Rem 700 ML convert to a stronger barrel to be able to handle 200 grains like the new Rem 700 UML or

[Blackpowder8bore]

Hi, hope you are all well. I just acquired a Remington 700 ml and I've heard of peopleswapping barrels and ignition systems and having nitro 700MLs that use nitro.
Does anyone know if the barrel of the 700ml can be unscrewed and swapped out for a 4140 .458 or .500
barrel or something?

Any help is appreciated.

 

[sabotloader]

Re: Rem 700 ML convert to a stronger barrel to be able to handle 200 grains like the new Rem 700 UML or convert it to ni

Hi, hope you are all well. I just acquired a Remington 700 ml and I've heard of peopleswapping barrels and ignition systems and having nitro 700MLs that use nitro.
Does anyone know if the barrel of the 700ml can be unscrewed and swapped out for a 4140 .458 or .500
barrel or something?

Any help is appreciated.

Swapping the barrels out of the old 700ML is a very common thing to do these days. You might look for BESTILL Creations on the internet and give him a call. He is one of many builders doing this operation.

 

[BuckDoeHunter]

Re: Rem 700 ML convert to a stronger barrel to be able to handle 200 grains like the new Rem 700 UML or convert it to ni

Yes, the older 700ML's make good conversions and you can do all the work yourself with the right tools and some know-how.

This one was a 54 cal and now wears a Brux 1:20 twist, .458 cal, 6 groove barrel

Same barrel as above

Pac-Nor 1:22 twist, .458 cal, 8 groove barrel

All 3 rifles use a Hunter bolt nose conversion with an ASG 209 breech plug. I use smooth form and full form dies to size .451 to .458 cal bullets and shoot sabotless. All 3 rifles can be very accurate with the right loads. I purchased all my parts from ArrowHead Sporting Goods except for the bolt nose conversion, those came from DerfHunter on this board.

 

[GM54-120]

Re: Rem 700 ML convert to a stronger barrel to be able to handle 200 grains like the new Rem 700 UML or convert it to ni

Luke has some 50cal Brux 1-24s too but not ready to go. They are just contoured blanks for $325. The first 5" is 1.20" OD so yeah thats really beefy.
Brux 50cal 1/24twist, 6L, Modified Sendero (1.200" X 5", ST .950" @ 8.5", ST .800" @ 30") -- $325

 

[Blackpowder8bore]

Re: Rem 700 ML convert to a stronger barrel to be able to handle 200 grains like the new Rem 700 UML or convert it to ni

Luke has some 50cal Brux 1-24s too but not ready to go. They are just contoured blanks for $325. The first 5" is 1.20" OD so yeah thats really beefy.
Brux 50cal 1/24twist, 6L, Modified Sendero (1.200" X 5", ST .950" @ 8.5", ST .800" @ 30") -- $325

And you can just do a barrel swap like a centerfire 700,except it'll need a breech plug on the inside, and a better bolt setup?

 

[sabinajiles]

Re: Rem 700 ML convert to a stronger barrel to be able to handle 200 grains like the new Rem 700 UML or convert it to ni

Mine has a McGowan 1:22 twist .458 barrel. A variety of good .45 bullet options if you go with a .458 barrel and also .40 bullets in a sabot.

 

[GM54-120]

Re: Rem 700 ML convert to a stronger barrel to be able to handle 200 grains like the new Rem 700 UML or convert it to ni

Luke has some 50cal Brux 1-24s too but not ready to go. They are just contoured blanks for $325. The first 5" is 1.20" OD so yeah thats really beefy.
Brux 50cal 1/24twist, 6L, Modified Sendero (1.200" X 5", ST .950" @ 8.5", ST .800" @ 30") -- $325

And you can just do a barrel swap like a centerfire 700,except it'll need a breech plug on the inside, and a better bolt setup?

If you are going to just swap to a better 50cal you might as well just buy a Rem700UML from Luke and the improved LRMP module plug kit. By the time you invest in a Rem700ML you will have just as much money in it.

The 700ML does not have locking lugs. The 700UML does. Its basically a Rem700 CF stainless single shot action.

If 45cal is on the table you can make a really nice one from that 700ML and save a few bucks. The Brux barrel is a little nicer than the Pacnor but they are both excellent barrels. I would contact Bestill about what breach plug is the best for heavy sub loads.

