I have a Rem 700 Varmint Stainless Fluted, in .308, with a 26" barrel.
Mine is mounted in an MDT TAC-21 chassis.
Fantastic rifle; heavy as sin, but pokks things at distance with ease.
Walking with the rifle the other morning (sunrise Grasshopper-Pokk), I note the rifle doesnt balance where I carry it(nose-heavy), so I've been considering my options.
Sadly, I think the fluting probably prevents me from lopping any length off it.
I have considered having it re-barrelled in something like .260, but I ended up buying a Ruger Precision Rifle in .308 with a 20" barrel just before Christmas, so still tossing up which one I re-barrel. I kinda like the idea of keeping the Rem 700 with the 26" barrel for any long-range pokking, and change the RPR over to a 6.5 calibre.
[Still weighing up pros & cons, though]
Lee Trengrove (Brisbane) does a lot of work on Rem 700's, and specialises in custom-machining muzzle brakes, and threading barrels to fit them.
I've had him fit a brake to my Tikka 7mm-08 hunter, and have been extremely happy with the results, and his work.
I've also had mates get him to do various work, and aside from long wait times (as per most decent gunsmiths..), he does great work.
trentech.com.au
Allan Swan(Ipswich) also has a a VERY long-established reputation for being able to work magic with barrels; might be worth also asking him.
https://www.allanswangunsmithing.com/If I was going to shorten my Rem 700, I'm not sure how short I'd go. The 20" barrel on the RPR is fantastic for making the rifle so much more easy to carry around, but that 26" barrel on the Rem 700 sure does reach out and touch stuff...
When I was discussing replacing the barrel with a 6.5mm one, most of my distance-shooting mates were suggesting I would do the rifle any favours if I go much shorter than 22"-24", but we didnt really get into discussing WHY they felt that to be the case.
Cheers,
Rod.