Remington Short Action vs. Long Action: What Calibers Fit?

REMINGTON SHORT ACTION VS. LONG ACTION: WHAT CALIBERS FIT?

Whether you're building a precision rifle or upgrading a hunting rig with one of Grayboe’s stocks or chassis systems, knowing your Remington 700 action length—and what calibers it's compatible with—is absolutely critical. One of the most common questions we hear is: “What calibers fit a short action? What fits a long action?” Let’s break it down.

🔧 WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SHORT ACTION AND LONG ACTION?

The Remington 700 comes in several action lengths, but the two primary ones you'll encounter are:

- Short Action (SA) – Built to accommodate cartridges with an overall length of about 2.8 inches or less.

- Long Action (LA) – Designed for longer cartridges, typically up to 3.34 inches in overall length.

This affects everything from the bolt throw to the magazine length and stock compatibility. Choosing the correct action is vital for feeding reliability, accuracy, and compatibility with stocks, magazines, and bottom metal.

🎯 POPULAR SHORT ACTION CALIBERS

Short actions are ideal for precision shooting, competition, and certain hunting applications. Common calibers include:

- .308 Winchester

- 6.5 Creedmoor

- 6mm Creedmoor

- .243 Winchester

- 7mm-08 Remington

- .260 Remington

- .22-250 Remington

- .350 Legend

- .223 Remington (usually with a bolt face or bolt swap)

These cartridges generally cycle faster and allow for more compact rifles, making short action rifles lightweight and maneuverable.

🦌 POPULAR LONG ACTION CALIBERS

Long actions are better suited for magnum and full-power hunting cartridges. Common long action calibers include:

- .30-06 Springfield

- 7mm Remington Magnum

- .300 Winchester Magnum

- .270 Winchester

- .25-06 Remington

- .280 Remington

- .338 Winchester Magnum

- .300 PRC (with long action magnum bolt face)

These cartridges pack more powder, which means greater velocity and energy—perfect for long-range hunting or shooting large game.

🔄 WHAT ABOUT MEDIUM OR "XM" ACTIONS?

Remington technically made a "Medium Action" or "XM Action" for the .223 family, but it’s rare and not as relevant today. Some custom actions (like Defiance or Impact Precision) may offer “medium” actions tailored for specific calibers like 6GT or BR-based cartridges, but for the Remington 700 platform, you’re generally choosing between short and long.

🧩 WHY THIS MATTERS FOR GRAYBOE STOCKS

At Grayboe, our stocks and chassis systems are engineered to precisely match your Remington 700 action. Whether you’re dropping in a short action barreled receiver for a match gun or fitting a long action magnum rig for the backcountry, we offer inlet options and magazine compatibility that match your build.

Need help choosing the right action or stock? Contact us here and we’ll walk you through it.

✅ QUICK REFERENCE CHART
Action Type	Max Cartridge Length	Common Calibers
Short Action	 ~2.8”	             .308, 6.5CM, .243, .260
Long Action	 ~3.34”	         .30-06, 7mm Rem Mag, .300WM
Magnum Bolt      ~3.6” (in LA) 	        .300 PRC, .338 WM

FINAL THOUGHTS

Understanding Remington action lengths and compatible calibers ensures a smoother build and better shooting performance. Whether you're running a .308 in a short action or a .300 Win Mag in a long action, Grayboe has a stock or chassis solution that fits perfectly—and performs even better.