Remington 40X--Explain Please

[LHSmith]

The 40X story from back in the Precision Shooting day...
It's a regular 700 action off the assembly line with the bottom of the action only, touch up ground for better bedding ...and a button rifled barrel screwed on...no hammer forged barrel! That's all...no action trueing done...so it's hit or miss on how true the action was in those days.
I believe the improvement in accuracy was because of the button rifled barrels, not the action itself.
I have not had one to check but I believe those who have checked them and found them no better than the average 700 action....and I've always like the old look of the 40X and quite fond of them but the asking price was always too high... snd I'd rework it & true it up anyway.

And the $64,000 question - who made those barrels? In-house? I vaguely remember Mike Walker had something to do with the button process.

 

[Ray123]

Mike Walker had a lot to do with the process, the 222 Rem development, Remington match bullets, and his secret button rifling process... but where or who did the rifling to his specifications...probably never know.
I kinda doubt it was Remington...most likely a well known button barrel maker of that time...I could guess. ...we know who was popular back then...Walt Berger and Mike Waker were well aquinted back in the day & the 222 was king ...I wounder if that was ever discussed...but now it's a long lost secret.

 

[butchlambert]

Seems Mike was the father of Button Rifling. He worked very close with Hart.

 

[rich56]

Redirecting this old subject.
I had (sold to a nephew) a 40XC-KS IN 308
And own one in 223.
This is the typical 3 shot groups at 200 yds with the 308. Federal
Gold Medal Match 175gn.
The 223 shoots similar with 77gn FGMM.
About the only thing I know about the construction. The actions are bedded in a Macmillan stock. I witnessed them lapping the barrels at the factory in Ilion NY

 

[rich56]

Similar rifle to above in 223, 1/8” twist, 77gn Sierra over Varget @100yds
Last target of my first 300yd match.

 

[NC/Br Shooter]

So,vI was reading part's of this thread, trying to figure something out. It may have been answered so forgive me if it has.
I understand a 40x is better target version 700sa,
I didn't know they could be repeaters though.
I just got a 700 single shot action from this place thinking it's a 40x. It's not. It's just a 700 SA. SS action. Would it be different than a 40x single shot? It looks very similar

 

[butchlambert]

So,vI was reading part's of this thread, trying to figure something out. It may have been answered so forgive me if it has.
I understand a 40x is better target version 700sa,
I didn't know they could be repeaters though.
I just got a 700 single shot action from this place thinking it's a 40x. It's not. It's just a 700 SA. SS action. Would it be different than a 40x single shot? It looks very similar

Nothing!

 

[davidjoe]

So,vI was reading part's of this thread, trying to figure something out. It may have been answered so forgive me if it has.
I understand a 40x is better target version 700sa,
I didn't know they could be repeaters though.
I just got a 700 single shot action from this place thinking it's a 40x. It's not. It's just a 700 SA. SS action. Would it be different than a 40x single shot? It looks very similar

They did make repeaters, they never made a long action. They resemble the 700’s of the era they were made in. However, I have not seen a 40-X that lacked primary extraction, from any era, even though the later 700’s did.

In other words, old 40-X’s like old 700’s have a different feel to them. There are probably 4 or 5 discernible, subtle “grades” of 700’s over the years, and perhaps 3 different feeling 40-X’s.

 

[butchlambert]

The quality of the machine work on the late models are much better than the older ones. The jig they used on the late models to time and place the bolt handle before silver soldering them on was suspect. The 40X receivers were just pulled off the 700SA line. They were no different.

 

[1911nut]

The quality of the machine work on the late models are much better than the older ones. The jig they used on the late models to time and place the bolt handle before silver soldering them on was suspect. The 40X receivers were just pulled off the 700SA line. They were no different.

Now hold the phone there young feller, in an interview with Precision Shooting Mike Walker said:

 

[butchlambert]

Now hold the phone there young feller, in an interview with Precision Shooting Mike Walker said:

View attachment 1562970

Kinda funny old man! Hold your horses. Merle Walker told me they were picked off the line before they were roll stamped. You can also go to the Remington Forum on Facebook and check with Wade Haponski and his Dad. Dad worked before the Custom Shop was put together by Mike and afterwards and his son worked there for over 20yrs, but lost his job when Remington went tits up.
I was able to purchase 2 of Mike"s personal rifles that are pictured in and talked about in Precision Shooting. I purchased 2 of his reloading presses that he made from Remington Receivers. I also bought 1 of the 3 Custom Shop Scopes that were produced. 1 went to Mike, 1 went Jimmy Stekl, and I don't remember who has the 3rd one. These were the internal adjustable models, not the ones that fit on the top of the 40X receivers and had both Unertl and later Custom Shop external adjustable rings.



