783 Short Mag Rebarreling

[Hornyforracks]

Curious if anyone has rebarreled one of the Remington 783s with a short mag chambering, Saum, PRC, WSM, something more exotic, whatever. I am just interested if it can be done and made to feed.

If the standard bolt head can't be opened there is an aftermarket one available (bit pricy though) but that just leaves getting the mag to feed. Looking for any input.

 

[Ross1147]

Hmmm, I mean it fits and holds? Possible I guess? You may need to adjust the rails, possibly change the follower out to make it a single stack. First pic 300wsm acis left, 783 right. Second pic both with 270 SS. 3rd 783 with 270SS. 4th pic is 783 with 2 25SSTs. Not sure how it would feed but they seem to slide out smooth. Why don't you do it them let me know.lol

 

[Hornyforracks]

Well, that is an interesting start. Can I ask you one thing . . . would you be good enough to see if 3 rounds can fit on the mag, or is two the limit?

 

[Ross1147]

Nope, only fits 2 WSM/SAUM cases. It does fit 4 dasher though? I swapped the barrel on my 308 783 for a XCaliber 6 Dasher. Fun little gun. I did a quick search for mag bolt heads and found a couple. PTG was around 78 and Numrich was 58.

 

[Hornyforracks]

Thanks for checking it out. Perhaps it will hold 3 with a bit of fiddling; the long action mags make it work, with I think the same depth of stock, I'll have to compare them.

Seems odd to me that they don't do any short mags from the factory. But then, I still don't understand why various short mag chamberings only come in 270 and 300 these days when it seems 7mm was the best of them all.

 

[DJ Fergus]

Curious if anyone has rebarreled one of the Remington 783s with a short mag chambering, Saum, PRC, WSM, something more exotic, whatever. I am just interested if it can be done and made to feed.

If the standard bolt head can't be opened there is an aftermarket one available (bit pricy though) but that just leaves getting the mag to feed. Looking for any input.

Don't get the Pacific tool & gauge mag bolt face. Been there and done that. It will not eject a short mag round. It will eject a long mag from a long mag action. Call Paducah shooters supply and order a standard 783 mag bolt head. Call and press 2 I believe for service dept. And tell them what you want. $61 shipped. https://www.paducahshooters.com/

Here's my 6.5 gap. After minor adjustments to mag feed lips it feeds like a dream.

 

[DJ Fergus]

Don't get the Pacific tool & gauge mag bolt face. Been there and done that. It will not ejrct a short mag round. It will eject a long mag from a long mag action. Call Paducah shooters supply and order a standard 783 mag bolt head. Call and press 2 I believe for service dept. And tell them what you want. $61 shipped. https://www.paducahshooters.com/

Here's my 6.5 gap. After minor adjustments to mag feed lips it feeds like a dream. View attachment 217415View attachment 217416View attachment 217417View attachment 217418

Cartridges that will most likely fit in the magazine: 6.5 gap .081 freebore, a Sherman SST cartridge standard freebore, 7mm saum saami chamber.

 

[DJ Fergus]

Hmmm, I mean it fits and holds? Possible I guess? You may need to adjust the rails, possibly change the follower out to make it a single stack. First pic 300wsm acis left, 783 right. Second pic both with 270 SS. 3rd 783 with 270SS. 4th pic is 783 with 2 25SSTs. Not sure how it would feed but they seem to slide out smooth. Why don't you do it them let me know.lolView attachment 216901View attachment 216902View attachment 216903View attachment 216904

What bullet is that in your 25 sst? She looks lean and mean. What is your over all length in the sst with that bullet touching the lands?

Thanks

 

[DJ Fergus]

Like ross1147 said. I can only get 2 saum cartridges in the magazine. If you get a flat follower from Wyatt's for a short action 700, it will work in the 783 mag and you can get the 783 mag to center feed a saum case easily. I tried it and it worked fine but I had to put the flat follower back in the rifle I borrowed it from. But I still don't have any problems getting it to feed with the 783's original follower.

 

[Hornyforracks]

Thanks for the great info dump, I really couldn't ask for more (other than a longer COAL factory mag of course . . but when aren't we left wanting one of those)

Looks like you started with the same rifle I'm thinking of picking up, the Laminate Varmint isn't much of an upcharge over the base considering how much an aftermarket stock costs, plus it gets ride of that terrible little bolt handle and has just about the only barrel in the line up that isn't (in my opinion) too short for caliber.

I was thinking of going straight to a smith to have the chamber recut to a 6.5 short mag, but some reading here has shown me a few people who claim Great velocities with RL26, so I might shoot it as a Creedmoor for a little while and test that velocity claim myself.
I'm not super optimistic, but at least I'll know if the barrel has any accuracy potential before I spend cash on rechambering; if it won't group as a Creedmoor, might as well save for full barrel replacement.

 

[DJ Fergus]

The whole reason I put together that rifle is because I really liked the stock. I have a 6.5 creedmoor also. I get 2940 fps with a 147 eld & 26" 6.5 creedmoor using rl26 in once fired federal cases. The rl26 must be put in with a long drop tube funnel, otherwise you will fill the case to the mouth. That's a stout load. I don't think all barrels will be that fast but some will. I would not attempt to come close those speeds until the barrel has had 50-75 rounds through it from new.