Upgrading my big 8 rem mag for long range?

[RyanTrials]

I have an older model 700 bdl in 8mm remington magnum, I got into reloading because of it, have all the stuff, even found some bullets with decent BCs for it (.323")

It's completely original with the bdl wooden stock, so my question is, What do I need to look for in a new stock? The action is longer than a standard "long action" so I have no idea what to look for in a new stock. Will a long magnum action stock work? It has the standard contour barrel... I assume just a decent synthetic stock and bedding will be good enough for a long range gun?

My uncle who handed it down to me seems to think I should just keep it as is and buy a new rifle for long range, however i already have all the reloading stuff for it and don't have much money to work with. Planning on getting maybe a vortex viper for optics. It has an older leupold vari-x 3 on it without finger adjustable turrets.

What do you guys think? Will modding it for long range be worth it or should i just save up for a rifle already set up for long range precision?

 

[MudRunner2005]

If it is a 700 long-action, it should be the same length as any and all 700 long-actions...

I have a 700 Sendero SF in 7mm STW (8mm RemMag necked down to 7mm) and it uses a standard long-action.

As for stocks, an HS Precision or a Bell & Carlson with an aluminum bedding block will always treat you right. Sometimes you might have to bed the lug or action as well, but those are simple and easy processes for accurizing.

You could always have a good Bartlein or Bechmark barrel installed and chamber it to 7mm STW for some really high BC bullets (Berger 180 VLD & 180 Hyrbid). Keep the original parts incase you ever want to put it back together the way it was.

Nothing wrong with having it trued up.

 

[RyanTrials]

Can you explain to me how specific a stock is for actions/barrels? I've been told the 8mm rem mag and cases similar to it like .375 H&H need an action bigger than the standard "long" action.

Thanks for the quick reply

If my action was a standard "long" action id consider building a custom .300 win mag with it for the bullet selection...

 

[MudRunner2005]

Well...Every brand uses different length, designed, and shaped actions.

Remington 700 rifles only have 2 different options, as far as the action length is concerned.....They offer "short-action", and "long-action".

Now, once you get down to the 2 basic action lengths, you break it down by bolt-face diamter of the caliber you want to shoot, those sub-categories consist of:

1) .223 / 5.56x45 bolt-face
2) Standard bolt-face (.308/.30-06)
3) Magnum bolt-face (Rem Mags, Win Mags, STW's, and RUM calibers)
4) Short-Mag bolt-face (SAUM & WSM calibers).
5) Misc random NATO calibers and other odd-ball caliber bolt-face diameters, such as 7.62x39.

Examples of "short-action" calibers: .223 Rem, 22-250, .308 Win, 7mm-08 Rem, .243 Win, .260 Rem. Those are all good classic examples of short-action calibers.

Examples of "long-action": 7mm Remington Magnum, .300 Winchester Magnum, 7mm STW, 8mm Remington Magnum, .270 Winchester, .30-06 Springfield, .25-06 Remington, .257 Weatherby, 7mm Weatherby, .300 RUM, and the list goes on and on...

Now, different calibers require different modifications done to different parts of the action. For example... The Remington Ultra Magnum calibers use a standard 700 magnum bolt-faced long-action. However, the feed rails inside that action are opened up wider to accept the fatter cartridges so they will feed right and reliably.

As you can see, it's pretty straight-forward for the most part. But you can break down the short-action and long-action calibers by bolt-face as a sub-category to determine what caliber you plan on shooting.

Example, say you want to shoot a .270 Winchester, and you want to build a custom rifle. You would look for a long-action with a standard bolt-face. Which means it would have a .473" bolt-face, the same as a .308 Win, and a .30-06, 25-06, or any other caliber based on the .30-06 cartridge, regardless of caliber length.

 

[MudRunner2005]

If my action was a standard "long" action id consider building a custom .300 win mag with it for the bullet selection...

When people say "standard" or "magnum" or .223" they are not referring to the length of the action. They are talking about the diameter of the bolt-face, or how commonplace the action is.

If you had a "standard" long-action, you would be building a .270 Win, .280 Rem, .30-06, 25-06 Rem, 6.5 Sherman, or any other caliber that uses a .473" diameter bolt-face.

