700 Remington

[M9Powell]

I recently bought sight unseen, what was supposed to be a Model 70 Winchester barrel in 300 Win mag. I wasn't really very interested in the barrel, but as it was from a widow that was a friend of my wife & the price was right, I ended up purchasing it.
What I got was a Remington 700 barreled receiver in 300 Win mag.
Its a bare receiver with no parts other than the barrel. I've never really fooled around with Remingtons before, always been a Winchester & Mauser fan. I'm thinking about turning this into a tactical type rifle in 7mm. As I only have a bare receiver, I'm interested in people that are familiar with the model 700s opinion on parts to complete the receiver, particularly in factory versus aftermarket parts such as bolts, triggers, trigger guards, magazines etc. Thanks. M9

 

[Cheechako]

M9

You'll have to make an educated guess as to the cost of all the parts necessary to complete the receiver. Like most things, if you buy the parts one by one it may cost a lot more than buying a complete item to begin with. I have seen M700 long action rifles at gun shows and in pawn shops go for as little as $200. I have bought 2 in the last couple of years, one for $200 and one for $250. The more expensive one had a Weaver scope on it. The short action rifles go for a little more. I think brand new 700 actions were selling for about $400 recently but I prefer the older ones.

You can get an idea of the cost of parts from Numrich

http://www.e-gunparts.com/productschem.asp?chrMasterModel=0860z700

Ray

 

[JayIdaho]

A take-off LA PSS stock will cost you about $175 on the classified boards but they are not as common as the SA stocks. New from Brownells?? maybe $250-280?
Remington trigger complete, I've sold quite a few for $35, delivered. BDL bottom/mag box/screws, from $50 to $80, depending on where you buy and condition.
All of these parts can be found on Ebay most of the time. Bolts go for up to $200 or more on Ebay, sometimes. New bolts are available from Dave Kiff at PTG in White City OR but you have to silver braze the bolt handle on and maybe purchase firing pin, ejector/extractor seperately. Call him for details or look at Midway, who sells them.
I'll sell you a used, complete LA bolt, magnum, with Sako extractor installed for $165, delivered, insured. My email is jmcmunn "at" imbris.com if interested.
I'd be interested in buying the barreled receiver if you decide to sell it, can provide FFL for shipping.

Jay

 

[M9Powell]

M9

You'll have to make an educated guess as to the cost of all the parts necessary to complete the receiver. Like most things, if you buy the parts one by one it may cost a lot more than buying a complete item to begin with.

Ray

That's very true. But so far I've got the receiver for free basically. The bolts in particular do seem pricey. M9

 

[M9Powell]

A take-off LA PSS stock will cost you about $175 on the classified boards but they are not as common as the SA stocks.

Jay

Whats your opinion of the Choate tactical stock? I kinda like the looks of it in pics, though I've never handled one. I have heard several people denigrate it though, usually because of its bulk. I like a large stock. I cut my teeth on the old pre-64 Win model 70 target stock & over sized M14 NM stocks.M9

 

[M9Powell]

Remington trigger complete, I've sold quite a few for $35, delivered.
Jay

Whats your opinion of the factory rem trigger? I've always been pleased with the factory Win trigger. Everybody brags on the Jewel, but they seem overpriced to me, I generally use PH triggers on my Mauser's & have been pleased. Thanks M9

 

[M9Powell]

BDL bottom/mag box/screws, from $50 to $80, depending on where you buy and condition.

Jay

I'm considering going with some form of detachable box. I like the looks of the HS precision 10 rd for the 308, but I need a longer mag & their long action detachable mag assemblies don't have any more capacity than a blind mag. What do you think of the Colyer & the factory Detachable mags? M9

 

[M9Powell]

I'll sell you a used, complete LA bolt, magnum, with Sako extractor installed for $165, delivered, insured. My email is jmcmunn "at" imbris.com if interested.
I'd be interested in buying the barreled receiver if you decide to sell it, can provide FFL for shipping.

