Why blueprint an action at all?
Aside from locking lug engagement all the rest is just engineering in search of a problem.
There really aren't many decent gunsmithing guides out there. The Jerry Kuhnhausen shop manuals are about the Best ever done; but other than M-14/M1a, they are all for handguns. The gunsmith in residence at Precision Shooting wrote some interesting books, but not being interested in accurizing Garands or factory sporter rifles, I never read them. Brownells Gunsmith Kinks are a throwback to an earlier era. I owned the first 3 but sold them years ago.
Have seen a few AFI gunsmithing videos and was not impressed. Paid some pretty big money to get a quality action job years ago on a Rem 700 and on sale of pristine rifle, got none of the extra back... Never really saw that it shot measurably "better". I did assemble my first tactical/precision rifle though, and got what still think are Great Results. An early 700SA action, with a used .308win PSS factory barrel, blued 26" with roundcount over 1500. Put this into an H-S Police stock back in 1999 or so. Added Badger Ord base and rings, a Leupold Mark 4 6x scope w/target dot and loaded Sierra 168mk with their match load and went shooting... At Dietz Gunrange, Dietzville Tx. (anyone familiar will get the joke).
Howard Dietz installed the barrel on my action, as didn't own an action wrench or barrel vise at the time. The junker rifle shot 5 shot groups into sub .4"s all day long at 100yds and under .7" everytime at 200yds. Never calm conditions in the afternoon at Dietzvillle... Oh and groups measured w/dial mic and listed w/o subtraction of bullet diameter...
I had an RCBS Precision Mic and found that due only to luck, I had a very short OAL Chamber. I realized that was the key to good accuracy, along with a rock solid scope mount system and consistent ammunition.
Early rem 700 actions are known for being at great variance in their dimensional specs. Best 100yd group I got was sub .35; for 5rds. Pretty easy to do, using benchrest target sighting box corner as aiming point. Might have done better with a 10x or higher scope at 200yds. Stock was not skim bedded. I did use an inch pound torque wrench on the action bolts. Tomato stake barrel, and junker action with nothing but tuned trigger (thanks to Pablito/Catshooter on snipercountry).
Most quality manufactured contemporary actions won't need truing or blueprinting.
I know this is heresy, but try the short oal chamber first; something like .0005" over Go Gauge or even under Go if you have a wildcat.
You may be surprised with your results.
Aside from locking lug engagement all the rest is just engineering in search of a problem.
There really aren't many decent gunsmithing guides out there. The Jerry Kuhnhausen shop manuals are about the Best ever done; but other than M-14/M1a, they are all for handguns. The gunsmith in residence at Precision Shooting wrote some interesting books, but not being interested in accurizing Garands or factory sporter rifles, I never read them. Brownells Gunsmith Kinks are a throwback to an earlier era. I owned the first 3 but sold them years ago.
Have seen a few AFI gunsmithing videos and was not impressed. Paid some pretty big money to get a quality action job years ago on a Rem 700 and on sale of pristine rifle, got none of the extra back... Never really saw that it shot measurably "better". I did assemble my first tactical/precision rifle though, and got what still think are Great Results. An early 700SA action, with a used .308win PSS factory barrel, blued 26" with roundcount over 1500. Put this into an H-S Police stock back in 1999 or so. Added Badger Ord base and rings, a Leupold Mark 4 6x scope w/target dot and loaded Sierra 168mk with their match load and went shooting... At Dietz Gunrange, Dietzville Tx. (anyone familiar will get the joke).
Howard Dietz installed the barrel on my action, as didn't own an action wrench or barrel vise at the time. The junker rifle shot 5 shot groups into sub .4"s all day long at 100yds and under .7" everytime at 200yds. Never calm conditions in the afternoon at Dietzvillle... Oh and groups measured w/dial mic and listed w/o subtraction of bullet diameter...
I had an RCBS Precision Mic and found that due only to luck, I had a very short OAL Chamber. I realized that was the key to good accuracy, along with a rock solid scope mount system and consistent ammunition.
Early rem 700 actions are known for being at great variance in their dimensional specs. Best 100yd group I got was sub .35; for 5rds. Pretty easy to do, using benchrest target sighting box corner as aiming point. Might have done better with a 10x or higher scope at 200yds. Stock was not skim bedded. I did use an inch pound torque wrench on the action bolts. Tomato stake barrel, and junker action with nothing but tuned trigger (thanks to Pablito/Catshooter on snipercountry).
Most quality manufactured contemporary actions won't need truing or blueprinting.
I know this is heresy, but try the short oal chamber first; something like .0005" over Go Gauge or even under Go if you have a wildcat.
You may be surprised with your results.
among others ???
