700 SPS Tactical

[JeffSD]

I am going to be getting one of these rifles. I plan to order it in the 16" barrel. As I understand it, these have a 6+1 capacity, which will have to do for a while until I find out about a magazine conversion kit.

What I am wondering about is shooting 5.56. I am going to be getting the 223, and I have all this 5.56 I'd like to be able to use. Does anyone have an idea of what it costs to have it modified to safely shoot 5.56, and even more importantly, a good gunsmith in the San Diego area to do it? I dont want to mess around with s possible over pressure situation.

[ILVSMOG]

I've shot factory .223 and 5.56, (as well as handloads that run hotter than either) out of my 700 chambered in .223. You shouldn't have a problem.

[sd joe]

They are only different on the Internet. I have one and it makes no difference. Unless something has changed they don't have a 6 round magazine.

[jtv3062]

A little reading http://www.ar15.com/ammo/project/hist_diff.html
And it will explain why your rifle is marked .223 and you have no problems shooting 5.56 ammo

[a1rfreshener]

i have a 700 Ltr in .223 and if mine can do it. im sure yours will be able to. besides .223 is more accurate.

[417atty]

delete

[cusco19]

i had the same question.. so i asked the MFG.

[ILVSMOG]

. . . A shorter leade in a SAAMI spec rifle creates a situation where the bullet in a 5.56 NATO round, when chambered, can contact the rifling prior to being fired. . .

Though this may be theoretically correct, the chances of this actually happening in a current production Remington 700 make Lindsey Graham's chances at the presidency look good. The last time throat depth and Remington 700s were discussed here, I believe the phrase "Bangkok Hooker" was used.

[cusco19]

"Bangkok Hooker".... lol....

[Shakey]

Actual test data from two different groups shows two things:
- In a 223 chambered rifle, 556 ammo can generate higher chamber pressure than 223 ammo.
- The increase is not enough to make a difference one way or the other.

FWIW - I put two cases of 556 ammunition through a 223 barrel without any negative effects.

[417atty]

Actual test data from two different groups shows two things:
- In a 223 chambered rifle, 556 ammo can generate higher chamber pressure than 223 ammo.
- The increase is not enough to make a difference one way or the other.

FWIW - I put two cases of 556 ammunition through a 223 barrel without any negative effects.

Very interesting article. But I think he should have compared the .223 ammo to XM193, not M855.

Also, according to some of the comments, the Weatherby rifle that he used for testing has an extended chamber that effectively made it 5.56mm.

[ILVSMOG]

. . . the Weatherby rifle that he used for testing has an extended chamber that effectively made it 5.56mm. . .

Which brings us back to my point. The chambers are reamed so long, in any factory rifle (recent 700s in particular) that any difference between a 5.56 and .223 becomes academic.

Book OAL for .223 is 2.200" - 2.210" (depending on who's specs you use). My 700, varmint gun measures 2.270" to the lands. I load 53gr Hornady Vmax, with a .020" jump and the round is .040" - .050" over "book" length. No factory ammunition (.223 or 5.56) is going to get anywhere near touching the lands in a factory rifle.