Remage conversion build

[loneranger04]

Yeah the savage already has a notch at the bottom of the action to orient the lug to the centerline of the action however the remington doesn't have any way to do this without milling a notch for one of Jim's lugs, pinning a lug or using a jig to keep the lug aligned while mounting a barrel. Savage has made it easy for the do-it-yourselfer to change barrels. One of the reasons the savage is so popular however, once a remington action is set up for a lug it's no problem to change barrels, calibers within the bolt face group or tinker.

[scooterf79]

I quickly found out tape wasnt helpful lol...thanks for the heads up on the chamois capt.
Dean I had sorta thought about being able to keep the barrel for a change every once in a while but wasnt sure, especially since it got marred up pretty bad.
Ben, I had planned to go into detail with the "machine work" so I gotcha covered when I get to that point.
Loneranger, I haven't decided on the stock yet, but Ive already got my barrel and caliber picked out. Its a Mcgowen 1:8 twist, chambered in the 6x55 Swede. Dean (aka scope eye), and Hot Olds turned me onto it a little while back, when i was asking about a 6mm. Thats a caliber I dont have and I wanted it to be different, so....thats what I went with. Its chambered using a 6br reamer (Dean, correct me if I'm wrong) but run in a little bit farther. Accuracy reports are really good and the speed is awesome too. There should definitely be a nice red mist factor where varmints are concerned ;). A big plus is being able to use Lapua brass, for reasonably cheap $70ish/100.
Scooter

[sparky123321]

This was probably already mentioned above, but if not... MidwayUSA and other sites sell the recoil lug alignment tool for only about $35.

[scope eye]

Hey Scooter, I would reuse that barrel, nothing a little sanding and spray bomb wont fix, it would be perfect for hunting and scratching it up again, I love that case whether it is a 22, 6mm, or a 6.5, once formed it holds 55+ grains of powder, which really opens up your options and settles they argument, of which short action 6.5 is better at least as far as I am concerned, which made me realize I have got to look into a 25 caliber version of this gem how sweet would that be.

Dean

[scooterf79]

Ill probably end up keeping it anyway, i think i might prefer to knock the shoulder off and use it as a remage though. So...if it were a 25 cal, this is just off the top of my head but wouldnt that have more capacity than the 257rob...and probably put u in the 25-06 territory right?
Scooter

[scope eye]

You got it, and in a short action to boot.



Dean

[scooterf79]

I finally got the pics uploaded and ready to post...
Heres some of the pics of finally getting the barrel loose
Had to change my approach a little bit from using my bench vice. I ended up standing on the wrench handles because it gave me a little more leverage. Between the heat and the extra leverage the barrel popped loose.
http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a631/scooterf79/Mobile%20Uploads/20141106_180859_zpsjian0o1r.jpg (http://s1287.photobucket.com/user/scooterf79/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20141106_180859_zpsjian0o1r.jpg.html)
I ended up laying the wrenches on the floor on cardboard to keep it from scratching the action.
I used a propane torch INSIDE the chamber for about 90 secs to 2min, this will melt the loctite and allow the barrel to break loose. I stress the inside of the chamber to make sure the bluing doesn't get damaged.
http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a631/scooterf79/Mobile%20Uploads/20141106_180922_zpsthvcqeka.jpg (http://s1287.photobucket.com/user/scooterf79/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20141106_180922_zpsthvcqeka.jpg.html)
Finally...barrel broken loose!
http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a631/scooterf79/Mobile%20Uploads/20141029_163745_zpsdnaxvsp7.jpg (http://s1287.photobucket.com/user/scooterf79/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20141029_163745_zpsdnaxvsp7.jpg.html)
There seemed to be quite a bit of loctite on the threads, but once heated up the barrel came right loose. I even had some bubble into my threads for the front scope base, obviously that will need to be removed before I put my new rings and bases on. I still need to clean out the threads on the action as well, that way all will be clean and grime free for the new barrel install
http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a631/scooterf79/Mobile%20Uploads/20141029_164027_zpsigza4tqx.jpg (http://s1287.photobucket.com/user/scooterf79/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20141029_164027_zpsigza4tqx.jpg.html)
This was the removal of the barrel....next post will be of the mod for the recoil lug
Scooter

[scooterf79]

The action mod for the recoil lug....this is not a mandatory step but it does keep the recoil lug from moving when tightening down the nut. As someone posted earlier there are jigs to hold the lug in place but since the mod didn't seem to difficult and I like to tinker I figured I would do it to show how its done. Its not a major job, just a small notch to hold the pin on the recoil lug.
I marked a line with a pencil, centered with the front action screw hole.
http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a631/scooterf79/Mobile%20Uploads/20141106_182735_zps7zt8jy22.jpg (http://s1287.photobucket.com/user/scooterf79/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20141106_182735_zps7zt8jy22.jpg.html)

I had a dremel grinder bit that was just about the perfect size for the lug pin
http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a631/scooterf79/Mobile%20Uploads/20141106_182727_zpsnp1gptju.jpg (http://s1287.photobucket.com/user/scooterf79/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20141106_182727_zpsnp1gptju.jpg.html)
Heres where the point of no return begins lol....

