Does anybody still think the 40x is special?

[Albany Mountain]

Got to jump in with some 40x support. This is ten shot group at 100 yards. Not bench but prone sling, no scope but iron sights.

 

[Lucky Shooter]

There are still some folks who own 40X's who "think" their rifle was built around a trued
version of a 700 action with no magazine cutout .

They could get this rifle with a heavier barrel than the 700 varmint barrel------supposedly
a better quality barrel, with some choices of twist rates.

A small variety of stocks could be had------Kevlar varmint, bench rest, and the large
wooden Rangemaster stock. The bedding of these rifles seemed to be minimal but also seemed to work pretty well. The Rangemaster gave the shooter a pretty good bench gun
for informal shooting and varmint hunting.

Remington supplied a test target with each 40X. This target seemed to seal the deal. My first 40X in 22-250 couldn't beat the test target average of .30" until I bought a 2 oz Hart
trigger. Quarter inch groups were not unusual after getting the trigger----the rifle was bought in the late 70's and I knew nothing of the Jewell's.

These rifles were special because of their performance after the trigger was pulled.

The erroneous thought that the actions were trued and carefully selected still prevailed
with many shooters who were proud to own a 40X.

A somewhat interesting tidbit about40X's-----I've run across several shooters who claimed that their 40X was built by Mike Walker-----as opposed to being built during the
Mike Walker era. Did Mr. Walker really build this many rifles ?

These rifles seem to be extra special-------try buying one.

I thought that Rem could produce a poor-man's 40X when they
brought out the XR-100. They didn't share my views on this and
it never happened.

Appreciate what you have.

A. Weldy





x

 

[Mark W]

Put a 700 in a 40x stock and nobody knows the difference until you inspect the stamp. This action is now rebarreled and in a new stock, but I shot many 1K f class matches like that from a harris bipod, won a few in my class, too.

I love the classic look of those stocks!

 

[LCazador]

There are still some folks who own 40X's who "think" their rifle was built around a trued
version of a 700 action with no magazine cutout .

They could get this rifle with a heavier barrel than the 700 varmint barrel------supposedly
a better quality barrel, with some choices of twist rates.

A small variety of stocks could be had------Kevlar varmint, bench rest, and the large
wooden Rangemaster stock. The bedding of these rifles seemed to be minimal but also seemed to work pretty well. The Rangemaster gave the shooter a pretty good bench gun
for informal shooting and varmint hunting.

Remington supplied a test target with each 40X. This target seemed to seal the deal. My first 40X in 22-250 couldn't beat the test target average of .30" until I bought a 2 oz Hart
trigger. Quarter inch groups were not unusual after getting the trigger----the rifle was bought in the late 70's and I knew nothing of the Jewell's.

These rifles were special because of their performance after the trigger was pulled.

The erroneous thought that the actions were trued and carefully selected still prevailed
with many shooters who were proud to own a 40X.

A somewhat interesting tidbit about40X's-----I've run across several shooters who claimed that their 40X was built by Mike Walker-----as opposed to being built during the
Mike Walker era. Did Mr. Walker really build this many rifles ?

These rifles seem to be extra special-------try buying one.

I thought that Rem could produce a poor-man's 40X when they
brought out the XR-100. They didn't share my views on this and
it never happened.

Appreciate what you have.

A. Weldy





x

Mike Walker along with Jim Stekl convinced Remington to open the Custom shop. So Mike personally supervised many rifles at first.
The 40X was their first venture with the 22 BR and 6BR cartridges leading the way for a factory benchrest rifle that could shoot with the best custom actions. The 40X action was produced in the custom shop and the barrels were all custom lapped at the shop. The last one in my safe is a pristine wood stocked 40X with a 6X47REM chamber stainless barrel. The inside of that barrel is a smooth and perfect as any custom barrel out there. I've resisted the temptation to bed the stock as that would alter the original condition. I believe the custom shop production of the XR100 was the last of the custom shop products before they moved to Sturgis.

 

[butchlambert]

Mike Walker along with Jim Stekl convinced Remington to open the Custom shop. So Mike personally supervised many rifles at first.
The 40X was their first venture with the 22 BR and 6BR cartridges leading the way for a factory benchrest rifle that could shoot with the best custom actions. The 40X action was only produced in the custom shop and the barrels were all custom lapped at the shop. The last one in my safe is a pristine wood stocked 40X with a 6X47REM chamber stainless barrel. The inside of that barrel is a smooth and perfect as any custom barrel out there. I've resisted the temptation to bed the stock as that would alter the original condition. I believe the custom shop production of the XR100 was the last of the custom shop products before they moved to Sturgis.

"The 40X action was only produced in the custom shop" What is the source of that information?

 

[LCazador]

"The 40X action was only produced in the custom shop" What is the source of that information?

