Convert current rifles to precision rifle for marksmanship training? or Build new?

GrahamSavage99

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Looking for some advice or opinions on some potential changes to my gun collection. I’ve been a shooter for a while, decent collection of mostly hunting rifles, handloader and left handed so somewhat limited in compatible guns.

My dilemma is this. I’m looking to add a “precision rifle” to my collection, or adapt one from my collection. I have a very accurate Browning A bolt medallion Mark I in 7mm rem mag. Beautiful hunting rifle, weights 8.2 lbs with Leupold Vari X II 3-9X40. I’ve got groups as small as about .75MOA at 200 yards with Hornady 162 gr A Max.

I also have a Custom Remington Model 700 in 22-250 Remington. I bought this used about 15yrs ago from another lefty who bought if from the original owner who customize it. It is a long action (300 Weatherby length not just 30-06 length) with hinged floor plate, 22” Shilen stainless steel barrel, and a beautiful full round bench rest type stock, Fixed 12X Redfield scope. Hair trigger. It shoots OK, but I think it’s getting a bit worn as the lands are tough to find and I can seat bullets out to 2.450” without touching. Not a bad shooter but barrel is likely past it’s prime. I used it for paper and prairie dogs mostly to about 300 yards where it was good. It doesn’t feed more than single shot as the magazine follower “dives” nose down when chambering from the too long magazine.

I also have a Browning A bolt Mark II Micro Hunter in 7mm 08 Rem as my main hunting rifle. Fair to OK shooter, at maybe 1.5 MOA at 100 yds, 20” barrel, Leupold VX III 2.5-8x36mm scope. I’m not happy with that accuracy and would like to do something about that regardless of other rifle changes.

Anyway, I would like to do some casual shooting at long range (access to 500 meter range) and maybe stretch things to 1000 at a few other locations I infrequently have access to. Likely gongs, paper, prone, bipod, mostly to build skills, but potentially to move to competition at a later date if I get buried into it.

So, getting to my question. I hardly use the 22-250 as it is. It’s not as accurate as I would want for punching paper, it’s a bit shot out, and it won’t stretch to long range very well (1-12” twist) and the action is too long for the 22-250, I moved away from prairie dog fields, and I don’t anticipate shooting it much or at all. Do I sell it outright as it is? Get rid of the barrel and thread on a 6.5 Creedmoor barrel and us it like that? It’s not an ideal setup with the long action, but I already own the rifle, and don’t use it as is. Do I start fresh with a new precision rifle build? Do I get a good barrel, see if I like shooting that style of shooting, and remove the new 6.5 mm barrel at a later date and put it on a short Remington action? I like long barrels with fast twists for a 6.5 so would be 26 or 28” long with 1-8” twist.
Could the barrel be rethreaded for a different action other than Remington at a later date.

Or do I still get rid of the 22-250 and use my very accurate 7mm Rem Mag, potentially shooting out the barrel, burning lots of powder and pounding out my shoulder with more gun than I need for the application? Or do I accurize the 7mm-08 and shot the crap out of it and carry on with the rifles I have?

This is kind of a “first world problem” as a few guns currently that will suit the purpose maybe with some scope changes and some fiddling with reloads, glass bedding, trigger work etc. I’d be willing to put up to $1500 toward solving my “problem”. But would prefer about $800 or less.

Currently leaning toward a new 6.5 Creedmoor barrel on the Remington 700 without any other changes. Live in Saskatchewan, so would prefer to find a local gunsmith (Saskatoon or Prince Albert area ideal) to thread a Ted Giallard barrel on.
Lots of chewing to this bone, so have at it. All ideas and opinions appreciated.

Thanks,
Graham
 
If it were me I'd get a new barrelled action in 6.5 Creed in the flavour of your choice (R700, Tikka, Howa) and drop it in a chassis and with judicious shopping around, you'll be at about $1500. Steal the scope off your 22-250 until you can afford a new scope for your new rig and try and sell off the 22-250 in the meanwhile. I wouldn't mess around with your hunting rifles (or shoot out the 7mm rem mag) and it seems your 22-250 is kinda extraneous at this point and trying to get a SA caliber to feed reliably out of your LA action just seems kinda pointless. If you're set on keeping the R700 and you reload, maybe have it rebarrelled in 6.5x55 AI to take advantage of your long action (if the bolt face works).
 
For LR learning and fun, just take out your 7RM and launch some lead. The 162gr Amax will easily shoot out to 1mile and give you tons of exposure to ballistics and drop. Spend the funds on a scope with the features that make LR shooting easier and transferable to whichever game you want to play in the future.

