Rem 700 SPS factory barrel quality
- Thread starter Riflechair
- Start date
if the barrel on an SPS is "crapola"..then so is the barrel on very other current 700...I'll never believe they run a separate hammer forging machine and finishing line for the SPS barrels.....I've installed a few SPS barrels onto other actions and they are fine.
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These barrels are being rejected after being carefully tested? Or is it just being assumed that the barrels will not shoot well?
Some factory barrels shoot very well indeed.
A quality custom barrel, carefully installed by a competent 'smith is likely going to outshoot many or most factory barrels.
Some factory barrels shoot very well indeed.
A quality custom barrel, carefully installed by a competent 'smith is likely going to outshoot many or most factory barrels.
Wild_Thing
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- In the thick of it!
I think some folks buy the 700 SPS for just the action then flog the rest off. Remington in general has QC issues, nothing new though. Circa '05, buddy picked up a then NIB 700 Ti in .260. He never got it to shoot well and had it examined at his 'smith. Turned out it had a crooked chamber.
Remington actions not being sold separately, it is very common for a complete rifle to be purchased, disassembled for the action, and the parts sold to offset the cost.
If a person is building up a custom rifle with premium barrel, this makes sense. But I don't know that it is reasonable to automatically assume that a factory barrel is junk. I suppose it all depends on what the expectations are.
A friend has a rifle made up on a .308 700P, still with the factory barrel. Restocked, HS magazine system, Holland muzzle brake. It shoots really well, and is competitive in sniper competition. Would it be inherently more accurate with a custom barrel? Maybe. But the rifle can win matches as is. Once the factory barrel is shot out, it would be time for a custom. Might be just as competitive.
If a person is building up a custom rifle with premium barrel, this makes sense. But I don't know that it is reasonable to automatically assume that a factory barrel is junk. I suppose it all depends on what the expectations are.
A friend has a rifle made up on a .308 700P, still with the factory barrel. Restocked, HS magazine system, Holland muzzle brake. It shoots really well, and is competitive in sniper competition. Would it be inherently more accurate with a custom barrel? Maybe. But the rifle can win matches as is. Once the factory barrel is shot out, it would be time for a custom. Might be just as competitive.
You don't think that is possible?
They are 700 barrels on the inside just like any other. Guys, me included, are buying SPS's as an economical way to get an action. So yes barrels are being sold and it's probably safe to assume there are more new SPS barrels sold than most. But not because of quality.
I can certainly relate to the 700 Ti issue as my 260 Ti had the exact same problem. It wouldn't shoot any weight bullet to any degree of reasonable accuracy, and believe me I tried every combination affordable.
Finally, I called Bill Leeper and he agreed to check it out....best move I ever made. His response was that the chamber was eccentric to the bore and also the rifling was rippled.
That unfortunately soured me regarding the 260 so I agreed upon his suggestion to re-barrel it to the wildcat 270-08.
On went a Shilen barrel and Bill re-bedded and tuned up the trigger, etc.
Now I have the slickest little tack-driver in the safe.
I didn't intent to hi-jack the SPS thread....had one of those too, and it was an awesome shooter....
I've seen it......about 10 years ago I bought a slightly used Model Seven in 308 from Wholesale Sports in Edmonton...this thing shot factory ammo into 3 to 4 inches and handloads into 2-3 inches at best......upon investigating it was easy to see that that the neck and throat area of the chamber were not concentric to the bore.....it can and does happen...and they took the rifle back....
A friend of mine has a SPS 300 Win Mag [Blue] that shoots the 200 Speer into such nice groups that I think one would be hard pressed to do much better with any barrel. I agree with those posting that the actions are what many are after, and simply buy the gun for that. The barrel gets removed and flogged, most often a decent factory barrel with no issues. Eagleye.
You trolling for me?
I was serious when I said I'd like to see that.
Sure you were.
And how exactly is he supposed to show you that?
The only Remingtons I have ever had problems with were the original Titanium and the newer Alaskan Ti.
The action on older model Titanium 700 functioned fine, but the barrel was ####. Never managed a decent group despite playing with bedding, shimming, tip pressure, loads, etc. Junked everything but the receiver and used it for a custom build. I know other guys that have the same model and never had a problem.
I had 5 different Alaskan Ti 700s pass through my hands and each one had significant flaws in machining and function. None of them fed or extracted rounds. Constant feed jams. If a round ever did feed, they jammed in the chamber and would not extract.
No complaints about the SPS, BDL, or CDL variants, sporter or tactical.
The action on older model Titanium 700 functioned fine, but the barrel was ####. Never managed a decent group despite playing with bedding, shimming, tip pressure, loads, etc. Junked everything but the receiver and used it for a custom build. I know other guys that have the same model and never had a problem.
I had 5 different Alaskan Ti 700s pass through my hands and each one had significant flaws in machining and function. None of them fed or extracted rounds. Constant feed jams. If a round ever did feed, they jammed in the chamber and would not extract.
No complaints about the SPS, BDL, or CDL variants, sporter or tactical.
Did I wrong you somewhere Chuck? Did I hurt your feelings? Let me remind you your opinion and observations mean #### to me. Have a nice day.
guncrazy-sako85
Member
- Location
- New Brunswick
Re 700 police barrel
Last year I bought a brand new Rem 700 police in 223 and I took it to the range the first time i was out and a friend noticed that my firing pin hole was over sized for the pin and also noticed that my cases were getting a nasty scratch from the chamber. So i sent it to Remington's warranty shop in Quebec On receiving it they called me and said that it had a bur in the chambering. They wanted to fix it so I told them I lost faith in that gun and i wanted it replaced not fixed they came back saying it was going to take a lot to fix it so they finally agreed on sending me a new rifle. which is what I currently have and it performs well. I got it now shooting 0.550 5 shot groups at 100 yards. And I went a half a grain each way after and got the exact same groups. It has a factory barrel on it. But has been fully Accurized and bedded.
As far as firing pin whole they said it was something to do with the tacticals ..so they won't get a stuck case in a hostile situation...bulls**t.... my new one is still over sized, but doesn't effect anything so far.
Last year I bought a brand new Rem 700 police in 223 and I took it to the range the first time i was out and a friend noticed that my firing pin hole was over sized for the pin and also noticed that my cases were getting a nasty scratch from the chamber. So i sent it to Remington's warranty shop in Quebec On receiving it they called me and said that it had a bur in the chambering. They wanted to fix it so I told them I lost faith in that gun and i wanted it replaced not fixed they came back saying it was going to take a lot to fix it so they finally agreed on sending me a new rifle. which is what I currently have and it performs well. I got it now shooting 0.550 5 shot groups at 100 yards. And I went a half a grain each way after and got the exact same groups. It has a factory barrel on it. But has been fully Accurized and bedded.
As far as firing pin whole they said it was something to do with the tacticals ..so they won't get a stuck case in a hostile situation...bulls**t.... my new one is still over sized, but doesn't effect anything so far.
Buying take-off barrels is close to not worth it to begin with. If it is brand new, unfired it's a lot easier to get someone to take a chance on it for a few bucks, but if it's been shot potential buyers are going to be wondering why it wasn't good enough for the last guy.
I do my own 'smithing, and have the necessary tools. Not a problem to fit a take-off and give it a trial. For a hunting rifle, a take-off will likely be just fine.
When a factory barrel is refitted, things can be tightened up a bit, and the muzzle recrowned.
When a factory barrel is refitted, things can be tightened up a bit, and the muzzle recrowned.
