Remington 783 Short Action vs Long Action: Which Magazine Fits?

The single most common mistake when buying a Remington 783 magazine is ordering the wrong action length. A short-action magazine will not feed a long-action rifle, and vice versa — even though both are 4-round Remington 783 magazines. The good news: you don't have to guess. Your rifle's caliber tells you exactly which one you need.

What's in this guide

• Why action length matters
• Short-action 783 calibers
• Long-action 783 calibers
• Magnum and .450 Bushmaster
• How to confirm which you need
• Capacity options
• Frequently asked questions

Why action length matters on the 783

The Remington 783 is built on two different receiver lengths. A short action is sized for shorter cartridges; a long action is sized for longer ones. The magazine has to match, because its internal length and feed geometry are cut for that specific cartridge family. Drop a short-action magazine into a long-action rifle and the rounds sit wrong — they won't feed, and the magazine may not even lock in.

Here's the part that makes it easy: you never choose the action length — the caliber already decided it for you. Remington built your 783 as a short or long action based on what it's chambered in. So the only thing you need to know is the caliber marked on your barrel.

Short-action 783 calibers

If your barrel is marked with any of these, you need the Remington 783 short-action magazine:

• .308 Winchester
• .243 Winchester
• 6.5 Creedmoor
• 7mm-08 Remington
• .223 Remington (see the dedicated .223 short-action magazine)
• .22-250 Remington (see the .22-250 short-action magazine)

The .223 and .22-250 are the smallest-diameter cartridges in the short-action family, so they use a magazine tuned to those slimmer rounds — that's why they're listed separately from the .308-class short action.

Long-action 783 calibers

If your barrel is marked with any of these, you need the Remington 783 long-action magazine:

• .30-06 Springfield
• .270 Winchester
• .25-06 Remington

These are the classic full-length hunting cartridges, and they ride in the longer 783 receiver.

Magnum and .450 Bushmaster

Two 783 variants fall outside the standard short/long split:

• Magnum calibers (belted magnums built on the long action) use the 783 magnum long-action magazine.
• .450 Bushmaster is a straight-wall cartridge with a much larger case, so it uses its own .450 Bushmaster magazine, which holds 3 rounds rather than 4.

How to confirm which magazine you need

1. Read the caliber off the barrel. It's roll-marked on the barrel, usually near the receiver. This is the single most reliable indicator.
2. Match it to the lists above. Short cartridge = short-action magazine; long cartridge = long-action magazine.
3. When in doubt, measure or ask. If your caliber isn't listed or you're unsure, contact our team with the caliber and we'll confirm the exact magazine before you order.

Capacity options

Every standard Remington 783 magazine we make holds 4 rounds — the factory count. If you want to run longer between reloads, our 783 XT holds 8 rounds in the short action. There's a full breakdown in our guide to Remington 783 magazine capacity options.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know if my Remington 783 is short or long action?

Check the caliber marked on your barrel. Short cartridges like .308, .243, 6.5 Creedmoor, .223, and .22-250 are short action. Long cartridges like .270, .30-06, and .25-06 are long action.

Will a short-action 783 magazine work in a long-action rifle?

No. The magazine length and feed geometry are matched to the cartridge family, so a short-action magazine won't feed — and may not seat — in a long-action 783.

What magazine does a Remington 783 in .308 use?

The .308 Winchester is a short cartridge, so it uses the Remington 783 short-action 4-round magazine.

How many rounds does a Remington 783 magazine hold?

The standard factory magazine holds 4 rounds. Our 783 XT extended magazine holds 8 rounds in the short action, and the .450 Bushmaster magazine holds 3 rounds.

Does the 783 in .450 Bushmaster use the same magazine as a .308?

No. The .450 Bushmaster is a large straight-wall cartridge and uses its own dedicated 3-round magazine, not the standard short-action magazine.

Find your Remington 783 magazine

Once you know your caliber, it's a quick pick: browse every Remington 783 magazine we make, or return to the Remington 783 Magazine Guide for capacity and finish help. Not sure? Send us your caliber and we'll confirm the fit.

About the author. Rob Haversat is the founder of American Rifle Magazines in Naugatuck, Connecticut, which manufactures OEM-pattern replacement magazines for Remington and Marlin rifles in the USA — including 783 short-action magazines built from tooling developed in conjunction with Remington.