Just bought 4 Rem 783's for $199 each!

[Mike 338]

Hey Mike, did you just have the face of the receiver squared for the new barrel install? Or have the action trued?

Did your smith happen to tell you how out of square your receiver face was? I was reading on another forum and a person mentioned that he has trued many 700 actions and he was surprised to see when he did the 783 it was more square from the factory than any 700 he has done. I kind of have a hard time believing that. Although I did hear these are produced in a newer factory so possibly they are using newer machinery with better tolerances.

Im about to order a couple barrels from NSS. I talked with Jim yesterday (super nice guy). He is trying hard to talk me into a new recoil lug and barrel nut also. But for a couple budget built rifles, I'm just not sure if it will be worth it? Sounds like you got NSS's lug and nut. Do you mind if I ask the cost to have the receiver squared and drilled for the set screw? Thanks, I really appreciate any feedback.

One last question I have to ask... Did you get a scope on yours yet and shoot it?

Been away for quite a while. I just started breaking the barrel in yesterday and it reminded me of this thread.

Yes the smith told me how much he took off the face but I can't remember. As I recall and what surprised him is how little he needed to remove. I think it was .007".

Yes, I more or less maxed out on the lug and nut as well as the barrel. Got a Boyds stock and a PTG bottom metal + AI mag.

I'm doing some work to the rifle who's scope gets swapped around to other rifles so I got the 783 running yesterday. Loaded up some 123 Amax's over some Varget to break the barrel in. I have no idea how much jump it has. I figure maybe somewhere from .070" to .150" but that's just a guess. The real surprise is how fast it broke in. By the third bullet, it was cleaning up fast and what appears to be, mostly broken in. I'm still breaking it in but it looks like it's going to exceed my expectations.

These shots were mostly, shoot 1-clean rifle, repeat, repeat. Shoot 3-clean rifle, repeat, repeat. Shoot 5-clean. I split what was left and cleaned twice. Lots of pauses and clean-bore shots between strings. Anyway, I can tell I'm going to like it just fine.

 

[engineer40]

Wow... It's been a long time since I've updated this post. Mostly because both the new Criterion barrels and the PT&G bottom metals took way longer than estimated by the manufacturers. And oddly enough, after waiting more than 6+ months for both, they showed up within a couple days of each other. While I'm happy it all finally showed up, I'm bumming a little bit because I was trying to time these to be able to work on them while there was still feet of snow outside. Now it's spring and I'm not sure how much I'll be messing with these rifles if the weather is nice.

Just a few pictures to update. For the 6.5-284 bull barrel I'll be using the black Pro Varmint stock I showed earlier in my updates.

For the 300 Win Mag Match, I'll be using this Exhibition grade English Walnut stock. Check out the lines in this thing when it's dry with no finish on it... I'm really excited to see how it turns out once I finish it. I'll have quite a few hours into it as I've never inlet a stock before. I chose to have a 2 1/4 inch forearm on the stock. I think that will help with the proportions of the sendero'ish contour of the barrel for this rifle.

I didn't get a chance yet to take pictures of the new PT&G bottom metals and AI mags. I'll try to do that at some point before I assemble the rifles.

I don't have the headspace gauges yet. I just put the barrel onto the receiver to test the fit of everything.

One more quick note... it appears that Jim from Northland Shooters has sold his business to his son in law. This happened between the time I ordered and the time I received my barrels. I talked to the new owner once and he was very responsive to the help I needed.

 

[engineer40]

I found a machine shop less than 10 minutes from my house willing to square the faces of the 2 Remington 783 receivers for $20 each.

Also included for that price, they notched the receivers so I can use the new Northland Shooter's recoil lugs.

 

[WildRose]

I found a machine shop less than 10 minutes from my house willing to square the faces of the 2 Remington 783 receivers for $20 each.

Also included for that price, they notched the receivers so I can use the new Northland Shooter's recoil lugs.

Heck of a deal.

 

[Blwebster]

Funny you mention it... that was my other option I was definitley considering. Only reason for leaning towards the 300 Mag is because I tend to like big holes when shooting animals. But I could probably be talked into a 7mm.

Since you mention that you like big holes, I would recommend the .35 Whelen.
This cartridge with a 225 or 250 grain bullet kills big game right up to large bear with significant authority and efficiency and very good accuracy as well.

Given a decent 1:12 twist barrel no longer than 24 inches total inclusive of the brake, it could soon become your favourite hunting rifle.

 

[WildRose]

You're making a good argument for the 8mm Remington mag since it's the parent case for the 7mm STW.

For a guy like me with a twenty plus year love of the STW that's a heck of an argument for going with the 8mm Rem mag.

 

[Blwebster]

You're making a good argument for the 8mm Remington mag since it's the parent case for the 7mm STW.

For a guy like me with a twenty plus year love of the STW that's a heck of an argument for going with the 8mm Rem mag.

One would have to look into that a bit and would be a good one to put game down in heavy cover fast.

