Remington 700 .06 rebarrel or buy new?

[cooltimber]

well my 700 Barrel is shot out,per Gunsmith! Should I replace with another sporter Barrel or Trick it out.  Ive had this 700 since 1976.

[jrebel]

well my 700 Barrel is shot out,per Gunsmith! Should I replace with another sporter Barrel or Trick it out.  Ive had this 700 since 1976.

Do what makes you happy.  I would put another sporter barrel on to keep it as original as possible.  If I did trick it our, I would change the chambering to something other than 30-06....but that just me.  Great caliber, just not my cup of tea. 

[cooltimber]

Thinking about making a 1000 yarder, or put a sporter barrel. Have my 7mag plus a choice of others to Hunt with.! What to do?

[Taco280AI]

Are you really ready to go down that rabbit hole? 

New custom barrel, might as well true the action while you're at it. I've done this much already, let's put a McM or Manners on it. Have the new stock, so let's have it bedded. I've done this much, it obviously needs a new trigger. After all this, I obviously need to upgrade the scope to match...

[Bob33]

If your sporter barrel is shot out, I would think that means you liked shooting a sporter barrel. Just my 3 cents (inflation).

[boneaddict]

Does it have enough memories to be a vault queen or hang on the wall decoration....
Does it have enough history that you want to keep using it and be reminded of those memories.....
Do you like new toys.....

It sounds like you like to shoot it

[cooltimber]

Does it have enough memories to be a vault queen or hang on the wall decoration....
Does it have enough history that you want to keep using it and be reminded of those memories.....
Do you like new toys.....

It sounds like you like to shoot it

yes ive taken many animals with the 700,I want to Hunt with it . The last remaining yr's.Ive gotten into long range shooting and thought about building a 1000 yarder out of it! I shoot maybe 500 rds a month,multi calibers. just cant make a plan!lol

[boneaddict]

    I guess thats part of the fun.    I love the 700

[b23]

It's a Rem 700 long action so you can damn near make it anything you want.  Do you have any particular caliber that's calling to you more than another?  For 1000yd shooting the 6.5's have always been very popular and since you have a long action to work with I'd probably lean toward something like a 6.5-284 shooting something like the Berger 140 hybrid target, 153 A-Tip, or Berger 156.  If you want to go smaller I've talked to a couple people shooting Berger's 133 and 135's in their 25-284's and they're very happy.  Or, you can just go straight 284 but you mentioned you already have a 7mm Rem mag so that may not appeal to you as much.

If you're looking to shoot LR I think the easy button definitely favors a 6.5-284 build.  Your action will require no changes other than a new barrel and having it trued if you so choose.  Lapua 6.5-284 brass is as good as it gets, easy to find, lasts forever, and relatively inexpensive when you consider it's quality and how long it lasts.  They're easy to load for and a wide variety or powders work extremely well.  There just isn't much to not like about a 6.5-284.  My 6.5-284 is built on a Rem 700 long action and it's one of my favorite rifles.

[Bushcraft]

Are you sure that it's shot out?

Keep in mind the gunsmith has a conflict of interest in recommending a new barrel since presumably he would be getting paid to perform the work.

How many rounds have you put down the tube?
Have you bore-scoped it?
Are there indications of excessive carbon buildup in the neck and throat area?
What is the extent of carbon and copper fouling?
What is your cleaning protocol?
What is the action bedding like?

[cooltimber]

Are you sure that it's shot out?

Keep in mind the gunsmith has a conflict of interest in recommending a new barrel since presumably he would be getting paid to perform the work.

How many rounds have you put down the tube?
Have you bore-scoped it?
Are there indications of excessive carbon buildup in the neck and throat area?
What is the extent of carbon and copper fouling?
What is your cleaning protocol?
What is the action bedding like?

  excessive carbon in the neck area,cleaned well before took 700 ,two different gunsmihs.There is no copper to be seen. the rifling is very rounded,and used to shoot 1/1/4 groups.
Thks good insight

[jasnt]

 I vote long range rig lol.   284 would be my choice with that action

[b23]

I vote long range rig lol.   284 would be my choice with that action

A straight 284 shooting something like the 166 A-Tip at 3000-3100 certainly wouldn't be a bad choice for a LR rig. 

If the OP is partial to the 06 case he could also do a 280 or 280AI. 

[bullfisher]

All good advice so far. If the action is from the 70's it's one of the good ones. Chambered in a 280/284 based cartridge would be my vote as well. Put on a carbon barrel and a stock and I bet you couldn't keep your hands off it.

