New Rifle for BR and F Class is 40-XB good

[kmartin]

I am looking at a new rifle for Bench shooting , f-class etc.
I saw a Rem 40-XB in 308 for $2000.
This is kind of the max I can spend and want to know if its worth the money?
From looking at prices for custom guns or reworked Rem700s you can easily put this much and more into a rifle and not be sure what you will end up with.
I know the 308 isn't the buzz caliber either but its the gun is new, has a name to stand on, an HS stock & good trigger.

What are your thoughts?

I have a rem700 in 308 but cost to create good rifle:
Stock 4-5oo or more
Barrel 350
Trigger 200
Action 500 (i think i payed about this)
Cost 1500 before gun smith handles it and its still just a Remington 700!

 

[Shootinstick]

Kyle,
I think you would be better putting the $2000 in something different in a different caliber for the F-class at our range. Gordy doesn't run a F-TR class so you would be better in a different caliber.

Jim

 

[nhm16]

For about $1,300 street you can buy a factory Savage Model 12 F-Class in 6.5-284 or 6mm BR that will work F-class. That leaves you $700 to apply towards a Sightron scope, Bench Source base, and Burris Signature Zee rings.

Or you can save a little more than your $2,000 and have a top notch rifle. Get a single shot Rem. clone action for around $800-900, a 30" (finished length) barrel blank from the likes of Krieger, Brux, Bartlein for around $350, a stock like a McMillan Tooley MBR ($500) or a Shehane Tracker or MBR tracker ($415), and $300 for a Jewell trigger plus $500 to have a smith chamber the barrel and bed the stock (that's the going rate around hear, more $ and time if you go with a nationally know smith, YMMV, etc.). That's about $2,600-2,700.

If $2,000 is a hard limit, you can build it around a Savage target action (same one used in 12 F-class), with your choice of bolt/port configuration for around $500, including trigger; a barrel that's been chambered for around $450-$500 and install it yourself (I have 3 F-class barrels for my various Savages that all cost about that amount for the blank and the cost to chamber/thread/crown: a 30" Benchmark in .284 Win., a 30" Rock in .308 Win., and a 30" Brux in 6.5x47). You can save a little money and buy a Shilen or McGowen for about $150 less. Then the same money for a stock and bedding. That's about $1,700. Leaves you enough money for scope base and rings and still come in for under $2,000.

 

[alf]

I saw a Rem 40-XB in 308 for $2000.

Do not even consider doing this........

Way too many other viable options.

 

[ChipEckardt]

I saw a Rem 40-XB in 308 for $2000.

Do not even consider doing this........

Way too many other viable options.

I agree. The Savage is a way better option. If you are shooting out to 600 yards the 6mm is better because slightly cheaper ammo, WAY better barrel life compared to 6.5 x .284. If shooting at 1,000 yards 6.5 x .284 is hard to beat.

Chip

 

[nosualc]

Having gone down this path myself in the past few months, if you decide to go with a Savage, save yourself some money/time/aggravation and get the Savage target action/Savage stock separately, and buy an aftermarket barrel to twist in (really really easy to do).

Talk to Jim Briggs: http://savageshooters.com/SavageForum/index.php/board,64.0.html

-nosualc

 

[Frankr]

I am looking at a new rifle for Bench shooting , f-class etc.
I saw a Rem 40-XB in 308 for $2000.
This is kind of the max I can spend and want to know if its worth the money?
From looking at prices for custom guns or reworked Rem700s you can easily put this much and more into a rifle and not be sure what you will end up with.
I know the 308 isn't the buzz caliber either but its the gun is new, has a name to stand on, an HS stock & good trigger.

What are your thoughts?

I think if you spend $2,000 on a 40x you got ripped off...
not because the 40x is not good,as good as they come, but because of price is too high.
you better check the list at shooters corner and see what they have.
my last 40x KS stainless NEW was 1,800.00

I just looked and shorters corner has a 40x KS in .243 for around $1,300.00
you better get on that one.

 

[kmartin]

I am surprised at how many are recommending the savage target action.
Is this really as good as I am hearing?
The suggestion that I buy the action stock and barrel and do it my self seems too good to be true.
Are the actions barrels already square enough to give match grade accuracy?

 

[GerryM]

Most are pretty good as far as square but Your smith should check it.
I personaly would find a 40X, I like the design better, Aftermarket parts are
easily available. You could find a nice 40x and build on it as you go..
Like all things in shooting theres a learning curve to contend with,
\ If you practice like you should you will find yourself firing 50 rd at a siting.
The first barrel will shoot out quickly. The stock remington trigger is way better then the savage trigger, good luck.

 

[Rtheurer]

Kyle
Check out this link below... Alot of great used gear that will serve you well. Even if you just get a rifle that is not quite the caliber you wanted you could box it up and send it to Steve Wald in Mandan to have a new barrel of your Choice put on it. The COulter Range is one windy bugger. I would still go for a Dasher or 6BR varient. Not sure who Barner uses for a gunsmith but he should be able to help. I believe Gordy has done some barreling also.

