Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Long versus Short Action

I recently purchased a Remington 700 takeoff barrel in .243 Winchester for a parts rifle build. The issue is I currently own only one suitable donor action and it's a long action. Am I crazy to build the .243 on a long action or would I be better off to try and trade my long action for a short action?

I have a 243 built on a 700 long action. It is accurate, (sub MOA) I do not notice the additional length and I see no real down side to it. I would just do it and not look back.

I'd not worry about it.

However, I'd also consider a longer cartridge like a 6mm/06, since you're able, or maybe a 6mm/.284 with bullets seated way out, throated accordingly, of course. One of those with a fast twist could send thise new longer bullets out at a pretty good clip, if that would fit your planned use.

Thanks for the reply Miles. That's the kind of answer I was hoping for. You don't have any feeding issues running the .243 round in the long action do you?

Pappy, I'm kind of set on the .243 Win chambering because although I have a barrel vise, action wrench and headspace gages I don't yet own a lathe so rechambering is out of the question for me.

Your take off barrel is likely twisted 1-10.... that’s going to limit your long heavy bullet selection regardless of cartridge selection.

Kalbrecht, where are you?
I am between Riverton and Shoshoni. Maybe I could help you.

szihn, I'm on the other side of the state (big state) - Fort Laramie Why don't you PM me.

Blacktail, good point but I'm a hunter not a long range guy. Current plan is probably not go any heavier than a 100 grain bullet.

you could spin the barrel on and ream it to a 6mm rem easily enough.

Current production is 1:9.125" and I believe they've been that way for a while.

Cast, right you are. Note to everybody, I really want a .243 Winchester, The question is what's the best way to go about building one?

You'll do fine with the .243 and as others have stated it'll feed through the long action.....but if the barrel has iron sights or stamping on the barrel that wants to be positioned rotationally, you DO NEED A LATHE, a chambering reamer and a head space gauge. The odds that the barrel will headspace correctly are quite remote.....even if you trade for a short action..

The 700's are second rate actions lacking fine features such as CRF and three position safeties.

Return that action and buy a rifle with a M 70 or Mauser type action.

I've built a bunch of rifles on 700 actions and have never needed a lathe or chambering reamers. I can usually adjust headspace by either lapping the bolt lugs or lapping the barrel shoulder. I don't mount iron sights and if rotation is an issue I just restamp the cartridge identification in the right location.

I shoot 55 grain VMaxs in mine, monos, and some 70 grain match bullets. It digests them all just fine and has no feed issues.

With a .243 you need to worry about 80/85 grain monos and 55 grain varmint stuff. I have no idea what you couldn't kill with an 85 grain TSX, but I have rune one through in excess of 36 inches of deer and it exited. Along the way it turned the lungs into red soup and when I passed just above the heart it ruptured it leaving it hinged at the tip of the left ventricle. I am pretty sure that would do for about any critter.

I have a .260 built on a long action 700. i put a half inch block in the rear of the magazine well and use a short action follower. It feeds fine, and the magazine length is still long enough to fit a 2.99 " oal.....

Did you have to use a short magazine spring also?

And your a second rate poster!!!! Get over it already about the 700

agreed.....

PM replied to.
Offered to let you barrow my lathe, but you may be too far from me for my lathe to be any use to you.