[cooltimber]

All good advice so far. If the action is from the 70's it's one of the good ones. Chambered in a 280/284 based cartridge would be my vote as well. Put on a carbon barrel and a stock and I bet you couldn't keep your hands off it.

carbon barrel,yup! 24 or 26 in Barrel

[crabcreekhunter]

Throw a new barrel on in .280AI great hunting caliber and do quite well at a grand with effiency.

[b23]

All good advice so far. If the action is from the 70's it's one of the good ones. Chambered in a 280/284 based cartridge would be my vote as well. Put on a carbon barrel and a stock and I bet you couldn't keep your hands off it.

carbon barrel,yup! 24 or 26 in Barrel

CF wrapped barrels have a certain cool factor and that's ok, I have a few myself, but other than that and a larger diameter at the muzzle, they don't really have any other benefit.  If you're looking for LR rig that shoots the best it can, I'd stay with an all steel barrel and skip anything CF wrapped.

[bullfisher]

All good advice so far. If the action is from the 70's it's one of the good ones. Chambered in a 280/284 based cartridge would be my vote as well. Put on a carbon barrel and a stock and I bet you couldn't keep your hands off it.

carbon barrel,yup! 24 or 26 in Barrel

CF wrapped barrels have a certain cool factor and that's ok, I have a few myself, but other than that and a larger diameter at the muzzle, they don't really have any other benefit.  If you're looking for LR rig that shoots the best it can, I'd stay with an all steel barrel and skip anything CF wrapped.

Bull barrel stiff at half the weight. If you have the coin, it matters!

[jdb]

I’d reborn it to .35 whelan

[BigGoonTuna]

I’d send it to JES with a check for $250 and make it into a .338-06, .35 whelen or 9.3x62, but I’m weird like that.

[GWP]

You stated you have others. Why mess with success? Put a new tube on it and see what it does. You can make some small adjustments while doing it without breaking the bank, while keeping it pretty much as is.
You obviously like shooting it as it was.
Once you go down the rabbit hole (as was stated) of modifying, it will not be the same gun it was.
On the other hand, it is fun playing!

[cooltimber]

You stated you have others. Why mess with success? Put a new tube on it and see what it does. You can make some small adjustments while doing it without breaking the bank, while keeping it pretty much as is.
You obviously like shooting it as it was.
Once you go down the rabbit hole (as was stated) of modifying, it will not be the same gun it was.
On the other hand, it is fun playing!

Right you are.

[elkrack]

Following this thread closely!! I’m in the same boat with my .06. The 280 AI is very intriguing

[b23]

All good advice so far. If the action is from the 70's it's one of the good ones. Chambered in a 280/284 based cartridge would be my vote as well. Put on a carbon barrel and a stock and I bet you couldn't keep your hands off it.

carbon barrel,yup! 24 or 26 in Barrel

CF wrapped barrels have a certain cool factor and that's ok, I have a few myself, but other than that and a larger diameter at the muzzle, they don't really have any other benefit.  If you're looking for LR rig that shoots the best it can, I'd stay with an all steel barrel and skip anything CF wrapped.

Bull barrel stiff at half the weight. If you have the coin, it matters!

Nope, that's not even close to being true.

[bullfisher]

All good advice so far. If the action is from the 70's it's one of the good ones. Chambered in a 280/284 based cartridge would be my vote as well. Put on a carbon barrel and a stock and I bet you couldn't keep your hands off it.

carbon barrel,yup! 24 or 26 in Barrel

CF wrapped barrels have a certain cool factor and that's ok, I have a few myself, but other than that and a larger diameter at the muzzle, they don't really have any other benefit.  If you're looking for LR rig that shoots the best it can, I'd stay with an all steel barrel and skip anything CF wrapped.

Bull barrel stiff at half the weight. If you have the coin, it matters!

Nope, that's not even close to being true.

Not as stiff? Not even close? Do tell..!

[jasnt]

All good advice so far. If the action is from the 70's it's one of the good ones. Chambered in a 280/284 based cartridge would be my vote as well. Put on a carbon barrel and a stock and I bet you couldn't keep your hands off it.

carbon barrel,yup! 24 or 26 in Barrel

CF wrapped barrels have a certain cool factor and that's ok, I have a few myself, but other than that and a larger diameter at the muzzle, they don't really have any other benefit.  If you're looking for LR rig that shoots the best it can, I'd stay with an all steel barrel and skip anything CF wrapped.

Bull barrel stiff at half the weight. If you have the coin, it matters!

Nope, that's not even close to being true.

Not as stiff? Not even close? Do tell..!

Not half the weight. Less weight than the same diameter barrel in steel. 

