Accurizing a Rem. 40x vrs. a Rem. 700 action

[gtl1946]

I own 5 40XBR actions, and not a single one was true from the factory.
They all now have a trued receiver face,bolt face, lapped bolt lugs
and surface ground recoil lugs, all of which, should have been done, before
they left the custom shop. LDS

I agree with you and for what Rem. charges for a 40x you can take a 700 action ,true it ,put on a very good barrel and pay to have it chambered ,put it in the same kind of stock ,w/ a tuned Rem. trigger,and bed it for less money than the 40x costs and it will outshoot the 40x . What it won't have is a name ,but shoot it will !!!

 

[sdneil]

how about the XR100 action ? the same as a 40x just a tad shorter... thoughts about it in the mix? as good as the 40x ? if not why ? thanks Neil

 

[jds holler]

I agree with you and for what Rem. charges for a 40x you can take a 700 action ,true it ,put on a very good barrel and pay to have it chambered ,put it in the same kind of stock ,w/ a tuned Rem. trigger,and bed it for less money than the 40x costs and it will outshoot the 40x . What it won't have is a name ,but shoot it will !!!

I wish you guys would be a little more considerate for the feelings of us 40X owners, who would like to believe that our rifles are kinda special. I mean we can hear what you're saying and all --- jd

 

[SBS]

how about the XR100 action ? the same as a 40x just a tad shorter... thoughts about it in the mix? as good as the 40x ? if not why ? thanks Neil

Just a single shot version of the model 7. Trued up some like a 40X, it makes a great varmint rifle action. My .222 on the XR100 produces 1/4" groups with a quality barrel -- good enough for lots of PD's. While I sure don't consider them the equal of the custom BR actions, the 40X and XR100 actions make good single shot varmint rifles at less cost -- an important consideration when owning a number of them.

 

[ireload2]

But how straight were the 40XBR receivers compared to the run of the mill 700s?
I have messed with enough 700s to know that the receivers appear to bend upward at the rear bridge when heat treated.
Some 700s use a LOT of elevation getting on the target. Several had to have the rear base milled because the variable scope used did not have enough elevation to sight in. That was apparent even when bore sighted.
Your list only mentions one item that is purely receiver related and you don't even mention the receiver threads. The recoil lug and bolt face issues have zero influence from the receiver heat treat.

I own 5 40XBR actions, and not a single one was true from the factory.
They all now have a trued receiver face,bolt face, lapped bolt lugs
and surface ground recoil lugs, all of which, should have been done, before
they left the custom shop. LDS

 

[gtl1946]

But how straight were the 40XBR receivers compared to the run of the mill 700s?
I have messed with enough 700s to know that the receivers appear to bend upward at the rear bridge when heat treated.
Some 700s use a LOT of elevation getting on the target. Several had to have the rear base milled because the variable scope used did not have enough elevation to sight in. That was apparent even when bore sighted.
Your list only mentions one item that is purely receiver related and you don't even mention the receiver threads. The recoil lug and bolt face issues have zero influence from the receiver heat treat.

The last thing I want any 40X owner to think is that I'm calling their rifle a piece of junk - I'm not . It appears that some of you tend to agree that 40x actions are thought to be better than they might actually be . They are a very close relative to the 700 . It appears that the 700 is a more "frugal " approach as they are basically the same . Being a dyed in the wool Rem. fan you can imagine how "hurt" I was when I bought my first "butt ugly" (SORRY !!!] Savage and it ,and latter ones , outshot my "prized Rem's". My original thread just wanted opinions on the quality of the action. Compare them to a Batt etc. - nope !!

 

[LarryDScott]

Larry,
Where the threads checked or trued on your 5 actions? Just curious.

Regards, Paul

www.boltfluting.com

Yes they were at the same time all the other action work was performed.
Forgot to mention that. LDS

 

[butchlambert]

The 40X BR receiver was machined from prehardened steel so it was not heat treated after machining.
It was supposed to be straighter. As I Remember most 700 recievers were bent by heat treating after machining.

And you derived your info from whom?

 

[ireload2]

Mike Walker via a magazine article.

Did you ever look at a 40XBR receiver?
Did you notice the 40XBR is NOT roll marked but is chemically etched into the receiver?

And you derived your info from whom?

