7mm/08 to 204 ruger

[faciszewski]

I have a model 11 7mm/08 and want to convert it to 204 ruger. I know I need a new bolt head and barrel, but what about the magazine and follower as well as extractor and firing pin?

[jonbearman]

If you buy a complete bolt head it should all be there.You will have to change the mag though.

[mnhntr]

Or keep it the way it is and rebarrel to 22/243 and get the .224 bullets smoking out like a .204

[cheezie]

Be aware that the 223/204 Ruger bolts have a stop that extends approximately one inch rearward from the right side of the bolt head. This prevents the bolt from opening further than necessary to cycle the shorter 223/204R cartridge. If you plan to switch back and forth between 223/204R and 243/7mm/308-sized cartridges, you will want two complete bolts, one for each cartridge size, IMO.

[cheezie]

I like the way mnhntr thinks!

[bootsmcguire]

Be aware that the 223/204 Ruger bolts have a stop that extends approximately one inch rearward from the right side of the bolt head. This prevents the bolt from opening further than necessary to cycle the shorter 223/204R cartridge. If you plan to switch back and forth between 223/204R and 243/7mm/308-sized cartridges, you will want two complete bolts, one for each cartridge size, IMO.

Ok, I think that cheezie is referring to the front baffle. The FB for the 204/223 based rounds does have a dogleg to it to shorten the stoke for the shorter rounds, the standard FB does not. You do not need the dogleg FB to shoot 223 based rounds, it will work fine with the standard one.

The bolt heads themselves have different sized openings in the face. The 223 head is .378" and the 308 based head is .473". You must change the bolt heads but the standard front baffle will work for all, but the doglegged front baffle only works for the 223 based stuff.

You can run 2 separate bolts if you like, but it is easy just to change the bolt head and be done.

[stangfish]

There is always the swap someone even steven route.

[mnhntr]

or you could hot rod it with a 220 swift barrel since the 6mm lee navy parent case is the .473 diameter of the 7mm-08