Recently had a Wyatt's extended magazine box installed in one of my 308s. My goal was to be able to magazine load rounds with the 208 AMax loaded long.

Installation requires opening up the aft end of the magazine mortise in the receiver, and modifying the boltstop for longer bolt travel.

This pic shows before (bottom), and after (top) of the milling typically required in a Rem 700.


Bolt stop mod,


I had the install done in Helena at Capital Sports. Price was a reasonable $60 for the labor.

When I got it home I discovered I needed to massage the feed rails just a touch to let them release the longer ammo a bit sooner. Just a couple light swipes with a file and a stone to smooth it up.


The magazine box has internal length of 2.99". I discovered it will also hold two rounds down even loaded at 3.08", and feed fine.

Here are a few more pics.

308 rounds loaded with 208 AMax. OAL 2.81", 2.98", and 3.08". Quickload says useable case volume is 44.7gr, 47.9gr, and 49.7gr, respectively. That's over a 10% increase in useable volume at 3.08".


Bolt at full rearward travel,


Four down at 2.98",


Two down at 3.08"

Thx 4 sharing, good stuff.

Side note, those cases are really scraped up.

Dober

I need to get a short action 700 in left hand. I have plans to build a 6 BR on one someday. Got a beater laying around Shane?

LOL, I thought the same thing when I looked at the pic.

Those cases are just dummy loads. I kinda put them through the wars, getting the feedrails right.

The rig isn't that hard on the brass.

Sorry, no extra beater here....grin.

6BR is a pretty neat little round though.

I figured it was something like that...grin

Shoot straight my friend and have a super Christmas!

Dober

You too!

AND, that is why you can shoot the VLD's in the 6.5x284 in a short 700 action.

QL indicates an increase of 50 fps from 2550 to 2600 using RL17 and moly 208's, less with naked 208's, are these the results you found?

You can count me as a fan too. Have the Wyatt box on my Stiller Predator .260. Initially had some feeding problems that at least in part, came down to operator error. First I had the magazine spring installed upside down. Who knew the things actually have a top and a bottom? The next part was the bolt tended to ride over the heel of the cartridge, not picking them up. On the advice of the guys at Stiller, I tweaked the magazine spring, bending it up so the heel of the follower rode higher and now it feeds like a dream.

Lest anyone think the Wyatt box was the issue, before I took the corrective actions with the Wyatt box, I tried a factory Remington box and got the exact same results. Now the Wyatts feeds as well as any SA 700 I have ever had and the extra length with the VLDs is very much appreciated. Nice to be able to reach the lands with VLDs loaded to magazine length.

John

Any trouble with the back of the follower hitting on the Bottom metal when fully loaded. This happens on my predator wsm giving me only 2 down. I have another Wyatt's for my 308 but haven't put it all together yet so I don't know how it'll work.

Bb

Not that I have detected. In my .260, I can get four down with PT&G bottom metal, but it is a tight fit.

John

I looked on Wyatt's webpage and saw where they machine an angle into the bottom metal when needed so the follower will not hang up on the 'step'. I did a little light work with the dremel to take the step off and all is fine.

I had this issue with my newest 308. I cured that by removing the issued magazine box and spreading the top wider open at the rear. Not the lips, but the whole of the magazine. I had to squeeze it together to fit it into the magazine mortise, then it's own spring tension spread it outboard for a snug fit in the mortise. Then it fed 100%.

Shane, why did you go with the Wyatt cut and box over an AICS system/mag and feed ramp notch?

Reading Shane's posts can be expensive.


Travis

Indeed. I'm hunting for some 208s now, too...

The AICS system would be nice.

I suppose the fact that I went in for expensive Badger Ord M4 bottom metal long before all the DBM options were available is the biggest reason.

And now I'm not willing to spend on a DBM system that I really don't need.

I'll tell you, I've really gotten to the point that I prefer to spend my loot on bullets and powder, than upgrades on rifles. Most of my $$$ stuff is 8-10 years old, but I made choices that I'm still happy with.

I had enough "extra parts" to kit out the newer 308 with all the goodies from McM, Badger, etc. It was a crime to have over $1000 in quality upgrade parts gathering dust in a box, when all they needed was an SPS Varmint to get them in use.

It seems there is always something newer, and a little more "high speed" every year. I guess I'm getting older, because I can see and appreciate the newer stuff, but don't lay awake at night thinking about having it......grin

gotcha..

Let me know when you find them. Apparently 208's are marketed alongside P-mags...


Travis

Yeah, All my stuff is running nicely and I much prefer buying components.

But I HAD to have a chunk...


Travis

Everytime I consider buying a DBM system or RCBS chargemaster, I think about how much powder I could get instead....

Shane, have you run many 175-178 class bullets lately?

Travis, all I had was three chunks. I had to get a sporter.....grin

Tanner, I had a nice 178 AMax load in the sporter 30-06.

I haven't shot them at all in the 308s.

Don't waste your money on a Chargemaster. Ever.


Travis

Gotcha. I'm trying to figure out a load with '17 for the .308 and a 178...

make sure you are also testing RL 17 at distance of at least 500 yards AND in several temperature ranges. it wasn't a good powder to me once the distance got beyond 200 yards.

I quickly found out 17 isn't some magic fairy powder, despite what our dead forum member guesses..

GFY.


Travis

Thanks buddy. I'll ask bigsqueegee.

ask for some pictures, too. that's always entertaining.

I believe the 178 is too light for RL17 in the 308Win. Velocities will likely be all over the place.

Think 200+ gr bullets, and a compressed charge of RL17.

Well Shane, gotta send that MK4 back it looks like. Second scope this year. Groups are all over the place and two clicks at 800 is moving impact about 3 feet.

[bleep].


Travis

Yep they suck

I ran out earlier to double check stuff. The 22-250AI that's always dead nuts was about 3" high at 200.........the 6.5-284 was 3" low. I've no idea what's happened? Reset and plan to eat all day tomorrow and peel out early Wednesday for a hunt.

That blows.....

BTW,

I run a Wyatts in my 260 with the 140 VLD's. Got just enough room to touch the lands and still stuff 'em in the mag.

If I don't shoot it too much, I won't have to chase the lands, so all's good.....

While some chastise the Wyatts, I don't have a problem, although only an experience of one.....

Why do some dislike the Wyatts so much?

BTW, seems that Shane was right on concerning '17 and 178s. "Groups" were bad, and it seems that when seating to mag length, there just isn't room for enough powder to reach a workable velocity. Maybe it'd change when seated out long, but who knows...

Thanks for the informative pictorial thread MM.