If you want to play a precision shooting GAME, then I would sell what you don't want/need and fund a set up that is specific to that game to allow for best success. There is a huge range of getting the right 'kit' and we can discuss where you want to fit in this range but game specific stuff just makes life easier. It really doesn't need to cost much but it can.

Just a note, that any type of competitive shooting requires practise so investigate and decide if you have a room to allow for that in your budget.

Also have a look at the rimfire versions of the precision game. Cost of entry is a fraction of centerfire as is shooting... maybe that is a way to get going????

Good luck... but the main thing is stop thinking about it. Make a plan and go shoot.. there is a huge amount of stuff to learn, there is no one right answer and whatever you choose now is likey to change as you gain experience. So just get started.

Jerry
 
Thanks Guys.

Good opinions both. I think the 22-250 is out the door build a fund for future guns. I'll likely use the other stuff to play around while I figure out what I want to use long term. I have thought about practice costs, but it hadn't occurred to me to use rimfire to play around with. I've an accurate Ruger 10/22 with a heavy barrel that drives tacks.

More exploring, thanks for the ideas.

Graham
 
There is a lot of rimfire competitions starting up all across Canada. Look up Facebook CRPS.. from there, see the link for the Outlaw 22 matches

For lots of ideas on what this is, you can also look up NRL22 which is in the US and the genesis of much of these matches.

Tons of fun and the 10/22 will do just fine. The growth here is big because of the cost and ease of entry. most already have a suitable rifle and can just go out and have a great day of fun.

All the skills and strategies used are the same as centerfire matches. In fact in CRPS, the effective distances you will need to compete are longer then most centerfire matches. Not as expensive but equally challenging.

Give it a try

Jerry
 
I would personally sell one or more of your unused rifles and pick something up used on the EE. Seems a lot of guys go down the track of building something custom or semi custom, only to run out of funds and not be able to actually shoot the thing like Jerry suggests. I find that can lead to some pretty awesome deals on lightly used (if at all) PR builds. If you can get decent coin for your 22-250c that’ll put you in the low $2000’s for total budget (say $700 for the 22-250 plus your $1500 budget) and there are lots of good deals to be had at that price point. Even it’s its say just a used CTR in a chassis or something along those lines.
 
Well Graham, You didn't really explain how these rifles are currently configured and you should take that into consideration... So you don't throw the baby out with the bath water.

Changing a barrel is no big thing and it represents 95 percent of the end result.

That 22-250 already has the bolt face for 6.5 Creed so you are just a barrel away from what you want. I can recommend a barrel fitter that wont take you to the cleaners.

You can also purchase a barrel vise and action wrench and swap the barrels back and fourth any time you want, so you can still re-visit your 22.250 from time to time.

It literally takes 2 minutes to change a barrel.... I've done it many times.

you can buy both the action wrench and barrel vice from Bob at Viper Bench Rest... Here's a link

He will even ship to "Canukistan" (his words)

http://www.viperbench-rest.com/f_class_feet_for_the_viper.htm
 
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I’m also a lefty and have had a few rifles built,for target shooting in prone position I shoot right handed guns I find it more comfortable. My 2 cents is pick up a savage 12 in 308 when they go on sale and spend the rest of the budget on glass and ammo.also go and have the barrel on the 22250 set back by a gunsmith and shoot that one too.
 
A bit interested in this barrel swap idea. I know shooters routinely swap barrels on the Savage rifles, but are Rem 700 as easy with their fixed bolt face. Have to get "go" and "no go" gauges to set headspace for this to be a safe option. Is it really just as easy as screwing off one barrel then the other? Remove the stock, clamp the barrel in the vice then grab a hold of the recoil lug and spin it off? Used to know this as a friend told me about the Savage barrel swap, but have since forgotten the details.
 
A bit interested in this barrel swap idea. I know shooters routinely swap barrels on the Savage rifles, but are Rem 700 as easy with their fixed bolt face. Have to get "go" and "no go" gauges to set headspace for this to be a safe option. Is it really just as easy as screwing off one barrel then the other? Remove the stock, clamp the barrel in the vice then grab a hold of the recoil lug and spin it off? Used to know this as a friend told me about the Savage barrel swap, but have since forgotten the details.

If you have your gunsmith chamber multiple barrels for your Rem 700, swapping barrels is as easy as clamping the barrel in a barrel vise and using an action wrench to unscrew the action from the barrel then screwing another barrel on and torquing it down. Getting the recoil lug pinned also helps. I torque all of mine to the the torque rating my gunsmith tells me and also witness mark the barrel and action to see where I'm at quickly a a glance. I run multiple barrels/bolts/bolt heads on most of my rifles (R700s, Nucleus, Defiance). If you get the feed ramp on your R700 notched you can run everything from .223 up to short mags.
 
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