Remington 700 Actions

[BlueSmoke]

Greetings All, new here, glad to have found you!

I have a couple of questions for those in the know regarding Remington 700 actions.

I am looking to aquire one to use as a base to build a custom rifle. Most likely short action, as I am leaning toward .308, though I am considering long because I am used to the 7mm Rem Mag (used in an old Browning Auto).

Probably will acquire the action by buying a complete rifle and taking out the action, though if anyone knows of a source for just the actions, I would be glad to hear it.

The question is, given that I'm looking at complete rifles, is there a difference in quality of the action itself among the various Remington 700 models, or do the various price points just reflect different barrels, stocks, etc.?

That is, to get a higher quality action, do I need to look at the higher end models, or will any old 700 do?

A secondary question - has anybody any personal experience using the long action with the .308? I know the Army's M24 is set up that way, for pretty much the same reason I'm thinking of ... the option to change out to a longer cartridge in the future. Does using the long action with the .308 cause any particular weirdness?

Appreciate your thoughts.

 

[dakotasin]

the 700's all have the same basic actions.

the reason you might spend the extra money for a bdl/cdl would be to obtain the mag parts upfront instead of having to source them afterwards.

my preference for building 700's is for adl styles - i like the blind mag better.

 

[Cascades]

No expert here, buuuuuuut.

I have been intimate with my .270 BDL. The only thing I know that is a big difference would be in the older rifles to the newer ones. The safety/bolt system is a bit different between the eras.

One of my sons has a more modern BDL. Everything is pretty much the same, except--
On his rifle, the bolt can be opened while the safety is still ON. My old rifle, the safety must be on FIRE to open the bolt.

Before you load your 700, this might help for safety's sake-----
Mine is an older rifle. A friend gave it to me--he's a wonderful human being!--He gave it to me 30+ years ago. He acquired it from another friend of ours who had returned to the rig after an elk hunt, was unloading the rifle, and accidently shot the tire of their Suburban. You have to watch how you adjust the trigger/sear screws in these rifles. There are horror stories on the internet--don't heed them. Just be certain to properly adjust your screws, and you'll have no trouble. Mine has been reliable since I adjusted them those many years ago.

These screws enable you to easily find the pounds of pull on the trigger you want.

Good luck with your project!

 

[BlueSmoke]

Thanks, gentleman. The experience I've got with a bolt is my father's old Win 70, vintage 1954, so I'm not familiar with the Remingtons...hence, the Qs. There just seem to be more options for building on the Rem. platform, sort of like Chevy small blocks vs. Fords. Lots more of the former.

I was leaning toward the BDL style, just because I'm used to having a hinged floorplate. Personal preference, I'm sure.

I've read some of the stories about accidental discharges on the older Rem. actions. I think I also read that they changed the mechanism a little to deal with it - maybe that's why the difference in whether the bolt can be opened safety on now? What I read was that the discharge occurs if the safety wasn't fully on, then is moved off...but there was some other intervening step, too. In any event, thanks for the advice on adjusting the trigger.

 

[DRYHUMOR]

If you keep an eye out, you can find used M700 rifles for $300 to $400, if it looks rough, you may be able to talk them lower.

You can have your builder true and square the action, lap the lugs, replace the spring and firing pin.

Williams or Sunny Hill bottom metal is hard to beat.

An aftermarket trigger may be a plus as well.

 

[elktrout]

Cascades has makes a very important point about the adjustment screws on the Rem 700 triggers. You can make it a very crisp and extremely clean breaking trigger, but I will add this if you do your own adjustments. You must reseal the screws with some compound to keep them from backing out over time (from recoil). Nail polish works as good as anything. I have a 700 whose trigger I adjusted 38 years ago and sealed the screws with nail polish. It is still good today.

 

[Horsemany]

The older actions with 2 filler screws on the side rear of the reciever are considered a little better quality than the new ones. They stopped the screws in the mid 80's but the new 40x's still have them. The screws aren't necessarily all that helpful unless you're running a rear peep. They are an idicator of age though. And I hate to say that almost any Remington from 20 years ago is better made and smoother than todays. Modern 700's that are exceptionally smooth are the Sendero SF II and VS SF II. They are high polish stainless even on the bolt lugs and raceways. SMMMMMOOOOTH!

You'll see most custom 700's built on actions with the rear peep screws. Good luck.