[Threewolves]

shot out? is there a loss of accuracy?  how many rounds have you put through it? do you reload? I have a 300 win mag I bought in 78 that has a documented 770 rounds through it and still shoots tight. I had a buddy that thought his 7mm was going out, a little cleaning with some sweets, a little trigger adjustment, he was back in business.

As for rebarreling, I did not look to see if your are eastside or westside, don't know what kind of hunting you do. But if I was a westside elk hunter I would be looking at the place down in Oregon and maybe go with elk slamming 35. Whelan. Or just stick with the 06 if you already have brass and dies   

[cooltimber]

shot out? is there a loss of accuracy?  how many rounds have you put through it? do you reload? I have a 300 win mag I bought in 78 that has a documented 770 rounds through it and still shoots tight. I had a buddy that thought his 7mm was going out, a little cleaning with some sweets, a little trigger adjustment, he was back in business.

As for rebarreling, I did not look to see if your are eastside or westside, don't know what kind of hunting you do. But if I was a westside elk hunter I would be looking at the place down in Oregon and maybe go with elk slamming 35. Whelan. Or just stick with the 06 if you already have brass and dies

yes, big loss in accuracy. Ive been reloading for 30 yr's. Round count guessing 800. sweets is my go to and scrubbed with a brass brush from the receiver end wiped dry patch..2lb trigger and bedded .its likes imr 4064 at 49gr with 165 bthp.

[MountainWalk]

Close to factory, would be the way I would go. A plain unsexy sporterbarrel in another oh six or even a whelen wouldn’t be bending the rules too much.

  You’ve got a classic gun, made back when they gave a damn. And it has history and mystery. Blued steel and brown a dented walnut stock speaks volumes.  Tupperware guns aren’t heirlooms. Ruger Americans aren’t something you are proud to pass on. And neither is a cut up classic old Remington made to be something it never was meant to be.

[bearpaw]

shot out? is there a loss of accuracy?  how many rounds have you put through it? do you reload? I have a 300 win mag I bought in 78 that has a documented 770 rounds through it and still shoots tight. I had a buddy that thought his 7mm was going out, a little cleaning with some sweets, a little trigger adjustment, he was back in business.

As for rebarreling, I did not look to see if your are eastside or westside, don't know what kind of hunting you do. But if I was a westside elk hunter I would be looking at the place down in Oregon and maybe go with elk slamming 35. Whelan. Or just stick with the 06 if you already have brass and dies

yes, big loss in accuracy. Ive been reloading for 30 yr's. Round count guessing 800. sweets is my go to and scrubbed with a brass brush from the receiver end wiped dry patch..2lb trigger and bedded .its likes imr 4064 at 49gr with 165 bthp.

I find it hard to believe an 06 would be shot out with that few of rounds? You said you have sweets, just to be sure, soak your barrel good with sweets, stand it in a corner barrel down on something to catch any runoff and let it sit for a couple days then run a patch through it, I bet it comes out greenish which means you have fouling, run patches until no more green and let it sit again with a wet barrel for a couple days and clean again, keep doing that until you get no greenish color after it sits a couple days with a barrel wet with sweets. I had a couple guns that took over a week to get them cleaned up completely and they shot almost like new guns again after I was finished.

[cooltimber]

Close to factory, would be the way I would go. A plain unsexy sporterbarrel in another oh six or even a whelen wouldn’t be bending the rules too much.

  You’ve got a classic gun, made back when they gave a damn. And it has history and mystery. Blued steel and brown a dented walnut stock speaks volumes.  Tupperware guns aren’t heirlooms. Ruger Americans aren’t something you are proud to pass on. And neither is a cut up classic old Remington made to be something it never was meant to be.

well said,elk blood stain on the stock, adventure scars ,dents. BDL. Ive changed mounts,scopes,in lb  torque adj. ITS a keeper wore out 2 leather sling;s. ONE  thing I havent looked for is a cracked STOCK.

[C-Money]

I'd put another 30-06 barrel on it and keep it original. Keep hunting with it! I think you'd be sad if you did anything else to it. Then, you can go look into putting a long range gun together from scratch. I hear the 300 PRC is a pretty amazing cartridge.

[JimmyHoffa]

shot out? is there a loss of accuracy?  how many rounds have you put through it? do you reload? I have a 300 win mag I bought in 78 that has a documented 770 rounds through it and still shoots tight. I had a buddy that thought his 7mm was going out, a little cleaning with some sweets, a little trigger adjustment, he was back in business.

