Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Re-barreling a Model 7 to 7mm08

My wife's first deer rifle was a Winchester Model 70 in 243. It was never very accurate same as your Model 7 about 3-4MOA. Found a take off barrel in 308 and had the gunsmith put it on. It did not line up with the stamping's, he said for another $75 he would fix that. Told him not to bother. It's a truck/loaner rifle now. It is MOA with loads it likes. The replacement for the wife's deer rifle was/is a Remington Model 7 in 7mm-08. It is accurate, but was picky with ammo. I would get a take off barrel and take your chances. 7mm=08 is not likely to be shot out. You don't really get a guaranty on a new custom barrel as far as accuracy either, unless they install the barrel and tune the action. Rather than custom barrel route you could buy a Model 7 in 7mm-08 cheaper.

That is screaming out to become a Creedmoor

I have used a model 7 FS and currently a model 700 sps ss for the last 30 years for deer hunting. Both were, and are, accurate rifles, and I love the round as a hand loader. If you are not a reloader I would go with the 6.5 creedmoor due to ammo availability.

I've had many Model 7's rebarreled with Mod 700 take-off barrels, new barrels, etc. I'm tall so I really like the Model 7 to have a Sporter weight 22-24 inch barrel. I've had them in .220 Swift, 22-250, 22-250 AI, 6mm/284, .260, 6.5/284. My one and only ever 7mm/08 was a Kimber 84M Classic. I had it rebarreled to the .224 TTH but done in the factory Kimber contour. Dan Liljja made it , pur poison with 64-75gr bullets. But I digress. Go with at least a 22" barrel, a #2 Shilen in 6.5 Creedmoor. You ( especially your boys and your pocket book ) will thank me! Have a ball, and let us know what you end up with? have a ball with those kids for me!

Better off to buy a new Model 7 in 7 08 and ether keep the 308 or sell it. Cheaper in the long run. Re barreling runs $650.00 to $700. Personally I don't think there is much difference in the felt recoil between the 308 and 7 08. If you load try loading down the 308 to recoil the kids feel comfortable with. I've load down the 308 with 125 grain Nosler BT and found them to be very effective on deer at about 2600 FPS with very light recoil.

I put a 20" standard contour takeoff barrel in 7mm-08 on my Remington Model 600 Mohawk - essentially the father of your Model 7.

Cheap to do, the swap vastly improved handling vs. the 18 1/2" factory barrel, was soft-shooting and accuracy was just a bit plus or minus one inch @ 100 yards (I glass-bedded the stock once the new barrel was installed).

I'd certainly try the takeoff barrel option.

I would take that rifle to a gunsmith to find out what the problem is. He should be able to find the issue and then you can shoot lighter bullets in it. That is the least expensive route to take.

Yep.

May even shoot them well.

Those at 3K fps are real killers.

DF

If you want a new barrel an easy way to do it is get a Remage style barrel From Northland Shooters Supply for the 700, same threads as the M7. You can pick from several contours and lengths along with getting very good accuracy to boot, For around $340.

I think that's a lot of expense for not much benefit...

There's not much difference in recoil between the two rounds...or much difference in performance either.

Put a soft recoil pad on it and shoot reduced recoil ammo and it will be a great soft shooter, and very effective.

If you don't reload, reduced recoil ammo is available for the 308.

I wouldn't mind a M7 in 308 it's a a great rifle.