I have to finish some rest ttops to ship tomorrow, but if you want photos of the 2 rifles and the presses I can find them and post them tomorrow evening.

 

[1911nut]

Kinda funny old man! Hold your horses. Merle Walker told me they were picked off the line before they were roll stamped. You can also go to the Remington Forum on Facebook and check with Wade Haponski and his Dad. Dad worked before the Custom Shop was put together by Mike and afterwards and his son worked there for over 20yrs, but lost his job when Remington went tits up.
I was able to purchase 2 of Mike"s personal rifles that are pictured in and talked about in Precision Shooting. I purchased 2 of his reloading presses that he made from Remington Receivers. I also bought 1 of the 3 Custom Shop Scopes that were produced. 1 went to Mike, 1 went Jimmy Stekl, and I don't remember who has the 3rd one. These were the internal adjustable models, not the ones that fit on the top of the 40X receivers and had both Unertl and later Custom Shop external adjustable rings.

View attachment 1562981
View attachment 1562983
I have to finish some rest ttops to ship tomorrow, but if you want photos of the 2 rifles and the presses I can find them and post them tomorrow evening.

Sure, I’d like to see the photos. That’s cool you have those scopes. I’ve had two 40XBRs in 222, one is a 1969 the other 1971. Mike Walker was still working with Remington during those years. I also have a 40X in 220 Swift.

The 1969 model

The 1971 model

 

[davidjoe]

Man I love this stuff guys. When I was in my late twenties, the 40-X wore a halo. It was factory in the same way the 560 SEL was factory. Not a one off hot rod that would smoke it, but an example factory consistency at a high level. I did believe they were better, but largely because all the ones I had seen were solid bottomed and rigid. They may have been of equal quality only, but I still think of them as blue bloods. I literally feel like my phone number is flagged at all Cabelas.

 

[butchlambert]

Some photos:The butt of the 722 in 257 Roberts. Mike said this was his favorite deer rifle. I gave it to my friend, Wyman Meinzer.

The mod 37 Rimfire.

 

[butchlambert]

Another of the 722.

Another of the mod 37

 

[davidjoe]

Nice figuring in that stock! Old growth trees that came up where conditions were good, not just where someone happened to have land, who wanted to plant trees and harvested them at the minimum age.

There’s something no new gun has, patina. All this talk about old Remingtons has had an effect, manifesting this morning. Technology has stripped away the barriers. It’s too easy. The country is a funnel, and the bottom of Texas is where all unwanted 40-X’s accumulate.

 

[butchlambert]

Nice figuring in that stock! Old growth trees that came up where conditions were good, not just where someone happened to have land, who wanted to plant trees and harvested them at the minimum age.

There’s something no new gun has, patina. All this talk about old Remingtons has had an effect, manifesting this morning. Technology has stripped away the barriers. It’s too easy. The country is a funnel, and the bottom of Texas is where all unwanted 40-X’s accumulate.

Looks nice Sir!

 

[M14AMU]

I shot one in shooting four position indoor .22 competition where score was a possible 400 and fired several 398 scores. This was 50' distance. The target about half the diameter of the .22 projectile. If you dropped a point it wasn't the rifles fault!

 

[snert]

Seems Mike was the father of Button Rifling. He worked very close with Hart.

Ross Sherman

 

[Infrequent Shooter]

Nice figuring in that stock! Old growth trees that came up where conditions were good, not just where someone happened to have land, who wanted to plant trees and harvested them at the minimum age.

There’s something no new gun has, patina. All this talk about old Remingtons has had an effect, manifesting this morning. Technology has stripped away the barriers. It’s too easy. The country is a funnel, and the bottom of Texas is where all unwanted 40-X’s accumulate.

what part of Texas are you in? DFW here.