It is my recollection (LOL) that at some point in the 40X production the barrels were marked in some other method because stamping was thought to affect the bore diameter. I related many times on this board that back in the late 70's I wanted a XBBR in .222 Mag in the worst way. I even got the number of the local sales rep but was told there was a strike going on and could not/ would not? even take an order. Kinda turned me off to the 40x right then. The one glaring problem with the 40x as marketed is the roundish forend. Once I started in BR competition I immediately began to appreciate the flat bottom BR stocks-they made a world of difference. Most of my hunting rifles are Remington, but I always since mocked the company for their claims to call it a Benchrest Rifle -in my view they were ( in the last 3 decades) a target rifle which was way overpriced.
Remington 40X--Explain Please
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butchlambert
Site $$ Sponsor
The first 40X was a rimfire off the 722 receiver in 1955. The CF version was started in 1961.
Albany Mountain
Silver $$ Contributor
Any idea of date for 24000 serial number range??
butchlambert
Site $$ Sponsor
They are dated by barrel code, but that number is about 1966.
Beautiful rifles, obviously well cared for.
The one I have is 17023.
butchlambert
Site $$ Sponsor
About 1962, but the serial number is only an approximate date. The various receivers were made in lots and put on the shelf. They were pulled as needed to fill orders.
My first serious BR rifle was a 40XBR in 6x47 Remington and with the 2 oz trigger. To put things in perspective, it cost me $400 in 1976 which was equal to about 8 days pay at sawmill wages. The Leupold 24X scope was, IIRC, $120. While this outfit didn't win anything for me, I was able to shoot sub 1/4 inch groups with it and it was a start.The next year I restocked it with a Brown Precision stock ($60) and re-barreled with a Hart which I chambered in 6x47 . In this configuration, I won a lot of stuff with it.
In the 70's, the 40X-BR was a the entry vehicle for a lot of shooters. I would guess the equivalent rifle today would be the Savage "F" class rifle which is also a factory, entry level, rifle. Like the old 40X-BR, the Savage gives shooters a starting place to get into competitive shooting. Sadly, you can't buy a 24X leupold scope for 2 1/2 days of sawmill wages today. In fact, you can't buy one at all! Changing times. WH
In the 70's, the 40X-BR was a the entry vehicle for a lot of shooters. I would guess the equivalent rifle today would be the Savage "F" class rifle which is also a factory, entry level, rifle. Like the old 40X-BR, the Savage gives shooters a starting place to get into competitive shooting. Sadly, you can't buy a 24X leupold scope for 2 1/2 days of sawmill wages today. In fact, you can't buy one at all! Changing times. WH
DirtySteve
Gold $$ Contributor
I just had a 308 built on a new 40X action.. I will pick it up next week. I have one new 40X action and will make a 223 from it. or a 6 BRA.
This is an old thread so it may not be relevant but will give some input regarding another Remington 40-X variant. That being the 40-XC. It was advertised as a 'Course' rifle and chambered in 7.62 NATO which was stamped on the 24" stainless steel barrel that was 6 groove and had a twist in 12'.
The barrel was drilled and tapped for a front sight as was the receiver that also had a clip slot milled into it.
It is/was a repeater that had a 5 round 'blind' magazine which never gave me any issues.
If photos would help, let me know and will try and find a couple.
The barrel was drilled and tapped for a front sight as was the receiver that also had a clip slot milled into it.
It is/was a repeater that had a 5 round 'blind' magazine which never gave me any issues.
If photos would help, let me know and will try and find a couple.
In 1978 I bought two 40XB single shot rifles; one in 22-250 and the other in 6mm Rem. They were both used exclusively for shooting PA groundhogs. I literally shot both of the barrels out and decided to go semi-custom. Today, one is a 22-243 and sits in a McMillen narrow forearm bench stock. The new Hart bbl was shot out, set back, and still shoots great. The second rifle was rebarreled to 6.5x284 with a Lilja 28" 3 groove. That rifle wears a McMillan made Shehane designed stock with a 3" forearm. Both are still on active duty in the farmland of PA. Either of them will shoot neck-n-neck with any of my full custom rifles.
