Caliber conversion .30-06 to .308

Ninja Piper · 11-03-2009, 09:15 PM

Is it possible to convert a Remington 700 from .30-06 to .308? I was thinking with a new barrel and bolt, it should work. Once again, I post my question to the experts of the internet. Thanks!

texnmidwest · 11-03-2009, 10:02 PM

It can be done but you will spend more doing it than you would buying a 308 bolt rifle.
Plus, you will still have a long action rifle.

Ninja Piper · 11-03-2009, 10:06 PM

What do you have to do?

big boomer · 11-03-2009, 10:06 PM

all you would need is the barrel, the bolt is the same. Why not just trade for what you want. there is almost no difference between the 2 ballisticly so i do not understand why you want to do this conversion but everyone has their own likes.

big boomer · 11-03-2009, 10:08 PM

they use to make an adapter that fit in the barrel it was a bad idea as they came out and you ended up with exess headspace. you can always have a new barrel screwed in or maybe have the old one done on a lathe. its a simple fix for a smith

Ninja Piper · 11-03-2009, 10:10 PM

A buddy of mine is thinking about buying it and wants a heavier barrel on it. He was also thinking of getting a .308. This way, two birds, one stone.

big boomer · 11-03-2009, 10:13 PM

going to a heavy barrel is a good reason to get a new one and the 3006 to 308 is the easiest conversion as its only shorter every thing else is the same bolt, extractor,etc

Ninja Piper · 11-03-2009, 10:18 PM

Thanks!

hogan · 11-04-2009, 12:05 AM

Long action with 1:10 twist barrel in .308win lets you seat longer bullets way out there and use all your case below the neck for powder. A varmint or #4 heavy barrel will probably give outstanding accuracy.

Ninja Piper · 11-04-2009, 12:11 AM

Thanks for the details hogan! I don't know much about the particulars and any bits of information are helpful. This is why I love G&G! By the way, welcome to G&G!

big shrek · 11-04-2009, 02:48 PM

Skip all that, just go get a Marlin XS-7 in .308 for $290.

It'll outshoot the Remington all day long

JASmith · 11-07-2009, 12:15 AM

Tell us again what gain you get by going from '06 to .308?

Does the rifle shoot poorly -- The only reason I can see for switching barrels, and even then I have difficulty in grokking the need for going to a less capable cartridge.

Ninja Piper · 11-07-2009, 01:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JASmith

Tell us again what gain you get by going from '06 to .308?

Does the rifle shoot poorly -- The only reason I can see for switching barrels, and even then I have difficulty in grokking the need for going to a less capable cartridge.

A friend of mine was considering buying the rifle, but wanted a .308 and a bull barrel. I wanted to know if it was possible to switch calibers by switching barrels, thus killing two birds with one stone. I have been able to get 3"-4" groups at 250yards with it, so it shoots great for my purposes!

texnmidwest · 11-07-2009, 08:31 AM

I had a buddy who converted a 30-06 into a 22-250. It shot very well.

In spite of what some will tell you when you go customizing rifles for bench rest competitions from what I have seen most start with a Remington action.

Not sure if your friend wants to build a Bench Rest quality rifle or not but it sounds like he has a good start. If one starts with your Remington action, squares up the action, glass beds the stock, installs the new 308 (or other caliber) bull barrel and a new trigger, one should have one heck of a great shooter. I dare to believe that a rifle built like this by a competent gunsmith will outshoot most commercial rifles and truly be a rifle to be proud of. JMHO

SwedeSteve · 11-07-2009, 01:17 PM

I agree with Tex on this, if indeed he is looking for a target rifle.

samuel · 11-07-2009, 02:21 PM

Now,BartB told you a Rem just isn't any good,use a Win.First,you can't buy a Win without a barrel attached as far as I know and second,it is hard to stay under the weight limit for sporting rifles with a Win action but easy with the Rim.The accuracy difference in the two has been debated for years.In my opinion,some like blondes,some like brunettse.A Win is a smoother action but push feed suports the case head better. ,,,sam.

Ninja Piper · 11-08-2009, 01:53 AM

The trigger has been customized so there is absolutely no take up or over travel, set around 2lbs. It is glass bedded already. I'm not going to be selling the rifle after all... He couldn't convince his "off-duty supervisor." The groups at 250 were with old milsurp ammo from the 60's that I got from LarryO. I am going to be getting a reloading set up for .30-06 so I hope to be able to get some quality ammo through it for some better grouping. I would also like to replace the scope on it when I get the money. It currently has a Simmons 9x40 now.

11-03-2009, 09:15 PM	#1
Ninja Piper Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Watertown, WI Posts: 280	Caliber conversion .30-06 to .308 Is it possible to convert a Remington 700 from .30-06 to .308? I was thinking with a new barrel and bolt, it should work. Once again, I post my question to the experts of the internet. Thanks! __________________ You can hear me...but you can't see me... I am the NINJA PIPER!