Hope this link helps.



http://benchrest.com/shooterscorner/

 

[GerryM]

Your link is a good one. Bob White is the owner. He's a Benchrest champion.
good guy to buy from.

 

[nhm16]

From what I've read and others are reporting, Savage actions are pretty square, especially the target actions. The floating bolt head makes it not so critical in any event, because it can compensate for a significant amount of out-of-squareness. All my Savage actions have gone to Sharpshooter Supply for the time & true service (not necessary, it just makes the actions smoother and reduces bolt lift) and their triggers. You can use the Savage barrel nut, as intended, or have a traditional shouldered barrel fitted, but in either case you still have the advantage of the floating bolt head.

I use Savage actions for F-class, and do not feel that they are the limiting factor. If I had to build a short range benchrest gun I would probably go with a different action.

 

[MarkS]

kmartin
I am going to take in another direction. Look for a used benchrest gun. On this board or others. you can fine then cheap. this one may be out of you price range, but is a nice gun.
http://forum.accurateshooter.com/index.php/topic,3768809.0/topicseen.html

A friend fo mine got a RFD action PPC, had the chamber opened to 6BR for $1400.00. All he needs for long range is a 8tw barrel. I don't what you do to a Factory, they will not be as smooth as a custom action, been there do that.

Mark Schronce

 

[kmartin]

The problem I have with many used is 2 fold.
1-At shooters corner on "The List" half of the stuff I have no Idea what their talking about. I am pretty gun literate but the details go beyond normal knowledge.

2-How used is it. How good is it. Some give round counts but how accurate is it? Will it really shoot?

 

[MarkS]

kmartin

Go to some benchrest and Fclass matches and see what the guys shoot. it is a good place to find these guns. You can look at the gun for wear. Most of these gun being sold for upgrade guns or shooter getting out of shooting. These gun will still out shoot most shooter. As far as round count you can't tell. I got a Searcy action PPC a few years ago. very cheap. This gun was well used and showed it. I had it opened to a 6BR. This gun was ugly, but it would shoot 0.2" at 100yds all day long. many 0.250" at 200yds. If the gun looks good, it may still may need a barrel sooner or later.

Remember, in a gun build, the barrel, stock, trigger cost the same. The action is the difference. If you blue print a Remington action, you are near the cost of the custom action. If you don't go with the custom action, go with the Savage.

Mark Schronce

 

[laveritt]

PM sent.

 

[Frankr]

The problem I have with many used is 2 fold.
1-At shooters corner on "The List" half of the stuff I have no Idea what their talking about. I am pretty gun literate but the details go beyond normal knowledge.

2-How used is it. How good is it. Some give round counts but how accurate is it? Will it really shoot?

kmartin you can trust bob white and if you dont know ask him and tell him what you want.if he tells you he has a 40x with 400 rounds on it thats what he has. I dont think you can go wrong with a used rifle from bob white, if you do get a rifle from him and are not happy he will trade you out of it or make it right with you and plus any riflesmithing work done by him is first class. if i were you i would go with a used 40x in .243 and after you shoot that barrel out you will have a good rifle to build on or trade or sale..

 

[flatlander]

Dittos on Mark's advice on action choices, and on doing business with Bob White. I've seen & re-barreled several rifles friends/customers have purchased from him, and they've all been well worth the price paid IMHO.

There are a few shooters who use Savage F-class or BR rifles in 6BR in our club's BR Varmint Silhouette matches, and they're shooting very well with them. One of the guys bought a Dasher I'd built around the Savage Precision Target action (Krieger bbl. & B&C Savage stock), and he's very pleased with it. Hard to beat the rifles Savage is turning out on that action for the price.

Paying a premium for a 40X rifle or action is probably not a good investment - unless you're a die-hard Remington M700 fan.

 

[Rtheurer]

Kyle

I dont think you could really go wrong with 90% of whats on Bob's for sale sheet. Dont be afraid to look at a 6PPC rifle. Its real easy to send that gun to a smith and have them run a 6BR reamer into it and open up the bolt face to accept the .473 case head fam. With alot a very very good rifles in the $1200 range You could still have metal work done and be way ahead of the game in time and expence than putting one together from scratch. I should know Ive done half a dozen already from scratch. I can count on about a year before I get it all done. The only bad part is alot of the barrels ar 14 and 12 twist and where you are going to shoot in Grand Forks is one WINDY mother. Accuracy trumps all though and a smooth costom action will be important to run them down there fast before the wind changes. F class your stuck shooting slow as the game permits. Still I think this is your best bet getting started. you can spend all ten months of winter getting it ready. Heck Bob might even have a fast twist barrel on hand to offer you.
Its a no brainer in my opinion.

Ill offer up my 6BR reamer if you use my gunsmith in Mandan.

Russ T