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Help be build my next rifle (Long range, long action)

tonyben

I've never built a bolt gun on a Remington-700 type action. I've built about 50 M14's/M1A's and I rebuilt my Savage 110 into a nice long action bedded into a McMillan but chambered in 308.

I was recently compelled to purchase a JAE-700 long action chassis since they announced they closed shop last week. I will receive the chassis on Wednesday. Now I need to decide on a receiver, caliber and magazine type.

I'm open to suggestions and I don't have a long range cartridge in my inventory. I'm pretty isolated to 308 and 5.56 right now. I don't really care about barrel life and I'll be building the rifle myself. A Savage-type barrel nut install would be desired, but if I have to cut a barrel shoulder and finish reaming a chamber, I'm okay with that.

What would you build?

Tony.
 
The nice thing about a Rem 700 is even if it's a standard bolt face size, they can easily be opened up to the larger mag bolt face and have a pinned M16 style extractor installed.

With some of the smaller brass companies like ADG making very high quality RUM brass, I'd look at building a 300 RUM with an 8 or 9 twist barrel to shoot the new Sierra MK's or the new Hornady A-Tip bullets. You'll end up with a pretty long OAL so you will have to single feed them but the LR and ELR game really isn't about shooting fast so it's a none issue. Unless, you are looking to do 1000 yd comp shooting and in that case it seems like the 6mm's are the hot ticket.

You didn't really say what kind of long range shooting you want to do so to get better suggestions, it'll be more helpful if you tells us what kind of shooting you plan to do with this build.
 
Cartridge wise... 300 PRC probably is the most ideal since it has a standard magnum bolt face. 300winmag is a old standby that you can always fall back on if you can't find anything else.

Defiance Tenacity Long Action with a magnum bolt face is more affordable than other aftermarket receivers leaving you money to spare for a nice Triggertech Special or Diamond if you want below half pound break.
I personally prefer 2-stage triggers, and on one of my R700 I have a Calvin Elite 2-stage and I love it.

You can get a pre-fit with a barrel nut for R-700 thread pattern. I think Northland shooter supply is a decent place to start for R-700 pre-fits.
 
I've not decided on a standard 308 bolt face or a magnum yet. I do like the fact that Bighorn receivers offers a floating bolt head, meaning I should be able to switch out bolts from magnum to standard if I desire. I also like the fact that they offer them in Savage small-shank, meaning I can change barrels easily. If I need to dedicate it to a magnum bolt face, I'm okay with that. I've got a long action Savage that already has a 308/30-06 bolt head that I can play with and its plenty accurate with my Benchmark and Criterion barrel.

As far as what kind of long range shooting, It would mostly be for fun, but mainly paper punching or ringing steel at a long range class. Locally, I can only shoot 1,000 yards at paper targets. I'd have to drive a few hours to eastern Oregon to go out any farther than that and shoot steel.

Although, I would see myself shooting it regularly at our 600 yard night shoots. Basically 20 rounds on an F-class target. They do it every Tuesday night.


Tony.
 
Bighorn LT3 is a nice action. I just wasn't sure if they made long actions. I don't see why they wouldn't make LA.

Having the floating bolt head and savage small shank is definitely a plus. The Defiance Tenacity costs $ 400 less than the TL3. You can always get another bolt for the Tenacity.

On the other hand, you already have the tools to change savage barrels.
 
I had the opportunity to shoot a 338 lapua mag this weekend. A friend bought a Ruger Precision Rifle. In the past I thought "what a waste" but after shooting it, I find myself really wanting one. I've never owned anything beyond a 300 win mag for hunting. By the way, I was VERY impressed with the total lack of recoil it had and the unbelievable accuracy it produced. Someone at Ruger did their homework on the RPR series. I've only owned garands, M1a's, ar's, and various small caliber bolt guns.
 
Zero333 said:
Bighorn LT3 is a nice action. I just wasn't sure if they made long actions. I don't see why they wouldn't make LA.

