Thoughts on current factory bolt rifles

[moorepower]

A few factory loads i tried were 1.5-2” at 100, handloads will shoot as good as 3/4” with 150 ballistic tips seated way, way out just off the lands and a low end charge of imr 4831, but they will not fit in the mag. The fact that it likes that combo makes me tgink it is not screwed up with a bedding issue or some other issue. There were a few loads that were around 1 1/4” that would feed, but it does not like imr 4350 or 130 partitions like my other 270.

I figured that it would be worse than that! You won't miss many deer out to 400yds with that.

 

[garandman]

I've re-barrelled a Rem 700 action twice now. One of the older ones, before the QC problems started. First time was in 6.5 CM. Gun easily got 0.4" and under at 100 yd.


Recently I re-barrelled to 6 Dasher. It promsies to shoot even better. This re-barrel cost $500. With a straight taper F-class 28" stainelss barrell, installed.

I'd say if ya got a good action, re-barrelling to your preferred caliber is a legit option.

 

[john 800]

I figured that it would be worse than that! You won't miss many deer out to 400yds with that.

But i would prefer a 270 to shoot 130 grain bullets better than it does, those groups are 2-3”. Like I said it is capable of shooting, just mot with loads I like. I am leaning more towards a remage barrel, in a slightly heavier contour.
Could you get by withbthose groups? Probably most of the time, but I am not happy with it. It is the worst shooting rifle I own, even my rem 7600 pump is more accurate than that 700.

 

[NZ_Fclass]

One can only hope that Remington's new owners will "build back better" (sorry about that) with the 700 in their shiny factory. Let's hope that the marketing dept. can figure out that there is a market for a rifle to equal or better Tikka and all they have to do is build the 700 properly. Let's see a new 40x doing well on the PRS circuit, a competent FTR rifle, a good long range hunter that doesn't need a shedload of cash to make it shoot. Hey - how about a "7" or"600" designed for all the newer short cartridges - the BR, Dasher et al - that feeds properly?

The race to the bottom has already been run several times with some really awful rifles from Remington, not 700's but those shocking bits of kit -710 etc, the ex- Marlin 783 being the best of them....

Wishful thinking?

 

[Bill Score]

I’d vote for a rebarrel, have had a couple poor shooters done and haven’t been disappointed (both Bartlein). Haven’t messed around with a Tikka, but I have handled several and really like the way those actions feel.

 

[moorepower]

But i would prefer a 270 to shoot 130 grain bullets better than it does, those groups are 2-3”. Like I said it is capable of shooting, just mot with loads I like. I am leaning more towards a remage barrel, in a slightly heavier contour.
Could you get by withbthose groups? Probably most of the time, but I am not happy with it. It is the worst shooting rifle I own, even my rem 7600 pump is more accurate than that 700.

I guess that I just let my gun pick the bullet? 2-3" is not good. Nothing wrong with a Remage barrel and will save you quite a bit of $$.

 

[6xcshooter]

Buy a mossberg.

 

[john 800]

Buy a mossberg.

I was actually thinking about a mossberg youth model for my daughter because she is so short for her age, and it has a very short length of pull with the spacer removed. However There have been some terrible reviews as far as accuracy is concerned, but I am not sure how much stock to put in them. I would love to hear about your experience with it if you have one.

 

[Mark W]

I was actually thinking about a mossberg youth model for my daughter because she is so short for her age, and it has a very short length of pull with the spacer removed. However There have been some terrible reviews as far as accuracy is concerned, but I am not sure how much stock to put in them. I would love to hear about your experience with it if you have one.

Check out the TC Venture. They come with a 1 moa accuracy guarantee. I won one chambered in 30 06 in a Ducks Unlimited drawing a few years ago and I thought it was pretty nice for a low budget rifle. I actually just mounted a scope on it a couple of days ago with plans to sight it in and use for the upcoming PA rifle season if it will indeed hold an moa at 100 yards.

 

[john 800]

Check out the TC Venture. They come with a 1 moa accuracy guarantee. I won one chambered in 30 06 in a Ducks Unlimited drawing a few years ago and I thought it was pretty nice for a low budget rifle. I actually just mounted a scope on it a couple of days ago with plans to sight it in and use for the upcoming PA rifle season if it will indeed hold an moa at 100 yards.

I almost bought one a few years ago, I know of a few guys that have them and all are happy with them

 

[john 800]

I stopped by Scheels today for a few other things and naturally I got lost and ended up in the rifle section, and looked at a few rifles. They had a some Christensen arms rifles and a decent selection of Tikkas. Lots of 6.5 cm, some 6.5 prc, and a few tikkas in 270. As a longtime 270 shooter and stand hunter I have always liked a 24” barrel in a 270, but oddly enough in a tikka a long action non magnum cartridge gets you a 22” barrel but a 6.5 cm gets you a 24” barrel. Seems backwards to me, but it sure looked like a nice rifle, as were the Christiansens. I really like the tikka action, i wish it came with 24” tube though

 

[Tommie]

Not all that long ago a factory bolt action that shot consistent 1 MOA was almost a unicorn. Now people send their gun back to the manufacturer if it doesn’t group inside an inch. Today’s cheapest rifles shoot plenty well for hunting purposes.

 

[NZ_Fclass]

I was actually thinking about a mossberg youth model for my daughter because she is so short for her age, and it has a very short length of pull with the spacer removed. However There have been some terrible reviews as far as accuracy is concerned, but I am not sure how much stock to put in them. I would love to hear about your experience with it if you have one.

