steakman

I have a 223 sps collecting dust maybe looking at rebarreling to a 6.5 Grendal. Does anyone know if I can use the same bolt or do I need to change out the bolt body? rim size .063 bigger on the Grendal can I get this machined down to accommodate this without taking away from the integrity of the bolt on the 223.

Nomercy448

You won’t hurt anything to have a gunsmith open the boltface of a .223rem 700 to fit the 6.5 Grendel, but you may struggle getting a mag box to feed appropriately for the smaller round. THAT will be the trick of the project.

I expect you’ll be considerably better off to purchase a Ruger American, CZ 527, or Howa Mini action rifle in 6.5 Grendel and simply sell the 700 SPS.

steakman

Thought about selling the 223 also but it was in the safe maybe worth a try. in the long run may be cheaper but I was looking at a 26inch barrel in heavy contour might be hard to find one.

Nomercy448

The small Grendel case doesn’t really have enough capacity to feed a 26” barrel. It’s only gaining 15-18fps per inch, so we’re talking 30-35fps difference between a 24” and a 26”. I wouldn’t cut off my nose to spite my face there - I run a 20” Grendel out past 1,000 yards without any complaints. The juice really isn’t worth the squeeze to run a 26” custom barrel unless you’re competing and needed every yard of supersonic range you could get, in which case, the Grendel is a poor choice altogether.

Comparatively speaking, you’ll be money ahead to avoid rebarreling and doing a case-family conversion on your SPS: having a smith open the boltface of a 700, converting to an M16 or Sako style extractor due to the unavailable size in factory parts ($150-250), buying a new barrel ($375), having a smith thread, chamber, and crown or muzzle thread ($250-400), buying a new mag box and follower and having a smith cut lips, block, and fit for proper feeding of the Grendel round ($50 + $150-200)... you’ll easily be into a Grendel converted 700 for $800-1,000, plus the ~$600 I expect you already have into the base rifle (donor action). Alternatively, the CZ 527 American Varmint is available around $700-800 with a 25.6” heavy barrel. The Ruger American Predator with 22” mid weight sporter barrel in 6.5 Grendel only runs about $425-450 street price. The Howa Mini 22” mid weight barrel runs $450ish. They offer a new Model in the MDT Oryx chassis for $1200, which for the money, would be far better featured than a $1400-1600 sunk cost SPS.

I’m always a fan of custom work to make a rifle what you really want, but I wouldn’t shoot myself in the wallet just for 2” of barrel length (or .4”, in the case of the CZ).

mrbb

I agree with the above, be way cheaper and less hassle to get what you want buy just buying a new rifle!or a new action and build what you want?

300 bucks for s new rem 700 action!
https://www.budsgunshop.com/product_...n+steel+308win


or trying to trading someone for a rifle of caliber you want!

steakman

thanks for that never thought of all the extras needed aside from the rebarreling. Guess I will be looking at a new rifle at the next gunshow.

Nomercy448

A 12” barreled bolt gun in 6.5 Grendel which uses AR mags is high on my wish list. I might not ever hunt deer with anything else once I put it together. Someday. Someday.

steakman

Well bite into it and got a new 24" barrel on my rem 700 action the gun was fairly new 223 with only 25rds through it. Got the gunsmith to turn the bolt face down and added a Sako extractor. Now just have to load up some rds for it.