I have a .243win 600 Mohawk that i'm thinking about doing a barrel swap on. Kinda want to do in on the cheap, so a take off barrel will probably be the ticket (from a 700). I'm not looking for BR accuracy, just a good hunting rifle out to about 400yds.
That leads me to caliber choice. 308? 260? 7mm-08? Im leaning towards the .260, simply because for what I need I think it will work. I cant see me hunting anything larger than a Shiras Moose, which I would think is on the upper end of what the .260 is capable of killing, but still doable. Plus the chances I ever draw a moose tag are slim anyway. It will mainly be a deer, antelope, elk gun.
Anyone have a different 308 family cartridge that I'm over looking? Also has anyone rebarreled their Rem 600?
I'd also like to keep the barrel to about 20-22 inches.
260 is a great choice if you find one, odds are higher to find the other two. For the price of the barrel and install, you might can add that to the selling price of the 600 if that is an option for you, and buy the rifle you want. Just another option.
That's a valid point. I suppose a Ruger American or Stevens 200 would work just as well.
I rebarreled a 660 earlier this year. Went with a 700 standard sporter stainless 7mm08 takeoff and had it cut to 20". Swapped for the SS700 lug at the same time. I'd do it again.
Hard to go wrong with a 20" 308 on the 600. Trim, handy and perfect for what your planning on hunting. That said the 7mm08 isn't have bad either.
What JPro did, that's the next best thing to using a 260 takeoff if doing a barrel.
If you had cash in hand, a Vanguard S2 20" carbine in 243 or 7/08 will do what you need. That said, the 600s were some of my better Rem's I have owned. Quality seemed very good when mfg.
There is a Remington 660 with a 700 Classic barrel in 250-3000
on it that has been at the last few gunshows in my area wouldnt
mind owning it.
I've seen some 308 take off barrels for less than 100 bucks...maybe that is the caliber to go with.
This particular rifle was given to me by a very close family member that isn't around anymore and I shot my first whitetail with it. So it has sentimental value to me, which is why I'd like to keep hunting with it. (id also keep the original barrel).
I have a 20" 308 barrel standard contour with front sight. Rear sight is missing. if interested send me a PM.
Ken
How about a 7mm/08 set back a few threads, and reamed to a 284 win?
Why not just have it re-bored?
I just did this last year, bought a 600-Mohawk, spare bolt, other parts and a stonemint Mtn. Rifle 7-08 STS tube, which came off the Classifieds hereon.
I then found a Brown stock for it here and Brownell's bottom metal here in Canada and bought a Timney.
I was putting it together when I had the opportunity to trade it off for some of the fine gunsmithing done on several of my other rifles of which I have far too many. So, since my lady and I are now pensioners, I did so with some concern.
I was kinda unhappy as I want 1-2 "ultralight" rifles in 7-08 and .308Win. for mountain hunting as I ain't young, no more and a lighter rifle/pack means I may still be able to hunt BC wilderness and enjoy it rather than suffering just to show myself I can still do it.
Then, a sts. Classic shorty, Edge stocked and modded by Martini Gunmakers in .308 came to me and I was happy when I installed Talley-Brockmans, older Leupy short Vari-XIII in 1.75x6 HD and the package weighed 6-10...a REALLY useful rifle.
Last Christmas, I got the chance to buy an "as new", STS full custom Remmy Seven, all guts new, slabbed, tuned, printed, 22" Mtn. Rifle sts Gaillard, Edge KS handle and now with Talley QDs and a Leupy VX2-2x7 and that replaced my 600-M, which was a neat little piece and "perfect" for so much of the hunting which average hunters actually do, rather than just fantasize about.
So, if you were to call some custom smiths and gunstores, you could very probably locate and then purchase a 22" Mtn. Rifle "take off" tube in 7-08, my first choice by far of these "short-standard" cartridges and if you wanted to restock in synthetic, there are several options.
The .284Win. sounds good and I may be mistaken here, but, I suspect that the C.O.L. of this round when loaded with most hunting bullets would be too long for the 600 action. So, it would not run faster than does the 7-08 and the brass is harder to find, you lose a round in capacity and I would not choose this in THIS action, but, would if I could find another short STS New Haven Classic 70.
Choices, we are SO blessed to have them and must always be vigilant to keep them!
I did this last year with my Rem 600...found a 20" 700 barrel for $75 in 7mm-08 and had my gunsmith screw it on. I LOVE the results - accurate, light to carry and easy on the shoulder when you light it off.
I know it's not really a lot of difference, but I can feel the increase in kick comparing a 150gr .308 and a 140gr 7mm-08, and I'd take the 7mm-08 any day.
Besides, I believe a writer named Haviland and his boys have taken 20+ elk with their 20" barreled 7mm-08's.