I just did a google search and found this on this site...I had seen it before but couldn't find it. This is a quick reference guide to help you out, since you are new to action lengths, and bolt-face diameters and stuff like that.

http://www.longrangehunting.com/forums/f37/bolt-face-diameters-36661/

 

[Edd]

If my action was a standard "long" action id consider building a custom .300 win mag with it for the bullet selection...

If you want to rebarrel to a 30 caliber for the bullet selection, your best two choices would be to neck that 8mm down to a 30 cal or chamber for a 300 Weatherby.

 

[RyanTrials]

Thanks for all the info guys! I really want to learn all the specifics that go into this. I've had a hard time finding much info on it.

I'd have to imagine even the magazine spring feeder floorplate would have to change also?

It's tough to decide whether to trick this rifle out or not, I will always be limited by .323 bullets and the light contour barrel, although maybe i can get really good groups with the current barrel if i upgrade the stock and glass bed it. I think changing the barrel and/or caliber would be too much, id probably be better off getting another rifle. I have no idea what finding a bull barrel for 8mm rem mag would cost, i have to assume not cheap.

at the least i want to get a new stock and bed it (so i don't risk screwing up the old original nice wooden stock)

So, to pick out a new stock for my rifle what am i limited to? Are stocks designed specific for each chambering? or just long/short action?

 

[MudRunner2005]

Thanks for all the info guys! I really want to learn all the specifics that go into this. I've had a hard time finding much info on it.

I'd have to imagine even the magazine spring feeder floorplate would have to change also?

It's tough to decide whether to trick this rifle out or not, I will always be limited by .323 bullets and the light contour barrel, although maybe i can get really good groups with the current barrel if i upgrade the stock and glass bed it. I think changing the barrel and/or caliber would be too much, id probably be better off getting another rifle. I have no idea what finding a bull barrel for 8mm rem mag would cost, i have to assume not cheap.

at the least i want to get a new stock and bed it (so i don't risk screwing up the old original nice wooden stock)

So, to pick out a new stock for my rifle what am i limited to? Are stocks designed specific for each chambering? or just long/short action?

The floorplate wouldn't have to change unless you're going from standard to magnum, or magnum to ultra magnum calibers, or vice-versa.

Stocks are based on several aspects... Brand, model, action length (short or long), barrel contour (sporter, bull/varmint, M24/MTU), blind magazine (internal magazine like a Remington ADL) or hinged floorplate (which is like your rifle, where you pop the floorplate open and the rounds in the magazine drop out).

www.stockysstocks.com can help.

 

[Edd]

I have no idea what finding a bull barrel for 8mm rem mag would cost, i have to assume not cheap.

Krieger has one on the shelf.

 

[MudRunner2005]

Krieger has one on the shelf.

And it's probably a little dusty, too.

 

[Varberger757]

I have an older model 700 bdl in 8mm remington magnum, I got into reloading because of it, have all the stuff, even found some bullets with decent BCs for it (.323")

It's completely original with the bdl wooden stock, so my question is, What do I need to look for in a new stock? The action is longer than a standard "long action" so I have no idea what to look for in a new stock. Will a long magnum action stock work? It has the standard contour barrel... I assume just a decent synthetic stock and bedding will be good enough for a long range gun?

My uncle who handed it down to me seems to think I should just keep it as is and buy a new rifle for long range, however i already have all the reloading stuff for it and don't have much money to work with. Planning on getting maybe a vortex viper for optics. It has an older leupold vari-x 3 on it without finger adjustable turrets.

What do you guys think? Will modding it for long range be worth it or should i just save up for a rifle already set up for long range precision?

If I were you, I would stick to 8mm and get your gun upgraded. You won't regret it! 8mm RM is a fantastic round for almost all hunting purposes from deer size to moose including dangerous game (brown bear). With the 8mm RM you'll be even allowed to hunt the BIG FIVE in Central Africa! Don't go for the 7mm or 30' calibres almost anyone owns. BTW, 7 STW is just a necked down 7mm on the 8mm RM as parent case… I don't know on which distances you want to hunt, but out to 1K won't be a problem with 8mm RM. In my opinion long enough to start with. You won't regret it! Sooner or later there will be a 8mm bullet on the market for the special purpose of LRH. Barrels in 323' are made by almost every good and well-known barrel maker in the US or Europe. From my point of view you should go either for the Krieger or Lothar Walther. gun)