What should I do to make my new gun better?

Bronco Boy

Bronco Boy

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I am the proud owner of a brand new Remington BDL 700 rifle. If I wanted to “tweak-it” for accuracy what could I have done?

Trigger?

Bedding?

Free Float the Barrel?
 
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Have the action bedded, the barrel floated, the trigger worked to 2.5 or 3 pounds, the scope mounted correctly and go shoot it. There will be nothing left to do other than work a load.
 
guntech said:
Have the action bedded, the barrel floated, the trigger worked to 2.5 or 3 pounds, the scope mounted correctly and go shoot it. There will be nothing left to do other than work a load.
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Thanks! Any place in the lower mainland you would recommend to do this work for me?
 
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Shoot it first. Do a trigger job(or adjust it) and work up a load. Then think about the bedding. Bedding you can do yourself with a minimum of fuss. Buy an Acraglas kit and follow the directions on the box.
Go here for a how-to for adjusting an M700 trigger. However, if you're in the least bit concerned about doing yourself, take it to a smithy. Just remember that good smithies are busy, busy, busy. Even a simple job can take lots of time.
http://www.quarterbore.com/library/articles/rem700trigger.html
 
sunray said:
Shoot it first. Do a trigger job(or adjust it) and work up a load. Then think about the bedding. Bedding you can do yourself with a minimum of fuss. Buy an Acraglas kit and follow the directions on the box.
Go here for a how-to for adjusting an M700 trigger. However, if you're in the least bit concerned about doing yourself, take it to a smithy. Just remember that good smithies are busy, busy, busy. Even a simple job can take lots of time.
http://www.quarterbore.com/library/articles/rem700trigger.html
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These are excellent suggestions. If you don't carefully shoot it before you change anything, you will not have a baseline against which to measure any "improvements".
 
tiriaq said:
These are excellent suggestions. If you don't carefully shoot it before you change anything, you will not have a baseline against which to measure any "improvements".
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Yes they are thanks a bunch.

Typically how much of an improvement will be noticed with a trigger job and bedding?
 
Since about 1970 I have glass bedded and free floated barrels and done the triggers on hundreds of new rifles that were never fired.

... Those owners were quite familiar with the concept - do it and get it over with as then you have nothing to do but work a load.... no time wasted thinking could it do better, or should I do that or not...

Owners choice here... but it is a rare factory rifle that can not be improved on with a good bedding job.
 
Woodsman said:
So what have you determined is wrong with it as is?
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Nothing is "wrong" with it as is and it shoots OK. I simply want it to shoot the best it can within reason. Spending a bit to float the barrel, do the trigger and bed the action seems very reasonable for increased accuracy. Will these modifications make any difference in a real world hunting scenario? Probably not but I want them done anyways; just the kind of SOB I am.
 
Bronco Boy said:
Yes they are thanks a bunch.

Typically how much of an improvement will be noticed with a trigger job and bedding?
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Depends on the rifle. Sometimes there is no improvement. Remember the most important part thats contributes to accuracy is the barrel itself. Most times you cannot do anything to that short of replacing the barrel.
 
guntech said:
Since about 1970 I have glass bedded and free floated barrels and done the triggers on hundreds of new rifles that were never fired.

... Those owners were quite familiar with the concept - do it and get it over with as then you have nothing to do but work a load.... no time wasted thinking could it do better, or should I do that or not...

Owners choice here... but it is a rare factory rifle that can not be improved on with a good bedding job.
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I agree Dennis. Accuracy is about tolerances. If you minimize the tolerances right from the get go, you wont need to be second guessing your rifle's performance. A little money up front will minimize needless cost and tweaking, to say nothing of frustration, trying to solve a problem that was not ammo related. What is your piece of mind worth?
 
Home Shop Machinist magazine runs a series called The Gunsmith Machinist by Steve Acker.

Dig around online and find the Village Press website and take a look at the book they have compiled of his articles. He runs through the blueprinting and accurizing of a Rem 700 action, and the building of an accurate rifle from same.

Around $40 or so and shipping. 205 pages. The information in there will at least give you a really good idea of what can be done. You, as the owner, get to pick and choose what you are willing to pay for, but the menu is large! :)

Lesse....

Ah bugger. Canna find a direct link to the publishers online sales page via villagepress.com, but the contact phone number is (231)-946-3712. I would try the 1-800447-7367 first, and see if it works from where you are.

The Gunsmith Machinist, by Steve Acker

Cheers
Trev
 
A trigger job will make it easier to shoot. U.S. factory triggers are sold heavy due to frivolous liablity law suits. The M700's trigger is adjustable. Do that first.
As mentioned, bedding may not improve accuracy. It will improve consistency. A rifle consistently shoots 2 or 3 inch groups at 100 yards with factory can be improved by load developement. Mind you, a consistent 2 or 3 inches at 100 is fine for hunting.
Floating the barrel does not guarantee anything. Some rifles like a floated barrel, some don't. Remington's usually do. Rugers, for example, usually don't. However, you have to try it to be sure. Fortunately, if the rifle doesn't like a floated barrel, putting a pressure point back in isn't a big deal. A dab of bedding material put about an inch or two from the end of the forestock, remembering the release agent, does it.
 
As Sunray suggests, you'll get the most bang for your buck by reloading. This allows you to "tune" to the rifle. As an example, working up a load can often reduce group size by a factor of three or so over factory ammo.
I always shoot a rifle before bedding etc - sometimes they shoot fine as is. If its shooting sub-optimally then I go at it - bedding is the culprit 90% of the time.
One thing to bear in mind - a lot of rifles shoot better than the shooter. If you are a two moa shooter, it doesnt matter how much you tweak the rifle, you're not going to get better than 2 in groups at 100 y.
 
Guntec said it all, i got a new Rem 700 Police supoose to be bedded "wrong" the action fitted stock terrably, bedded it first thing before firing it
 
adjust the trigger, or get someone to do it for you, i dont think you should set your trigger at it lightest pull wieght, 2.5 - 3 lbs. is fine but it must be crisp, then work up some loads , shoot it first, lots of rem 700s shoot great out of the box, dont get caught up in spending money it may not do nothing for you,, wade
 
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