Just bought 4 Rem 783's for $199 each!

[Deleted member 46119]

Hey Thanks! I don't know much about the Criterion barrels but I'm definitely going to do some reading up on them. Any knowledge about them yourself?

Great to hear you've had good experience with Boyds stocks. I almost bought one about a year ago and went a different direction. I'm sure it depends on the style, but in your opinion do you feel the forearm part of the stocks are strong enough to support the rifle if I use a bipod and still keep the barrel free floated? If not I've been researching some ways to inlet graphite arrows or other strong metals into the forearms for extra rigidity.

Right now I'm definitely leaning towards keeping one a 30-06 and just tuning and dura coating. Also thinking this will be a good chance to try to thread a barrel myself. If I screw it up, I'll have 3 extra barrels to reuse from the other rifles.

And the more I read about the 6.5 Sherman the more I like it!

I wish the 25 caliber family had bullets with higher BC's because that would probably seal the deal with one becoming a 25-06. I'm intrigued by the 25-06 because everyone I know that has had one, loved it. It seems this caliber has an almost cult like following.

I have one RemAge Criterion barrel and I have not shot it. It is on a trued long action R700. Chambered for 284 Win Match. I have a Richards Microfit for it that needs lots of inletting but now that I have my mill and lathe setup, I'm considering going barrel block.

As for Boyds. Mine are Featherweight Thumbhole (3) and Varmint Thumbhole, I'm 230lb and I could probably stand in it. It takes just a little fitting. Removing some Urathane over flow and a little bit here and there where the CNC can't do as good a job as the hand. I opened up one of the Featherweights to Sendero profile and it's fine, fine, fine.

Some day I should do gun pics.

 

[MudRunner2005]

Since these 783's have that stupid barrel nut (JMO, nobody get ****y)...And it has a seperate recoil lug, like a regular 700... Could you simply thread a regular tennon like for a 700, and NOT use the nut, and convert it to a standard 700 design that holds the lug in place by squeezing the lug between the receiver and barel lug shoulder, just like a regular 700?

Seems like doing it my way would be a much stronger design than the way it currently is with the nut. The fewer moving parts on a rifle, the better...

If you converted it to no-nut (my design idea), and put it in a nice stock, used the PTG 1-piece bolt, and the PTG bottom metal, I see where it could have the potential for a very nice shooting custom rifle for under $1,500.

personally, I can build on a real 700 for less than that, so I'll stick with what works, but I am interested in seeing how these 783's turn out. If I can find one for $199, I just might try my hand at building one my way, and seeing just how nice and accurate it can become, for how little money I can do the build. Could probably build one for under $1,000 using a hand-lapped 26" factory Remington barrel.

 

[FEENIX]

So when I was a kid my dad bought a 303 British for around $79. They were so cheap back then he didn't think twice to sporterize it.

Fast forward 20 years and he never shot it anymore so I gave him $200 for it. Well, I did some research; ordered a new synthetic stock, put a decent scope on it, a very nice Limbsaver, and a muzzle brake (short barrel 303's kick good) and now I love shooting the rifle. In fact, I loved modifying it also.

I wanted to do a couple more rifles and mod them in different ways. So I started to look for old war rifles that were already sporterized that I could add my personal touches to.

I couldn't really find much locally for less than $350-$400. (Mosin's were excluded from my search). Mainly was looking for Springfield 1903's and Lee Enfield 303's.

Then I came across a deal online. They were selling brand new Remington 783's for $199! I did some quick searching and read they were completely different from the cheap model 770's and closer to the design of the Savages. Some people were even saying the receiver may be stronger than a stock Rem 700 because of the new design.

Reviews were solid and they were half the price of used war rifles I could find... Emotions took over and I bought 4 of them!

I don't plan to turn any of them into competition rifles. But I promise they will be fun to shoot when I'm done with them!

That is the only goal: Fun

Obviously the 783's don't have the aftermarket support as the 700's. But I have already found some aftermarket stock makers and a couple places that can provide match grade hand lapped barrels for them.

The only down side is they are all 30-06's. Not a huge deal because I wanted to rebarrel a couple anyways.

Now the fun begins!
-I already have an old 270; but I wouldn't mind having a thicker barrel on a 270 with a heavier stock!
-Or maybe a 280 so I can use the 7mm bullet selection?
-Although I've been wanting to get a reloading press anyways, maybe a wildcat cartridge? Thinking, would a 6.5-06 be fun?
-I live in Michigan so we don't have the traditional varmint prairie dogs to shoot at, but maybe I could change one into a 25-06 and shoot some coyotes?
-Do I need a Magnum cartridge for anything? Probably not, but it wouldn't be too hard to talk myself into one!

I'm excited. Lots of options!

What would you guys do if you had 3 or 4 brand new bolt guns to modify based on the 30-06 parent? Thanks!

Congrats on an excellent buy and who cares what other people think. Have fun with your project ... that's all it matters.

