Accurizing a 700 Action

FTRRookie

FTRRookie

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Given the uncertainty around the status of Robertson Composites I've decided to shelve my planned F-TR build for another year and instead look in to getting some work done to my existing F-TR rifle.

The action and barrel are both factory Remington (700 SPS-V LH, .308) and they shoot pretty well (groups as small as 0.8" at 300y on good days) but I can't help but think that having the action accurized and a match grade barrel might serve as an interim (and more wife friendly) step before going to a full custom rifle.

Can anyone recommend someone in Eastern Ontario to do this work? Anywhere in Ontario would be my second choice, or anywhere in Canada as a third. Not that I have an aversion to sending it east or west, I'd just prefer to support someone local if possible, assuming the quality of work is good.

Thanks,

Scott
 
Craig Douglas....Saskatoon.....his specialty.....or get a barrel from Ted gaillard in St. Brieux and he can do the 'smithing......both are the Bee's Knees.
 
I have a custom tactical rifle built by Casey at Tactical Ordnance who are, I believe, in Ontario (905 area code). The workmanship is excellent. May be a viable choice for you.
 
Talk to Sean at North Shore Barrels. He is in Sudbury, and goes by the handle Jaun Valdez here on CGN. He just did a build for me on a Rem 700 action. First groups down the pipe showed some great potential. See my write up on this rifle, titled "New Precision rifle in the house". This is my second build from Sean, the first one was a shooter too.
 
FTRRookie said:
The action and barrel are both factory Remington (700 SPS-V LH, .308) and they shoot pretty well (groups as small as 0.8" at 300y on good days) but I can't help but think that having the action accurized and a match grade barrel might serve as an interim (and more wife friendly) step before going to a full custom rifle.

Thanks,

Scott
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You have extremly accurate (1/4 moa) rifle allready, best barrel, scope, best gunsmith and all the money in the world might not match the rifle you have allready ....
 
Thanks!

Thanks to everyone who took the time to respond.

I've decided to go ahead and work with Sean (juanvaldez) from North Shore Barrels, and have ordered a Broughton 5C 10 twist through Sean to spin on to it once it's done.

It's going to be a long couple of months of waiting, but I'm sure it'll be worth it.

Cheers,

Scott
 
Kelly Timoffee said:
I wouldn't mess with that rifle.

She is good to go with that type of accuracy.Some custom build rigs don't do that!

If it ain't broke!
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I know some people are going to think I'm crazy for messing with it, and believe me it was not an easy decision to make. I am aware that I am probably one of the lucky ones that got a factory barrel that can really shoot, but I've put well over 1000 rounds through this rifle and there were some things I wasn't happy with for the way I'm using it (F-Class). For every 1" group I shot at 300m I probably had another in the 2.5" range, which I know is not good enough to compete with the guys I shoot with at Connaught on a regular basis.

The main reasons for doing this were that I was finding my groups would open up significantly during shoots, I think in part due to the thinner profile barrel heating up, and I knew I was giving up velocity with the 26" pipe that I needed to stay supersonic out past 900m. The accuracy loads I had put together (168 VLD/44gr Varget and 185VLD/47.3gr RL17) were great at 300m, but they started to open up past 700m.

I realize going in to this that I may ultimately end up with a rifle that doesn't shoot as well as what I have now does on occasion, but I'm willing to risk it if what I end up with is more consistent overall. And I'll always have this to remind me:

best300m.jpg



Scott
 
Just a thought, and it may be way off base, but..........the profile of an SPS-V isn't all that bad (roughly .850 at the muzzle IIRC). Could your expanding groups be caused by barrel fouling and not heat? Maybe having the barrel lapped or treating it with something like Dyna-Bore Coat would help the situation some??

I have an SPS-V as well. It shoots really well, but it will start to open up around the 80-100 round mark. It will hold it's accuracy through a full 17 round relay with a clean barrel so I always thought it was a fouling issue as opposed to heat. I am going to try UBC this year and see if it helps. Just food for thought.
 
chemo said:
another .25moa factory rem 700:rolleyes:
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They do exist! On a good day. With no wind. And a little bit of luck. ;)

You will never hear me claim this as a .25 MOA gun simply because I can't tell you when it'll shoot that well again, which is part of my problem!

If I'm being totally honest I'd say it's consistently between 0.5 and 0.75 MOA, which is great for a factory gun, but I'd like to actually be able to keep up with the customs, and that's 0.5 MOA to start.
 
If you are bound and determined to spend money, upgrade your stock first. Those tupperware stocks are so springy that you can adjust aim by bending the rifle. A stock is more than a handle.

Later, you can make your submission for a new barrel to the Minster of war and finance and call it "repairs". The line between custom building and repairs is very thin, but it wouldn't hurt to practice in a mirror first.;)
 
That is good advice Dogleg, thank you.

I probably should have mentioned that I've already done most of the other things besides the action and the barrel over the last year. Robertson Composites stock, Timney trigger, and a Sightron SIII 8-32 on TPS rings and a Nightforce base. The only things I haven't touched yet are the action and the barrel!

I couldn't believe how much of a difference the stock made, both in accuracy and in the feel of the gun in general. You're absolutely right abouth the factory stock; I could feel it flexing when I loaded the bipod and that hardly inspired confidence. I am very happy to say that the Robertson TAC is rock solid.
 
FTRRookie said:
That is good advice Dogleg, thank you.

I probably should have mentioned that I've already done most of the other things besides the action and the barrel over the last year. Robertson Composites stock, Timney trigger, and a Sightron SIII 8-32 on TPS rings and a Nightforce base. The only things I haven't touched yet are the action and the barrel!

I couldn't believe how much of a difference the stock made, both in accuracy and in the feel of the gun in general. You're absolutely right abouth the factory stock; I could feel it flexing when I loaded the bipod and that hardly inspired confidence. I am very happy to say that the Robertson TAC is rock solid.
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In that case buy the barrel. You only live once.
 
Remington Rifles

chemo said:
another .25moa factory rem 700:rolleyes:
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Chemo don,t know why you rollyour eyes at Remingtons, I have seen FTR Rookie shoot his 700 and he is not said anything but the truth the way his gun shoots. I have shot with him.

I have a few Remingtons that on a good day will shoot .250" at 100y
Rem 700 HV 222 rem ( 53gr Sierra Match kings) factory triggger at 1lb.
Rem 700 XCR Tactical 223rem (69gr Sierras) Jewell trigger.both with 24x scope
I also have a 3006 Rem 700 that will shoot very small groups, and a 30s Remington thats over 80 years old that shoots 1/2" as long as nut behind bolt is okay



I have a 722Rem 40x RF that can beat a lot of shooters on a Sat at range at 100yards, Seen this 40x shoot 4 shots in .204" the 5th went out making it a .417" group and thats not at 50y it was at 100y



better think twice before poo-pooing all the Remingtons
 
While we're recommending parts and people; Henry Remple in Calgary does excellent work and builds most of the local F-Class rigs, and Ron Smith of Wimborne AB makes superb Gain Twist barrels, which yield excellent accuracy, and usually greater velocity than a standard twist barrel.
 
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