Just kind of thinking out loud about a potential project that I fully realize will be no small amount of work for marginal gains.
I'd really like a Rem 700 in 280AI, that's the end goal.
I could do some horse trading and get into a 270 or 30-06 pretty easily to use as a donor action. That's not too hard of a pill to swallow.
But a custom barrel, made to order is looking at ~$400, which is a little steep for my budget. I'm sure it'd be phenomenal, but I only need minute of deer/coyote.
I'm thinking I could pick up a factory 7mm-08 pull off barrel for not much, install that myself and ream it out by hand to 280AI.
I feel pretty confident I can handle the work, and I may not end up with a "Match" chamber, but good enough for a hunting rifle.
Mostly I'm just double checking that in theory the short action barrel will fit up correctly. Bolt face and magazine shouldn't be an issue I'd think.
I'm fully aware I'd be perfectly well served by a 270win, but the heart wants what it wants.
I may have a local Smith do the final reaming, depending on how my experience goes with some work I'm about to have done on a different 700.
I'd really like a Rem 700 in 280AI, that's the end goal.
I could do some horse trading and get into a 270 or 30-06 pretty easily to use as a donor action. That's not too hard of a pill to swallow.
But a custom barrel, made to order is looking at ~$400, which is a little steep for my budget. I'm sure it'd be phenomenal, but I only need minute of deer/coyote.
I'm thinking I could pick up a factory 7mm-08 pull off barrel for not much, install that myself and ream it out by hand to 280AI.
I feel pretty confident I can handle the work, and I may not end up with a "Match" chamber, but good enough for a hunting rifle.
Mostly I'm just double checking that in theory the short action barrel will fit up correctly. Bolt face and magazine shouldn't be an issue I'd think.
I'm fully aware I'd be perfectly well served by a 270win, but the heart wants what it wants.
I may have a local Smith do the final reaming, depending on how my experience goes with some work I'm about to have done on a different 700.