 

[jester_s1]

You didn't say if you are doing the build or having it done. If you are going to have someone else build it, you will likely come out ahead ordering a custom rifle from a builder like Predator arms. You can get whatever components you want, and of course they will suggest combinations that work well. The big advantage is that everything is new, everything is under warranty, and you are dealing with experts who routinely build great shooters.

 

[Horsemany]

The way I'd recommend is sending the barrled action off to Shilen or similar barrel mfg. They will accurize or square off the action, lap lugs etc. Then install the barrel properly(usually around $600 for everything). These barrel mfg's do nothing but install barrels and square actions every day. Nobody has more experience than a good barrel mfg. imo. A stock with an appropriate barrel channel will be easy to find if you don't like the original. Spend $125 or so having a good smith glass bed it. Add a Jewell trigger and you've got one nice rifle.

 

[BlueSmoke]

I'll be doing some of the work myself. The work that I am unskilled and/or unequipped for, I'll have done by someone else.

 

[Strongbad]

It's going to run up the cost of your project a bit, but you might look at a full custom action. A Stiller Predator for example. They're a Rem 700 pattern action, so they take 700 triggers, stocks, bottom metal etc. but the action is already going to be as square and true as it's ever going to be, when you get it. The last time I checked which was just a few months ago, you could get a Predator for about $750. I know it's more than a beater donor rifle is going to run you, but in the long run, it might be worth it. Just depends on what your budget is.

 

[a-sheepdog]

If you want a Remington 700 action by itself, try www.midwayusa.com or www.brownells.com . They used to sell them and am guessing they still do. Any FFL should be able to order just the action for you.

 

[redneck2]

You also might try the classifieds at Benchrest Central. Those guys would have used completed rifles.

Personally, I'd lean towards something like a Sendero in the caliber you want. It already has the Rem action with the good HS Precision aluminum pillar stock. I've got one in 7mm Mag that has the factory trigger reworked. It is VERY light, crisp, and still doesn't fire when the stock is bumped hard on the floor.

Worst case is that you get a new barrel and trigger (which you're planning to do anyway) and you still have the good stock and action. You could sell the stock barrel on ebay and get some money back.

 

[BlueSmoke]

I'm glad I found this site....much Knowledge!

strong- excellent idea on the custom axn. I'll have to look at it in more depth, but it looks like it might actually be less expensive to go that route than to get a complete 700 of some sort, chuck most of it and rework the rest.

sheep - thx. I did look at Brownells, I couldn't see where they had a complete Rem. action, just parts. I did find a Surgeon custom, but had kind of skipped over it - before Stron'g suggestion. Midway gave me a server error when I checked, I'll try back.

red - I was thinking along the same lines, that kind of being the original thrust of my question. I was wondering whether something like the Sendero might have better finish/tighter tolerance in the action than other models. Other than the trigger (which it sounds like you had reworked yourself anyhow?), consensus seems to be that they are pretty much the same animal. Given that, I doubt I could regain the extra cost of something like a Sendero selling off the parts I don't want vs. just going with something less expensive like a BDL or SPSV. Maybe I'm wrong and there is a high enough demand for the Sendero parts? I haven't found any used rifles that haven't been badly beat up, so I'm probably looking at something new, unless I get lucky.

7mmMag, eh? I like that round, it's what I've got in the BAR I mainly use for hunting. I'm leaning toward .308 for this one (mainly for target shooting) so I can take advantage of the match grade ammo that's out there. It really isn't there for 7mmMag, and I don't handload myself, so...

I was fondling a 7mmMag Win 70 today at a local pawn shop. It was pretty gnarly looking inside and was a post-64, pre-classic, but almost got me reconsidering this whole Rem 700 thing.

I'm in love with Dad's old '54 Win 70... but, so is he, so I can't have it....yet (not that I wish the old man ill or anything. It's a 270. I like that for deer at moderate ranges, but it's weak for anything bigger and it doesn't have the reach of 7mmMag for long shots on 'lopes. But, my BAR's not really that accurate compared to Dad's 70.

Soooo..... Maybe that's a second custom project before I've even got this one off the ground... a really purdy Win70 based sporter/hunter in 7mmRemMag for hunting. Best of both worlds.

Something to look forward to someday, anyhow. Hey, prez...send some of that economic stimulus $ my way. I'll spread it around the economy buying rifle parts and getting work done.