I do know the .35 Whelen and .358 Winchester cartridges will work just fine

 

[engineer40]

Since you mention that you like big holes, I would recommend the .35 Whelen.
This cartridge with a 225 or 250 grain bullet kills big game right up to large bear with significant authority and efficiency and very good accuracy as well.

Given a decent 1:12 twist barrel no longer than 24 inches total inclusive of the brake, it could soon become your favourite hunting rifle.

One would have to look into that a bit and would be a good one to put game down in heavy cover fast.

I do know the .35 Whelen and .358 Winchester cartridges will work just fine

Thanks for the suggestions! I'm not sure if you read through all of the pages... I ended up selling 2 of the rifles for a profit. I kept 2. One became a 6.5-284 Norma. The other became a 300 Win Mag (match chambering).

My normal thick brush type gun is a 12 gauge with rifled slug barrel shooting sabots. That's actually where my opinion comes from in regards to "liking big holes". I've even shot deer with my 20 gauge NEF single shot (not sabots). Barely any energy or velocity and I just don't have to ever track deer.



Just yesterday I finally installed 1 of the 2 barrels and set the head space. It was the first time I've ever done this. I think it went well! Although I have yet to test fire.

Then I spent the rest of the day opening up the barrel channel in the stock for the bull barrel... and also inletting the stock for the new PT&G bottom metal and AI magazine.

So that leads me to my next question! What do you guys use for inletting black? Whether it's some homemade concoction or store bought, I'd like to hear opinions!

Thanks!

 

[engineer40]

Heck of a deal.

Heck yeah! Soon I'll be seeing what he'll charge me to turn a couple muzzle brakes down to match their barrel's outside diameter!

 

[WildRose]

There was certainly a time in which I was rather obsessed with the Idea of buying a .358wm.

 

[engineer40]

Just a quick update, because if I don't I'll never remember to. Both of these Remington 783 projects have slowed because I'm usually outside with my family in the summer. I expect to make faster progress once the snow starts flying again.

I haven't started on the 300 Win Mag yet. Although I did order a nice woodworking chisel set, some rasps, and some scrapers from Brownells so I'll be ready to start on that piece of English Walnut eventually.

I got the barrel channel all finished on the 6.5-284 rifle. Once I started using a black dry erase marker to help with the inletting, it went much better. But I have to admit, just opening that barrel channel was a slow process because I didn't want to screw it up. Now I fully realize the undertaking that hand inletting that entire piece of English Walnut for the 300 Win Mag is going to be.

I Dremel'ed out the recoil lug area of the stock for the 6.5-284. The new recoil lug is much more girthy. Then I bedded the recoil lug last night. (I previously bedded the entire action). I use JB Weld for bedding epoxy and clear shoe polish for release agent. There may be better options, but that combo hasn't failed me yet.

Next I have to verify the new PT&G bottom metal is in the correct location for the rifle to feed ammo from the new Accuracy International magazines.

AI makes magazines for 308, 300 Win Mag, and 338 Lapua lengths. Since both of my 783 rifles are long action I got the 300 Win Mag length magazines. I was happy to find that I "think" the AI 300 Win Mag magazines will hold the 6.5-284 brass perfectly without any modification. Once I start firing the rifle, I'll know for sure. But so far, they look great sitting in there.

 

[engineer40]

I do have a question for you guys. When I do start modifying that English Walnut stock for the 300 Win Mag, should I be concerned with cross bolts or wrist pins?

I will be bedding the receiver. However I am not sure if a 300 Win Mag warrants the use of the procedures to strengthen the stock more?

Thanks!

 

[engineer40]

Until tonight I still hadn't shot either one of the Rem 783's since I've got the new barrels. Life is busy!

I found out that my wife was going to be gone with the kids for a few hours tonight. So as quickly as I could I finished up the necessities needed for the Rem 783 with the 6.5-284 barrel to shoot. I threw the pic rail on and my 16x SWFA scope real quick. Then I picked a random load and loaded up 10 rounds. Off to the range!

First time I've ever installed a barrel and first time ever loading for a 6.5-284; this is 4 shots through the same hole at 100 yards! To give perspective, that target is only 3 inches across.

Shots 1-6 I shot, then cleaned, shot then cleaned, shot then cleaned.

Shots 7, 8, 9, and 10 are the picture above. Shot sitting at a bench off sand bags.

Maybe I just got lucky and picked a fantastic load. But if this is any indication of how accurate this rifle is going to be, I have to say I'm pretty ecstatic about this new Criterion barrel!

I was so excited I texted that picture to a few buddies who shoot, but don't reload. All 3 of them said "Yeah but you didn't even hit the bulls-eye". I need to remember to not share pictures of my targets with guys who aren't into reloading. I told them all, hitting the bulls-eye is an easy scope adjustment. Putting 4 shots through the same hold is hard! None of them seemed impressed. So since you guys on this forum know what the heck is going on, maybe I can get some kudos from you all!

 

[7mmShooter]

That's awesome Engineer, very well done!