 

[Blackpowder8bore]

Re: Rem 700 ML convert to a stronger barrel to be able to handle 200 grains like the new Rem 700 UML or convert it to ni

Hi, hope you are all well. I just acquired a Remington 700 ml and I've heard of peopleswapping barrels and ignition systems and having nitro 700MLs that use nitro.
Does anyone know if the barrel of the 700ml can be unscrewed and swapped out for a 4140 .458 or .500
barrel or something?

Any help is appreciated.

Swapping the barrels out of the old 700ML is a very common thing to do these days. You might look for BESTILL Creations on the internet and give him a call. He is one of many builders doing this operation.

Thank you I did talk with him and another builder. As a hunter I am used to .50s but apparently everybody recommends building .45s and do all this sizing stuff.

 

[GM54-120]

Re: Rem 700 ML convert to a stronger barrel to be able to handle 200 grains like the new Rem 700 UML or convert it to ni

You might be able to get the price down a little with a McGowen 8 land .500 x .510 1-24 twist barrel. They were one of the earlier barrels used for making MLII 45cal conversions so they are familiar with the contours used in custom built MLs. A few of the very first Henry Ball rifles even used McGowens.

Around $280 contoured no threading
http://mcgowenbarrel.com/shop/full-custom-barrel/

Pretty sure Cecil at Precision Rifle has some custom ordered Green Mountain blanks in 1-26 too. Good price but not quite as beefy. $249 and ships free Already contoured. I would call him about these. They might be cut rifled since GM does not list a button rifled 1-26 50cal. It would be a killer price for a cut rifled barrel.
https://www.prbullet.com/smb.htm

 

[GM54-120]

Re: Rem 700 ML convert to a stronger barrel to be able to handle 200 grains like the new Rem 700 UML or convert it to ni

Most of us will recommend 45 simply because its easier to achieve the accuracy and performance. You can shoot almost anything a 50cal can shoot and normally shoot them faster. No wait time for barrel cooling...or virtually none is needed with sabotless. The added bonus is you can shoot some of the new 40cal bullets in sabots far easier than trying to get them to shoot in a 50x40 sabot. A 200gr 40cal at 2400fps is a piece of cake in a custom 45 and thats just touching the surface of what it can do. The newer 225gr-250gr 40cal bullets take it to a whole other level but they will need a 1-24 twist or faster.

Shooting lead conicals a 460gr 45cal has a far better BC than a 465gr 50cal. WAY better sectional density too but with bullets that heavy its not a big deal for deer sized game. Either will hammer a deer or even elk no sweat.

 

[Blackpowder8bore]

Re: Rem 700 ML convert to a stronger barrel to be able to handle 200 grains like the new Rem 700 UML or convert it to ni

Luke has some 50cal Brux 1-24s too but not ready to go. They are just contoured blanks for $325. The first 5" is 1.20" OD so yeah thats really beefy.
Brux 50cal 1/24twist, 6L, Modified Sendero (1.200" X 5", ST .950" @ 8.5", ST .800" @ 30") -- $325

And you can just do a barrel swap like a centerfire 700,except it'll need a breech plug on the inside, and a better bolt setup?

If you are going to just swap to a better 50cal you might as well just buy a Rem700UML from Luke and the improved LRMP module plug kit. By the time you invest in a Rem700ML you will have just as much money in it.

The 700ML does not have locking lugs. The 700UML does. Its basically a Rem700 CF stainless single shot action.

If 45cal is on the table you can make a really nice one from that 700ML and save a few bucks. The Brux barrel is a little nicer than the Pacnor but they are both excellent barrels. I would contact Bestill about what breach plug is the best for heavy sub loads.

Ok you seem to know about it. I am getting a 700UML but it'll stay a UML probably and I'll get the 700ML converted to nitro powder.Being used to hunting with .50s, i would think a .500/.510 27" barrel would be fine if it got a fullbore 400-450 grain bullet to 2400fps,or lighter to faster.Sabots could use .458s.
- OR -
It seems the current thing to do is get the .450/.458 barrel and use some kind of .452 sized bullet or special bought bullet to get 300grs@2900. I don't understand if i can just buy .452 bullets from Midway, or if I have to buy those custom more expensive bullets like Parker's,ASG, Mitchell's,Fury,etc.that are sized to .452 or capable of being sized to .452 "smoothform" etc. Fury even has .50 bullets that can be done that easy.
The .45 sounds the better more accurate long distance if you need to shoot 600 yards but the 320+ grain Fury .50 should be able to although much less efficiently.
How poor is the accuracy of sabots at ranges exceeding 250 yards?What about lead bullets,gas checked and hard or softer cast?
It seems like the .45 and the smoothforming die and the bullets is a total different ballgame than my hunting and c.f. reloading...

