Author Topic: rechamber question (Read 690 times)

mjbgalt · « **on:** March 14, 2006, 08:18:28 PM »

roughly, how much would it cost me to have my remington 700 BDL in .223 rechambered to .221 Fireball?

-Matt

gunnut69 · « **Reply #1 on:** March 14, 2006, 08:42:20 PM »

The 221 is a much shorter case than the 223 and a 223 could not be rechambered. The rifle would require a rebarrel.. That would set you back from $175 to $500 depending on services provided(blue printing, truing the action, etc.) and of course the cost of the barrel chosen.. You would likely do better to look for a used 700 classic in 221 or a CZ 527. I really liek the FS version of the CZ's and my partner in the gunshow business bought one at the last show. It's a 221 in a 527 but not the FS version. It has some of the prettiest wood I've ever seen in a standard grade factory built rifle... If you sell the 223 a 221 in the CZ would likely cost less than a rebarrel with a decent barrel..

mjbgalt · « **Reply #2 on:** March 15, 2006, 07:34:16 AM »

i am reading on other sites that guys have indeed rechambered .223 rifles to the Fireball.

something about "setting back" the barrel. which i assume to mean that they had to use more of the barrel for a chamber since the Fireball is so much shorter than the .223.

so, no go huh?

i am looking for a new toy and something fun to play with. i liked the short fat case and the fact that it will do 95% of what my .223 will do and with less powder and to top it all off, i get to shoot a wildcat that most people don't have.

-Matt

quickdtoo · « **Reply #3 on:** March 15, 2006, 07:39:43 AM »

Matt, email or call my gunsmith, Wayne York, and get his opinion and cost. He's done several rechambers and rebores for me, does excellent work, tell him I recommended him to you. :wink:

Tim

http://home.earthlink.net/%7Eoregunsmithing/index.html

Nobade · « **Reply #4 on:** March 15, 2006, 08:23:22 AM »

You could do the varmint models with the heavy barrel because there is enough meat to set it back quite a bit. You couldn't do one of the sporter barrel ones because there's not enough left to clean up.

Nobade · « **Reply #5 on:** March 15, 2006, 08:24:31 AM »

You could do the varmint models with the heavy barrel because there is enough meat to set it back quite a bit. You couldn't do one of the sporter barrel ones because there's not enough left to clean up. If you want it to be a repeater you'll need a Fireball magazine and follower. They are a lot shorter than the .223 ones.

mjbgalt · « **Reply #6 on:** March 15, 2006, 10:44:07 AM »

just got this idea in my head and figured for a $75 rechamber i would do it. new barrels and hundreds of bucks...no thanks.

my model 700 has a sporter barrel and shoots tiny little groups as a .223 and i guess i can leave it that way if there is no quick and easy way to rechamber.

-Matt

mjbgalt · « **Reply #7 on:** March 15, 2006, 04:05:20 PM »

so what cartridges could i have it rechambered to?

-Matt

gunnut69 · « **Reply #8 on:** March 15, 2006, 06:38:26 PM »

There are no common calibers or even common wildcats that the rifle could be rechambered to and keep the same bolt face. Open the bolt face or replace with a standard bolt face and there are many choices. The standards of course the 22-250, 220 Swift and even a 224 Weatherby if the urge struck.. Wildcats get even more strange.. I'll include a link below to Clymers website.. They have a database of reamer dimensions and a fairly complete catalog of what is available.. The list for the .224 bore is fairly extensive.. but of course there is precious little that a 22-250 or Swift catn't handle..

GregP42 · « **Reply #9 on:** March 15, 2006, 07:08:28 PM »

Well,

There are 3 wildcats that are based off the .223, they are the 6mm x.223, the 6.5mm x .223 and the 7mm x .223, they are also know as 6mm, 6.5mm and 7mm TCU. There is also the .223 Ackley Improved, it all just depends on what you want to do with it.

Greg

mjbgalt · « **Reply #10 on:** March 16, 2006, 02:30:11 AM »

hmm.

well it was just a crazy idea i got. it shoots very well as is so i will probably leave it alone then.

thanks for your input. :grin:

-Matt

Nobade · « **Reply #11 on:** March 16, 2006, 02:58:40 AM »

Yep, you could make it a .223 Ackley Imp. There's enough meat there to allow that. (just has to go back one turn or 1/16th inch) But if it shoots good now why mess with it? The imp cartridge will give you about 300 fps more and brass will last longer, but they don't feed very well without some work.