Questions on new to me 7 Remmington Mag

[Gibbs505]

I acquired this in a trade recently and replaced the rear action bolt with the proper mauser bolt. It is a FN mauser with a new barrel in 7 Rem Mag.

Took it out shooting and, after getting the scope lined up, ok I kept going the worng direction a couple of times! But I got it sorted out! I am getting groups in the 1" to 2" range and figured that I could do better then that so I checked the bedding.

I have never seen this before. I don't want to mess with it to much, just tidy it up and try some hand loads that have worked in the past. Here are a couple more shots of the bedding. It is tight to the barrel all the way down the channel.

I also want to refinish the stock but I am not sure of the finish. Here are a couple of photos and I would appreciate any feed back. looks like a good winter project here!

 

[Why not?]

Well, the stock is obviously an original military that has been refinished. What is it that you want to know?

Ted

 

[Gibbs505]

What do you think the finish is? How would I remove it to refinish the stock?

Also what do you think the black coating used in the bedding is?

 

[303carbine]

What do you think the finish is? How would I remove it to refinish the stock?

Also what do you think the black coating used in the bedding is?

The black coating looks like spray on truck bedliner,I would free float the barrel and do a proper epoxy bedding job under and behind the recoil lug.
As for refinishing the stock, I would use 0000 steel wool to clean up the wood and after proper cleaning I would use about 4 coats of Birchwood Casey Tru-Oil. Let each coat dry for 12 hours and gently use the same 0000 steel wool to knock down any small runs. The more coats of the Tru-Oil you get on it, the better it looks.

 

[blargon]

Too much work, dump the stock and get a laminate.

 

[gitrdun]

Too much work, dump the stock and get a laminate.

What? Are you kidding? that is a geourgous piece of wood. Nothing like spending the non-hunting season like refinishing and tweeking an old workhorse like that to waste away the long winter nights and have something to be proud of.

As far as refinishing the stock, there are others here that are much more knowledgeable than I. As far as the inletting, I agree that looks like truck bedliner, it doesn't look like a bedding job. I would get rid of all of it, do a proper bedding job on the action and free float the barrel. I kinda wish that I had it as a project to tell you the truth. Add a nice blueing job, she'll be a real beauty.

 

[Gibbs505]

I wondered at the bedliner possibilty when I saw it! That was a surprise I tell you. I really love the wood to, no way I am going to let that go right now!

Thanks for the info!

 

[Why not?]

Gibbs, is the bedding rock hard or softer than that? If it is hard, it is probably Marine-Tex, very good stuff for bedding rifles.

If it is M-Tex, all you need to do is carefully bed it again with a skim coat and it will be good.

Ted

 

[Dustin]

get rid of the stuff below the recoil lug though

 

[blargon]

What? Are you kidding? that is a geourgous piece of wood. Nothing like spending the non-hunting season like refinishing and tweeking an old workhorse like that to waste away the long winter nights and have something to be proud of.

I meant a lot of work to get the bedliner out of the channel, but if you can leave it and skim bed the action, giver!

BTW its always hunting season.

 

[Gibbs505]

Gibbs, is the bedding rock hard or softer than that? If it is hard, it is probably Marine-Tex, very good stuff for bedding rifles.

If it is M-Tex, all you need to do is carefully bed it again with a skim coat and it will be good.

Ted

It is hard and in contact with the barrel all the way to the end of the channel.

 

[Why not?]

It is hard and in contact with the barrel all the way to the end of the channel.

Gibbs, I have a number of rifles that I have full-length bedded, because they shoot better that way.

If you want to try and see if it shoots better free-floated before doing anything else, here's a quick way to test. Just cut a piece of an old credit card, or other firm material, to fit in the stock, under the receiver, behind the recoil lug. Put it in, reassemble, and try shooting it with that piece of plastic in there. This is very easy to do with a Mauser.

It will not be truly free-floated, but will give you an idea if the rifle shoots better with the barrel raised out of the stock a bit. Some will, some won't. I have a friend who did this with a 25-06, and it shot so good he never took the rifle apart again.

Ted