Good morning hide! Been away from the forums for a bit but it's good to be back. Anyways my father passed a bit ago and as such I inherited his guns. The one that really means the most to me is like the one below. It's a Remington 600 in 350 REM Magnum. Anyways he fed our family with this forever. Lots of deer and elk. I would like to do something with this rifle. Honestly I hate shooting it. The recoil is absolutely punishing. So what I would like to do is change the caliber on it to a 308. I would also like to keep it looking stock. So on that note, how should I go about doing this? Can anyone recommend a gunsmith that's good with 600s? Also what parts do I need to collect? I know I would need at least a 308 bolt face as well as the magwell for the 308 and associated parts. I'll probably upgrade the trigger as well. I would also like to keep the barrel profile as well as install a new vent rib(please don't debate the I hate vent rib thing, thank you). I just want it to be a 308 and look just like it did when my dad used it. Thank you all for your time and expert opinions.
Gunsmithing Remington 600 - 350 REM Magnum - Caliber change?
- Thread starter Zinzrah
- Start date
Seems like a reason to just buy a 6oo in 308 to shoot. Keep the 350 as is, good medicine for elk in the brush.
Hi Zinzar, Don't do anything to that gun its a nice old classic. They kick like mule and throw a fire ball out the end.
If you want I will swap you for a custom rem seven ( same action as 600) with new 308 barrel and one of or 100% carbon fiber stocks.
Any good gun smith that works on 700's will be able to get you squared away. They will also be able to get you a barrel with the same profile so it will drop back into the original stock. You will also need a new aftermarket rem seven bolt for the conversion. One thing that needs to be checked is if that action can be made to feed the smaller dia 308 rounds, I collect 600 and 660, for some reason I was thinking that the action feed lips on the 6.5mag and 350mag was changed to feed the big belted rounds, not sure but I would have your gunsmith check it out before he barrels. . thank you very much,
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Yea I spoke with a local gunsmith and needless to say I was pretty sticker shocked. Your offer is very tempting. Let me think it over and I will PM you.
If it were my dads I wouldn't do anything to it. It won't be your dads anymore. I would shoot it like it is. Endure the pain for how ever many shots it takes to verify the scope is dead on. After that recoil makes no difference in a one shot hunting scenario. If you are scared of it buy another one with the laminated stock in 308. Let it remind you of your dad's rifle without trying to be it.
I use a Past recoil pad when shooting light weight mules during load development and testing. I've dubbed it my "training bra". With a name like that no one else can insult me.
Keep it as is. My dad and grandpas weren't into shooting. If they were, I would leave the stuff I inherited as they had em.
They were into music. I have a 1930’s Gibson mandolin that was my grandad’s and a 1973 Martin D35 that I grew up listening to my dad play. He has newer guitars that play nicer now so this one is mine.
They will remain as is, never screwed with or traded. The mandolin is worth a good bit (AI PSR kinda money I am told). My kids can play them if interested in learning and will inherit them someday.
Im a sucker for family and nostalgia. I miss my grandparents though they have been gone a good while and still dont like to think of losing my folks, though I know they will be at peace in heaven.
Sorry for your loss, best advice is to keep it and enjoy the thump on your shoulder for a couple rounds from time to time.
They were into music. I have a 1930’s Gibson mandolin that was my grandad’s and a 1973 Martin D35 that I grew up listening to my dad play. He has newer guitars that play nicer now so this one is mine.
They will remain as is, never screwed with or traded. The mandolin is worth a good bit (AI PSR kinda money I am told). My kids can play them if interested in learning and will inherit them someday.
Im a sucker for family and nostalgia. I miss my grandparents though they have been gone a good while and still dont like to think of losing my folks, though I know they will be at peace in heaven.
Sorry for your loss, best advice is to keep it and enjoy the thump on your shoulder for a couple rounds from time to time.
I'm going to second the advice to keep that rifle original. Do some research on handloading lighter loads for the 350 Rem Mag, I'm sure you can find recommendations for using lighter charges of faster powders like H4895 in place of whatever slower burn rate powder R-P uses in factory hunting ammo. If you're not a handloader, seriously consider getting into it - it's one of the most worthwhile skills a shooter can develop. I started handloading in 1968, while still a junior in high school, and as a result, have fired only a very few rounds of factory CF rifle ammunition over the past 50yrs. - and that includes over 30,000rds of handloaded 223 fired in NRA DCM/CMP hi-power, 3-gun & PRS matches, prairie dog shooting, coyote calling, paper-punching, etc. If you want to really delve into handloading, you could get into casting bullets for reduced loads in your Dad's fine old 350 Mag.
I just lost my Dad this past spring, and after working with him for over 55yrs here on the farm, I cherish everything he owned. I'm a gunsmith, but won't be modifying any of his old handguns or rifles.
I just lost my Dad this past spring, and after working with him for over 55yrs here on the farm, I cherish everything he owned. I'm a gunsmith, but won't be modifying any of his old handguns or rifles.
