Would this idea be a waste of money

[RyanT26]

I’ve been kicking around a idea for for a while and would like some honest opinions. I have my Dads Remington 700 .308, he died close to 20 years ago so it has for more sentimental value than what the gun is actually worth. He bought in new in 1980. It was never what most would call a accurate by today’s standards, 1.5-2.0 three shot group. We still managed to kill deer every year.
My thought is to get rebarreled in either 7mm-08 or 6.5 creedmoor. I would probably have them true the action while they had a part. The barrel is not free floated currently, so I would probably sand the barrel channel out so it could be. Last thing would be is to have the action bedded. I would like to keep it in the original wood stock and keep it it close looking to a original 700.
I know it would be cheaper to go buy a T3X, but I would like to resurrect it to be honest.
Would you guys leave it as is and enjoy it for what it is or go for it?

 

[rayporter]

do it to it.

a new barrel and a bed job will serve you well.

 

[kevlar88]

Bed it and float it, give the original barrel a good cleaning and I bet it'll be darn close to MOA if not better. I'd do what I could to keep it as close to original as possible. I got a 10/22 from my grandpa that I built up, I kick my self in the butt every time I think about how I should have left it as it was.

 

[Grundy53]

I would do it. It would be worth it for the sentimental value alone.

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[wildwilderness]

If you want it for sentimental reasons, I would do the stock work and trigger job, action work first to keep it as original as possible. I bet it will shoot better. Give it a good clean to the metal, maybe a turn on the barrel.

IF after all that you still don’t like it then rebarrel... but by that point you might as well get your own rifle...

 

[16Bore]

I’d bed it and leave it as is. Spend your money on something else. You’ll regret it. Maybe not now, but eventually.

 

[rayporter]

kevlar88 has a point, i have saved a couple of cheapies that way. save the trigger and have a good smith work on it, too.

 

[Dustin the wind]

My all original rem 700 in 30-06 from 69 is very accurate. It’s really just been bedded. Might try just the bed and float first and see how it does.

 

[RyanT26]

My primary reason for considering having it re-barreled to something different is I already have several .308’s Not that one more is ever a bad deal.

 

[wildwilderness]

My primary reason for considering having it re-barreled to something different is I already have several .308’s Not that one more is ever a bad deal.

Then rebarrel one of your other 308s! You can’t get your dads gun back if you change it....

 

[Dcrafton]

I’ve been kicking around a idea for for a while and would like some honest opinions. I have my Dads Remington 700 .308, he died close to 20 years ago so it has for more sentimental value than what the gun is actually worth. He bought in new in 1980. It was never what most would call a accurate by today’s standards, 1.5-2.0 three shot group. We still managed to kill deer every year.
My thought is to get rebarreled in either 7mm-08 or 6.5 creedmoor. I would probably have them true the action while they had a part. The barrel is not free floated currently, so I would probably sand the barrel channel out so it could be. Last thing would be is to have the action bedded. I would like to keep it in the original wood stock and keep it it close looking to a original 700.
I know it would be cheaper to go buy a T3X, but I would like to resurrect it to be honest.
Would you guys leave it as is and enjoy it for what it is or go for it?

It’s kinda like remodeling a house you inherited.
So (remodel) the rifle to a more modern caliber and try to continue to keep it in the family. For me, I like to be different. I do have a 6.5cm but hate that everyone has one. So I have a custom 280ai, a custom 25 PRC. But the 6.5 cm is a great round.


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[Cahunter805]

I agree with above. Free float the barrel, pillar bed the wood stock, tune that factory trigger and see how it shoots. Keep it as your dad had it and pass it along to your kids one day.
Build one of your 308s into a 6.5 if you want to spend money on a rebarrel.

 

[Fire_9]

Keep it together. I would do as others have suggested and start with a bed job, work the trigger over, and float the barrel. Choose another rifle to rebuild...

 

[DangerRanger]

You knew your dad better than any of us do.

I consider the action the heart of a rifle, and after that possibly the stock, the barrel not so much.

If I took a 2 minute rifle and had it rebarrelled and showed my dad a 3/4 group he would be ecstatic.

If I wanted to be extremely sentimental after I rebarrelled it I would want to keep the barrel and mount it on the wall or something.

 

[6mm Remington]

I'd try to keep it in 308 and as most have said do the following.
1. Clean the barrel and make sure it is very clean.
2. Gunsmith glass bed and pillar bed the action with the barrel floating.
3. Have the trigger fine tuned by your competent gunsmith. They should be able to get it a nice crisp 3 pounds.
4. Shoot it after the above work has been done. If it shoots great that's awesome. If it doesn't then think about a new barrel.
5. You did not mention if you hand-load or not. If not try and find some 150 or 165 gr. Accubond factory stuff and shoot it. Seems like the Accubonds work well in a lot of different rifles and they sure perform good on paper and on game. If you reload try loading one or both of these bullets. I bet one of them would shoot very well.

Best of luck on whatever you decide.

 

[RyanT26]

I'd try to keep it in 308 and as most have said do the following.
1. Clean the barrel and make sure it is very clean.
2. Gunsmith glass bed and pillar bed the action with the barrel floating.
3. Have the trigger fine tuned by your competent gunsmith. They should be able to get it a nice crisp 3 pounds.
4. Shoot it after the above work has been done. If it shoots great that's awesome. If it doesn't then think about a new barrel.
5. You did not mention if you hand-load or not. If not try and find some 150 or 165 gr. Accubond factory stuff and shoot it. Seems like the Accubonds work well in a lot of different rifles and they sure perform good on paper and on game. If you reload try loading one or both of these bullets. I bet one of them would shoot very well.

Best of luck on whatever you decide.

Just starting on the hand loading so that could open things up.

 

[WCB]

give it a good cleaning...then float the barrel. Try some different rounds and see what it likes. Next I would do a trigger job(I personally love the older Rem triggers when tuned right)...You may find that floating the barrel and just finding a load it likes is all that is needed.

it is your call obviously but agree with what someone said above....re barrel another one of your guns and keep this when as original as possible. my 2c

 

[BigGamer]

I would personally get it professionally gunsmithed and cleaned up. I would not alter it and keep it near as original as possible. Then, I would go out and buy a new rifle if possible or save up a bit and then get one. Good luck on whatever you choose ..

 

[roosiebull]

do it to it.

a new barrel and a bed job will serve you well.

Agree, sounds like a perfect rifle to spend some dough in and get it back in the woods where it belongs, create more memories to attach to that rifle's history

 

[N2TRKYS]

I’d bed it and leave it as is. Spend your money on something else. You’ll regret it. Maybe not now, but eventually.

No doubt.