Try the Howa mini in Grendel. Mine shoots fine to 300yds, maybe further, haven't tried it.

 

[Spike A]

Like mentioned above.. I’d contact Stan @Stan Taylor and talk to hem about rebarreling… if like the action. Stock and trigger… just add a nice barrel and your off and running

 

[Stan Taylor]

Like mentioned above.. I’d contact Stan @Stan Taylor and talk to hem about rebarreling… if like the action. Stock and trigger… just add a nice barrel and your off and running

He can call me anytime from 7am till 3:00 pm
304 776 1341 ask for Stan

 

[wildcatter]

Long story to address all your options!!

I just built a new Rifle using an old custom Hand Cut Rifled barrel from Ron Pence. This 27 1/2" blank was pulled about 20 years ago, the throat gone and coppering so bad it couldn't shoot a 1 1/2" 3 shot group anymore, forget cleaning it, that was a day long job.

So I didn't have a rifle to put it on if I had it cut and rechambered, so had Fred Moreo at Sharp Shooter Supply scope it and tell me could we make it shoot again, since Pence will no longer build his hand cut barrels. Fred said we get rid of the 4 to 4 1/4" alligator back, he thought it looked useable.

I found a Savage Axis, gave $250.00 for it and took both to Fred, bought an unfinished birch laminate from him and he started the rebarrel cut and chamber. The new rifle had a 22 1/2" finished length in 6mm BR Norma, shoots 1/4 moa and a great Varmint rid. So we have established even a shot out barrel can be reserected!

Then 6 months later I bought a Stainless 30/06 Axis in another Tupperware modular stock to build another rifle, a 27 1/2" 6mm AI to build another 6mm AI to replace the 20 year old Pence rifle I had years ago. But, the first rifle came as 243 Win. I had a great idea, while Fred builds the new gun, I'll have him rechamber this 243 for a fire forming barrel,,,,,,, woops! After forming a 100 rounds of Lapua 8x57 I formed into 5mm Remington I found some old ammo, 80 Berger's from 20 years ago that were from that old Pence build, so I decided to see how it shot,,,, This was the result, as well as shooting 85 Sierra HPBT game kings under 3/8" at 100 yards, 80 grain Sierra SBT Varmint under 1/2" @ 100 yards, 100 grain SP Pro Hunter Sierra under 3/8" @ 100 yards. Those 80 grain Bergers I had to seat .050" deeper for this new 6mm AI chamber I had cut on the factory barrel, but 1/4" moa that holds to 200 yards shows how good a factory barrel can shoot with a little 1/8" cut off the chamber and a new improved chamber cut.

What I am saying is this, it would be cheap to have that rifle rechambered, and I have seen how good a factory barrel will shoot doing this if it still has a good throat, I also seen how well a shot out barrel can shoot when it is long enough to establish a new throat, even if it's not perfect.

Fact, you have a good action! that barrel could perform great with an improved chamber. You have more to work with than I did, on both accounts. Your action is already in a useable stock and bedded, that won't change. I say time to find out and save a bunch of money. and have a rifle you like shoot the way you intended it. your choice, how deep are your pockets?

 

[JimSC]

I am considering either re barreling a rem 700 I have or trading it. The gun will shoot minute of deer for my needs, however unfortunately it doesn’t like the loads or bullets that I want to shoot.
With that in mind, what should I be looking at for a reasonably priced factory deer rifle? Would like sporter barrel, prefer stainless, I want something that just shoots decent for hunting in 270win. (Maybe a 308) Maybee under $850ish before my trade, could go a bit higher if quality warrants but dont have the budget for a full custom.
Ruger American? Tikka? Savage? Winchester?

rebarrel the Remington yourself with a Criterion Remage barrel, barrel nut and a good recoil lug , or go with a Tikka or a Savage. Any one of those will get you where you want to be

 

[john 800]

rebarrel the Remington yourself with a Criterion Remage barrel, barrel nut and a good recoil lug , or go with a Tikka or a Savage. Any one of those will get you where you want to be

I am leaning towards that. If the tikka or savage had a 24” barrel I probably would go that way, I know full well that the extra fps from a longer barrel will not make a discernible difference in weather the deer is dead or not, but it would bug the crap out of me, in wishing it was a 24.
I can also chose the taper, and the criterion/nss heavy sporter sounds like what I want, just a touch heavier than what is on it now.

 

[sw282]

I'd also recommend a custom barrel. There ain't never been a better deer round than a 270 Win. If you don't believe it just ask Jack O'Conner. You can have your 'smith throat it to suit your preferred bullets and cartridge OAL.

AMEN on 270Win

 

[jghoghunter]

Try the Howa mini in Grendel. Mine shoots fine to 300yds, maybe further, haven't tried it.

I have a Howa mini in 6.5 Grendel. Its the model with the little, cheap plastic stock. I got it on sale for $349 at Bud's gun shop a few years back. I've done nothing to it but adjust the trigger and put an old Leupold 6.5-20 on it. I have shot it out to 700 yards. Measuring on steel every 100 yards it a consistent .75 moa to slightly less. I've shot 4, 5 shot groups on 3 different days all at slightly less than .625". My 12 year old cousin was making consistent hits at 500 yards the first time he shot it. Now he thinks I should give it to him. His dad and I just laugh! My buddies 8 year old killed a little buck with it. My thoughts are, for $350, around 25 grains of powder, cheap Hornady SST bullets consistent hits to 700 yards. What else can you get and have this much fun?!