Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Gunsmithing Conversion of .222 Remington M/700

I have an older M/700 with bull barrel and Monte Carlo stock in .222 Remington. The ammo is a bit difficult to get, so I am considering rechambering/rebarreling to .223 (rechambering would be preferable)or some other caliber (.22-250, etc.). Is this a reasonable idea? Thanks.

I'm pretty sure that the .223 reamer will clean up the .222 chamber; some real smiths should chime in and know for sure. For the 22-250, you will need to open up the bolt face as well. It's generally cheaper to trade for the caliber you want if you can find the right guy with the right rifle. Rifle loonies have a soft spot for the .222. Also a good excuse to take up reloading if that interests you.

I bought a Model 722 in .222 Remington several years ago for the action and the stock, primarily. After finding that brass was not easy to come by, I had Roy Bedeaux in Albuquerque open it up to a .223. It is one of my favorite knock-about guns and has accounted for quite a few coyotes and jackrabbits. It's a cheap fix and I recommend it!

It will clean it up as long as the smith takes exceptional cautions to ensure ALL is lined up properly or you'll have a nightmare on your hands..

It sounds like you don't reload. Ammo should be available from any of the major supply outfits like Midway, Graf & Sons, etc..

How many rounds have gone down the bore now? If it's been shot a lot, you may be wasting money with a rechamber.. Might as well rebarrel and start over.. Cheaper in the long run.

If it were me and I wanted a .223, I'd look for one of the new take-off VSSF barrels that are found occaisionally for sale. It would be a bit more expensive than rechambering, but you'd end up with a new barrel and stainless fluted, to boot.

But then, if it was me, I'd leave it alone, and put the cash into a good reloading set-up.

Just my $.02 worth....

Grasshopper

you have a very accurate 22 center fire , it is doutful the re chamber will be as accurate.

if you do rechamber fire a group before you do it and then fire a group after and let us know if is better or worse or same..

Thanks, Grasshopper. My local gunsmith agrees with you, says the .222 is the most accurate cartridge among the old timers. I already have the reloading stuff (reload .22-250 and .220 Swift, among dozens of other obsolete cartridges), so just ordered 100 .222 brass and a set of dies.

This rifle has a real history: bought it (AS NEW with a Leopold scope) in 1989. Had a break-in about two days later, and the rifle was gone. Returned last week after 18 years, recovered in Phoenix AZ, and returned to me last week in about its original condition 9except the scope is gone). It apparently was in storage for all this time. Christmas came early this year!!

Once you start loading for the 222 I think you'll be real happy that you didn't rechamber. I have a first year 700 and a very early 40X (722 single shot action) in 222. Both are very accurate. The 222 will do just about anything the 223 will.

Sounds like you have an older Remington Varmint Special.

You're nuts if you do anything to it other than a bedding or trigger job.

I mean that in a nice way. GAWD I love those older VS guns. They're shooters.

......and in a Deuce no less.(tears in my eyes)

The triple Deuce will get 'er done...cool cartridge...long case life and accurate. The triple deuce mag. is a go getter too...

Jack,
Just my $.02, but it's a piece of cake for a good 'smith to rechamber to 223. Worst case is that the ORIGINAL chamber is a bit off square. That can be cured by setting the barrel back a turn (I''d set it back a half turn anyway so your old caliber stamp is covered by the stock.) 22-250 is a bit tougher since the bolt face would need alteration, or a different bolt obtained. Either answer is a little more spendy. As to the difference in accuracy, the 222 probably has an edge on paper, but both will do better than most shooters are capable of. I shoot prairie dogs, and go through several cases of 223 per year, and have three guns that will shoot right with most of the bench rest croud, so don't let that lack of accuracy put you off. I have some collectable guns too, and understand the arguement against modification, but guns were meant to be SHOT. When was the last time you met a woman to pretty to ----------, or whisky too smooth to drink?

Mr. JMKELL33,

You can not go wrong with the triple Deuce. I two of them one in a Remington 700 heavy Barrel which give me just under 3 tenths of groups with H4895 23 grs.W/52 grs bullet. As for the other it's a Browning FN Safari Grade Short Action with a Sako action built in 1964 Finland. This also given me just under 1/2 easy. You'll enjoy it eazy shooting just as Mr. okie said...
Respectfully
El Sancho

Great cartridge, the .222R. However it uses a different rifling-twist than the .223 (in bolt-guns the rate is usually 1-14 for the .222 versus 1-12 or 1-10 for .223's).

If you're okay with the slower twist of the .222, have a competent 'smith' rechamber your original barrel by cutting the barrel back one or two turns (first), then cutting the new chamber.

Otherwise find a new "drop in" or custom .223R barrel like has already been suggested, with the faster rifling-twist of your choice.

Staying with a 1-14 barrel at .223 velocities will limit you to 50-55 grains for max bullet weights before you notice key-holing. But if all you're going to shoot are bullets less than 55grns, you should be good to go!

I must be luckier than some of you guys, for the Deuce I go to one store and have 3 brands of ammo with a choice of 2 bullet weights in each. If I want brass, 2 stores always have it. And those are both within 10 miles of me.

if you have an older really nice 222 in 700 bdl you will lower the value of the rifle. some of the old ,nice 700 bull barrel 222 will bring premium money.switching to 22 250 will require opening the bolt face and some magazine feed issues. good luck.