600 yrd BR Rifle work question

[7mmXbolt]

Hello everyone,

This will be a new venture for me so I need to get up to speed on the do's & don'ts. You have to start somewhere and thats where I'm at. I want to build my first not buy someone's hand me down!

I have decided to convert my m700p to a 600 yard competition rifle. Currently,I am waiting on a Boyd custom stock and a Timney trigger,8 oz) to come in. The barrel that is on the rifle is a heavy Tactical / Varmint, chambered in .308. I have contacted a couple gunsmiths in my area on having some steel work done such as having the action blue printed and lugs lapped to perfect fit. Also pillar bedding the action area on the new stock. Just waiting on their reply. My question is, would it be a good idea to have the barrel crowned or would that be a waist? What would be another advantage other than avoiding the possibility of damage to the rifling at the end of the barrel? What else could I have done to the barrel & action that should be done for best performance?

One other thing, I was looking into scopes and the March BR 36x55x52mm w/EP zoom & the Nightforce 12x42x56 Precision BR are two that seem to be very good for this distance. Has anyone been using either of them and are they worth the money.

In order for me to join the team at my gun club I need to qualify for the use of the range to get some range time in. I'll use this year to do that and then try out for the team next year if all goes as planned.

Your help is always appreciated!

7mmxbolt

 

[7mmXbolt]

Gunamonth,

That is exactly what this project entails. Thank you for simplifying it for me. I'm new to this and the site. Your thought, is this a good starter project to get my feet wet with?

7mmxbolt

 

[pdog06]

I think you're on the right track with about everything you mentioned.

-Instead of dumping money into the factory barrel I'd just order an aftermarket one. Especially since you will be competing,unless you're gonna shoot in a factory class, then you probably have to have a factory barrel).
- Boyd stocks dont,or atleast didnt used to) come with pillars, so that is a must to have an even tightness of the action screws. You'll wanna glass bed the action also


Good luck.

 

[7mmXbolt]

pdog06,

I know your right about using a aftermarket barrel. I have been contemplating ordering a Shilen select match grade barrel and just use my action with all the work done. I'm looking at just under $500 for one of his barrels. But I would still have to have some gunsmithing work done. I bought a Bergara barrel for my T/C Prohunter in 300 WM and did all the trigger work myself with 'Mike Bellm' complete kit. Bergara Barrels asked Shilen for help setting up their process controls for there manufacturing process. Their barrels are as good as it gets for the Prohunter. That's what pointed me to Shilen Barrels.
But this bull barrel should get me off and running a little cheaper and should do alright for me during this learning curve. I can still get a AM barrel later on if I feel it necessary.

As far as the Boyd stock in comes free floating all the way back to the mounting lug and has been inletted and the factory studs installed. I think all I need to do is to glass bed the action area and I'm good to go. I won't do that myself. Maybe someone here could help me understand what else needs to be done. This is my first project so I maybe missing something. It's been fun learning the in's & out's of building my own and I feel I will benefit from it more later on down the road.

Thanks for the advise

7mmxbolt

 

[Travelor]

My advice is to either keep your 700P as is or sell it and get a Savage F-Class 6mmBR, http://www.savagearms.com/12f_class.htm )

You will be money/time/frustration ahead. The 700P is worth more as it is now aas opposed to what it will be after your anticipated work.

If you are dead set on using your 700P, have it rebarreled at the same time you ahve the action trued by a nationally recognized gunsmith - not a local one. I would also suggest a Krieger barrel.

George

 

[eggman]

I agree with George on the Savage 6 BR and the Kreiger barrel. I have been down that road of truing a Rem. 700 action, restocking, etc and while the resulting rifle can be very competitive you will never get your money back out of it when you do decide to sell. You will be money ahead to buy a used 600 yd. rifle with custom action. I have found that there are some really good deals out there if you stop a figure up what it would cost to the same rifle today as the one being offered for sale used. If you plan on 600 yd. competition stick with the 6 BR or one of the improved 6 BR cartridges.

Rodney

 

[P1ZombieKiller]

I agree with George on the Savage 6 BR and the Kreiger barrel. I have been down that road of truing a Rem. 700 action, restocking, etc and while the resulting rifle can be very competitive you will never get your money back out of it when you do decide to sell. You will be money ahead to buy a used 600 yd. rifle with custom action. I have found that there are some really good deals out there if you stop a figure up what it would cost to the same rifle today as the one being offered for sale used. If you plan on 600 yd. competition stick with the 6 BR or one of the improved 6 BR cartridges.

Rodney

Just to put in my 2 cents. I did what you are doing,except I had to buy the action) and the money I have invested would have gone a lot a lot farther had I bought a used competition gun.
Action $450
kreiger barrel and fitting $475
trued action $185
fluting $100
Mcmillan stock $500,used)
Not even mentioning the 28+ week wait from Kreiger.


$1700 would have gone a long way torwards a custom action, barrel, and bechrest stock set up to learn on... then I could spend $500 rebarrleing a custom action.... who knows... you might be able to get the dies, brass and bullets in on a complete package deal from some one getting out of shooting.

 

[7mmXbolt]

Hey all, after listening to everything you all have to say I had to take a long hard look and try to be realistic about this Remington. I agree that if I really want to get into this sport the money could be better spent elsewhere. That 700 will never be what I was hoping for or would it be competitive enough at a high level to be successful. I wouldn't want to get discouraged and never be able to recope what I had into it. Thanks for all you advise.

I started pricing a new Savage F12 class 6.5 x .284 Norma And found one locally for around $1,100. Not bad for a rifle right out of the box and after putting on decent scope I could be somewhat competive. Thats one option. I have also been in touch with www.warner-tool.com which are about 45 mins from my home. From what I understand they come highly recommended and would be a good choice for having a custom rifle built. So I will see what they can do for me. I'm thinking for around $3000 they could put something decent together that I would probably be more satisfied with. If it's more than that I will look into a Krieger or a Shilen barrel & Jewel trigger. Maybe have Warner put together a good action and stock. There is also a company out of PA. called 'Master Class Stocks' I could look into as well. They're Master 1000 Bench Rest stocks from what I'm hearing are very good. They better be for around $1,200 all set up.

Thanks for all your advise.

7mmxbolt