I had posted a while back a question on whether or not anyone had successfully converted a 700 conversion to 458 SOCOM. I have seen a couple on arms list and one video on youtube but no other information was really offered. I wanted one for a 200 yard or less deer gun that i can put a suppressor on for heavy weight subsonic rounds (NOE 500SP) I already have tons of brass and just like the rounds performance, especially on deer. Every deer, except one, had dropped in it's tracks when hit with this round in the vitals.
So I picked up a cheap 700 in 308 from Dicks for $400 (Thanks MarkP) Pulled the scope mount off, stock, and the barrel.
Took the rifle into my local smith and started discussing the project. Getting the barrel fitted and head spaced was not an issue. The problem i ran into was the internal mag for the 308 and feed lips on the receiver did not lend it self to feeding the shorter 458 OAL. The front of the round, as soon as the back cleared the lips, would pop up and jam. Tried several dummy rounds with different boolits (325 FTX, 300 HP, 405 RN, 500 DGS, NOE 500SP). Had the thought that a 223 mag system might push the round forward enough to help with feeding. Took the same rounds and tried with a .223 700 and as soon as the bolt would contact the back of the round it would pop up flat and uncontrolled. had the thought that the round was designed to feed from a AR mag and that loading it into an internal mag would be a pain anyways went with a PTG AR mag bottom metal. So now after several months of waiting on get a call from my gunsmith that the stock fitted and ready to go. Now the PTG bottom metal does not take Pmags as they are a bit thicker than USGI mags. On their website they show a metal C products mag. I tried several different USGI mags and bravo mags, and hex mags do not fit. (I forget what other ones i tried) I did have a c products mag that works fine, but to my surprise Lancer mags work. Tried feeding the dummy rounds and there is a slight hiccup on the last round feeding. Sometimes with that 5.56 follower the round pushed off to one side and is not presented upwards full to the feed lips. I think if i modify the follower that might center it better and take that issue away.
I have not had a chance to shoot it between summer fun and moving everything in the house for the new kid in August but i'm itching to get it out and see what it does.
Remington 700 - 308 action
Houge overmold stock i had lying around
KAK 16.5 inch barrel 1:14 twist 5/8X24
EGW heady duty base
Borrowed my Vortex scope for testing, not sure what i'm going to top it with. red dot likely.
Silencerco Hybrid with muzzle brake.