 

[butchlambert]

Mike Walker via a magazine article.

Did you ever look at a 40XBR receiver?
Did you notice the 40XBR is NOT roll marked but is chemically etched into the receiver?

Still waiting. What does that have to do with the mfg. of the receivers?

 

[ireload2]

Why don't you investigate why it is not desirable to roll mark a piece of hardened steel?
Then you will not be waiting for something that is SO obvious.

 

[butchlambert]

Why don't you investigate why it is not desirable to roll mark a piece of hardened steel?
Then you will not be waiting for something that is SO obvious.

Young man, knowing what you say you know, what did your RC test show on the difference in hardness. I'm not asking what you learned on the internet or at your gun range.

 

[ireload2]

Where did I say that the RC was different? I didn't did I?
BTW I did not say that I learned anything on the internet or at the range.
That is all coming out of your mouth.

Young man, knowing what you say you know, what did your RC test show on the difference in hardness. I'm not asking what you learned on the internet or at your gun range.

 

[jds holler]

Young man, knowing what you say you know, what did your RC test show on the difference in hardness. I'm not asking what you learned on the internet or at your gun range.

I happened to have an article by Paul Coburn about the various 40X's and it included this paragraph concerning the electro-etched receivers on the 40XBR's.

The benchrest rifles are the 40-XBBR, and they are marked as follows: The serial number XXXXXX B, and the notation "Remington Model 40XBR" is electro etched on the left side of the receiver, opposite the ejection port. The electro etching for the model number was specified (to minimize metal stress) from the very first "BR" action, and has been that way every since. All 40-XBBR actions were, and still are, carbon-steel, NOT stainless, and all are single shot.

This article doesn't mention anything about the heat treat/machining sequence.

I've also got an actual hard copy article from "American Rifleman, January 1970", specifically about the introduction of the 40XBR's which are the little 20" version of the 40X. It is the standard "Dope Bag" article written by the Magazines technical staff, and is pretty good. They do mention the tight neck chambers used on these particular rifles. Also that manufacturers recommendation was for neck sizing, and then just 3/16" of the neck. Also clean the bore every 25 rounds. jd

 

[ireload2]

It was either a Rifle or Handloader Magazine that I read back then.
My rifles did not have a tight neck in the factory barrels even though they were in
6x47 Remington.

This article doesn't mention anything about the heat treat/machining sequence.

I've also got an actual hard copy article from "American Rifleman, January 1970", specifically about the introduction of the 40XBR's which are the little 20" version of the 40X. It is the standard "Dope Bag" article written by the Magazines technical staff, and is pretty good. They do mention the tight neck chambers used on these particular rifles. Also that manufacturers recommendation was for neck sizing, and then just 3/16" of the neck. Also clean the bore every 25 rounds. jd

 

[jds holler]

Your 6x47 was listed as one of the original chamberings for the XBR. If you're interested, I think I could Email the Article to you. I have it scanned and stored as a PDF. I've got the two page article included in my load binder for my rifle. Kinda makes me feel special about my gun. jd

 

[butchlambert]

Where did I say that the RC was different? I didn't did I?
BTW I did not say that I learned anything on the internet or at the range.
That is all coming out of your mouth.

So you read in a magazine that Mike Walker said they etched the markings on the 40X, so you determined that they were made from prehardened steel and the 700 were heat treated afterward?
If this isn't internet legend, what is your source?

 

[Eddie Harren]

Where did I say that the RC was different? I didn't did I?
BTW I did not say that I learned anything on the internet or at the range.
That is all coming out of your mouth.

"The first thing to do, when you find yourself in a hole, is to stop digging."--Will Rodgers.

 

[Changeling]

I would like to add:
From a very good source on this website, There are lots of guys truing up actions that know so little about what they are doing that they make lots of Rem 700's worse then when they were untouched.
I might add that I firmly believe what he said .

Make sure the gunsmith doing your action truing is well recognized in the industry !

 

[butchlambert]

I would like to add:
From a very good source on this website, There are lots of guys truing up actions that know so little about what they are doing that they make lots of Rem 700's worse then when they were untouched.
I might add that I firmly believe what he said .

Make sure the gunsmith doing your action truing is well recognized in the industry !

I wouldn't disagree with you.