What would you do?

[ak shooter]

I have acquired an older Rem 700 in 30.06 that has been severally neglected over the years. It is my fathers rifle and although I don't feel there's that much sentimental value to it, I didn't own a 30.06 and one can never have enough fire power right?

The thing is a real eye sore. But not a bad deal considering there was a nice Leupold scope attached to it. There is a fair amount of granular rust throughout the barrel and action. I've spent a little time cleaning it out but I don't have the time or the tooling to finish it.

Without dumping a ton of money into this, I'm thinking my options are:

a) Cut the rifle in half and dispose of it (cheapest)
b) Buy a new barrel
c) strip and re-finish it with a hard chrome stainless finish

I need to do something before the cancer spreads to my other rifles in the safe :)

[Redneckbmxer24]

i personally would probably rebarrel it with a 25-06, and have a nice all around gun. get a pretty light contour barrel, drop it in a MCM hunter, or HTG stock, and put a nice optic on it.

[bcp]

See how it shoots. Ugly barrels aren't always bad. Put on a takeoff barrel if needed.

A gloss blue will never look right over pits, but it can be sand/glass blasted and parkerized, matte blued, or painted.

Lots of factory take-off stocks around if it needs one.

Make a good loaner, bad weather, truck, snow machine, dogsled gun with it.

Bruce

[Bear57]

..take it out and shoot it. It may susprise you. If groups aren't good, stoke the bore with JB several hundred times and see what that does. You can always rebarrel it. Stocks can be refinished or if that bad, pick up an aftermarket stock and have fun. Good luck......:)

[Coyote Duster]

option D
You said you didn't have allot of sentimental feeling for it. A rifle like that would sell for a better price than you might think for someone to build a rifle on the action and you could take the money you get from it and apply it toward what ever you want. Just a thought.

[Oleman]

Well if it was a Savage I'd fix it but being just a Remington you better give it away. I'm looking for a project LOL.

It should be worth fixing unless it's really bad. Post some pictures you'll get some better feedback.

[Terry N.]

If you have no use for a .30-06, there are any number of other cartridges that would work with that action. An inexpensive barrel from someplace like ER Shaw would be the way to go, IMHO. You could use it for a loaner, beater, rain rifle, or whatever.

[ak shooter]

Thanks for all the feedback. I dropped it off at http://www.wildwestguns.com/ yesterday to get it re-finished in a hard chrome matte. I've taken stuff there before and they do a great job.

As a few have mentioned it will be more than likely a loaner or one for the boys as they get older. Thanks.

[Markbo]

Man... I always wanted one of their lever guns. Not sure what use I'd have for it, but it is on my list of "One Day" guns.

[ak shooter]

I just got the rifle back from WWG and she is a beauty!! I want to load for it but I have a few questions first.

I'm looking at using IMR 4064, which from what I have read is recommended for heavier bullets. My issue is that the rifle's barrel is only 19", if I'm measuring it right. What effects will that have on stabilizing a 150-160 gr bullet?

Also looking at WLR primers since that is what I have on hand. Any need for mag primers with this shorter barrel?

Thanks

[TinMan]

No need for magnum primers with a 30-06, and WLR are perfect. If I remember correctly, 51.0 gr of IMR4064 with a 150gr bullet is a duplicate of the GI load (M2?). Should give around 2700fps out of a standard battle rifle - length barrel. You might get 2600 with the short barrel.

Santa brought me a 20" 308 (FNH) for Christmas, and I really like it - very handy with a short barrel. You should be able to stabilize up to 180gr hunting bullets, even with a short barrel.

[ak shooter]

Okay, I decided on Hornady 180gr SPBT over a lighter 150gr bullet. I went to measure my max COL then seated a dummy round .010" under the max. To my surprise there is all kinds of room in the mag and the bullet is not even close to touching.

I haven't been reloading for that long, but this is my first experience with a gun like this. With my other rifles I have shorten the rounds substantially from their max COL so they will chamber properly.

If I have more room in the cartridge by seating the bullet further out, do I need to start below the recommended charge?

Off the Hodgdon site:
Powder C.O.L. Grs. Vel. (ft/s) Pressure Grs. Vel. (ft/s) Pressure
IMR 4064 3.300" 45.5 2550 48,900 PSI 48.7 2700 58,200 PSI

If I seat my bullet to 3.380" where should I start? I'm thinking 47.0, 47.5, 48.0 for my first few sets.

[TinMan]

That sounds like a reasonable plan to me.

[Oleman]

ak shooter "If I seat my bullet to 3.380" where should I start?"

On a Remington I don't think you're going to seat anything much longer than 3.360 to go into the magazine. But it could always be your single shot Grizzy gun. :D

[ak shooter]

Oleman

The thing is.......... it will fit, with lots of room to spare. I'm guessing it has to do with the 30.06 being a shorter round (compared to others) that uses a long action. My 220 swift is also a Remington 700 and my COL is limited by the magazine size. It is on the longer side of a short action round.

[ak shooter]

It shoots better than I had hoped for. I'm not sure how often I'll use it, but now it is dialed in for someone to borrow it if need be.

The best group was 1" at 100yds 5 shots
180gr Hornady BTSP
Fed Brass Neck Sized
WLR Primer
46.0 IMR 4064
COL 3.367
Approx 2600 fps

Thanks for all the help.