300 WSM on a Long Action

[GameHauler]

I have a 300WSM barrel for a 700 on the way.
I have never done a build like this so I have allot to learn.
My first question is can I use a long action, action
with the 300WSM?
The reason for wanting to do this is because I have been
playing with Berger VLD's seated out towards the lands
which can lead to magazine problems.
Thanks

[yukondog]

Not shore about yours but I have a sav.110 w/long action and shooting 308 out of it.It works pretty good as long as I dont work the bolt to fast.

[Wyo. Coyote Hunter]

  We have rebarreled lots of 700's over the years. The only disaster was a long action that was barreled to .22-250. It shot fine, but would only feed one shell from the magazine. That is the problem you may face with rebarreling a long action 700. Maybe this could be corrected now, but my pal who has the rifle lives on the othere side of the state and I seldom see him.  Check with some of the gunsmiths in your area. The 700 is long enough for the 375 length cartridges, so there is lots of space there. This could work fine or be a real mess I have rebarreled 7 mags. to 300 Ultra,and had no problems, b ut it is my gut feeling the shorted case will be difficult to get to feed correctly.

[mauser98us]

Why bother? Might as well chanber for a 308 Norma or 300 Win Mag if using a long action

[charles p]

Can you open your bolt face to the correct size?

[GameHauler]

Can you open your bolt face to the correct size?

Well Charles
I am hoping the barrel will be here this week
and I do not have an action yet.
That is the reason for my question,
I am trying to figure out if I want to get a long or short action

[charles p]

OK, now I understand.  Good luck to you.  If you use a long action, after you fire one shoot the recoil is likely to bump all the cartridges in your magazine to the front.  Don't know if this will cause a feeding problem or not.  Have no experience with this.  I do have a 300WSM but it's a Mod 70 chambered for it.

[Wyo. Coyote Hunter]

  If you do not locate a mag. action in 700 about the only alternative I can see is to pick up a used 700 in short mag. and rebarrel. Other short actions will have a bolt face for either .223 or std. calibers. I think it would be tough to alter this bolt face to accept the short mag. When one get into barrel jobs, there is lots to consider. I know cause I ve been there either with my jobs or my pals. Good luck let us know the result.

[charles p]

Usually a custom rifle is built around the action.  You are building around your barrel.  Your action must be compatible.

[wtroger]

I have a long action Savage that I did a 358 WSM on and have no feeding issues and it lets me run the long Nosler BT bullets out to the lands. Use a magnum action so you don't have to mess with the bolt face.

[gunnut69]

The 700's use a seperate magazine box to control feeding.. hust get the box correct for the round in question..They're not too expensive.. Altering a bolt gets more costly.. Opening the bolt face and installing a Sako or M16 style extractor requires a good smith.. I'd use a mgnum action, usually cheaper and more available and swap the box if feeding suffers..