I should say the in the beginning many were produced in the custom shop. Precision shooting magazine interview with Mike Walker.

 

[butchlambert]

I should say the in the beginning many were produced in the custom shop.

Still like to know your source of information.

 

[LCazador]

Still like to know your source of information.

This info is also in the 41st edition Blue Book of Guns. See 40X centerfire versions. Made 1964 to 2018 in custom shop.

 

[davidjoe]

I’m cutting and pasting this old article:

The Remington 40-X Rifle
A legend in it's own time

08 October 2001
By Paul "Pablito" Coburn

The 40-X series of rifles have been with us for about 40 years. The 40-X was the brainchild of Mike Walker, one of "Big guns" of Remington in the 1960's and an avid benchrest shooter.
He wanted Remington to have a "factory" target rifle that would beat anything in the field, including the famed Winchester M70/Target-Match.
Started in the early 60's, the 40-X line has expanded over the years to include rifles well suited to longrange target, Varmint shooting, military sniping, and benchrest shooting.
There are now two series of 40-X: the Match/Varmint rifles, and the Benchrest rifles, and contrary to popular belief, there ARE distinct differences between the two.
Each 40-X series rifle comes from the factory with a test target of two groups. The average of these two groups must meet the specifications required... about .75" for 30 cal rifles, and about .45" for the smaller calibers. Keep in mind that these groups are just "proof groups", and no indication of what the rifle is capable of. Nor is the load written on the target, a special load for that gun. Remington has standard loads for each caliber that they use to test the guns. These are NOT the best loads for the gun, so don't be disappointed if your new .308 40-X has two groups of 3/4"... it is capable of under .20" all day long.
All of the Match/Varmint Grade 40-XBs, regardless whether single shot, or repeater, are marked (Stamped!) 40-X on the left side of the receiver, opposite of the ejection port. The "B" part of the designation is the last digit of the serial number, as in "XXXXXX B".
There are NO match rifles marked "40-XB".
The first 40-X rifles had carbon-steel receivers and cro-moly barrels. These date in from the early 60's. By 1965, the barrels were stainless. Some years back (I don't know when), Remington switched to stainless steel receivers for the 40-XB Match/Varmint Rifles (but not for the benchrest rifles).
All 40-X series rifles are made on the short action. There never was a long action 40-X.
In the early years, there were two barrel weights, both 27.5": a medium (similar contour to the Varmint Special, but longer) called the H-1, and a straight heavy barrel called the H-2 (the current barrel). Now there is only one contour, the straight heavy barrel.
The 40-series rifles are available in single shot and repeater configurations. Of the repeaters, ONLY the .308 repeaters are clip slotted at the factory... If you order a repeater in another caliber, like .223 or .22-250, it is not clip slotted.
The receivers use the same barrel threads and same dimensions as the standard actions, BUT the 40-X series receivers are NOT taken from the standard production line and "trued"; they are made (and serial numbered) in a different facility.
The actions are NOT "blue printed" (there is no such thing as a blue printed action, no matter what your local 'smith says!). They are simply made true and square to spec, from the start. All the 40-X rifles I've owned had both lugs mated, all screw holes were true and in line, and they were impeccable.
My second 40-XB, a .308 40-XB/R (/R for repeater), was bought in 1966 and has a serial number of 0466xxB... A 40-XBBR I bought last year has a number of 0631xxB. That's 16,400-ish rifles in the 40-X series, made in 35 years, for an average of 470 a year, or 9 a week. And you want to know why there is a 10 month wait?
The standard barrel length for the 40-XB is 27.5", but they can be special ordered with shorter barrels. I have seen some in 26" and 24" from the factory. The early crowns were flat-faced, with a very small 45 degree counter-sink type crown (but done on a lathe). The current crown is a full faced, concave "dish crown". Both are equally accurate.
As to weight... 10.25 pounds... HA! (as Pat would say). The barreled action ALONE of a 27.5" 40-X weighs 8.5 pounds (9 pounds for a single shot). Add 3 pounds for a stock, and you're up to 11.5 to 12 pounds.
By the time you have scoped it, you are in the 13+ to 14+ weight range.
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.
The early 40-XBBRs were very heavy 26" barrels... (my 26", .222 Mag 40-XBBR is a brute). Then the benchrest associations changed their weight classifications, so Remington went to shorter barrels to drop a lot of weight. For a while, 20" barrels were very "in vogue", but now they are 24" long unless ordered shorter.
The stocks for the 40-XBBR are made by McMillan, and are a special, completely foam filled "shell" stock (to cut down weight), so the BR guns come in at 10.5 pounds. But, if you re-stock them with a "real" stock, they go up to 12 to 13 pounds.
Both the SINGLE-SHOT match, and the BR rifles can be had with a very good, triple lever, 2 oz trigger (it has NO SAFETY!!). The repeaters come with a very good double lever (adjustable from the outside) target trigger (with safety), which looks like, but is different than, the standard 700 trigger.
In '66, about twenty 40-Xs in 6mm-International were made for the AMU to compete in the Olympics. These had a special 2 oz trigger that had adjustable LOP hand built into them, but all the rest of the triggers over the years have been the same.
That's pretty much the story on the 40-X rifles... they are excellent rifles... better than most "custom built" rifles, and even though going for $1,800 to $2,000 (2001 prices), they are cheaper that many inferior custom rifles. Also, because of the 10 month wait, the resale is very high. If you get one, you won't be disappointed.

