OK I want to build a 300 Fireball or two.

[Krink545]

OK I think a little background might help with some of the answers I get so here we go. I like to build things and if I find myself borrowing things from Friends or having to pay someone else to do some work(and hope they do it right) that I cant do because I don't have the equipment ill eventually end up buy more and more shop equipment. I currently have a Jet 13x40 lathe, a little bench top mill, 25 ton shop press, wire welder w/spool gun, torch set, big blast cabinet and tons of hand tools(was a Snap-On dealer years ago).
I've built many AR's,AK's,RPK's,Krinkov's but have yet to build a bolt gun.
I've also chopped,threaded and re-crowned many barrels.

OK to the builds, I want to build a bolt gun from a used Remington 700 .223 and a 10.5" AR upper to use on my M16A1 and a SBR'ed AR I have.

First some basic questions I see a lot of people talking about their Whispers that I'm not sure are true Whispers. Doesn't a true Whisper require you to use 221 brass sized to 300 Whisper or 223 brass sized with the neck turned down to fit the 300 whisper chamber? What I want to do is use 223 brass sized without having to turn down the necks. What dies do I need to do this on my Dillon XL650? I would trim off whats left of the 223 neck in the lathe or mill than finish trimming them in my Giraud trimmer if I can get a shell holder for it.Next I've look on the Pac-Nor site at their barrels for a 700 and I have seen people talk about 1in8 and 1in6.5 twist rates whats the advantage over one or the other? Also on Pac-Nor's site they call it a 300 Whisper chamber is it? Pac-Nor also list some barrels prefit barrels that are chambered, contoured and threaded for the action, how hard would it be for me to buy one of these and get it done right with the tools I have. I don't have a barrel vise or action wrench yet but their on my short list of things to buy but I do have a guy here locally that builds guns that would let me use his stuff or I could pay him to do it for me. Who else are you guys getting your barrels from?

I for the AR build it sounds pretty straight forward. I'm going to buy a Model 1 barrel plug the existing gas port turn the barrel down and install a pistol length gas system. Then cut the barrel down to 10.5" thread and re-crown.
I'm I missing something?

Thanks for the help.

[kurtz]

Hi krink,

are you looking to build a sub-sonic or super-sonic 300 whisper?....I have (2) SSK 1:8 twist sub-sonic suppressed whispers one is a CZ527 and the other a AR-15, I also have a PacNor barreled 1:11 twist CZ527 dedicated to super-sonic loads....I use both Hornady JDJ 300 whisper dies and Redding 300-221 dies on Winchester .223 brass that I cut to length in a hobby lathe, form in the dies, and final trim in the hobby lathe....I have not experienced the differences or large outside neck diameter using .223 brass that some have had, the loaded outside neck diameter of my rounds with most bullets is .330 to .331 using either the Redding or Hornady dies which chambers in all three guns with no problems, there are a couple .308 bullets that I have found that drive the loaded neck diameter out to .333, Hawk being one, .308 bullets that mic at .309 to .310....The SSK guns are "true" whispers and use the .223 brass great without neck turning, I purchased 100 rounds of loaded ammo from SSK that was made from Lake City .223 brass that had a larger loaded neck diameter (.333) than my loads and worked great in both the bolt and autoloader....The PacNor barrel is advertised on their website as 300 whisper but came in marked 300-221....I have fire formed super-sonic loads and made casts of both the SSK and PacNor barrels and measured for comparison, could measure no dicernable difference, my guess is my PacNor 300-221 is cut with a very close to SSK Whisper reamer....I can't say enough good things about my PacNor barrel, very happy with their products and service, barrel will shoot 100 yd groups that can be covered with a penny....I am getting ready to send PacNor a custom 300 whisper reamer that I had PTG cut for another barrel....

[Krink545]

I'm sure 99% of the time a AAC 7.62SD will be hanging on the end of them.
So sub-sonic will be shot out of them.
I'm still waiting for the can to show up a my dealer.

Thanks for the help.

[Foxfire]

Model "1" doesn't port thier barrels until ordered, You can have them put it where you want it.

They also do other custom work, should give them a call.

[jseale]

I have a Model 1 300-221 upper that I will sell w/o bolt and handle for 300. I will also throw in a set of redding dies.-Jeff

[THE DOCTOR]

Questions sent on your upper jeff

[d-mon]

Hello Krink 545,

I have built my own whisper based on a Brno Fox rifle.

I have bought my own reamer from pacific tool and gage.
A barrel with 1 in 8" twist from Border barrel in Scotland.
I used the workshop of a friend of mine which is well equiped.

And I loved building it, and it was maybe a bit cheaper than if I had it done buy a professional gunsmith arround here in Europe.

But, if you live in The US, I think it is fare easier and cheaper to get an action rebarreled by a company like Pac-Nor, shilen, ssk...

But I can understand the pleasure you get from building your own toys.

Up to you.
I think you can rent a reamer from www.reamerentals.com ifyou do not want to buy one.

Good luke.

ND