|
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,626
Campfire Tracker
|
OP
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,626 |
I recently bought a ANIB 1973 Rem 700 Classic marked 243 Winchester. When I shot it I found out it was a 243Improved. Should I spend $70 for dies or rebarrel the rifle 7-08?
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 15,307 Likes: 1
Campfire Ranger
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 15,307 Likes: 1 |
How did it shoot? I'd probably gauge what you wanna use it for. Both are super cartridges.
Semper Fi
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 96,121
Campfire Oracle
|
Campfire Oracle
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 96,121 |
I don't recall there being 700 Classics in 1973.
That said, $70 dies seem a bit cheaper than a rebarrel. If it shoots well I'd run her till the wheels fell off.
"Dear Lord, save me from Your followers"
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 30,816 Likes: 14
Campfire 'Bwana
|
Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 30,816 Likes: 14 |
What are the planned uses for the rifle........
Lee will build you a collet die set for $50 or so...
You'd still need a FL die...I would have no use for a 243AI..
Maybe you would...but a 7-08 or 260 would be more useful
T R U M P W O N !
U L T R A M A G A !
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 9,189
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 9,189 |
The 243AI IS a super cartridge! Have you checked the twist rate? 100 gr Partitions have killed many, many deer and elk, or if you want a distance shooter and the twist is right, The 105 Amax and Hornady BTHP are dandies for both distance and game-getting. The bullet weight isn't there in the 6mm compared to the 7mm, but with the right bullets, they are likely identical in game-taking ability. I refer you to John Burns's video of his guiding a woman to take an elk at 688yds with a 243 and VLDs.
I belong on eroding granite, among the pines.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 3,943
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 3,943 |
I would buy a set of dies and rock on. And the advice on Lee's collet die isn't bad...especially if you can get a Redding body die to compliment the set.
LOTS cheaper than rebarreling.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 203
Campfire Member
|
Campfire Member
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 203 |
This looks like a business opportunity, if it shoots good like it is, just shoot away and sell the high quality, premium fire formed brass in the classified's.
We have all read the many threads on how hard it is to fire form brass. (smiley here)
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 28,813 Likes: 4
Campfire Ranger
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 28,813 Likes: 4 |
Clearly you thought you had a use for a .243 when you bought it, so shoot it.
The Lee collet die set is a good idea. I don't know if they'll make you a FL die, but somebody will, or get that body die. You may get by with neck sizing for a while.
Hornady .243 brass seems to be readily available now. Others, maybe not so much.
What fresh Hell is this?
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 60,149 Likes: 11
Campfire Kahuna
|
Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 60,149 Likes: 11 |
As Steelhead noted, the model of Remington 700 formally known as the Classic wasn't around in 1973. Are you just calling it a classic because it's old?
It doesn't really matter, because you didn't get screwed on the price. If it's a rechambered factory barrel it probably has a 1-9 rifling twist, which is what Remington also started using on .243's after they introduced the 6mm Remington to solve the slow-twist problem of the .244. A few late .244's had 1-10 twists, but the 6mm's were 1-9, so Remington wouldn't again be accused to using a "marginal" twist, and they found it simpler to use the same barrels on .243's after that.
While a 1-19 twist isn't as versatile as the 1-8 many people put on 6mm rifles today, it's more versatile than the 1-10 on most factory .243's. Depending on what elevation you do most of you shooting at, it may even stabilize some bullets it's not supposed to. If it shoots well I'd just keep using it until (and if) the barrel ever loses it's accuracy, at which point it could be rebored to .260 or 7mm-08 AI.
“Montana seems to me to be what a small boy would think Texas is like from hearing Texans.” John Steinbeck
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 14,807
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 14,807 |
Return the gun and get your money back. The chamber is not normal. So called AI's are a waste of time and money Instead shop for a better design rather than that Push Feed with a poor trigger and safety. Look at M70's, Mausers, Kimbers.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 10,896
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 10,896 |
Return the gun and get your money back.
The chamber is not normal.
Another enlightening post when will they ever end ?
You better be afraid of a ghost!!
"Woody you were baptized in prop wash"..crossfireoops
Woody
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,626
Campfire Tracker
|
OP
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,626 |
The barrel is coded 1973 & I think it was the model that was replaced by the mountain rifle & before the 1 cal per year series. I think this model was made in 223,243,270,7mag,308 30'06. I shot 1 group with it using 55 gr bullets that went about 2". have some 100 Hornady's loaded up so I guess can shoot few of them & see how it does.
Last edited by gahuntertom; 08/20/14.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 9,189
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 9,189 |
Return the gun and get your money back. The chamber is not normal. So called AI's are a waste of time and money Instead shop for a better design rather than that Push Feed with a poor trigger and safety. Look at M70's, Mausers, Kimbers. Was this meant to be sarcastic? I hope so. I have no idea what a 'normal' chamber would be. They are all holes bored into cylinders of various steels. Not normal may be a square, or oval chamber? Never mind.
Last edited by HuntnShoot; 08/20/14.
I belong on eroding granite, among the pines.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 96,121
Campfire Oracle
|
Campfire Oracle
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 96,121 |
The barrel is coded 1973 & I think it was the model that was replaced by the mountain rifle & before the 1 cal per year series. I think this model was made in 223,243,270,7mag,308 30'06. I shot 1 group with it using 55 gr bullets that went about 2". have some 100 Hornady's loaded up so I guess can shoot few of them & see how it does. Negative on the mountain rifle and Classic dates of 1973. Barrel code tells you about the barrel.
"Dear Lord, save me from Your followers"
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 14,807
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 14,807 |
A regular or normal chamber will have a higher resale value, easier to load and get ammo for. Of course some are entertained by the AI fun. See the tiny, non CRF, broken extractor on this push feed bolt?
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 96,121
Campfire Oracle
|
Campfire Oracle
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 96,121 |
Everyday you are one day closer to assuming room temp.
"Dear Lord, save me from Your followers"
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,712
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,712 |
As I recall it Remington sold M700 Classics in a variety of calibers prior to the company beginning to restrict the Classic line to one new caliber each year. I can not recall what year the company made the change. I know I owned one of the early models but now can not even remember what cartridge it was chambered for.
Jim
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 44,860 Likes: 4
Campfire 'Bwana
|
Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 44,860 Likes: 4 |
According to the Remington site, the Classic started in 1978. I believe the "one at a time" series started in 1981 with the 7x57.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 78,300 Likes: 1
Campfire Oracle
|
Campfire Oracle
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 78,300 Likes: 1 |
And they ran out of truly classic cartridges about 4 years later...
"...the left considers you vermin, and they'll kill you given the chance..." Bristoe
|
|
|
|
93 members (7mm_Loco, 444Matt, 338reddog, 79S, 2ndwind, 257_X_50, 13 invisible),
1,603
guests, and
853
robots. |
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
Forums81
Topics1,192,368
Posts18,488,295
Members73,970
|
Most Online11,491 Jul 7th, 2023
|
|
|
|