 

[dannyjbiggs]

Enjoyed davidjoe's piece. It brought back memories of my single-shot 40X, with the lightweight McMillian stock. It came to me chambered in .300 Winchester Mag with iron sights, competition type. What fun! After a couple of matches, I had the barrel replaced with a friendlier cartridge, and switched out the stock for a McMillian junior-prone stock, the regular prone stock would have been just too heavy for me in sling. I shot "iron sight" for mostly everything, even the any-any'ies.

 

[Chocdawg]

Throughly enjoyed my 40X, .300 Win Mag, with a McGee prone stock, and rebated chamber (Kelbly’s). It was a 1K shooting machine using 210gr Berger’s. What a hoot punching steel with left over match rounds. Never could get use to floppy bolt though on extraction. Life changed, sold it for a UMRS prone rifle in 6.5x47L.

 

[Will Henry]

If one can find an earlier interview with Walker or Stekl (pre-1980) it would carry more weight. I do not believe the actions were produced in the custom shop but assembly of the rifles did take place there. The barrels were made in the custom shop and, early on, were made by Mike Walker. When I visited the shop in the late 90's, the equipment was still there and still in use. If I take the time to look through my stack of old PS magazines, I think I can find an article by Mike Walker, on the 40X. I remember reading it sometime around 1978 or so. Jim Stekl won at the super shoot in 1979, I think. He shot a 40X in 22BR in HV and a sleeved Remington in 6BR, built by Fred Sinclair, in Sporter. I used to tell myself I would have won if I had been there(I was shooting pretty well back then) but it's not likely! WH

 

[Cbashooter]

I Remember that article as well .I believe they took Remington 700 partially finished actions off the line and completed them.
I asked that question about 1995 when my gun was back at the custom shop and that's the story I got. (I can't remember the guys name heading the custom shop but it was one of the big dogs) I asked a question because at the time the one I sent back was a repeater and I said "all it is is a 700 with 40X marking" and he corrected me.

 

[butchlambert]

I just called Jimmy Stekl and he is in the shower. I will call him back later. I assume that he knows the "real" story.

 

[butchlambert]

Jimmy said, We pulled 700 receivers off the line and called them 40X.
For Tommie, the 6mm American was Jimmy's toy. He had some 30-30 cases without headstamp and small primer, he shortened them and necked them to 6mm with a 30deg shoulder. Said it was OK but not the cat's meow. Said another guy is interested in playing with them again. We BS'ed for about an hour while I was parked in front of the hospital before going in to check on the wife. She wanted to know where in the'ell I'd been!
We had a great visit.

 

[pintopete]

If one can find an earlier interview with Walker or Stekl (pre-1980) it would carry more weight. I do not believe the actions were produced in the custom shop but assembly of the rifles did take place there. The barrels were made in the custom shop and, early on, were made by Mike Walker. When I visited the shop in the late 90's, the equipment was still there and still in use. If I take the time to look through my stack of old PS magazines, I think I can find an article by Mike Walker, on the 40X. I remember reading it sometime around 1978 or so. Jim Stekl won at the super shoot in 1979, I think. He shot a 40X in 22BR in HV and a sleeved Remington in 6BR, built by Fred Sinclair, in Sporter. I used to tell myself I would have won if I had been there(I was shooting pretty well back then) but it's not likely! WH

^ ^ ^

What Will said!
” I do not believe the actions were produced in the custom shop but assembly of the rifles did take place there. The barrels were made in the custom shop…”

I never saw any machines in the CS for manufacturing actions. Barrels, yes. Barrel fitting, yes. Lapping, yes, woodwork, engraving, etc.

I think what gets lost in these conversations is that these were “Custom” compared to Remington’s production line. Doesn’t mean they were the quality of today’s benchrest rifles, or a custom rifle built by a skilled smith. They were intended to be a higher quality than their production counterparts. And you could get calibers, and other options not generally available in the mainstream. Those that I am familiar with came with button rifled barrels, not the hammer forged barrels that came out of the main factory.

The other unfortunate part is that the employees rolled over many times. Much faster than they might have.

