modifying the length of Rem 700 action screws

[NateHaler]

I've had at least two dozen Rem 700 rifles. They came in factory original stocks and aftermarket stocks.

I finally decided to get a trio of barreled actions into stocks, because shooting a barreled action without a stock is not easy -- even after spending hours ensuring that the scope was mounted properly, doing OCW for my handloads, and making sure my front rest had the proper amount of fill in the sandbag.

I settled on 3 different stocks: McMillan A3 (recently advertised on this forum), Accuracy International AICS, and lastly a Bell and Carlson 'Medalist Tactical'.

The AICS comes with the action screws held captive in the stock, which seems very handy; you won't lose them!

The other two stocks require that you supply your own screws, which naturally I kept from the previous factory configurations (VSSF and 700P). After installing the barreled action, BDL floorplate, and related bits into the A3, I inserted the bolt, and immediately realize that it would not turn to close. Hmm, stop, investigate. Indeed the factory original front bolt was protruding into the action by about 1/8". Which apparently means the A3 has less belly or whatever you call the in-between depth than a factory Remington stock.

Ditto the Bell and Carlson Medalist Tactical. I quickly located the action which had come installed in this stock, which had been rebarreled and otherwise worked over by a riflesmith, and indeed its front action screw had been shortened, and ground down/polished on the end to simplify getting it started in the action hole...

Why am I boring you with this tale? Because -- despite shooting lots of different 700s for a lot of years -- I had not encountered this action screw length issue. I guess I had ASSumed that all of the after market stocks would utilize the screws that came with the original setup, and said screws would be good to go. Who knew? I'll be darned!

And if I shorten some of these screws accordingly, then they won't work for the original stock anymore, so I suppose I better get some spares... That, or I could insert some washers outside of the bottom metal, and in effect adjust the thread depth like that. Which wouldn't look great.

 

[JLDavid]

I took some factory allen head action bolts to my local hardware store and bought a bunch of longer bolts to use for just this reason. You can always cut them off but it is a booger trying to stretch one that is too short!! ;D This way I can custom fit them and not have to shim anything. If I change out to a HS or another aftermarket stock, it is a simple fix. Good luck.

David

 

[jonbearman]

Brownells sells original type bedding screws for remingtons and extra long ones for aftermarket stocks.You have to figure out what legth you need and saw them off and file the end to make a slight lead on the threaded portion so it starts easy enough.

 

[dooley]

BOhio, go with the aics stock, I did so with one of my rems, No pillar bedding, No skim bedding, as it has a built in V block and self centers, it took me 5 mins to fit and my group sizes halved, try and get the new AX aics stock, I have the older type its great but the newer one looks nicer. dooley

 

[NateHaler]

Dooley, I hear you, but variety is the spice of life, right?

I did recently purchase the AICS; I'm not all that keen on the battleship-superstructure look of the AX, with all of the rail crapola hanging off. I suppose if I wanted to mount a red-dot, NV, flashlight, Yoohoo sippy cup, and carbon fiber bayonet, maybe all of that stuff on the forend would be good. But I just need to mount a conventional scope and bipod.

FYI, some guys still believe in bedding the AICS. What needs to be proven to me is that doing so results in statistically significant better accuracy than unbedded. And if it doesn't, then removing the bedding is a PITA.

The AICS is a neat seup. I also bought a set of Viper Skins for mine, which eliminate the thumbhole feature in favor of a conventional pistol grip design. But the AICS is heavy. About five pounds IIRC. Compare that to an H-S Precision 'varmint' type stock, or the McMillan A3 I have; the difference is at least 1.5 pounds.

Regardless, the AICS is a worthy option. The mere fact that it comes with an excellent, integral external magazine provision, for the AI magazines (one of which is included), makes it a bit of a bargain. Figure that adding such bottom metal to a conventional stock would cost $250.