Rem 721 time to re-barrel, what caliber

[JFricke]

I have a 721 30-06 which I got from my father. Nothing fancy but it has a well adjusted trigger. I was hoping for the rifle to serve both as a range toy for local level 300 yd steel and egg matches, as well as a hunting rifle for whitetail in northern new england. The range use being the focus, and hunting as time allows at a friends property.

I recently spent some time at the range with it and it consistently has a POI shift as it warms up. Walks down the paper ~3" at 100 yards till hot, then holds steady. I knew it had a historic tendency for shifting POI so before I took it out I gave it pillars and bedded the action in addition to floating the barrel. I'm pretty sure the pencil barrel is the culprit and am considering re-barreling with something a bit heavier (M24/MTU) but am now thinking about caliber choice.

the basic perimeters are :
readily available match grade factory ammo because I have no time for reloading with a young family
cant be too small of a case cause it a long action and I would like to be able to use the blind mag

currently I'm thinking about 6.5x55 but am wondering what the recommendations might be.

I recognize that the recommendation will likely be origin action with 6BR prefit for the target work and leave the existing rifle alone for hunting but I like projects and making use of what I have.

 

[Mike Casselton]

M24 is a hell of a lot more than a bit heavier. The barrel, depending on length could weigh up to 7# all by itself.
It also probably would not fit your wood stock without completely fucking it up.


3rd, why do you spell recognise like a Brit?





Edited to fix auto-incorrect sticking some basketball player's name in my response.

 

[DontShootEnough]

.280 Ackley

 

[03machstock]

.280 Ackley

I have a 721 in .270 that I was thinking about rebarreling. When I do it will be .280 ackley, but that gun will be only for hunting.


OP, you’re kind of in a pickle because it’s a long action with a standard bolt face. IMO most calibers you’d be looking to build a target gun in long action would be a mag bolt face. (300 win mag, 300 Norma, 7mm mag stuff, ect.). But 280 ai might be a good compromise.

 

[Bandit320]

30-06

 

[MarshallDodge]

6.5x55

 

[Marksman]

6.5x55, consider going with a Sendero or Medium Palma taper barrel.

 

[Bryan W M]

Wanting off the shelf ammo . 300 yards range. Just do .308 and be done . It will work in a long action . If you have to do a little work for the box magazine to work, the money you save on ammo will more than cover it. I honestly don’t think you have to mess with it for .308 to feed .

 

[JFricke]

I hadn’t thought about 280 AI

308 is tempting though for ammo availability. Good to know that it should feed ok if I went that route.

 

[Hecouldgoalltheway]

If running a short action is reasonable to you, then don't just stop at the .308. You can go to one of the creedmoors. 6mm cm is probably the best option for a 300y match and shooting deer. Light recoil, very accurate, wide support, slays deer and even larger game..

 

[hewlett260]

A Bartlien #4 in 280 Ackley will be your best balance of a decent weighted range toy and not too heavy to hunt with. There's a decent amount of factory ammo available for it though not always match type. If you have a long action you might as well take advantage of it. My second caliber choice would be 6.5 Weatherby RPM

 

[264win]

If a guy wanted readily available factory match ammo, any AI calibers are a poor choice( despite being fine choices otherwise)

For the OP, 3006 is the easiest choice caliber wise. 308 / 6.5 cm may require a few rifle mods to feed perfectly but are great choices.

 

[DontShootEnough]

OP is getting some great feedback, but did bring a fairly specific question. I think what everyone is nibbling around is that it’s really difficult to have a single rifle for hunting and range/long range work - what makes a rifle/cartridge good at each is just too different - especially from a weight perspective.

I have a 24 inch M24 “temporarily” on a hunting rifle right now and it shoots like a dream, but I can’t wait to get it off.

 

[Aftermath]

I'd rebarrel with a Bartlein in the same profile you currently have. It was your Dad's.

If you want to fuck around with a rifle for shooting targets, build one dedicated for such in one of the minimal recoiling rounds the cool kids play with.

 

[david walter]

Easy button?

Buy a remage barrel in 30-06 or 280 AI and if you don’t like it, sell it here for a small hit on money spent and try another cartridge.

 

[Mulepackhunter]

18 in long 7mm backcountry barrel with a can

 

[david walter]

That’s a magnum bolt face and he has a standard bolt face.

18 in long 7mm backcountry barrel with a can

 

[Mulepackhunter]

No its not Magnum

 

[dirtybores]

Did a 721 rebarrel for my father in 6.5-284, 25" med palma. Ammo costs a touch more, but it is readily available and performance has been excellent.

 

[JFricke]

I appreciate the advice about M 24 being a little too heavy for toting around in the woods. It’s just a trade off.

I have considered a rem/age set up, but I’m not sure I can get over the aesthetics. Might have to think about that some more.

As always, there’s lots of options. Will let you know what I decided on when it’s all done.

 

[Bakwa]

6.5 Swede would be the classy option…
But some of the others mentioned might be more practical.