The 6.5x284 barrel is a fluted 28" #7 contour. The gunsmith suggested fully floating the barrel forward of the recoil lug. I was concerned about hanging that much weight forward without support, assuming that it would flex the receiver. However, my smith said the solid bottom 40x action could easily support the weight. He was apparently correct.
The 6.5x284 barrel is a fluted 28" #7 contour. The gunsmith suggested fully floating the barrel forward of the recoil lug. I was concerned about hanging that much weight forward without support, assuming that it would flex the receiver. However, my smith said the solid bottom 40x action could easily support the weight. He was apparently correct.
I can fill in some blanks on the 40XC. They were made for Highpower Rifle Competition. As mentioned above, they came with clip slots for loading for rapid fire. Earlier 40-XB were also used for highpower and came with clip slots. The 40-X rifles never really took hold for highpower rifle because they didn't feed or cycle as slick as the Winchester M70. To my knowledge, they 40-XC's weren't produced for the Army for Cross the Course use. Although I believe Gary Anderson shot a Remington for 300M International Competition. Albany Mountain...is it possible you have Anderson's rifle?
Winchester produced an M70 International Army Match that was used in CISM competition and those are collectible and somewhat valuable. Remington 40-XC, not so much. The XC's initially came with Wood (Birch I believe) stocks, but later came with McMillan Kevlar or Fiberglass stocks.Re the 40-X coming in a long action version. I've never seen or heard of one and last I spoke to the custom shop, they had never produced one. I'd like to see a pic as well. When German Salazar wanted to put together a prone gun in 30-06 to match his 308, he had to use a M700 because the custom shop said "no go". I have a 40-X prone gun in 7 Rem Mag. It's a solid bottom and it's definitely a short action. No problem ejecting fired cases, but ejecting live rounds takes a bit more doing. It's been back to the custom shop for a new barrel and they screwed on a Hart.
Re the 40-X coming off the same line as the 700's. Maybe so, but at one time the 40-X came with a 1/2" accuracy guarantee for certain calibers. The 40-XBR was given special treatment and the receiver markings were etched instead of roll stamped because of the potential for distorting the receiver. You have to remember that Mike Walker was a big presence at Remington and he was a big benchrest guy that drove the 22 and 6BR, Remington Benchrest Bullets, BR Primers and the Remington BR Scopes.
Finally Warren Page gained access to the Remington Custom Shop test records encompassing hundreds of 40X rifles test groups. At that time, the 40X's in 222 Rem AVERAGED 0.363 inches, the 222 Rem Mag groups AVERAGED 0.387 inches and the 223's...0.400"...Hardly what I'd expect from a run of the mill Remington 700.
butchlambert
Site $$ Sponsor
Chris, Mike Walker and Jimmy Stekl both told me the 40X receivers were pulled off the 700 line. The accuracy came from the barrels, not the receivers.I can fill in some blanks on the 40XC. They were made for Highpower Rifle Competition. As mentioned above, they came with clip slots for loading for rapid fire. Earlier 40-XB were also used for highpower and came with clip slots. The 40-X rifles never really took hold for highpower rifle because they didn't feed or cycle as slick as the Winchester M70. To my knowledge, they 40-XC's weren't produced for the Army for Cross the Course use. Although I believe Gary Anderson shot a Remington for 300M International Competition. Albany Mountain...is it possible you have Anderson's rifle?
Re the 40-X coming in a long action version. I've never seen or heard of one and last I spoke to the custom shop, they had never produced one. I'd like to see a pic as well. When German Salazar wanted to put together a prone gun in 30-06 to match his 308, he had to use a M700 because the custom shop said "no go". I have a 40-X prone gun in 7 Rem Mag. It's a solid bottom and it's definitely a short action. No problem ejecting fired cases, but ejecting live rounds takes a bit more doing. It's been back to the custom shop for a new barrel and they screwed on a Hart.
