Need advice on 700 build

[gamestalker]

I already sold or have buyers for a couple guns, and some gun & reloading stuff, optics, 2 Rem 700's good SS barrels, dies, press, and misc items that I won't miss. The only experience I have with a custom build was over 25 yrs. ago, M98 Douglas barrel 7 mag, and that was built by a friend that didn't gig me on labor, so I really don't know who to go to for this.

I have 1 complete 700 production rifle in each 7 mag and .270 win that I will be using the action for the custom build. So in the opinion of those knowledgeable in this endeavor, would it be less expensive to just buy the complete custom rig, or would I do better using my action to build off of? I have a buyer for the production barrel and stock from the existing rifle I'll being using, which will off set the build by $200 or so.

In other words, will I be spending more if I provide / purchase the stock, barrel, trigger, and have them shipped to them? Or do they pretty much charge the same for same Shilen barrel, Carlson stock, Timney trigger I can purchase?

Will it cost more to have the builder tear down the existing production rifle to use the action? I mean if the builder will give me something for my existing production parts, or ship back my old barrel and stock, I'll just send them the entire rifle. If I won't save any $ doing it that way, then I'll just have them using all their hardware & components.

GS

 

[Clint M]

I'm not sure as far as the action goes, if it were me I would purchase a used 700 beater (and look for an older one a little research here might go a long way) and send the gunsmith the entire rifle for him to use, and send you parts back if removed. I would also tell the gunsmith the barrel will be sold if he can get it off, but not take any chances on damage to the action if need be he can cut into the barrel to relive the tension on threads. I have read, and heard horror stories removing barrels from Remington 700's (and many others as well) other than that it's your choice if the rifles you have will not be used again I don't see any reason not to use them as basis for build.

 

[MtnCreek]

What I've seen is they charge about the same for parts that I can purchase them for. When selecting a builder, talk to them about what they stock. Some will stock barrels, stocks, triggers, ... I'd rather deal with someone that's not waiting months on a barrel before they even think about building my rifle.

 

[farmerboy78]

I would do similar to what I have done recently. I bought ALL the parts I wanted to use in my rifle and took them to my smith for assembly. I bought a 70's Remington 700 action off of gunbroker with the bolt face size I needed, bought my Bartlein barrel from a distributor on ebay. I didn't have to wait for months! And ordered my reamer from ptg to the specs I wanted. While that was at the smith I decided and bought my accessories it took to finish the rifle. XLR element chassis, timney Calvin elite trigger, night force ( rail, rings, angle indicator, and bubble level), and bolt handle... topped it with a vortex viper pst! I searched and got the most bang for my buck with parts I am happy with. Easiest way to expedite process imho.

 

[Clint M]

Would be nice to know what you are planning to build ? Previous poster touched on a good subject reamer.... If I were building a custom rifle I would know the reamer specs I wanted to use and either purchase or rent that reamer myself, take it to gunsmith. The wrong reamer will cause problems the life of the barrel, or possible the cost of the barrel if a hunting profile barrel is used not much chance in setting barrel back to ream again... Also research the cartridge you plan to use, and the bullet weight/range I'm sure you are up to date on this just something to think over and research if you have not already.

 

[gamestalker]

No Clint, I haven't researched the reamer I want to use. This is one area that I'm not really all that informed on. I'm a green horn concerning builds, this is a whole new endeavor for me.

I'm likely going with a 7 mag., and I want a good barrel, but not a super heavy one, as it will spend a lot of time in the field also.

GS

 

[farmerboy78]

I myself built a 6.5-06 and planned/do run 140 gr bergers... the chassis I chose uses AI .300 win mag magazines, so I checked out the internal dimensions of the mag to know what the oal will be for my rifle... I then called ptg and had them design it with my input, internal mag diminsions, and expected speeds for them to come up with the neck and throat clearances... it worked out very well... I'm getting 3005 fps with the 140 gr berger hybrid and it's a laser! Just put in your due diligence and research so you have a plan and can execute it..

 

[243winxb]

http://www.remingtoncustom.com/ Hunting- http://www.remingtoncustom.com/HunterGrade_700AWRII.aspx

 

[gamestalker]

I' thinking along the line of what Bullseye Precision Arms offers in the Hunter Package for $1899. Glass bedded laminate stock, Shilen barrel, blue printed and tuned. I gotta say, $1800 doesn't sound bad at all, that might be the direction for me to go.

If you google Bullsys Precision Arms they feature the Hunter Package build I'm most interested in.

www.bpguns.com

GS

 

[243winxb]

Custom Remington 700 Build

In other words, will I be spending more if I provide / purchase the stock, barrel, trigger, and have them shipped to them? Or do they pretty much charge the same for same Shilen barrel, Carlson stock, Timney trigger I can purchase?

Let the gunsmith buy the needed parts. He gets a discount and will buy the correct items.

Shilen barrel

Does the smith use pre-threaded and chambered barrels or cut his own ??

Will it cost more to have the builder tear down the existing production rifle to use the action?

You would need to ask the gunsmith. Your link shows a package deal for a set amount $1899 for a fully compleated rifle, if i read it correctly?? A new action is worth about $475?? If available?? My guess. Better to ask in Gunsmithing and Repairs

 

[sage5907]

I've been spending some time around long range precision rifles and although I realize they are popular they give me the willies. These rifles are like computers, you could spend $2,000 (or $4,000) on a custom long range precision rifle and in a year you could sell the rifle for half the price you gave for it. Based on what you have said in your posts I would approach it a different way. I have been down this road and I put together a rifle from parts about 2 years ago. The three basic parts of a rifle are the action, barrel & stock. To get the barrel all you would have to do is to contact Shilen and order the barrel that you want, already threaded and chambered. At the same time order a stock from McMillan that's exactly what you want. When the new barrel arrives, take the action that you have to your gunsmith, have him remove the old barrel, install the new barrel, finish the chamber job, and re-blue any part that needs refinishing. When the new McMillan stock comes (6 months), install a timney trigger on the action, and glass bed the chamber area of the new stock. Your talking $500+ for the Shilen barrel, $650 for the stock, $120 for the trigger, and the remainder of the cost is between you and your gunsmith.

 

[Clint M]

I agree with above post, most of your accuracy on a hunting rifle type setup will come from the barrel. I would go as light as possible, even mimic commercial setups in the cartridge you choose as far as contour, and barrel length. Mcmillan makes the best stock I know of, they work, they are a perfect hunting stock in which I prefer the Sako type hand swell stock they pattern.

The reamer is important make sure you talk either with gunsmith, or reamer maker as to what you will be using the rifle for, if you plan on turning necks, and what bullet you will be using.

If it were me I would use a blued 700 action, stainless barrel have the entire thing ceracoated or one of the new coatings. I would use a magnum contour barrel (similar or same as BLD magnum contour) Sako style mcmillan stock in the brown/wood paint, bed or have stock bedded, length of barrel 24-26", reamer set up for no neck turn hunting, throat to heaviest bullet I planned to use.. that would give you a great platform to bolt scopes, and triggers to in my humble not so inexpensive opinion.