.338 Build on Rem 700

[Radosilver]

I am looking to rebarrel a Rem 700 standard long action into a .338 caliber magnum of some description simply because I think it will be fun to do a build and I don’t have anything .338 caliber at the moment. It will be a hunting rifle for primarily elk, moose, and deer. Something in the 8.5 - 9ish lb. range with a 21-22” barrel (the older I get the less I like long tubes). I’m not trying to make this into a super long range setup. I want to shoot bullets in the 225 to 265 grain range and have enough punch at 600-700 yards to kill if I’m proficient enough on my end. My questions for those more knowledgeable than me are:

1. Are my options limited to .338 Win due to the standard length Rem action or can I consider a .340 Weatherby or .338 RUM?

2. Will I need to do anything to the feed rails? A .300 Win case seems to fit fine in the mag box and feed even though the donor rifle is a .30-06 ADL.

3. If the answer to number 1 is that cartridges longer than the .338 Win are on the table should I go .338 Win, .340 Wby, or something else. I’m really leaning hard toward those two, and think I probably want to stick with the Win, but that extra Wby velocity is making me wonder.

Thanks!

 

[BAKPAKR]

If you are going from a 30-06 to a magnum cartridge, you will need a new bolt or have the existing bolt face machined out. Having had two rifles built with donor Remington 700 actions, I would recommend selling that rifle and buying a action spec’d the way you want it.

With your existing bolt, you could do a 338-06 or a 338 Weatherby RPM.