.308 to .300 WSM conversion

[nocturnalnasty]

I've searched, but haven't found the information that I am looking for. I hope that one of you can give me some help.

I just purchased a 110 tactical in .308, it's the long action with the short blind mag. I am having the barrel re-chambered to .300 WSM. My question is what bolt modifications and parts will I need?

Any help you can give me will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
John

[thirty06]

Being as it's a long action, all you need is a long action magnum bolthead. You should be able to tweek your mag feed lips to feed ok.

[nocturnalnasty]

No firing pin change needed then?

[jglover_81]

You shouldn't have to... if its the large firing pin you might have to drill out the bolt head slightly

[Rover31]

OP thanks for posting this I have been looking at doing a similar gun.

Can I post a question closely related?
I have a 308 short action. Can I build a 300wsm or 7mm wsm on this action?
I do want it to be a repeater of course.
Thanks

[nocturnalnasty]

Thank you very much. Looks pretty straight forward then.
I appreciate your help.
John

[cowboybart]

Rover, yes you can. I built a 300 WSM on a 243 action. Change the bolt face and tweek the mag feed lips - oh yeah- change to a small shank WSM barrel.

[geargrinder]

That's what this action is. Started out as a 308 long action with a short mag. Now it is a 338 Edge with a single shot follower. It has also been a 220 Swift, 300wsm, and a 22-250. All repeaters.

http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee269/geargrinder123/S8001327.jpg

[Rover31]

Ahhhh very nice!
Thanks for the info guys, looks like I am headed for another barrel!!!!
T

[nocturnalnasty]

VERY NICE geargrinder. Ain't these switchbarrel guns great?
John

[geargrinder]

VERY NICE geargrinder. Ain't these switchbarrel guns great?
John


NN- I got your email. I'll answer you here just in case anyone else has the same question about swapping bolt heads.

Since you have a long action it will be very easy.

You'll need one of these:

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/default.aspx?productNumber=378112

and one of these:

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/default.aspx?productNumber=761587

and one of these:

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/default.aspx?productNumber=630992

You'll need to swap all the small parts from you old bolt head to the new or get them with everything else from Midway.

You could skip the cross pin and firing pin assembly by drilling out the bolt head. I prefer just to swap it over to small pin and never worry about it again.

Don't forget to check the firing pin protrusion.

[nocturnalnasty]

Thank you for all of the details geargrinder. I appreciate you help.
John

[nocturnalnasty]

UPDATE!!!
Called Lisa at SSS and she promptly sent me the complete push feed bolt head that has been drilled out for my large firing pin, with the ejector and extractor installed. Problem solved. Thanks again for all who offered assistance.
John

[HollowPoint]

If it's OK, I'd like to ask a question along the same vane as Rover31.

I've been up in the air between buying a complete rifle in 300 WSM or using my existing Stevens 200 short action as the basis for a switch barrel from 223 to WSM. Is this possible?

After crunching the numbers, I've determined that buying all the parts to convert my little Stevens to the 300 WSM comes out a little less expensive than paying for a complete gun plus shipping, plus transfer fee and then shelling out more on top of that for a new Stock and trigger.

When I say, "All The Parts to Convert," This includes the stock, the barrel and a new magnum bolt.

Now for the questions. The Bolt-Heads on the bolts I've seen for sale on sites like midway seem to be semi-complete magnum bolt assemblies for the Long-Action Controlled Feed only. (minus the ejector and/or extractor. The problem is, my short action Stevens is a push feed.

What type of Magnum Bolt-Head is used in the Short Action Push Feed rifles like this Stevens 200's? Am I missing something here? Is there a specific Short-Action Bolt-Head or do they use the same one that the Long Actions use?

Clearing this up for me will go a long way toward proceeding with the ordering of parts.

I had been considering the purchase of a Tikka in 300 WSM but after talking to a couple of guys on this forum and crunching those numbers, I've decided to give Savage another look.

Thanks for your help.

HollowPoint

[geargrinder]

Short action bolt heads are different than long action. You'll have to get a push feed short action magnum bolt head and short action magnum firing pin from SSS.

You'll also have to get a large shank barrel turned down to small shank or get a custom barrel made.

The need for a new stock depends on the contour barrel you get and if your willing to modify it to fit the barrel contour.

Midway has a short action push feed magnum complete bolt, but only in left hand. ::)