Re the 40-X coming off the same line as the 700's. Maybe so, but at one time the 40-X came with a 1/2" accuracy guarantee for certain calibers. The 40-XBR was given special treatment and the receiver markings were etched instead of roll stamped because of the potential for distorting the receiver. You have to remember that Mike Walker was a big presence at Remington and he was a big benchrest guy that drove the 22 and 6BR, Remington Benchrest Bullets, BR Primers and the Remington BR Scopes.
Finally Warren Page gained access to the Remington Custom Shop test records encompassing hundreds of 40X rifles test groups. At that time, the 40X's in 222 Rem AVERAGED 0.363 inches, the 222 Rem Mag groups AVERAGED 0.387 inches and the 223's...0.400"...Hardly what I'd expect from a run of the mill Remington 700.
Unless you are discounting the 700 Varmint HB models from the '70's-'80's from run of the mill offerings, I had a .222 in that flavor that easily bettered that average, bone stock, factory set trigger, and true 5 shot groups at a true 100 yards....it is the rifle that got me into Benchrest comp. Back around 1983 I tried to order a 40 XBBR but the local Rem. salesman claimed the plant was on strike and could not take my order. In hindsight it was a blessing because IMHO they were overpriced and not built with the latest innovations in the Benchrest game at the time. I ended up with Bat and Kelbly actions instead.
Have y’all noticed examples though, where 40X bolts and action bodies aren’t exactly the same diameter as 700’s? I have noticed some differences between my own, but I haven’t seen much between all my 700’s as a group, and my 40x’s.
Dusty Stevens
Shiner
Ive seen some that look like the body has been cenerless ground or sanded
Right Dusty. I wonder if the custom shop guys took extra steps like these with them, or some of them, and I wonder if they were constrained a bit about shop secrets.
I have to keep in mind that what looks like a twin in the safe, from the run of 40-X’s, spanning nearly the length of two full consecutive careers, can be its granddaddy. Probably incremental production preferences came and went over that long period.
Dusty Stevens
Shiner
The insides are still the same as the 700 from that same generation. There are no magical 40x actions floating around. None of the workers were in there after hours going above and beyond
jackieschmidt
Gold $$ Contributor
My first Benchrest Rifle was built on a 40x back in 1995
I bought a 40x RangeMaster in 25/06 from an estate sale. It was solid bottom and looked brand new. I sent it to a old gentleman Gunsmith in East Houston named Wayne Barnett.
He installed a PacNor barrel in 6BR. I shot it for about a year, figured out how to do my own work, then shot it in 25BR with a 13 twist Shilen. In 1998 I bought my first Farley, and went to the 6PPC.
I finally decided to true up the action, and was surprised how “out or true” it was. since then, I have trued several 700’s and one more 40x. IMO, Remington did nothing in the way of improving the 40x actions.
the finish on the action was really nice. A real dark blue, almost black, and like Dusty said, the OD appeared to be ground and polished.
I bought a 40x RangeMaster in 25/06 from an estate sale. It was solid bottom and looked brand new. I sent it to a old gentleman Gunsmith in East Houston named Wayne Barnett.
He installed a PacNor barrel in 6BR. I shot it for about a year, figured out how to do my own work, then shot it in 25BR with a 13 twist Shilen. In 1998 I bought my first Farley, and went to the 6PPC.
I finally decided to true up the action, and was surprised how “out or true” it was. since then, I have trued several 700’s and one more 40x. IMO, Remington did nothing in the way of improving the 40x actions.
the finish on the action was really nice. A real dark blue, almost black, and like Dusty said, the OD appeared to be ground and polished.
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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.
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.
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