11-03-2009, 10:02 PM	#2
texnmidwest Some People's kids.... Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: South east Wisconsin Posts: 6,975	It can be done but you will spend more doing it than you would buying a 308 bolt rifle. Plus, you will still have a long action rifle. __________________ never pass up a bathroom, never waste a ** , and never trust a fart.

11-03-2009, 10:06 PM	#3
Ninja Piper Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Watertown, WI Posts: 280	What do you have to do? __________________ You can hear me...but you can't see me... I am the NINJA PIPER!

11-03-2009, 10:10 PM	#6
Ninja Piper Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Watertown, WI Posts: 280	A buddy of mine is thinking about buying it and wants a heavier barrel on it. He was also thinking of getting a .308. This way, two birds, one stone. __________________ You can hear me...but you can't see me... I am the NINJA PIPER!

11-03-2009, 10:18 PM	#8
Ninja Piper Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Watertown, WI Posts: 280	Thanks! __________________ You can hear me...but you can't see me... I am the NINJA PIPER!

11-03-2009, 10:06 PM	#4
big boomer Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Minn. Posts: 2,306	all you would need is the barrel, the bolt is the same. Why not just trade for what you want. there is almost no difference between the 2 ballisticly so i do not understand why you want to do this conversion but everyone has their own likes.

11-03-2009, 10:08 PM	#5
big boomer Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Minn. Posts: 2,306	they use to make an adapter that fit in the barrel it was a bad idea as they came out and you ended up with exess headspace. you can always have a new barrel screwed in or maybe have the old one done on a lathe. its a simple fix for a smith

11-03-2009, 10:13 PM	#7
big boomer Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Minn. Posts: 2,306	going to a heavy barrel is a good reason to get a new one and the 3006 to 308 is the easiest conversion as its only shorter every thing else is the same bolt, extractor,etc

11-04-2009, 12:05 AM	#9
hogan Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 1	Long action with 1:10 twist barrel in .308win lets you seat longer bullets way out there and use all your case below the neck for powder. A varmint or #4 heavy barrel will probably give outstanding accuracy.

11-04-2009, 12:11 AM	#10
Ninja Piper Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Watertown, WI Posts: 280	Thanks for the details hogan! I don't know much about the particulars and any bits of information are helpful. This is why I love G&G! By the way, welcome to G&G! __________________ You can hear me...but you can't see me... I am the NINJA PIPER!

11-04-2009, 02:48 PM	#11
big shrek Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Northwest, FL Posts: 3,128 Images: 56	Skip all that, just go get a Marlin XS-7 in .308 for $290. It'll outshoot the Remington all day long __________________ In every Unit...there is a Scrounger...

11-07-2009, 12:15 AM	#12
JASmith Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Northern California Posts: 2	Tell us again what gain you get by going from '06 to .308? Does the rifle shoot poorly -- The only reason I can see for switching barrels, and even then I have difficulty in grokking the need for going to a less capable cartridge.

11-07-2009, 08:31 AM	#14
texnmidwest Some People's kids.... Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: South east Wisconsin Posts: 6,975	I had a buddy who converted a 30-06 into a 22-250. It shot very well. In spite of what some will tell you when you go customizing rifles for bench rest competitions from what I have seen most start with a Remington action. Not sure if your friend wants to build a Bench Rest quality rifle or not but it sounds like he has a good start. If one starts with your Remington action, squares up the action, glass beds the stock, installs the new 308 (or other caliber) bull barrel and a new trigger, one should have one heck of a great shooter. I dare to believe that a rifle built like this by a competent gunsmith will outshoot most commercial rifles and truly be a rifle to be proud of. JMHO __________________ never pass up a bathroom, never waste a ** , and never trust a fart.
	1 members found this post helpful.

11-07-2009, 01:17 PM	#15
SwedeSteve Suspected Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Anchortown, Alaska Posts: 23,549 Images: 1	I agree with Tex on this, if indeed he is looking for a target rifle. __________________ Thank God we don't get as much Government as we pay for! -Will Rogers

11-07-2009, 02:21 PM	#16
samuel Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 10,911	Now,BartB told you a Rem just isn't any good,use a Win.First,you can't buy a Win without a barrel attached as far as I know and second,it is hard to stay under the weight limit for sporting rifles with a Win action but easy with the Rim.The accuracy difference in the two has been debated for years.In my opinion,some like blondes,some like brunettse.A Win is a smoother action but push feed suports the case head better. ,,,sam.

11-08-2009, 01:53 AM	#17
Ninja Piper Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Watertown, WI Posts: 280	The trigger has been customized so there is absolutely no take up or over travel, set around 2lbs. It is glass bedded already. I'm not going to be selling the rifle after all... He couldn't convince his "off-duty supervisor." The groups at 250 were with old milsurp ammo from the 60's that I got from LarryO. I am going to be getting a reloading set up for .30-06 so I hope to be able to get some quality ammo through it for some better grouping. I would also like to replace the scope on it when I get the money. It currently has a Simmons 9x40 now. __________________ You can hear me...but you can't see me... I am the NINJA PIPER!