 

[GM54-120]

Re: Rem 700 ML convert to a stronger barrel to be able to handle 200 grains like the new Rem 700 UML or convert it to ni

We really cant get into details about SMLs in this section but i will say that the loads you mentioned are extreme even for customs. It can be done but it aint cheap. I dont think ive seen enough data to get a 400gr moving that fast in a 50cal. Ive seen 404 Jeffery performance tops using a 400gr in a sabot.

Sure you can shoot a 300gr XTP at extreme speeds in a 45cal but what would be the point? The bullet was never made for that speed and the BC sucks for long range. Its just fine for punching paper or shooting slower. Pittman, Fury and Parker all make bullets just for this kind of shooting but none of them are really cheap either. This aint a budget minded game when you start talking about those kind numbers.

 

[ENCORE50A]

Re: Rem 700 ML convert to a stronger barrel to be able to handle 200 grains like the new Rem 700 UML or convert it to ni

I don't believe you'll get 600yd accuracy from the Fury 325's in a 50cal. I was shooting them for Dennis with heavy charges from my UF and they'll be good to about 350yds, then they go sub-sonic and in my shooting of them, they won't group at 400yds. They held MOA at 300.

 

[GM54-120]

Re: Rem 700 ML convert to a stronger barrel to be able to handle 200 grains like the new Rem 700 UML or convert it to ni

Yep, to get a 50cal bullet upto a reasonably high BC will require a lot of weight and LOTS of really slow powder. Ive seen a couple of those monster builds and they are not practical for hunting. Plus its like using an 505 Gibbs elephant rifle to take down NA game.

Money is better spent on a 45cal or even a 40cal. Less recoil and far flatter shooting. The 40cal big boomers have been around a little while but are just now getting some additional steam from the new 250-300gr bullets. The older ones from Swinglock were based on the 416 which are all mostly really heavy bullets.

A good custom 50cal can probably do fine out to around 300 yards but its asking a lot for much more. Its even possible using sabots with the right bullet.

 

[Blackpowder8bore]

Thanks you've been really helpful. It is appreciated,all input.

 

[Blackpowder8bore]

So you think those Green mountains are equal to McGowans? I've got a GM on my Knight .50 ml and it's perfectly uniform all the way and is 1137 steel confirmed with Knight. Metallurgically they've been a cut above the mainstream since they started I think. I may be wrong. But mine is heavy and accurate,which I like.

 

[GM54-120]

Green Mountain only uses 1137 in their black powder octagon blanks such as barrels for Hawkens. All the others are 4140 except AR barrels are 4150. All current Knights are either 4140 or 416 and ive never seen them listed any other way. The Knight barrels ive bought from GM that had the receiver cut off are 416 and 4140 for sure. Calling 1137 rifle grade steel would be somewhat of a stretch. Nobody ive seen uses it for centerfires. That is how the Revolution is listed in the old catalog and manuals. http://www.krwarranty.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/inline_6_29_11.pdf

All the barrels in the old manual are listed the same way.

Barrel:
27", Green Mountain Rifle Barrel, Rifle Grade Blue or Stainless Steel, 1:28 Twist, .50 caliber
27”, Green Mountain Rifle Barrel, Rifle Grade Blue or Stainless Steel, 1:26 Twist, .52 caliber

As you can see, 4140 is far stronger than 1137
12L14 Tensile strength 78,300 PSI, Yield strength 60,200 PSI
1137 Tensile strength 108,000 PSI, Yield strength 76,100 PSI
1144 Tensile strength 108,000 PSI, Yield strength 89,900 PSI
4140 Tensile strength 148,000 PSI, Yield strength 95,000 PSI

Green Mountain offers more than one kind of barrel rifling. They offer cut rifling that in many cases is better than button rifled. All Mcgowens are button rifled as far as ive seen. Like i said, i would call Cecil about the barrels he is selling. Those might be cut rifled because its a non standard GM twist for 50cal. Its simple to change the twist rate for cut barrels but for button it requires buying the button.

My personal opinion is that GM barrels are at least as good as McGowen and possibly better if its cut rifled. A heckuva alot of ML matches have been won using GMBs. One of the USA made Sharps companies is even using them due to lack of available Badger barrels. They could have easily gone to McGowen if they thought they were a better barrel.