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a631/scooterf79/Mobile%20Uploads/20141106_182828_zpsvjhir2ul.jpg (http://s1287.photobucket.com/user/scooterf79/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20141106_182828_zpsvjhir2ul.jpg.html)
http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a631/scooterf79/Mobile%20Uploads/20141106_183015_zpsorjpyzi6.jpg (http://s1287.photobucket.com/user/scooterf79/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20141106_183015_zpsorjpyzi6.jpg.html)

Just a couple minutes of grinding and here's the result.
http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a631/scooterf79/Mobile%20Uploads/20141106_183125_zpskmxrut5r.jpg (http://s1287.photobucket.com/user/scooterf79/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20141106_183125_zpskmxrut5r.jpg.html)
Obviously this isnt my new barrel but i threaded the old one on just the show the lug
http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a631/scooterf79/Mobile%20Uploads/20141106_183447_zpseffsdpo7.jpg (http://s1287.photobucket.com/user/scooterf79/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20141106_183447_zpseffsdpo7.jpg.html)
http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a631/scooterf79/Mobile%20Uploads/20141106_183511_zpsppeasc4r.jpg (http://s1287.photobucket.com/user/scooterf79/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20141106_183511_zpsppeasc4r.jpg.html)
So...thats pretty much all there is to it....its not a hard job at all, just take your time. I hope this helped and there'll be more to come as I get this build together! If anybody still has any questions about the mod, just let me know and I'll do my best to a answer.
Scooter

[archerben]

Thanks a bunch for detailing the recoil lug mod. Now I understand exactly the modification. I may need to start watching for a Remington donor action. Is there a need to true the action and bolt on a build such as this?

[scooterf79]

No problem, glad it helped! Id do it again if I were to run across a good deal on one, but around here people want as much for a used one as a new one or nearly as much. I'm not going to have mine trued, the research I did on this, some people did, some didnt. Scope eye has done several and he's not had any trued that I know of and has really good accuracy with all of his.


That so called machine work, can be done with a Dremel, not what I would call a deal breaker, I have several of these Remages and never trued or did anything to they actions, and they are all very accurate rigs.

Dean

Scooter

[scope eye]

I am so proud, it brings a tear to my eye, no seriously nice job and a big contribution to this forum, I am sure it will be referenced many times in the future.

Dean

[dubnali]

I am so proud, it brings a tear to my eye, no seriously nice job and a big contribution to this forum, I am sure it will be referenced many times in the future.

Dean
Maybe this thread should receive "sticky" status or copied over into the articles section when it's complete.

OP: nice work! I look forward to watching this build progress. I have a feeling I'll be kicking myself in the ass for getting rid of my 700. [emoji35]

[scope eye]

Rem 700 there the same only different.LOL


Dean

[scooterf79]

Thanks for comments guys I appreciate it. Glad Im makin you happy Dean lol.
Scooter

[scooterf79]

Thanks for the comments guys I appreciate it. Glad I made you happy Dean lol. Got rid of it???? What in the world???? Lol
Scooter

[CAPTBEACH]

You can clean and square it up...Look around in your tool box and find a ******* file that closely matches the diameter of the recoil lug pin...snug up the receiver in the action wrench and vise it up so its vertical to work with...put a piece of cardboard into the action to act as a bumper for the barrel threads and then use the SIDE of the file to dress the slot until its square and dressed up...

[loneranger04]

Thanks for the post. I've enjoyed following it. Nice job notching the receiver. I was afraid to do mine so I'm having a smith do it. Taking forever too. One of the big reasons for doing the Remage conversion is its a do it yourself project and you have! Good shooting!

[scooterf79]

The barrel shipped yesterday, should be here by the weekend according to the tracking number. I think momma is gonna keep it from me till Christmas though. :( Ill get pics posted as soon and I'm allowed to have it lol Thinking about a Boyds pro varmint stock too, maybe in the gold and blue color hmm.......gotta have a little bit of pop when ya see it!
Scooter

[GaCop]

And a quick spin in a lathe will remove some or all of the pipe wrench teeth marks....

Nice job...will follow this thread been wanting to do this for a while...a donor 700 rifle is in my future...

Also...for what its worth...If you ever have a barrel or an action turning under pressure in a barrel vise or an action wrench I found that tape is not your friend...under tough loads it will fail and give...CHAMOIS on the other hand has not doe so for me...I take a chamois cloth and cut it into strips, moisten in water, wring nearly completely dry that I can then make one wrap around the DRY DEGREASED barrel or action and then crank it down...never had it slip...or mar the working surfaces... Good information!

[GaCop]

This is one great thread!