Measuring a R700 action for a new barrel tenon

[BrianA]

Hello all,
Newbie question for you. I'm prepping to cut a new barrel for a Remington 700 action and I'm using The Viper's measurement guide. The question is, since the bolt has some forward and back play, do you want to measure from the forward or aft position of the bolt? Or maybe both and split the difference? As long as your head spacing is correct does it matter?
Remember, I'm a Newbie...please be nice. ;D

 

[Dans40X]

Measured from receiver face w/ bolt lugs aft/back against integral lug abutments.

 

[Preacher]

Don't forget to add the recoil lug measurement, I like to set the lug on top of the action and measure to the bolt face while keeping down pressure on the bolt face..

 

[stenger]

Not trying to hurt your feelings but you might want to get a little more experience before chambering a barrel.

 

[Gundoktr]

****FOR SURE***

 

[tonyb]

Follow the guide sheet provided by Bob. Watch some of his videos and others on Youtube. You have to start somewhere, I was a nervous wreck the first time I built my own first rifle. the key is to double check everything, and then check it again. Take your time, you will do fine. I now have 27 rifles under my belt (which is a fraction of some on this site). It gets better every time you get one completed.

Tony.

 

[BrianA]

Thanks those of you who chose to offer constructive help. I always hate to ask questions on these forums because of ....nevermind.
So how does one get more experience without actually doing it?
I've watched the videos, I have all the tooling. I had a simple ****ing question. Merry Christmas.

Thanks tonyb, Dans40X and Preacher

 

[Preacher]

You just keep right on asking, a lot of us will help out if we can answer what was asked.....

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Have fun with it. If you mess it up cut it off and do it again. Sometimes experience is expensive if you have to get a new barrel but you hopefully wont make the same mistake twice. Just take your time and DO IT!!

 

[ridgeway]

Not trying to hurt your feelings but you might want to get a little more experience before chambering a barrel.

Maybe the guy has 20 years of machining and this is his first barrel. Gotta start somewhere! Chambering isn't rocket science...

Good luck Brian, jump in and go for it...just ignore the rude unproductive comments. There are quite a few guys on here that can help out with just about anything imaginable.

 

[jonbearman]

Brian, keep throwing as many questions as you want and just don't pay attention to negativity. By the way__WELCOME TO THE VERY BEST FORUM ON THE PLANET!!!!!!!!!!!! If you want a junk barrel to practice on I am sure that fellas like preacher may have a chunk laying around so you can practice threading and chambering.

 

[Jay Christopherson]

Thanks those of you who chose to offer constructive help. I always hate to ask questions on these forums because of ....nevermind.
So how does one get more experience without actually doing it?
I've watched the videos, I have all the tooling. I had a simple ****ing question. Merry Christmas.

Thanks tonyb, Dans40X and Preacher

Brian-

Buy some 1.25" delrin rod and practice on that. It's fast, it's forgiving, and it doesn't cost you $300+ dollars to screw up. It's also easy to be really accurate with it. I bought 2 foot long lengths and "chambered" it enough times that I felt really comfortable before I ever took tool to metal on my first barrel. With that behind me, my first barrel turned out great the first time.

You won't get practice in some of the finer points of chambering, but you'll get comfortable with turning the tenon, threading, drilling/pre-boring, measuring, etc... pretty fast. Best of all - you make a mistake, you cut it off and start over.

- Jay

 

[carlsbad]

Thanks those of you who chose to offer constructive help. I always hate to ask questions on these forums because of ....nevermind.
So how does one get more experience without actually doing it?
I've watched the videos, I have all the tooling. I had a simple ****ing question. Merry Christmas.

Thanks tonyb, Dans40X and Preacher

Brian,
It's hard to tell someone that the question they just asked indicates they may be in over their head. Sure there are no stupid questions and we are glad to answer your questions but chambering a barrel is advanced machining and you asked a pretty basic question.

However, if you use go/no-go gauges to measure your final product, cut your threads correctly ( I assume you've had experience cutting threads before you attempt this project) and torque it together adequately, you should be safe. The most you are risking is ruining a $200 to $400 barrel blank and possibly a reamer. (assuming you know basic lathe safety and don't hurt yourself).

OK. Now that I've tried to clarify the concerns, I'll say that I've seen relative beginners do surprising work and it would not surprise me if you were successful. I hate to criticize lofty ambition and big goals. Best of luck.

--Jerry

 

[wvlongshot]

Jay chris is spot on. spend some time on low cost item, then make some metal chips fly when your ready. The most important thing is to have fun and be safe.

 

[jkohler]

For low cost barrels to play on look at Green mountain barrels. There gunsmith edition blanks are a good value to play on. They shoot ok for a varmint rifle as well

 

[BrianA]

Thanks for all the nice replies.
I said I was "prepping" and that includes making several practice cuts and a lot of studying. I have several SS bars and a Barrel that I'm considering scrapping to practice on.
I've not been a BR shooter in the past but have done BPCR and have loaded dozens of hunting rounds for different rifles.
Let me ask how many of you naysayers have performed human surgery? I have. Still do. How many have survived 500 Volt DC amplifier referbs of vintage tube amps? I've done a bunch.
I have a CC lathe with a DRO and more PTG tooling than the cost of one custom rifle.
I've been reloading for 40 years.
I don't want to boast about my bonafides but I'm trainable or else I wouldn't be a licensed surgeon and have several other "hobbies" over the past 25 years.
Remember: Don't ASSuME

My apologies to the moderator. I simply hate those that ASSuME they are better. They may be, but some of us are trainable. Maybe they would like to come out and treat surgical patients and pay the malpractice insurance.

 

[Ggmac]

Brian , take your time and remember it is easier to answer a dumb question than it is to repair a dumb mistake . I'm sure your insurance is outta this world and no comparison could be made but I retired from riflesmith work years ago but still carry a sizable amount of liability insurance . It is about 10x from when I retired . Every smith should have it . I do not want to start get feedback , this is my opinion . Good luck , feel free to PM me if you have any questions .
Gary

 

[Erik Cortina]

Thanks for all the nice replies.
I said I was "prepping" and that includes making several practice cuts and a lot of studying. I have several SS bars and a Barrel that I'm considering scrapping to practice on.
I've not been a BR shooter in the past but have done BPCR and have loaded dozens of hunting rounds for different rifles.
Let me ask how many of you naysayers have performed human surgery? I have. Still do. How many have survived 500 Volt DC amplifier referbs of vintage tube amps? I've done a bunch.
I have a CC lathe with a DRO and more PTG tooling than the cost of one custom rifle.
I've been reloading for 40 years.
I don't want to boast about my bonafides but I'm trainable or else I wouldn't be a licensed surgeon and have several other "hobbies" over the past 25 years.
Remember: Don't ASSuME

My apologies to the moderator. I simply hate those that ASSuME they are better. They may be, but some of us are trainable. Maybe they would like to come out and treat surgical patients and pay the malpractice insurance.

BrianA, I sent you a PM offering my help on day one and you never replied to it. My advise to you is to focus on the ones that are trying to help you and ignore the rest.

 

[JRS]

It's obvious, you have received a great deal of good advise. It's also obvious, at least to me, that you have jumped on board to brag about yourself :