Author Topic: Rem 710 Freakish conversion - I know, I know, just listen... (Read 844 times)

BattleRifleG3 · « **on:** October 12, 2005, 02:07:27 PM »

Here's what I'm thinking. I'm told the Rem 710 is being discontinued. I had one once, wasn't bad at all, just had other aspirations and didn't do badly at all reselling it. A couple things sparked my interest as a basis for a dream I've had for a while for the Magnum Battle Rifle, a semi-auto chambered in the longer magnums.

An idea I had was to basically convert a bolt action to semi-auto by making a bolt carrier to turn and cycle the bolt and make a new trigger group for it. It would basically only use the bolt lockup of the original gun, as well as parts of the receiver to guide the bolt while cycling. Maybe the magazine. Maybe.

Two problems presented themselves. 1, bolt guns in those higher magnums, such as the 300 Wby, are generally not cheap, save the Vanguard and the discontinued Savages in 300 RUM (of which I have one.) 2, the 90 degree bolt throw would be more of a challenge for a bolt carrier to turn than a 60 degree or lower bolt. Notice how most semi autos don't have 90 degree turning bolts, and many have more than two lugs.

The Rem 710 seems to offer a solution, being cheap - on sale at my local Dick's for $300 - and having a 60 degree bolt throw. While this is a double edged sword for cock-on-opening bolts, it's nothing but good for a cycling-cocking FCG. And the 710 is offered in 300 Win Mag, which has the same bore diameter and bolt face as the 300 Wby. And I doubt anyone would be saddened at me cutting one up in the name of new technology.

So...
1. Could the Rem 710 in 300 Win Mag be safely rechambered to 300 Wby Mag? Forget action length, that would be new anyway.
2. Could the Rem 710 bolt slide along the internal rails at semi-auto speed and eject reliably, or would that give it a kind of Rem 7400 rail wear that ultimately makes it no good?

We have the technology...

JPSaxMan · « **Reply #1 on:** October 13, 2005, 08:42:47 AM »

You either have more firearm brain cells than I do or you have too much time on your hands

Either way I wish you luck and best not blow yourself up screwing around with a bolt rifle

BattleRifleG3 · « **Reply #2 on:** October 14, 2005, 06:37:02 AM »

Quote

You either have more firearm brain cells than I do or you have too much time on your hands

Probably not more, just an engineering education to make sense of some stuff and know where one can mod and where one shouldn't.

Quote

best not blow yourself up screwing around with a bolt rifle

The beauty of this is that it uses an existing bolt lockup instead so the blowing up part was already dealt with by Remington.

760 Nut · « **Reply #3 on:** October 17, 2005, 02:07:44 PM »

Also being a mechanical engineer as well as a journey toolmaker my first thought is no way. But, nothing is impossible either.

Question: How would you plan to get the action to cycle automatically? Most semi's cycle due to pressure or inertia. With the action of a bolt being "external" so to speak, where would you get the pressure build up to cycle.

It would take some serious modifications and thought. I would ask why bother, but then again, technology becomes stale if no one has the brass to say "what if". If you have access to Pro E, Inventor, or Solid Works, starting playing around...who knows. :wink:

myarmor · « **Reply #4 on:** October 17, 2005, 04:34:02 PM »

BRG3-why a Semi-Auto in 300Wby? :devil2: :biggun:
I really like the fact that you look for alternatives as well as new ideas, but man that thing would be so stinking expensive to feed. Cool idea though. I am still trying to draw a picture in my mind....I tell ya what why don't you draw a rough pic to let me/us in on what exactly it would look like? I am no engineer, so bare with me :?

BattleRifleG3 · « **Reply #5 on:** October 17, 2005, 05:51:37 PM »

I'm talking about basically building a new rifle using those parts. Just looked over a couple 710s today and that plastic part is RIGHT OUT. I'd have to basically make a totally new receiver, probably AR style upper and lower.

As far as how I'd cycle it, I'm talking about designing and building a piston and bolt carrier and tapping gas from the barrel. Pretty much AR/AK/M1 style so far.

Still just thinking it over, so we'll see what becomes of it.

BattleRifleG3 · « **Reply #6 on:** October 17, 2005, 05:53:59 PM »

Quote from: myarmor

BRG3-why a Semi-Auto in 300Wby? :devil2: :biggun:
I really like the fact that you look for alternatives as well as new ideas, but man that thing would be so stinking expensive to feed. Cool idea though. I am still trying to draw a picture in my mind....I tell ya what why don't you draw a rough pic to let me/us in on what exactly it would look like? I am no engineer, so bare with me :?

I will NOT "bare" with you as I am neither a streaker nor a nudist. But I'd be happy to bear with you. :p

I'll do pics some time. Basically the idea's starting to look like a huge AR that uses the 710's bolt and barrel, and with an AK type gas system. That's about it.

myarmor · « **Reply #7 on:** October 17, 2005, 05:56:58 PM »

Sorry bro

, you cought my drift though. I see what you mean now. Yeah that would be a project. And a lot of work.

BattleRifleG3 · « **Reply #8 on:** October 17, 2005, 08:37:47 PM »

Aww heck. I just looked over my Savage 111G and now I'm thinking screw the 60 degree bolt throw, the Savage with its idler lugs is the better choice for such a freakish project, which would use most of the original receiver and have a gas system more like the M1 and AK than the AR.