Rem 700 Rebarrel Question

[308Jeff]

About 7-8 years ago, I decided to have my Rem 700 204 Ruger rebarreled in 223 for F-T/R shooting. I picked up a Krieger barrel and took the rifle to a local gunsmith who came highly recommended. In addition to the barrel swap, I had the action trued and lugs lapped.

The only thing that didn't work out as I planned is the rifle will not feed from the magazine (stock BDL mag) now. I asked the smith about it, and he said "No, it won't feed from the magazine now". My next question should have been "Why not?", but I didn't ask.

So why won't it, and should it?

[Tnfalconer]

I haven't looked at one but I would wonder why not as well. The two rounds are very similar, overall length is the same although diameter is slightly different. Possibly just a little opening work on the receiver rails, feed ramp and magazine follower should correct it.

[rockrat]

Does it not feed from the mag at all or is it hanging up going from the mag to the chamber?

[roysha]

As rockrat asked, how is it malfunctioning?

As far as I'm concerned this "highly recommended gunsmith" did not finish the job. Unless it was part of the customizing work and you wanted a single shot, everything should be functioning correctly when it leaves the shop.

[John Taylor]

Could be a lot of things but it should feed. Sometimes the back of the chamber needs a small radius so the cartridge does not hang up when entering the chamber. I just did a 722 in 7.62X25 which will not feed from the mag because the cartridge is way shorter than the 222 that it came in. I had to bevel the mouth of the chamber quite a bit even tho it is a single shot.

[Dryball]

A "highly recommended" gunsmith would have corrected the problem as part of the job.

[308Jeff]

The bolt will strip a round, but the nose of the bullet is driven straight into back of the chamber. Probably needs what John Taylor posted about.

I'm hoping to get it into someone else's hands at some point and see if I can have it corrected.

[country gent]

Try and find a follower for 223 ( followers are cartridge specific for certain calibers) it may be a simple follower swap. Case body taper makes a big difference in feeding from the mags. Modifying the follower can be tried yourself as its a easy to replace inexpensive part. Rails if not done right require welding to build back up and that gets expensive. another option might be converting to a removeable magazine and floor plate trigger guard.

[308Jeff]

Thanks, CG!

[B R Shooter]

Don't get carried away with radiusing the back of the chamber. If the bolt/barrel gap is excessive, then a big radius, you're getting close to the end of the case web.

[country gent]

I usually break the sharp edge on the chamber with a brass ball and fine lapping compound on it. This gives a nice burr free edge and a lot of control on what your doing. Ive had new guns that shaved brass at this edge I had to do this to even.

[Uncle Grinch]

I believe Country Gent nailed the simplest fix. If that doesn't work, you can pick up a single shot follower.

[308Jeff]

Possibly right. 204 Ruger and 223 Rem have same bolt face, but not the same parent case. Didn't really think about that. It could be that simple.

[rockrat]

Not the same parent case but close. Radius the back of the chamber a bit and bevel the back end of the barrel. That might do it.

[308Jeff]

Not the same parent case but close. Radius the back of the chamber a bit and bevel the back end of the barrel. That might do it.

Thank you.

To be honest, I've not taken a very close look at it. About the same time I was having the work done, I was transitioning from F-T/R into Sporting Clays. I only have 83 rounds through it since the rebarrel was done, and I haven't fired it in about 7 years.

[B R Shooter]

Don't get carried away with radiusing the back of the chamber. If the bolt/barrel gap is excessive, then a big radius, you're getting close to the end of the case web.

That will work. I just hit it with a piece of 400 grit, break the edge, and done.

[Red Elk]

Excellent suggestions.
I too would slowly feed the cartridge and see exactly where it is hitting, and why. Spring pressure could be a factor, if the follower is working as it should.
The light breaking of the edge on the edge of the chamber will help, but if the bullet is striking the face of the barrel then the cartridge already has a poor angle of entry due to the cartridge ramp, follower alignment, or magazine spring pressure.
Look closely as to what the angle of entry is, and why it is riding so high, or low, or to the side. I think this is more a mechanical issue than otherwise, but it is hard to diagnose without seeing the rifle in person.
In my experience, Remingtons do not usually require a forcing cone cut on the end of the chamber, but yours might be a different set up. Another thing you might check is that the bottom metal and magazine box are firmly seating into the rifle, and not riding proud in the stock. If the magazine box is not inserted properly, it will ride lower and will change the feed angle of the cartridge.
Let us know how it turns out please. You have definitely raised my curiosity.
Oh, and find another gunsmith. This one should have fixed this before you ever got it back, imho.
re

[308Jeff]

