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