 

[SBS]

Just some personal observations about Coburn's article and a few other thoughts. The 40X line started in the 50's, not the 60's. The first were the rimfires in early 55 ( I have a 2 digit serial no. with barrel date of April), followed a couple of years later by centerfires. Serial numbers for RF and CF are comingled and you will find some very low number CF actions made for special people before they were sold to the general public about '57. All the 40X rifles for quite some years were available only with the familiar Rangemaster wood stock. Rimfire barrels were 28" long and offered in standard and heavy target barrels. Centerfire rifles had 27 1/4" barrels so that the barrels were the same length past the front of the receiver and overall (rimfire barrels have much longer tenons). CF rifles were offered in both the same contours as rimfires, but you could only get a 40X CF repeater with the heavy barrel. Rem. stated that with the standard target contour, they could not always achieve accuracy standards with a repeater action. I tried to get them to make a repeater in a standard bbl. back in the mid 70's by promising them no complaints however it came out, but they refused. That standard barrel I bought then in a single shot was a shooter; factory groups were .14 and .41 and they did list 4895 as the powder (.222 Mag.) I've owned several early CF rifles with the factory CM barrels and they were mostly mediocre, not beating the old Mod. 70 target rifles by much, if any. The SS barrels were a different story and there were persistent rumors that early SS barrels were supplied by Hart. They sure shot like that. Remington made some 40XC rifles meant for "cross the course" (XC) rifles in .308 that had 24" SS barrels and were the same contour as the 24" varmint barrels of the time. These rifles had a longer magazine that held 5 rounds. At the same time, they also made the 40XR, a 3P rifle meant to compete with the Anschutz 1407. It was a single shot, CM bbl. like all the rimfires at the time, but had a 24" varmint bbl. contour. In contrast to what Coburn said about the clip slots, all the 40X repeaters with .308 bolt face were clip slotted that I have seen, including 6mm Rem., .243, etc. -- perhaps this changed by the time of Coburn's article. Having taken a large number of 40X actions apart, they weren't much truer than an equally large number of 700's I have examined. The 40X line began to expand later as the BR models came out and originally both the LV (20" bbl) and HV (26" bbl) were available with BR type stock with 2 1/2" flat forends and short LOP's. McMillan stocks came quite a bit later, on both BR and other CF models. Remington began to offer only special order rifles, and the standard factory 40X descriptions such as had been seen in publications like Shooters Bible were no longer. Sales were slow and a lot of 1 of a kind rifles were made. I sort of lost track of them around this time. One model that has not been mentioned is the 40X Free Rifle. The early 40X model Free Rifles had a large thumbhole stock made oversize so that the user could fit it to his liking and it had metal from Roy Dunlap. Mine in a rimfire weighed over 16 lb. with a Redfield 3200 scope. When the 40X was made on the 700 style action (serial numbers had a B suffix) with swept back bolt handle, a slimmed down th walnut stock cut the weight some and supposedly the factory made the metal parts (buttplate, rail, palmrest) plus it used the 700 ADL alum. t/g. Both styles were made in RF and CF and not many were sold. There is no doubt that the 40X was a very special rifle for it's time, particularly the centerfire versions. Guess that's enough rambling.

 

[davidjoe]

I have always suspected some commonality in origin between the two receivers, in that there were no intentionally appearing deviations, qualitatively or in measurements. The 40-X inscription itself is a subscript add on, if I recall correctly. But I think early 700’s were really good, and I picked up an older .243 BDL heavy factory barrel as well as a .22-250 BDL, (flat crowns) both heavies bigger than a varmint and near 40-X, a year later that I would put overall on par with 40-X’s and would not sell, or trade for the last current rifles, even in unfired condition.

I know the 40-X is not complicated or at all overly massive (we want the latter for F-Open, ELR, really, all supported slow fire) by current action standards, and an overbuilt design is normally my strong preference in everything, but I have never been able to part with a single one, 700’s, yes, some of them, but not a 40-X. They are like the low production classic muscle cars that hold value or sometimes far better, despite there always having been along side them, an objectively superior fully custom option.

I am supposing that in the 1960’s and 1970’s, there was a heavy action option with a diameter or width bigger than 1.35” but I can’t say I actually know that there was. Today, a 1.55” is not at all abnormally large.

 

[1911nut]

In an interview Dave Brennan of Precision Shooting did in December 1982 with Mike Walker, the 40XBR action seemed to come from a different line than the other 40X actions.



Sounds like the 40XBR was special

 

[Cbashooter]

In an interview Dave Brennan of Precision Shooting did in December 1982 with Mike Walker, the 40XBR action seemed to come from a different line than the other 40X actions.

View attachment 1314575

Sounds like the 40XBR was special

40xBR was different. It was not stamped on its markings it was etched as to not put undo stress on the reciever.(story I was told Anyhow)