Something old, something new

[Kaitum]

A good 30 years ago my grandmother gave me her Remington 600 .243. Besides occasionally carrying it for woodchucks around my grandfather's hay fields, it never really saw much use. By my back of the napkin calculations, 1993 was about the last time I squeezed the trigger on it. It has sat in my dad's or my gun safe ever since.

This winter I got the itch to do something with that gun. Replacing the original trigger was at the top of the list. You darn near needed two fingers to squeeze it. And .243 just isn't a caliber I had a ton of use for, especially with its original 18" barrel.

I had a local gunsmith install a Timney trigger, replace the barrel with a 22" Douglas #3 in 7mm08, and true the action. My goal was an elk, deer, antelope hunting rifle that didn't break the bank and still retained some of the features of my grandmother's original rifle (same stock, same action). Despite adding 4" and a heavier barrel, it still feels light and compact in hand.

I would like to refinish the stock and replace the plastic trigger guard with a metal guard, but that will wait till next year. I'm anxious to get a scope on it and visit the range.

 

[SticksMcKinley]

Nice - 600s are cool.

 

[mtmuley]

Looking forward to the range report. mtmuley

 

[Jbotto]

Can’t wait to see how this shoots!

 

[mtmuley]

Can’t wait to see how this shoots!

Bet it will. Good smith put it together. mtmuley

 

[Brian in Montana]

I have that exact rifle. I've been very reluctant to modify it in any way because of the semi-classic-ish nature of it.

 

[Kaitum]

It took awhile but I finally spent some time shooting this rifle. When I had the gunsmith do the work he said there was a pinch point at the end of the forearm but to shoot the gun first before deciding if the barrels needs floated. I went through a break in with the barrel and then tried some Nosler Accubond factory ammo.

The first picture is the best group I got with the 140 gr NA factory ammo (I adjusted scope after first shot). I want better but I hand load so no big deal if factory ammo isn't great.

Next photo is best group I got with 139 gr Hornadys and 43.5 gr of H4350. That's acceptable but I don't plan on hunting with those Hornadys.

Third photo is what all other powder increments looked like using Hornadys and H4350 in 0.5 grain increments.

My question to the group, do I have the gunsmith float the barrel? Or try hand loads with Accubonds and E-tips that I plan to hunt with first?

 

[EastTNHunter]

I’d try handloads first, but that’s just me

 

[Cheesehead]

Very cool project. Gives me some ideas about my old 788 in 243 with a short tube

 

[std7mag]

The Hornady's prove that the setup you currently have is plenty acceptable.

You said you did handloads in 0.5gr increments. But i'm only seeing 3 shots.
Or are you saying that you shot groups while increasing powder charge, and this was your best group?

If so, you'd be better off shooting ladder test going up 0.3gr per round. Find 3 closest verticle. Middle is your powder charge.
Then adjust seating depth to tighten up your group size.

And i really like the looks on that rifle!
Nicely done!

 

[6mm Remington]

The Remington 600 is a great little rifle. My father game me a Remington 600 Montana Centennial model as my first big-game rifle when I was twelve years old. The rifle was made in 1968 and it sat new/unused in a mom-pop store for several years before he bought it. It's chambered in 6mm Remington. I took my first deer and antelope with that rifle and now my older son (who it belongs to now) used it on his first big-game animals also. Great shooting little rifle.

David.

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[6mm Remington]

Here's my son Jeff using his 6mm Remington on his first hunt.

 

[Kaitum]

Varget and 140 gr E-tips gave me something I can work with. I'll take it for shooting off my tailgate at a piece of cardboard wedged into sage brush on a breezy day.

 

[Kaitum]

Dan Coffin did the work, he's a good guy to work with as @noharleyyet will attest:

Load settled and props to a Montana Gunsmith

Thanks to Dan Coffin of Victor, Montana for his work on a 300 RUM late last year. RL26/181 Hammer Hunter/3375 fps...sending for dial

www.hunttalk.com

 

[Gunner46]

I have one in 308. Dad bought it for me as my 16th Birthday present, then never actually gave it to me until I was 30 ! Mucho, Mucho whitetail tags were filled with that little rifle. Hope your project turns out as good as my last couple have.

 

[shootbrownelk]

I have a Remington 660 (20" bbl.) in .243. Timney trigger and metal floorplate/trigger guard upgrades. No need to change calibers IMO.

 

[noharleyyet]

As I was texting with mtmuley yesterday...accurate 243's are about as fun as it gets to operate.