 

[BrentM]

I built a Rem/age. Love the NUT. I only shot the rifle 9 times, 4 shoot and clean and get on paper, then a 5 shot group. 1st round went left (cold bore/clean bore) the rest grouped up. No load tuning done yet, just a guess and a safe load. I sold it on LRH. Hope the owner likes it as much as did.

 

[Mike 338]

I've never really understood barrel nut hate. I don't know anyone who owns or cares to own a Ferrari but I know scads of guys who have had, do have or will have a Jeep, Old Bronco, Old Blazer, Old Scout or Landcruiser. Have you noticed the swivel studs are molded into the 783's stock? I hear massive complaints of how goofy that is but personally, studs & sling twisting in the field makes me crazy. Anyway, I think you need a 338-06 chop job for deer and bear that rides well in a truck/canoe or on a pack. Of course a stone stock 308 would serve well and as your do-all beater as well but then you'd have five 783's.

 

[FEENIX]

I've never really understood barrel nut hate.

 

[jsthntn247]

Me neither. I have a Remage/Criterion/Choate/Ptg bottom metal 243 that I shoot in tactical competitions. Can tear up a 10" steel plate at 1000 yards. I've got 975$ in the gun total.

 

[engineer40]

Have you noticed the swivel studs are molded into the 783's stock? I hear massive complaints of how goofy that is but personally, studs & sling twisting in the field makes me crazy.

Only downside for me so far has been I couldn't throw my bipod on it. I only have 1 bipod but it is a quick disconnect style and I have 4 different mounts for it.

When I purchased these rifles I had already planned to change the stocks anyways. So not an issue for me!

 

[engineer40]

So I've been traveling a lot for work. I finally got these rifles picked up from my FFL on Tuesday. Went out yesterday to shoot and was quite happy so far.

Of the 4 new rifles I only brought 1 out because I only had 1 extra scope.

Here's the story, I've been wanting a cheap scope that I can have around the house to throw on whatever rifle at whatever time I have a need to. Went off to Amazon, found a $29 scope that had good reviews and purchased. This scope sucks... It's so short and stubby I couldn't even get close to getting the full picture in view. If I stretched my neck out as far as I could, I then would see about 1/3 of the picture through the scope. I should have read the dimensions better before buying. I'll probably return it and get a Tasco or Simmons for this purpose of having a cheap on hand scope to use ad-hoc.

I put up some paper at 50 yards and 100 yards. There was also some 18" steel hanging at 300 yards.

I heard about a technique where you take the bolt out of the gun and you put your face down near the receiver to get the target in view through the barrel. And while you do that you keep the rifle still and adjust the scope cross hairs until you are also on target. I have to say this worked pretty freaking great. I was on the bullseye in 4 shots!

So I said, "that was easier than I expected" and I immediately moved out to 100 yards. Here are the results of the 5th-8th times I pulled the trigger on this rifle (keeping in mind I could barely see through the crap scope and I was using the cheapest of the cheap ammo I could find, Prvi). Looks to be just under 2 inches.

 

[engineer40]

Keep in mind I paid $199 for these rifles. For comparison, here is a picture of my grouping with my friend's $3,500 Heckler & Koch 308 with $1,000 Vortex scope. Also shooting fairly cheap ammo.

These pictures are not Photoshopped next to each other. I simply laid them together on the table to take the picture. So you're seeing actual sizing, nothing skewed.

10 shots with the 308 compared to 4 shots with my 30-06, but if anything I think the 30-06 grouping to be a bit smaller. (And he will admit I can shoot his rifle better than he can).

With these results I believe this to be a MOA or a bit better gun with better ammo. I will post updates when I test with better ammo or handloads.

Also I was getting short for time so I shot off 2 magazines at the 18" 300 yard steel. Hit with ease every single time. (Again a reminder of this *** scope I could barely see through; can you tell I was disappointed in it?).

One last note, my groupings did not seem to change as the barrel got hotter.

 

[engineer40]

I thought it worthy to add that I am not delusional, my friend's H&K 308 is way nicer than these 783 rifles and I myself also own much nicer rifles than these.

This is really about me experimenting and having fun with cheap guns... Which I'm sure everyone can appreciate.

 

[Mike 338]

Only downside for me so far has been I couldn't throw my bipod on it. I only have 1 bipod but it is a quick disconnect style and I have 4 different mounts for it.

When I purchased these rifles I had already planned to change the stocks anyways. So not an issue for me!

Good point. Although the plastic stock is a little stiffer than some, there's still a fair amount of flex on the end with any pressure on it so I never considered putting a bipod on it. EGW makes a 0 & 20 MOA base for those now. So what's up with that sleeve inside the barrel? It seems to be working.

I've done that "looking down the barrel" thing to get on paper. Man, what a time saver.

 

[FEENIX]

I've done that "looking down the barrel" thing to get on paper. Man, what a time saver.

Also a nice safety practice when setting up chronies!

 

[ishootkittens]

Also a nice safety practice when setting up chronies!

Beats a bore-sighter anyday! I dont know why anyone ever buys those things anyway.