As for rebarreling, I did not look to see if your are eastside or westside, don't know what kind of hunting you do. But if I was a westside elk hunter I would be looking at the place down in Oregon and maybe go with elk slamming 35. Whelan. Or just stick with the 06 if you already have brass and dies

yes, big loss in accuracy. Ive been reloading for 30 yr's. Round count guessing 800. sweets is my go to and scrubbed with a brass brush from the receiver end wiped dry patch..2lb trigger and bedded .its likes imr 4064 at 49gr with 165 bthp.

I find it hard to believe an 06 would be shot out with that few of rounds? You said you have sweets, just to be sure, soak your barrel good with sweets, stand it in a corner barrel down on something to catch any runoff and let it sit for a couple days then run a patch through it, I bet it comes out greenish which means you have fouling, run patches until no more green and let it sit again with a wet barrel for a couple days and clean again, keep doing that until you get no greenish color after it sits a couple days with a barrel wet with sweets. I had a couple guns that took over a week to get them cleaned up completely and they shot almost like new guns again after I was finished.

Or maybe have it bore scoped.
But agree, 06 should last quite a while.  Some of the Garands went all of WW2, then frequent use in CMP followed by private use and got the steel cleaning rod most of the way.  And they were still shooting fine.

[blackdog]

Love my 338-06 by JES.

[Fidelk]

Thinking about making a 1000 yarder, or put a sporter barrel. Have my 7mag plus a choice of others to Hunt with.! What to do?

ct, I have a Remington 700 Long Range (.300 Win Mag)......with Barnes VOR-TX, it can shoot 3 rounds into less than an inch group at 300 yards (which is the longest distance at my local range). It's set up for hunting with a 2-10x42 scope, so I'm a bit light on optical power. It is a heavy barrel and if that is available and an option for you, it might be worth considering. If I had a range near me that went out to 1000 yards, I'd change the scope to 25x and turn it into a benchrest rifle. I was mildly surprised that a $600 rifle had that level of accuracy.

[mossback91]

Packing weight 280AI build is my two cents!
That’s exactly what I did with an old model 700 30-06 I had.
To do it it again I think I’d maybe go a hair lighter than I did but I do love the setup I have with a fluted #4 barrel on it and McMillan game scout stock.

[cooltimber]

I took the rifle to, The Range in yakima,1701 garretson Ln where they are going to put a new Mcgowen precision barrel on ..In addition A trueing of the action.The barrel will be cerakoted in blk.  Now IM looking at  ,Grayboe stock..

[timberfaller]

  for the 280 AI!!

But then, I am partial to all AI's!

[elkrack]

You can turn that 30.06 into a 30.06 AI! 

[Kauaiian]

I think a 30-06 would have much more life than 800 rounds. If you don't have a borescope, you might want to think about getting one. It would be a great investment. My guess would be bad carbon fouling. Hard to tell if all the carbon is out without a borescope.

However, if the barrel is shot out… I would go with a 1k build. But that's just me.  If you’re shooting 500 rounds per month, I would think about barrel life and go with 260 AI or something along those lines with a decent barrel life. If you’re not worried about barrel life, I’d go with the 28 or a 7 RUM shooting the Berger 195 EOL. The Ballistics on that bullet is amazing.

You probably have a lot of good memories with that rifle.... but nothing wrong with making new memories. 

[cooltimber]

They looked through a bore scope and found the rifling scared. The throat was scratched! I have 500 brass once fired and maybe 800 bullets plus Dies..It was a 1in moa at 100 yrds. When i get it back in 3 months it will be a 1-2 in moa at 200 yrds . 2yrs ago my horse fell on the scabbard side ,I bailed off. A few days later I took a elk. So thought all good ,till i went up to the Range. I think the Barrel got Bent.I have a 7mag that shoots great ,so ive been not lucky with it,,lol still a virgin. Thanks for all the support. I assume the 700 wood stock has a non visible crack, therefore Im getting a fiber stock for it.Mount better scope mounts on a rail and havent decided which scope as yet.However it will be  moa.

[mossback91]

They looked through a bore scope and found the rifling scared. The throat was scratched! I have 500 brass once fired and maybe 800 bullets plus Dies..It was a 1in moa at 100 yrds. When i get it back in 3 months it will be a 1-2 in moa at 200 yrds . 2yrs ago my horse fell on the scabbard side ,I bailed off. A few days later I took a elk. So thought all good ,till i went up to the Range. I think the Barrel got Bent.I have a 7mag that shoots great ,so ive been not lucky with it,,lol still a virgin. Thanks for all the support. I assume the 700 wood stock has a non visible crack, therefore Im getting a fiber stock for it.Mount better scope mounts on a rail and havent decided which scope as yet.However it will be  moa.

assuming you are sticking with 30-06?