Point is I'm pretty sure a Norma mag would be safe.(on an R700)
What ever floats your boat. Using an R700 does not make anything cheaper. The R700 is definitely "strong enough". Just not my preference. I have put 65k PSI loads in a Mark V and in an R700. I'll take the Mark V any day. There is no such thing as "sticky bolt" in a Mark V. BTW: I credit the ultra strong Weatherby actions on adding to longer brass life. The cases are not allowed to stretch beyond chamber dimensions as much as an R700. Less stretch = longer life. I am running my 338 Edge with 285 ELD-M at 2932fps. Nice and "hot". Up from 2916 with the A-Max. I am on my 6th reload of 120 rounds. Yes I lost 3 cases to loose primer pockets. Those are traced to exceeding max accuracy node with loads over 2950. 2985 to be specific, the 3 test rounds were very hot but not accurate.
Starting from a Remington 700:
Raw donor: $250 to $500
Action blueprinting: $250 to $500
Machining for a Wyatts long magazine or CIP bottom metal: $250 to $500
Stock inletting for a long magazine: $100 to $200
So $850 to $1600 for a ready to go R700 action
"Custom" action on R700 foot print: $1100 to $1600
Stock inletting for a long magazine: $100 to $200
I won't add machining for the Wyatts long mag because some include it
So $1200 to $1700 for a "custom" action
Used Weatherby Mark V donor 30-378 or 338-378 $800 to $1200
There is nothing else to do except set the trigger weight.
without barrel:
R700 Donor $850
Custom $1200
Mark V $850
I know there will be guys who dispute the numbers. Saying things like "My smith trued my action for $50 and it's good enough". Do you live next to
@codyadams ? If so, take him out with your Lapua/Norma magnum R700 and a hot load. If
@codyadams is happy, take him to your smith for the $50 treatment. No problem. Otherwise you are blowing smoke up someones skirt. I have enough rifles and enough experience to know the difference.
A Mark V, even from 1957 will be within .001 of true. Unless you get an aberration.
@MudRunner2005, please don't bring up your 257, it's the only experience like that known here and it is what I meant by an aberration. I am sad you had that experience but is not normal. It is normal for an R700, owners are just used to sending them out to be fixed.
A custom like a Defiant Diviant (I think that is the correct model) will work "better" than an R700 action. Better metallurgy. Still has lots of the same characteristics of the R700.
All of these donors are available right now in the
https://www.longrangehunting.com/forums/#free-classifieds-buy-or-sell.14
Perhaps there is an R700 or custom available already done. I know there are R700, Mark V and custom donors available.
BTW: My 1957 German rebarreled to 338 Edge and single feed can hit stuff a very very long way away. I want go to further/faster so I am moving the barrel to the 338-378 Accumark action and rechambering it to 338 Kubla Kahn. Think 338-378 stretched and improved ala, 375 Zane.
