Should I strip this rifle and use the receiver?

[Penguin156]

I have an old 1968 Remington 700 adl in 6mm rem with a 329xxx serial number and the old style "bolt locking" safety sitting around that I got in a trade awhile back. It has an old Redfield 3x9 on it. I don't really have much use for a 700 adl in in 6mm so I was thinking about stripping the barrel and stock off of it and building it into something that I could use. Would this be a good candidate for a .308 tack driver build? I've seen SPS take off barrels that I could probably throw on it until I could afford to take it to Krieger or Bartlein, which are both pretty much up the road from my house. I'm sure I can find a friend with an HS stock laying around until I can afford the McMillan a5 that I want.

What concerns me is the bolt. I can't see anything wrong with the bolt as far as I can tell but it has the claw style extractor and it feels kind of weak. I always thought that Remington 700 receivers haven't changed dimensionally over the years but now I'm not sure. I figured eventually I could just get a 1 piece PTG bolt to replace the current bolt because I'm not a fan of the claw extractor but now I'm wondering about fit issues. I took the .308 bolt out of my 700 that I believe was made in the 80's. The weird thing is that the .308 bolt fit in the 1968 gun but the old 1968 bolt did not go into the .308 gun. Were there different dimensions over the years? Also someone told me that the dimensions for the top of an older receiver could possibly be different, is this true and would this effect options for a base? Sorry for the long post, I guess the big question is, would you use this for a built?

 

[mjh30]

Re: Should I strip this rifle and use the receiver?

Bearwolf, sounds like got a nice early six digit Remington 700 in 6mm with an aftermarket sako type extractor installed. Depending on the conditionmarket of thethe rifle, i might have athe tendency to put it onto GB and sell it, obviously there was a market for the six digit receivers for M40 and M40A1 builds at one type. Unless the 6mmgreat is toast, I wouldn't put a sps barrel on it

 

[Penguin156]

Re: Should I strip this rifle and use the receiver?

What do you think I'd get for it? Think it'd be enough for a better donor action? What should I be looking for if I sold this one?

 

[bcpdshooter]

Re: Should I strip this rifle and use the receiver?

That action will be fine and the only reason to go with another action is if you are going full tilt custom. That action will true up great and if you want to go one step further purchase a over size bolt from ptg and have the raceways reamed to fit when the action is trued. You will be replacing the recoil lug in this case as well. Get it to a good smith and let him do his magic and you will be very happy.

 

[dinc]

Re: Should I strip this rifle and use the receiver?

Your .308 bolt has slot in the lug on the handle side for the anti-bind rail in the newer action. Your 6mm action is before Remington added the rail to the 700. The bolt with the slot will fit in the action without the rail but the bolt without the slot won't fit in the action with the rail.

Stock Rem 700 extractors are fine. Use an old toothbrush to keep them religiously clean.

The action is great for a custom build. An action in hand is almost always a cheaper way to go. Unless you can find someone who is dying for a low SN action for an M40 tribute gun.

Enjoy it.

The rear of the action is taller than current M700's. Just make sure you get mounts for the old style.

 

[mjh30]

Re: Should I strip this rifle and use the receiver?

Bearwolf, I really like the old Remington actions and I have a 260 Rem and a 308 rifle build on them. But in saying that I bought the rifles cheaply, sold the stocks, barrels and triggers and suddenly I had some really cheap actions for my Smith to work with. An older Remington 700 in 6mm in decent condition is selling for at least $500 on GB.

 

[Penguin156]

Re: Should I strip this rifle and use the receiver?

dinc, I ended up noticing the notch cut into the .308 bolt shortly after posting this and figured that had something to do with it. I'm glad I know for sure now, thanks.

I can't wait to have enough cash to throw a new barrel on this and pick up a mcmillan a4. My only toss up now is that I know a guy selling a .308 a4 . . . so I might just end up selling the 6mm to get some cash for that anyway, haha.

 

[turbo54]

Re: Should I strip this rifle and use the receiver?

Also, you can't just buy a takeoff barrel and screw it on. Doing that *may* headspace ok, but it very well may NOT.

So, don't think you can save the $$ of getting a gunsmith involved by buying a takeoff barrel.

Use it as a 6mm Rem (a fine cartridge in it's own right) until you've got the money to rebarrel it properly.

 

[Penguin156]

Re: Should I strip this rifle and use the receiver?

In that case I don't have much use for a 6mm in a hunting configuration so I'll probably just sell it and pursue the 5r, thanks.