Thread: Remington 700 from 308 to 6.5CM Criterion prefit barrel quick job report

After asking suggestions from shooting mates, experienced forum members and gunsmith with varies custom build options. I have decided to do a home quick project to turn my Rem 700 Kreiger 24" barrelled 308win into a 26" Criterion 6.5 Creedmoor. Since I have all the action wrench and a basic barrel vice set up from the last project changing the factory 308 barrel to a Kreiger, it was smooth sailing.
Here is my little report, not a literary masterpiece but I hope you guys enjoy it.




This time was nowhere near as hard to crack the barrel off as the factory Remington one. The factory barrel had so much locktite on there, I remembered it took a few heavy blows and almost lifting my 100kg solid wooden table.
Anyway off goes the Kreiger and on goes the Criterion. It's much thinner profile (too thin for my liking really) but I had to work with what's available.
Headspace "go gauge" inserted and bolt closed. I backed off the locking nut then tightened the barrel into the action to a touch hand tight and cycled the bolt to see if it has any trouble at all. screwed on the locking nut to hand tight and ran the "no-go gauge" to make sure the chamber is not too loose.


Got the locking nut tightened up and torqued, she's back in shape.



MDT chassis bolted back up.
I decided to make a little bag rider for it with an alloy rod, not a pro job but happy with what my little milling machine did.



I gave the barrel a good clean before I shot it to make sure there is no oil or other crap left in it with all the mucking around I did.
Shooting it was fun, recoil was minimal. Breaking in the barrel was done with Nosler 140 HPBT, AR2209 40-41.5 grain, loaded in new Lapua Small primer brass. Sighted the scope in at the same time.
Final 5 shot group on the day was shot with 41.5 grain of AR 2209 and the group looks tightish, but for some reason it went across sideways.
I suspected shooter's error by loading the Harris bipod wrongly on a slightly sloped area.



I hope you guys like my report and I will shoot this set up more and show more results of load development in the next few month.
Thanks to all the people who have been giving me advice. Thanks to our local fellow shooter and importer John Herbert who got these Criterion barrels in at a good price.