Remington 700 30-06 heavy barrel

[That Guy]

I have a Remington 700 BDL in 30-06 that is probably 25 - 30 years old (I bought it used in 1989). It's been my main deer rifle since then and I've killed lots of deer with it, and really it's plenty accurate for that sort of thing. However, I would like to add a heavy barrel to it to increase the accuracy and help with cooling it down (I shot a box off shells at the range recently and by the time I was shooting my last three shots the group had expanded considerably). I'd like to start doing a little more precision shooting with this gun just for my own fun, but with the barrel holding the heat the way it does, I'm not sure it's going to be a good gun for that.

The problem is finding a heavy barrel in 30-06. I have been searching all over and I haven't had any luck. Also, even if I find one, is it going to be worthwhile, or should I just be investing in a separate .308 for this sort of thing?

 

[ThePreBanMan]

pretty much everything for that kind of shooting is 308 these days. 30-06 is more of a hunting cartridge. So you don't tend to see heavy barrels chambered for it. Someone else here may chime in too, but if you want to go heavy barrel you may need a new stock as well - accommodation of the larger diameter barrel. At that point you;re probably better off just buying a new rifle.

 

[That Guy]

I was thinking I could just use a barrel bedding tool and make room for the barrel - the stock is too pretty to trade for nylon or anything like that.

The more I talk this out the more I'm thinking it will be easier (and probably cheaper) to get a .308 for precision shooting and keep old Certain Death as my hunting rifle.

 

[ThePreBanMan]

Probably how I would do it too. Once you hog out the stock there is no going back, and you may learn to hate carrying around that heavy barrel while hunting. A Remington 700 police rifle is a good 308 that can be had at a decent price...

 

[Squire]

I got the Remington VTR a couple of years ago in .308. It's a way better gun than I am a shooter, but I'm practicing. Also, 308 can shoot 7.62 x 51 (but not the other way around) which is useful in the Zombie Apocalypse when you have to scavenge for surplus ammo caches.

I was looking at a Remington 700 in 223, since I'll always have that ammo, and might be nice to have a 500 yd shooter for coyotes or pronghorn in Montana.

 

[tacticalpanda]

I'm currently in the process of building a precision rifle. A barrel can be found just depends on home much you want to pay. for example Criterion makes a great hand lapped barrel that is prefit (you will still need a gunsmith to fit it which cost money) and you can chose your contour. Criterion Barrels, Inc.
Er shaw is another option and a bit cheaper.


My opinion would be buy a new gun (seems like you want it more for distance and having fun and not competition?) cause it's always more fun to buy a new gun then use the one you already own. .308 would be great but ammo is a bit scarce and there are other options (this topic of best shooting cartridge has been argued ad nauseum on the internet and you can find tons of threads on)

 

[asp]

pretty much everything for that kind of shooting is 308 these days. 30-06 is more of a hunting cartridge. So you don't tend to see heavy barrels chambered for it. Someone else here may chime in too, but if you want to go heavy barrel you may need a new stock as well - accommodation of the larger diameter barrel. At that point you;re probably better off just buying a new rifle.

Why can't .30-06 be just as accurate as .308? Please don't take this as arguing. It's too easy to get into an e-argument. I just don't trust data or info unless it is accompanied by reason/proof. Call it an intellectual exercise or something.

Regardless of the stock, if the barrel is chambered in .308, what's saying you couldn't ream out the chamber to fit .30-06?

 

[smitty1]

E.R. Shaw will make a 30-06.

 

[That Guy]

ASP - it's my understanding that the ballistics of a .308 and a .30-06 are nearly identical in terms of trajectory, velocity, etc. That's measureable and not really debateable, as far as I can tell. I hear some people say the .308 is more accurate, but my theory is that more precision rifles are chambered in .308 than 06 so it may just be easier to find a rifle that shoots well in .308 (that's my theory based soley on the fact that I haven't been able to find conclusive proof of 308 being more accurate).

TP - yes, I am looking more for distance and fun, but I'd also like to have the option for elk in Montana. I think a new gun is going to be the way to go - the more I think about it the less I want to do anything drastic to my Remington. I've shot deer as far out as 300m with that gun and a several of them at 150 (the distance from my favorite tree stand to the best crossing) so I guess it's as accurate as it needs to be for hunting. I'll start looking around for a 700 in .308 so I can build my rifle.

 

[stumpg26]

Here are a couple of pretty good articles on. 308 vs. 30.06

From the High Ground - Cartridge of Choice -- .308 Winchester or .30-06 Springfield?

Accuracy Facts - .308 Winchester versus .30-06 Springfield

 

[asp]

ASP - it's my understanding that the ballistics of a .308 and a .30-06 are nearly identical in terms of trajectory, velocity, etc. That's measureable and not really debateable, as far as I can tell. I hear some people say the .308 is more accurate, but my theory is that more precision rifles are chambered in .308 than 06 so it may just be easier to find a rifle that shoots well in .308 (that's my theory based soley on the fact that I haven't been able to find conclusive proof of 308 being more accurate).

It's my understanding that the internal ballistcs are not identical (.30-06 = bigger case = more powder = a couple hundred fps more & flatter trajectory). Not saying you're wrong, but if the same bullet is stabilized and is going faster how will that hurt? Like you said, can't argue with results or numbers, but I just don't understand why. What weight bullet do shooters usually use in .308 and what distance is the accuracy being measured at? IMO anything under 180gr is a 'lightweight' .30 bullet (read this: What's Wrong With .30 Caliber?)

edit: stump- I'll have to read those over tomorrow morning's coffee. Thanks for the links.

 

[stumpg26]

There's a lot of other good info on that site, hope you find the info you are looking for.