My first precision rifle, questions

cam1936

cam1936

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Central Alberta
Well I want to get into some precision target shooting but didn’t want to drop a whole lot of money to start with. So my plan is to pay for upgrades as I go. I bought a 700 sps varmint in .223 and threw on a Bushnell 3200 10x40 mil-dot with tactical knobs. This setup can shoot far better than me for the moment but I do want some upgrades and need some help. The first thing I want is a new stock. I was thinking HS precision but I need to know where to get them and which ones will fit my rifle. The site says “fits BDL” or something like that. Will any of the stocks for a SA Remington fit my rifle? What about the heavy barrel?

Also, in the not so distant future, (although I plan on putting many rounds down range before this) I want a new barrel. Something with a faster twist. Any suggestions for a good barrel that doesn’t take months to order in and costs an arm and a leg? Finally, does anyone know of any ranges in the Calgary are I can join that I can shot out to 500 yards or so? Is the one out by homestead the only one? How hard is it to join the club that shoots on that long range? I want to shoot off a bipod and not have a whole benchrest setup or anything.
 
make sure you get a stock with a barrel channel that will accomodate a heavy replacement barrel. Any stock for a Remington SA 700 BDL will work.

As for the barrel, unless someone happens to have your caliber, twist, profile and material in stock, ordering will take a few months.
 
I suggest you try before you buy..... if you see someone at the range with something you might like, ask them to let you see/try it.

I know guys that have spent 1000 on a stock to find they hate it.

And by the sound of it your starting out with a light weight set up and your trying to build a heavy weight,,,,,, be prepared for the cost of replacing everything piece by piece.
I found it's no cheaper doing it piece by piece it just makes it so you pay for it slower and there'd usually more work involved, laff.

Contact someone in the know in Alberta..... try some of the guys from Alberta tactical rifle maybe,,,, see where they shoot.

M.
 
Watch the EE for a take-off HS stock, from a varmint or police model rifle.
I think there is one listed now. One of these take-off stocks could be a "best buy".
I don't know what the twist is in your current barrel. If it is 1:12, that does limit the weight of the bullet you can use. It will be fine to at least 300, further if it is not too windy. There is absolutely no harm in learning to read the wind. I wouldn't rush out to replace the barrel though. Shoot your rifle. Shoot it some more. Put some money into a loading setup, if you don't have one. Do some more shooting. Down the road, if you decide you want to shoot the .223 at extended ranges, rebarrel with a 1:8" barrel.
 
I'd shoot it for a season, talk to folks, and feel up gear before I rushed out with the credit card, (especially for something like a barrel).

Myself, I started with a 700P (so I had the stock already), and a Nikon Buckmaster 4-14 Mildot. After the first year I upgraded the trigger (Jewel). After second, I upgraded the mounts and rings (farrel -20 and Burris Tactical). It'll shoot all day at pretty much any range I want out to 1000 yards.

Basically I shoot in the summer and then modify in the winter when I don't mind not having my gun handy for months.

Shoot different stuff through the barrel with a little bit of scientific method to see what it likes - my 1:12 twist shoots 175s really nicely. I figure I don't have to think about rebarreling for 10K rounds or so. And that should take me about 10 years at my current rate.
 
Yeah I'm not rushing to do any of this. Just want to slowly upgrade. On a side note does anyone know when Remington started shipping rifles with the X-mark pro adjustable? That trigger is really nice, don't see myself replacing it.
 
You will want to scrap that trigger down the road, but not before you upgrade the barrel, optics and stock. You prolly don't want an 8oz trigger but a crisp 20oz is better than the min 2.5 lbs that the Xmarks are. I like the old remmy triggers much better. You could get a smith to work them down to 20oz or so.

Xmarks have been shipping for about 2 years now. I have 2, don't like either of them myself. Even the Xmark that was tuned and worked by a smith is still chunky. I'k looking into a Shielen but might just get a Jewel and be done with it.
 
the try and buy is a great idea.what would be really cool is if one of are stock suppliers would let you "rent"a stock to try it out.then once you find one you like, they could take the rental fee off the price of the stock if you buy from them.hay lets start a company and call it STOCKBUSTER:p
 
If your on a budget remember how much you spend is NOT important, but how much you WASTE is !!
Buying junk you,ll upgrade again or not like is a waste, spending a little more on something that WILL work and you,ll keep is a smart move.

M.
 
Well I took it to the range and put 80 rnds through it today. Out of the 4 groups I shot at 200 two of them were just under 1" (3 shot). I never expected that kind of accuracy considering I'm not an experienced shooter and I was using cheap UMC ammo. My other groups were generally pretty good except for the odd flyer that I called before I even saw the target.

1/2 moa, I'm north of Cochrane but not by much, before Cremona. A ways off from RMH.
 
Consider these upgrades- proper bedding of that action in the stock. That will improve your consistency an enormous amount.

Lighten the trigger to what you feel is nice. there is nothing wrong with a 2 to 2.5lbs trigger for accuracy work. Just ask the palma shooters.

If you are handy with woodworking, you can modify the stock you have now with a bit of wood, epoxy and bondo. You can get some really nice results for a few dollars. A bit of paint and you have a custom stock on the cheap.

Next is learn to reload, I am suspecting that you can get this rifle shooting in the 1/2 min range which is very fine accuracy in anyones book for a factory rifle.

With 55 to 60gr Amax or Bergers, you can shoot out to 1000m without issue. Yes, I have seen it done and they were very accurate at that range. A fast twist pushing 75 or 80gr Amax/Bergers is so much easier to dope in the winds at that range but that is a substantial investment.

Or you could sell your Rem, get a Savage HB with the stock you like and enjoy shooting 75gr AMax/Bergers as far as your scope will allow.

Big one is start making good ammo AFTER the rifle has been bedded and you will likely find a great platform to learn with.

Jerry
 
Bipod with my hand as a rear rest. Not all my groups were 1/2 MOA, I expect the consistancy to come with more trigger time and a better and properly bedded stock.
 
Since the subject is Rem. 700, I like to tell you about mine, it's a 1993, HB, 220 Swift, one of the first when Rem. "re-introduced" that calibre. It had one of those "what you mah call it" black stocks on it - first thing to go, traded a friend that "stock" for a wooden one, happier all ready. Pillar bedded the wood stock, free floated the barrel, de-glazed the finish and recut the checkering so much for the stock.

Topped the thing off with a Leupold Varmint style scope, the one with a high top turret.

Installed a single shot follower, titianium firing pin and an after market trigger that can be set to two oz., set mine at six oz. This unit does not like the heavier bullets a all but likes 50 gr and below just fine. I have several 100 yd. 5 shot targets where it is hard to see its not a hole in one.

Just some of my "upgrades" on my ground hog safari rifle. FWIW --- John303.
 
Amen, Ice-Pick the muzzle blast is someting to experience - very SHARP. A couple of things I forgot to mention, I put one of those bubble level thingys on the scope but don't us it much. Also bought a muzzle crowning tool and made sure the muzzle was square. --- John303.
 
Cam1936, you are a stone's throw from the Homestead range. There is a very good bunch of active shooters there and they have some excellent F-Class sessions there. I'd suggest getting a hold of "Inspector" on CGN here and touching base with him about coming out to some of their shoots or their clinics.

You are right in that there is no substitute for trigger time, but you will also get a good feel for what accompished shooters want and need in terms of equipment and upgrades when you spend some time with them.

This forum thing is good fun, but get out and shoot with people that know what they're doing too. Remember what you paid here for your advice :)
 
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