Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats Best use of a 700 SA?

I bought an SPS 700 in .243 awhile back because it was on sale. Dropped it in an edge. Bedded it. Talleys and a Leupie. It honestly doesn't even shoot half as well as the old Stevens 200 .243 that it replaced. Tried several loads. Also, the balance is a little muzzle-heavy with the edge stock.

So I'm thinking a new tube is in its future. Thinking a Rock #2 at 22", but can't decide on chambering. I've always liked 7-08's. 120's @ 3100, 140's @ 2850, and 162's @ 2700 don't suck. Had one. Wouldn't mind having another. Worth it to AI? But I also have a nice m70 FW 30-06, and not sure what a 7-08 would do in a hunting rifle that the '06 doesn't...

Also like .243's. 105's @ 3000, 80 ttsx's @ 3400, and 55's @ 4000 if I ever felt like it. But I also have a howa mini .223 for little bullets, and not sure a 105 is any better than a 6.5. Which leads me to...

I've never owned a 6.5mm other than an old surplus 96. The Creed probably interests me the most. I wouldn't hate a 6.5x47, and it would be nothing to drive the 30 minutes to Gre-Tan and get my firing pin bushed. But the .260 offers potentially even more, and also could be run AI... Seems like any of them would get 123's close to 3k to match the .243/105, a 129/130 at 2900 to match/best a .284 140 in hunting bullets, and 140's at 2700+ to match 162's with less recoil. Looks like you could even run a 100 Barnes at 3300ish.

So what does the fire say? Is there a majority vote on the most bang for your SA 700 buck?


Oh, planning on having a Wyatt's mag box installed regardless of chambering.

6.5x47 Lapua...

Tony.

If going with factory magazine length, 6.5x47.

John

+1

If you want to go .260 or AI, you could look at a Wyatt's extended mag box or a Bainey box for a longer COAL. You might have to have the bolt stop cut back for a longer bolt throw. Not sure on that as I have never used an extended box with a 700, only a custom 700 clone.

By some strange coincidence, an 8 twisted bartlein 6.5 barrel just hit my doorstep. 6.5x47 soon to be twisted on.

6.5 Creed or 6.5x47 Lapua would be the direction I'd go. No flies on either of them. Haven't heard or seen too many (if any) reports of either of these not excelling in the accuracy department - custom built or factory spawned.

BTW, the OP mentions having the firing pin bushed and moving to a 6.5 in the same breathe. No need to bush the firing bin in the process of stepping up to a 6.5 unless the OP wants it done as part of the re-build.

260AI

Screw mag length.

So the bullet intrudes on the powder column a little - so what?

You've still got more usable capacity than a CM or a the itty bitty Lapua, no need to jack around w/ small rifle primers and run high pressure. High quality Lapua brass available.

David

Billy club?

6.5 Creedmore is what I would do. Same capacity as the .260 a little more juice than the Lapua and no worries over the small primer if using ball powders. Brass if not available can be formed from .250 savage or others.

260 may be easier to get components for and same performance.
As far as field performance there is very little difference in all the medium 6.5s. Not until you go .264 Win or Nosler would there be much difference.

If I ever get around to a similar build it will be a .243 with a Bartlein 0 contour 1&8 twist in a Bansner stock. But then I just got a new 6.5x55 so I almost have the total gun looney redundancy covered at least for the mid calibers.

No wrong choices.

I had a Rem 700 youth in .243 Win. It was a piece of junk. It rusted in a few days and the best groups were 3" @ 100 yds. I sold it for a Tikka T3 in .270 Win. This was supposed to be for my son cause his H&R .243 super light shot even worse. After the Tikka T3, I wish I would have just bought it in the first place.

fwiw,
No authority, however, concur on 6.5x47 Lapua for a .473". Would go .223 AI or Mk262Md1 spun 1-7"ish if SBF...

I've actually got a SA 700 stainless .384" BF and I do believe it will go much the same as my BAT VR 6.5x47 Lapua route, only setup for Mk262 Mod 1... Though I am already setup for .223AI. Just want to be sure the chamber puts the 77 grain Sierra HPBTs into or right on the rifling from an AI magazine...

Bartlein 5R SS Remington Varmint 22-23" Fluted
McMillan Sako Varmint, OD Gelcoat, Anschutz Rail, Badger M5 Enhanced Bottom Metal
Bix'n Andy Remington 700 Varmint Trigger at 12 ounces or so
Schmidt Bender PMII running an H-59..

Regards, Matt.

6.5 Rem Mag. Have the bolt face opened.

fwiw,
Bought a BAT VR for my 6.5x47 Lapua/Sako Vamint project... Unreal piece of machining(imho). Noticed slightly larger than SFP hole (usually .0625") and measured .070" which is in between small and large...afaik. Called BAT and expressed concern. Learned BAT has ONE firing pin hole dimension and .070" is it... From 6PPC actions to .338 Lapua Magnum they one run diameter and have zero issues. The man spoke with conviction, the machine work is unlike anything I have ever seen, and I am tending to believe the man knows what he is talking about... Time will tell.

Regards, Matt.

My 6.5x47L on a 700 had to be bushed. But I'd go that route again, as I like the chambering. Nice brass and good performance from not a lot of powder. Mine makes 2,900fps with 129gr bullets from a 22.5" barrel. And I can easily work from the lands with a 2.82" mag box. I consider it a sensible choice for a handloader looking to make an easy-shooting 6.5 on a short action.

When I bought a short Remington 700 I had the bolt opened up to fit a .378 Weatherby. The 7mm barrel was chamber to fit a .378 Wea with its 45* shoulder pushed back to make a case 2 1/4" long with a 1/4" long neck. It held the same amount of powder as my 7-.300 Weatherby. I called it Short Fat Seven decades before short and fat was in.

So that's one thing you can do.

I had a .25 souper barrel put on a 700sa easy to form cases and light recoil. But I do like my .260 on a Ruger 77 also easy to form cases.

Setting up for the 6.5x47. New reamer in bound with .2944 throat and .167 free bore. Got some good info from a fellow member. Looking forward to giving this round a go. 140 vld getting first at bat once it is screwed together.

Fishing sinker?

A couple of other options to ponder.... 250 Savage twisted 1-9 is a great option for a SA as is a 1-8 22-250.

Best use of a Rem 700 is to kill stuff with it.