Re: Some questions about the 6.8SPC on a bolt gun
Yes, AI mags have been made to use many cases they are not designed for. They have taken 6BR in 308 mags, 6BR in 223 mags, 7WSM, 6.5-284, and 30-06 in 300WM mags, and 378Weatherby class and RUM class cases in the 338 Mags. And there are many others.
I won't say that one can't be modified (or not modified as fdkay says) to house and feed the 6.8 SPC. I haven't tried it. But inevitably it <span style="font-style: italic">should</span> have to be modified, at least the feed lips as the 6.8 SPC has a smaller case diameter than the 308. And then there is always the reliability factor when modifying an original design. Even if they are not modified, you are still facing a reliability issues as that case was not the intended round that the mag was designed for. I know there are several people on these forums that got a 6BR to feed in a AI mag without modifying it. But I could not. Placed forward or aft, it would jam if not cycled very hard and fast.
But, IMHO, to do it right, you really need 6.8 SPC bottom metal. And the only place I've ever seen it is on a factory chambered 6.8 SPC. By going that route, you also have the correct BF to start off with. You save the money you will spend to have a custom extractor installed and the BF opened up by just buying the right donor from the start. Plus they have the bottom metal. By using the correctly designed and included bottom metal you are also saving the 300-350 bucks you'd spend on custom bottom metal. Plus if you like HS Precision stocks, it comes with one of those too.
For arguments sake, sure you can modify an AI mag (or may be able to use one unmodified). You can probably even buy one of those bottom metals that will take an AR style mag and use an AR 15, 6.8 SPC mag. BUT, at the end of the day, no one makes a correct 6.8SPC bottom metal for the Remington 700 except for Remington.
Buying a 6.8 SPC 700 is not "unlikely." There are 3 of them on GB as I type this, ranging in price from 555 and up. You will have a really hard time finding any other HS Precision stocked, fluted barrel, Rem 700 for under 600. There was also one that sat around in the classifieds here for a while and only sold yesterday.
Put a "WTB" ad up. You'll be surprised. While not as common as most calibers, they are out there.