Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats Converting a M700 223 Rem to a Hornet

I bought, or should I say that I stole, a few Remington M700s some time ago that I did not need. One was a VTR in 204 Ruger that I made into a 20 Tactical. In reality, I only used the VTR�s receiver and bolt. Everything else was replaced. I now have an SPS Varmint in 223 Rem that has been patiently waiting in the gun safe.

I have too many rifles in 223 and would like to do something different with this one. I am thinking about making it into a 22 K-Hornet or a 20 Ackley Hornet. I already have a few Hornets and K-Hornets, but I like the idea of a rifle that fits and feels just like my other Remingtons in various varmint cartridges.

Has anybody done this type of conversion and knows what I will have to do to the bolt to make it function properly? Is there a source of Remington bolts that are made to fit a Hornet?

Rechamber to .221 Fireball and forget about it. It's nearly everything the K-Hornet is and should be a very simple swaparoo......

I would definitely do the Fireball conversion. In fact I did, but on a Sako. You won't regret that one. A Hornet on a .223 bolt, are you SICK?

The extractor claw on a fireball has to be rotated up in the bolt face giving a different ejection angle. A fireball on a 223 bolt can have some ejection problems.

Bb

There can be problems, but not always. A Sako extractor is a relatively cheap and a very easy fix if the problem comes about. I'd be hard pressed to slum a K-Hornet now that I've been bitten by a Fireball.........

VarmintLooney, you should consider loading the 223 with blue dot:

40g-3000-3200fps with excellent accuracy

50g-2650 with excellent accuracy

Save yourself a pile of money, invest in components

I have been down the road that you are contemplating, half a dozen hornets, k hornets, and 221 fire ball. I would be about $4000 ahead if I had known about the blue dot loads, and the ballistics are the same with blue dot.

Good luck

On a receiver that is capable of happily digesting 2.5"+ COAL on a .378" face...there's no way I couldn't not go 1-8"/223AI. It's simply got soooooo much more pile driving ass and is simply sinister in the wind,with logistics and mild manners supporting it capably and then some.

I've long thought more than a little highly of the K-Hornet and prolly have more than a few. The Ruger 77 is THE K Platform...but if a guy wishes to Polish Turds and slum a Goat [bleep],he could always go Winny L/A,as they were dumb enough to do it OEM.(grin)

Yes.......I suffer one of those too.(grin)

I have had a Fireball, some 204 Rugers, built a 20 Vartarg, 20 Practical, 20 Tactical, plus more. I have thought about starting this project for a few years and it will happen one way or another. I just want to do it right the first time. Right now I am leaning toward the 22 K-Hornet since I have about 1500 loaded rounds, but I like the thought of a 20 Ackley Hornet.

I figured I may need to use a Sako extractor but have never installed one. I expect that the bolt head may need to be altered to fit the slightly smaller cartridge head and thicker rim, too. This is something else I have never attempted.

The trait that makes a Fireballesque approach make some sense is that I continue to see 15 grains of Lil'Gun simply dazzle with a 40 V-Max. To 400 yards I've not been able to get as much performance for less $.

I've little doubt that you've dabbled along these lines, but 450+ rounds per pound of powder isn't a horrid place to be with a Fireball--though in a S/A 700 I readily agree there are a lot better ways to fly than a Fireball, much less a Hornet of any variety.

I put my Fireball in a much loved little Sako when it's .222 barrel was simply too tired to keep going. It ain't a Montucky, but it ain't a L/A 70 either.........

Varmint Looney, contact PT&G and see if they'll make you a replacement bolt with a Hornet BF.

Thanks, DocEd. I did not even think of them. I will contact them asap.

I have a 223 Featherweight I was just loading up ammo for tonight..that duplicates a 22 K hornet's velocity... loaded some with a 40 grain V Max, and some others with 36 grain Varmint Grenades....

Like Keith said, if you need the equivalent of a lesser cartridge, when you have a rifle chambered in 223... just do so at the load bench... and spend the money you saved on components and have fun....

doing the same thing with a Ruger 77 204 ultralight...at the load bench, I load it to equal a 20 Hornet or so...

both are being used as a walking varminter...

I love the 22 hornet for what it is and what it does.
I know having a rem 700 as a donor that you have not much in kinda makes sence butt the 700 just doesn't lend well for this conversion. it could be done but would be expensive. down loading 223 makes a lot of sense but the beauty of the hotnet as a walking varminter is the ability to carry lots of ammo for a long hike.
I would sell the rem an look into genuine hornet platform like the cz, mini make x or a ittle falling bock.
the biggest problem with the hornet right now is finding brass. so the 221 fb .might make the most sense. you can convert 223 with a little effort.
the ultimat walking varminter might be the 20 vt.