Excellent suggestions.
I too would slowly feed the cartridge and see exactly where it is hitting, and why. Spring pressure could be a factor, if the follower is working as it should.
The light breaking of the edge on the edge of the chamber will help, but if the bullet is striking the face of the barrel then the cartridge already has a poor angle of entry due to the cartridge ramp, follower alignment, or magazine spring pressure.
Look closely as to what the angle of entry is, and why it is riding so high, or low, or to the side. I think this is more a mechanical issue than otherwise, but it is hard to diagnose without seeing the rifle in person.
In my experience, Remingtons do not usually require a forcing cone cut on the end of the chamber, but yours might be a different set up. Another thing you might check is that the bottom metal and magazine box are firmly seating into the rifle, and not riding proud in the stock. If the magazine box is not inserted properly, it will ride lower and will change the feed angle of the cartridge.
Let us know how it turns out please. You have definitely raised my curiosity.
Oh, and find another gunsmith. This one should have fixed this before you ever got it back, imho.
re

Thank you for some great info!

This one is in my dad's safe, otherwise I would have pulled it out and taken a look at it by now. I'm sure that whatever it is is solvable.

[MBTcustom]

Just my 2 cents worth:
The Remington 700's are designed to be as modular as possible. The same action will feed 30-06, 8mm Mauser, 300 winmag, and 458 Winmag, simply by using the correct combination of magazine box and follower. It is rarely wise to EVER mess with the feed ramp, or rails of a rifle, as these features have very little to do with feeding as long as you understand the principles of how the cartridges stack and how they strip. Use the wrong follower, and the rifle will either hold the cartridge for too long, or let it go too soon.
BTW, it bears mentioning that there is a reason the original Mauser holds 5 rounds in the box, while the Remington only holds 4 (3 if magnum). Remington made the compromise to gain versatility which allowed them to stomp the competition by making only two (at first) flagship actions and letting the burden of caliber changes fall to easily manufactured, stamped metal parts.
Your rifle should be able to easily feed from the magazine if you replace/install these two parts:
https://www.gunpartscorp.com/products/824320A
https://www.gunpartscorp.com/products/86210E

[Texas by God]

I would think the factory mag box and follower for .223 and .204 would be exactly the same. The .204 is based on the .222 Magnum. They all came from the .222 case head.

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[Hardcast416taylor]

Just my .02. Although it is a fine thing to fix a problem yourself, there comes a time to swallow your pride and find a professional to look at the problem and fix it.Robert

[Wheelwaits]

Get a SOLID metal follower, not the stamped sheet metal one then you can grind it to better match the fatter round. I did this with a 6 BR. in a 722 action. Put a spacer in the mag box like in the 222 mag box.

[waksupi]

When you have a barrel threaded, fit and chambered, you get what you paid for. If you want a gunsmith to do the function work, that will cost more, and he was right in not doing the work not specifically asked for.

[Texas by God]

That magazine should feed .222, .223, .222 magnum, .17 Rem, .204 Ruger, and possibly .221 Fire Ball unaltered. That gunsmith didn't finish the job. The rifle went in a repeater and came out a single shot? Oh hell no. My .02

[308Jeff]

When you have a barrel threaded, fit and chambered, you get what you paid for. If you want a gunsmith to do the function work, that will cost more, and he was right in not doing the work not specifically asked for.

Okay, but... He never mentioned before accepting the work that it would no longer feed from the magazine. He didn't tell me that it would no longer feed from the magazine when he returned it to me.

One other thing that I had not previously mentioned was that the new barrel wasn't properly chambered when I got it back. It was leaving a very pronounced step/ring in the brass about 1/3 of the way down the body. He had to re-ream it. I'm not convinced it's the follower, and hoping that it's something that can be fixed without having to buy a new barrel. I don't know how much "material" is still available in the barrel if this whole thing has to get redone.


That magazine should feed .222, .223, .222 magnum, .17 Rem, .204 Ruger, and possibly .221 Fire Ball unaltered. That gunsmith didn't finish the job. The rifle went in a repeater and came out a single shot? Oh hell no. My .02

I believe you're right on that.

[M-Tecs]

Sometimes the back of the chamber needs a small radius so the cartridge does not hang up when entering the chamber.

John is correct. Do this and it will feed.

[Rifle 57]

I would see if the end of the breech has a little 45 degree angle cut on it so the case will ride up on it and into the chamber, all the end of chamber needs is a slight radius so the case wont get scratched as it enters the chamber. If the angle on the end of the breech is not wide enough that will cause some feeding problems.

[Texas by God]

If he is still local and still in business, I would revisit him. Apparently he took a good action, possibly trued it, possibly let it, installed an expensive Barrel, messed up the chamber job, and converted it from a bolt-action repeater into a bolt-action single-shot that doesn't feed correctly. I doubt that he is still in business. It ain't even mine and I'm mad about it.

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