Prefit shouldered barrels

[Bamban]

I just finished working with 40 Remington 700s that came right from the factory. Headspace was easily held close enough to allow prefits. Primary extraction was much better on these too. I don't think you could move the handle on any of them and make an improvement.

Walt,

Are these the 700s since the acquisition?

Nez

 

[Walt Krafft]

Yes, these were RAR prefix. Made this year.

 

[SKWERLZ]

Yes, these were RAR prefix. Made this year.

That’s nice to hear!

 

[Ksracer]

I know a SR guy that told me, he goes HS +5 or 6 on his personal rifles, his comment to me was…in a pinch, anyone’s brass will fit

Also, remember the day when Defiance wouldn’t send a print…there was a reason. Things have changed with their current offerings.

That left me really puzzled. They were one of the last ones to jump on the "pre-fit" train and then wouldn't give out a print when everybody else either posted them online or sent them on request. I didn't even want a print, all I wanted was their nominal headspace dimension and they wouldn't even give that up. This was just a few years ago after they came out and said they had tightened their tolerances up.

Their answer was measure 1 action yourself and the rest will be close. No thanks.

 

[urbanrifleman]

The only reason is like Dave says. Dont do anything to make the phone ring. Seriously, theres no reason not to cut a flat breach. Especially if theres a mini 16 installed.

There are several of the custom actions that are simply Remington 700 with the counterbore cut off.

 

[LVLAaron]

My assumption with defiance is they're trying new things and aren't keeping track of it all. They wont send you a new bolt unless they have the action... the conspiracy theorist in me wants to think they dont keep track of what's what.

The more sensible side of me thinks they dont want the phone to ring. A good smith has no problem measuring an action.

 

[Old Navy]

I just finished working with 40 Remington 700s that came right from the factory. Headspace was easily held close enough to allow prefits. Primary extraction was much better on these too. I don't think you could move the handle on any of them and make an improvement.

Are you a retailer for them?

 

[Walt Krafft]

Are you a retailer for them?

No. They are all for one customer who pulled some strings to get them.

 

[DLT]

No. They are all for one customer who pulled some strings to get them.

Damn !!! I’d say he pulled some strings

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Damn !!! I’d say he pulled some strings

There are some folks on here that quit school because of recess.

 

[jelenko]

BAT machine is always trying new things as well, and similar type actions all headspace the same. I would do a prefit for a BAT, and for a Terminus. I would not for a Defiance.

I had one customer ask me to do a prefit for some Brand-X action and I told him no, I would need to have the action. He then told me he would "pass", and that the purpose of a custom action was so that you didn't have to send it to get a barrel installed.

Guess he read that on the internet.........

Do you have any experience with Pierce actions? Are they consistent enough to do prefits without having the action?

 

[urbanrifleman]

I guess I was right. I was incredibly sceptical of this "any gunsmith can make you a shouldered pre-fit for your xxxyy custom action (sight unseen)". Apparently, this isn't exactly true.

I've decided I will fit all of my shouldered barrels just like the old days, with the action in hand. I figure my "pain in the ass factor" would go to a vertical line if I start shipping barrels that I haven't checked.

There simply isn't enough money involved for me to have to do a re-setup if something did go wrong.

I spoke to Adam at Kauger and he said their headspace is something like a quarter thou in one direction and half a thou in the other (I'm paraphrasing). That's pretty small. Still not zero.

 

[jelenko]

Just to confirm, there are a 'bunch' of companies providing shouldered prefits for specific actions, yes?
For example, Preferred Barrel Blanks, Bugholes, Northland Shooters Supply.

 

[AlNyhus]

had one customer ask me to do a prefit for some Brand-X action and I told him no, I would need to have the action. He then told me he would "pass", and that the purpose of a custom action was so that you didn't have to send it to get a barrel installed.

Guess he read that on the internet.........

The vast majority of 'clone' action customers don't understand the difference between an 'aftermarket' action and a true 'custom' high level, precision action.

Because of that, many (not all) 'clone' 700 mfgs have successfully convinced (marketed) customers that they are getting a true 'custom' action.

 

[urbanrifleman]

Just to confirm, there are a 'bunch' of companies providing shouldered prefits for specific actions, yes?
For example, Preferred Barrel Blanks, Bugholes, Northland Shooters Supply.

It's funny. For years I've been hearing the gunsmiths say that nut barrels were just "close enough" for (you know) not for "serious competition" because they aren't truly "fitted".

Now I'm the one saying the shouldered barrels aren't "close enough". And others are saying they are...

How ironic.

 

[urbanrifleman]

The vast majority of 'clone' action customers don't understand the difference between an 'aftermarket' action and a true 'custom' high level, precision action.

Because of that, many (not all) 'clone' 700 mfgs have successfully convinced (marketed) customers that they are getting a true 'custom' action.

Possibly very true.

 

[AlNyhus]

Possibly very true.

No "Possibly" about it.

 

[urbanrifleman]

No "Possibly" about it.

I keep saying it over and over again. A lot of this stuff is simply marketing. A lot of these consumers are driven by social media and internet posts and they fall for the marketing.

 

[Dgd6mm]

The vast majority of 'clone' action customers don't understand the difference between an 'aftermarket' action and a true 'custom' high level, precision action.

Because of that, many (not all) 'clone' 700 mfgs have successfully convinced (marketed) customers that they are getting a true 'custom' action.

I have thought for this to be so for sometime now.

 

[jelenko]

I have thought for this to be so for sometime now.

I consider myself as fairly UNknowledgeable about rifle actions.

But, don't many/all of the 'custom' action suppliers offer options on their action? If so, for me, they would be a 'custom' action.
Tighter tolerances [than previous 700's] would be a bonus.