Jay

That seems like a pretty good deal on the bolt. But I haven't decided on a bolt face yet. The only thing I've decided on for the Ctg is the bullet. I want to launch the JLK or Berger 7mm 180 gr VLDs. I'm thinking about massaging a 376 Steyr into a 284 Winchester with a little longer boiler room, a longer neck, & a conventional rim. But then I have a line on a Kreigher barrel in 7 mm Dakota threaded for a Nesika action, Some guy supposedly had this made up & fired it a couple of hundred rds & though the barrel was fine he wasn't pleased with the quality or the price of Dakota brass & re-barreled it. I don't think my proposed 7mm/376 steyr would clean this chamber up, so if I go with this barrel it'd either need to be re-chambered back too 7mm Dakota or to 7mm WSM after cutting the nesika threads off & re-threading it for the Remington. I've actually thought about a 7mm wildcat somewhat longer than a 7mm Rem short mag & shorter than the Rem 7mm Ultra mag. The barrels only 26" though & I'd lose another inch re-threading it & I like my barrels long.

When you use the Sako type extractor, does this now grab the case as it comes out of the magazine as in the Mauser or is it still push-feed?

If I change my mind about this project I'll keep in mind that you'd like to buy the barreled action. Thanks M9

 

[JayIdaho]

A number of us tried the Choate stocks and quickly got rid of them. They seem heavy and cluby and the stippling is very sharp. Nobody seemed to like them, McMillans and H-S Precision seem to be the favorites.
I've only used Rem DMs, but friends are pleased with the H-S models but only used in SA calibers.
For a tactical, a Rem trigger is fine but I "tinker" them by changing springs, lapping holes, etc. For most uses a Shilen is fine. I put them slightly ahead of the Rifle Basix but friends like the Basix, Lyman and Jewell.
The sako extractor is similar to an M16 extractor but shorter. Many Remingtons have had this conversion over the years. Look at a Sako to see what they look like. They are definately NOT similar to the Mauser controlled round feed, they are a push feed.
If you go with a Dakota and want optimum accuracy, use the Dakota brass that has the Dakota logo on the base. That indicates that the brass was made by Norma instead of someone else. We use 330 Dakota brass for the 300 Dakotas for that reason. Before going the wildcat route, consder what you will do for dies, chamber reamer and making brass. I have wildcats and I deal with all of the above concerns but you gotta really want to do it to justify all of the extra money and work.
The 284 is getting some attention, now that Norma, Lapua and Hornady are making quality brass for it,6.5-284). Be warned, the Sako and Norma brass is slightly larger at the base than Winchester brass.

Jay

 

[M9Powell]

Thanks for all the info. I looked the weight of the Choate up & it is over 6 lbs. This would be good for a rifle that is used for position type work. Not so good if you plan on a lot of movement though. As far as the rough stippling, its probably made for use with Gloves. I use Air Force issue nomex with the trigger finger cut off. The feel of a stock is important though.
I wish I could try one before purchase. One small advantage for this stock for me would be that I wouldn't need to buy any bottom metal. I'm new to the rem 700 but I'm familiar with the cost & trouble of a wildcat. When I was just starting my Military shooting career, I went to a NG vault that was used by my competition team to draw a M14NM for competition use & a M21 for duty use. I spotted a pre-64 model 70 in a corner of the vault & asked about it. The supply Sgt that was on duty was past retirement age & working on a waiver & had been working at that job for years. He told me, "you don't want that thing, I've been trying to get it turned in & off my records for the last 10 years, we can't get any ammo for it, so it just sits here in the vault taking up space".I asked what caliber is it? He said "its some kind of 300 Magnum & they used to win a lot of trophy's with it years ago, but normal 300 mag ammo won't work". He hand receipted it to me & I used it for the next decade. It was a 30-338. I won a few 1000 yard matches with that old rifle & carried it to Central America. I finally was forced to turn it in for destruction during the Clinton years & their deemphasis of military shooting teams. I've fed a few other "cats" that someone else had built up & handed down to me, but I've never built one myself. Actually I don't think this was technically a Wildcat when it was first built up for the Army. Lake City furnished them 30-338 Ammo back in the late 50s & into the 60s or so I've been told by some retired military shooters that ought to know. M9

 

[manitou210]

I know these fellows are Rem dealers and make some fine barrels and do smithing as well and very good at it.
www.rwhart.com and James Hart at www.hartbarrels.com have had many guns made up by james over the years and they where all tackers, the last one in 7mmwsm is just plain amazing. i think you should contact them and just see how the could help you very good people.
Good Luck