Best 22in or 24in barrel on a budget

[Klem]

@grayfox,
I know about the rifle system. I have a Rem700 in 308 ...
Decided to actually just keep my rifles the way they are and build a nice bolt action.

Jorge.,

Here's an idea to think about, that will save money. - turn that Rem700 into a switch barrel.

You already have a 308 complete with scope and trigger. You can turn that gun into a switch barrel and change calibres in a couple of minutes with a torque wrench and barrel vise. It's a Short Action so will take 223 and also a longer range 6.5calibre. The Creedmore uses the same bolt as your 308 however the 223 will need a new bolt.

You can screw in any short action calibre of your choice for what you want to do at the time. You can do this at home or the range (I take a couple of timber clamps to hold the vise to the concrete benches at the range, or have a vise on your truck).

I recommend updating that 308 to a 21st Century calibre anyway. I also recommend having a gunsmith blueprint that action and use a thicker recoil lug. With proper bedding you can bring that action up to the precision of the bench resters. The of course a Krieger or Bartlein barrel and you are good-to-go at any altitude. This might mean a new bolt with tighter tolerances and smaller firing pin for accuracy and higher pressures.

I used to shoot 223 out to 1,000 in competition but for that you need hot 80gn loads, a smaller 0.062" firing pin bolt and 30in of barrel. For shorter ranges you can get away with a shorter barrel. Dedicated bolts with smaller pin holes are sold by Pacific Tool & Gauge

By doing this you can use the same scope, rings, action and stock for all your calibres.

Downside is you have to re-zero for each barrel and calibre but that only takes a couple of warming/fouling rounds because they all pretty much shoot the same spot at 100.

Barrels never come loose because the right-hand barrel twist tightens them every shot.

You could have a Grendel barrel in that Remington but I would leave that for an AR because the calibre is optimised for the AR.

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