Having the floating bolt head and savage small shank is definitely a plus. The Defiance Tenacity costs $ 400 less than the TL3. You can always get another bolt for the Tenacity.

On the other hand, you already have the tools to change savage barrels.
Click to expand...

I looked at the Defiance website and it doesn't look like they offer long actions, unless I'm missing something.

Tony.
 
tonyben said:
I looked at the Defiance website and it doesn't look like they offer long actions, unless I'm missing something.

Tony.
Click to expand...

https://defiancemachine.com/actions/tenacity/

The Tenacity is their most affordable action. I seen re-sellers selling the Tenacity Long Action / mag bolt face for around $ 935.

Straight from their website.......

Specifications
  • Receiver made of pre-hardened aircraft-certified 416 stainless steel
  • Bolt made of pre-hardened aircraft-certified 4340 chrome moly
  • Receiver barrel threads are 1.0625” X 16 T.P.I. (Rem. 700 thread dia. and pitch) and Remington 700 thread depth
  • Actions available in Medium (Rem. SA), Long (Rem. LA) length to accommodate popular factory chamberings
  • Medium length actions available in .223, .308 and Magnum bolt face. Long length actions available in .30-06 and Magnum bolt face
  • Available with .308, and .223 bolt face
  • .062” firing pin is perfect for large or small rifle primers
  • Available in right & left hand
  • Price includes:
    • Stainless steel, 20 MOA picatinny scope mount, attached with 8-40 screws, and 1/8” hardened dowel pins
  • Double pinned precision .250” thick recoil lug
  • Works with hinged floorplates and center feed detachable magazines
  • .308 available with AICS/AW magazine cut (detachable mag only)
  • 2.0# (32 oz.) approximate weight with scope mount and recoil lug
 
I think I’m down to defiance or bighorn for an action. If I use the Bighorn, I’ve got a 26” Savage take-off 308 varmint contour barrel that I can recut to another 30 cal long action chamber and I can be up and running pretty quick.

I do like the Defiance deviant action though.

Tony.
 
tonyben said:
I think I’m down to defiance or bighorn for an action. If I use the Bighorn, I’ve got a 26” Savage take-off 308 varmint contour barrel that I can recut to another 30 cal long action chamber and I can be up and running pretty quick.

I do like the Defiance deviant action though.

Tony.
Click to expand...

That's sacrilege! There should be written laws that carry punishment of fines and imprisonment for merely mentioning putting a factory Savage barrel on a custom action!

That would be like putting a Walmart lawnmower engine in a brand new Lamborghini Aventador ;)
 
Long term would be a Criterion, Kreiger or Benchmark barrel. It would be nice to have a tube to mess around with while I wait. :D

I do take my time and I can stretch projects out a couple of years. I'm in no rush. I've still got a short action Savage that I never began work on. I bought the short action 308 12FV on black Friday for about $100 after discounts, rebate and gift cards I had and plan on converting it to a DBM in 6.5CM. I haven't bought the barrel, stock or bottom metal yet for that project.

Either way, I can still do that with that barrel and play with it on my long action 110 that I have bedded into my McMillan HTG stock.

Tony.
 
I personally built my first LR rifle in 280 AI. I went to my smith and he talked me out of a straight 284. I really like the rifle it shoots great. Shot my best group last week at 600 (1.350). No it isnt record breaking but neither am I. It is a stiller action with a bartlein barrel. Looking back I really would have enjoyed the straight 284. There is a lot of info out there on that round and it is sound. But, I digress..... I really like the 7mm no matter what round it is in. There are a lot of bullets for it on the long range side. FWIW
 
Personally; I'm a fan of the 30-06 with a 190; it's a bit more than a 308 and great for long range; bit maybe not enough degrees of separation? 280; or 6.5-06 makes for excellent long action cartridges on a standard bolt; 300WM of course if you really want to start dialing it up.

-Mac
 
Bat hr with a 284 Winchester or 300 win mag would be my pick. I believe the bat hr will work with a rem 700 chassis.

Also I believe northland shooter supply sells bat actions that can take barrel nut criterion barrels.
 
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