Model 70 7mm mag- too long and heavy. Sell or rework?
 

I' ve got a model 70 7mm mag ss w/boss that is my elk/general purpose rifle. Which is too heavy and too long. Should I sell it and get another lighter and shorter rifle? Or can it be reworked in another caliber with equal or less recoil?Need some ideas.

RE: Model 70 7mm mag- too long and heavy. Sell or rework?
 

Unless you just got money to burn, I' d sell it and buy something you' d like better. I think you' d be better off cost wise versus the gunsmithing bill reworking your rifle will cost you.

RE: Model 70 7mm mag- too long and heavy. Sell or rework?
 

I had the same rifle, same caliber without the boss and it was a bit heavy...put the lightweight stock on it and the gun took on a new personality. Used it for a few years and like an Idiot I sold that gun and wish many times I had it back...

RE: Model 70 7mm mag- too long and heavy. Sell or rework?
 

If I got a gun that is a shooter, I don' t get rid of them, I make it to suit me. 7mm Rem Mag can be productive in a 22" barrel. It will only cost you 50 dollars to have it cut and crowned. But making lighter can be a different story. Good light stocks are expensive. Wood might be a good alternitive to synthetic for lightness.

RE: Model 70 7mm mag- too long and heavy. Sell or rework?
 

7 mm Rem mag in a 22" barrel is a 280 remington.....trm the barrel down to 24" , put it in a high tech stock and put on talley aluminum rings and use a Leupold 2.5x8x36 you' ll never regret it.

RE: Model 70 7mm mag- too long and heavy. Sell or rework?
 

If you cut a few inches off of a 7MM Mag and it makes it a 280 Rem ,could you just cut a couple more and make it a 7MM-08 . LMAO :D

RE: Model 70 7mm mag- too long and heavy. Sell or rework?
 

Halcon, thats exactly right why bother toting a 7 rem mag if your going to cut the barrel down to 22" ...yeah cut the barrel down to 19" and you get a 7-08

RE: Model 70 7mm mag- too long and heavy. Sell or rework?
 

Keep it .Leave it like it is .Go out and buy another one .You can never have to many.:DReally ,If it is a shooter, And you can afford it leave it alone and get one for the intended purpose.I have the same thing ,But not stainless and no boss.It is heavy as the devil but it shoots like a varmit rifle .Love nor money can get " BABY DOLL"

RE: Model 70 7mm mag- too long and heavy. Sell or rework?
 

Think I' m going to sell it and get a .30-06 in stainless.

RE: Model 70 7mm mag- too long and heavy. Sell or rework?
 

Now guys, cutting it down to a 22" barrel doesn' t exactly change it to a 280remington. Yea, you lose 60fps max. Yea, your about at 280rem velocities, but hey, its makes it a little more carry friendly without loseing alot in money from selling. Don' t think that elk would know the difference. Besides, nothing wrong with 280 velocities.

It just seems you lose so much money in selling. I try to trade whenever possible.

RE: Model 70 7mm mag- too long and heavy. Sell or rework?
 

Bigcountry, I have never hacksawed a barrel to find out if chopping an 1" at a time loses x amount of velocity. I do know for a fact comparing 2 almost similiar apples ..160 grain federal 160 grain nosler partition that there is more than 100 fps difference between a 24" vs a 26" barrel. A good 280 is hard pressed to get 2900 with a 160 grain bullet out of a 24" barrel ....that has been my experience...the gap is larger with smaller bullets..

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RE: Model 70 7mm mag- too long and heavy. Sell or rework?
 

Oldelk, I have never destroyed a barrel either to see. I have to go off of test reports from magizines. I got two 308' s and one shoots almost 100fps faster than the other one. Same maker, same barrel length. But your data is what you saw. Anyway it goes, as long as I can 2700fps or higher, I am not too worried about velocity. My older 300RUM was the slowest RUM I have ever seen. 3090fps with 180gr Partitions. Slower than any weatherby. But I knew the drop up to 500 yards and didn' t worry too much about it. My newer RUM is the fastest I have ever seen. Still don' t care as long as I get those purty clover leaves. This gun gets 3400fps with 180gr bullets with pinpoint accuracy. As long as I know what to expect I am not too worried about it. Sure, if I had a 270Win that shot 130gr bullets only 2600fps, I would start to worry.

RE: Model 70 7mm mag- too long and heavy. Sell or rework?
 

Bigcountry and Otis, what I meant is if you chop the barrel off a 7 mag to std barrel length your going to put up with more muzzle blast and the rifle will be heavier than a 280 which can be built lighter to start off with. I agree no animal will notice the difference between the two. I had a Ruger 1b in 280 and with that 26" barrel shot almost 150 fps faster than the 24" barreled rem 700 in 280 i had with the same exact handload.