My first "Remage"

[Legionnaire]

I am a Remington fan. I have shot Remington 700s and Model Sevens for a lot of years. I have never been tempted to buy a Savage, even though I know they have a great reputation for out-of-the-box accuracy. I don't like the way they look, and I don't like the accu-trigger. But I have been intrigued by the Savage's switch barrel design. So I decided to convert a Model Seven .243 to a "Remage" .243 Ackley Improved.

Here is the gun as I bought it: a second-hand Model Seven Youth in .243.




I took it to a local custom gun builder and had him pull the original barrel and square the face of the action, the bolt and the lugs. I ordered a 22-inch 1:8 twist barrel and barrel nut from McGowan. I bought a barrel vise, action wrench, and set of headspace gauges. I had an HS Precision stock in my stash left over from a previous project that I eventually sold down the line. I had to relieve the stock for the heavier barrel, and still need to bed the action. Scope is a VX-3 3.5-10X40 in a DNZ mount. I think it came together pretty well.

 

[Legionnaire]

Got to the range today to break in the barrel and fire form cases. I did the whole shoot-one-and-clean for the first five, shoot-two-and-clean for the next ten, shoot-three-and-clean for the next fifteen, etc. I was pleased that there was absolutely no copper fouling in evidence.

Fire forming loads were built with once-fired Winchester brass that I annealed before full-length sizing. Loads were an 80 grain Remington Power Lokt over 38 grains of Varget. Average measured velocity was 2980 out of the 22-inch barrel.




I shot the last rounds for groups; except for the center group, four shots each. New barrel still breaking in, firing a load not designed for accuracy, with a Magneto Speed hanging on the barrel. AND I discovered that I forgot to adjust the trigger. It was stiff! I tested the unadjusted trigger when I got home and my trigger pull scale put it between seven and eight pounds. That was soon remedied, and it now breaks cleanly at three pounds, which should help my shooting next time out. This is intended as a hunting rather than target rifle. Nevertheless, I think the potential is here for a couple of sub MOA loads. Looking to build a deer round and a varmint round. That's still to come.

 

[dh1633pm]

Pretty sweet. I have a Model 7 in 300 blk. I have been wanting to build one myself. You have just given me that excuse.

 

[bannockburn]

Legionnaire

I think it came together pretty well.

I think so too! Like the HS Precision stock. Have to let us know how the new barrel with the barrel nut does.

 

[horsemen61]

Op I like the setup I’m thinking about doing something Similar

 

[Legionnaire]

I bought the tools because this won’t be my last Remage. I have all the parts to assemble a 700 in .260 Ackley Improved when the new barrel and nut get here. Fun projects! Gives one the chance to play with a new cartridge for less than the cost of a full custom rifle.

 

[LoonWulf]

Very nice work!
That's a very cool rifle in an even cooler cartridge.

 

[Bushpilot]

Nice Job.. That should make a sweet little deer/varmint rifle.... I'm currently keeping my eyes open for a short action 700 to build a heavy barrel, 6mm BR Remage on mostly as a range toy.......