Input on my Remington re-vamp ideas...

[bassquatch]

In reading this section there sure seems to be a ton of guys on here that know their ballistical chit! 

So I wanted to throw my ideas out and get some input. I have a Remington model 700 BDL in 30.06 purchased new in 2000, bone stock with the traditional wood stock and topped with a Leupold VXII scope. Basically I am bored with it and want to do some upgrades this off season. Here are my ideas so far...

1) Remington composite stock (XCR camo).
2) Glass bedding.
3) Trigger job, smoother and about 3lbs?.
4) Stainless barrel.
5) May upgrade the scope to the VXIII?? (Pricey)
6) Shoulder strap. it had one but I didn't like it and took it off, my pack has a scabbard so I left it off.

My questions are, would it just be cheaper to get one of the new Remington XCR rifles and keep the scope I already have? How much difference will the bedding process really make? Is the stainless barrel worth it? Is 3lbs too light for the trigger?

Anything else you guys can think of would be appreciated. Thanks in advance 

[Biggerhammer]

Depends on if you want a truly custom rifle or not. Depends on your definition of accurate. Your going to have more into a custom than the XCR. I've owned several XCR's and I have and have had my share of customs. The XCR is a very capable rifle accuracy and weather resistant wise when it comes to big game hunting. A complete custom is a personal preference issue.

[coachcw]

Be carefull , you can go overboard real quick . first give us the budget then we can have some fun !

[j_h_nimrod]

What do you want from the rifle?  More accuracy?  Lighter we weight? A marginally noticeable better scope (not saying the VXIII is not a superior scope but would you gain anything from it?)

A better trigger is always one of the first places to start and can pay good dividends. Typically factory Rem triggers are pretty decent though.

A (reasonably priced) stainless barrel will not gain you anything, if your 12 year old gun still has a nice finish and shoots well all you will gain is a barrel easier to see in the woods.  If you live/hunt in the rainy part of the state and your barrel is getting rusted then you will gain something, but in that case you would be better off with a stainless synthetic gun instead of a wood socked blued rifle with a stainless barrel.

If you had a shoulder sling and took it off and have not missed it there is no reason to put one back on.

The XCR stock will possibly drop off a little weight but not much wood/blued combo looks a lot better. You might consider refinishing the wood stock.  Strip the finish, recut the checkering and finish with a nice hand rubbed finish and you will gain a lot more than a new synthetic stock.

Glass bed if you are so inclined, you may gain something and it is a fun project.

[bassquatch]

Interesting stuff, thank you!

So my budget would be a max of $1000 if possible, could go more if justified. I have dropped the scope upgrade idea. My issues are that I fell 2 years ago and the gun did a little bouncing, my hand was under it but it rattled butt stock to barrel tip about 4 times...I re-zeroed it and then shot my buck last year with it and nailed a 172 yard heart shot, however, this year I missed a buck at 330 yards, completely! When I came home I checked the zero and the first shot at 100 yards was about 7 inches high??!! I played around with it and the rounds just seemed all over the place? Using the exact same ammo I hunt with it was left then right then low right then high left, all within 4-6 inches of the bullseye. This has never happened with this rifle?! I was using a rest, but just a cheapo red palstic one from Bass Pro. I started to wonder if maybe the scope got knocked and something inside is loose? It seemed like it hit different after every shot?? Weird! I plan on heading back up to shoot it now that my seasons are over and starting at 25yds with my rest just to double check it...I plan on sending my scope back to Leupold just to have them check it out and make sure it is good to go?! I will also be buying a better sled for sighting.

The trigger pull just seems a bit long and a little stiff to me, I would like to lighten and smooth it out a bit.

I wouldn't mind a little weight shaved off I am just tired of the look of the wood stock, that one is more for me than the weapon. I have also thought about camo-dipping it the way it is?

As for the barrel, I just thought stainless for a hunting rifle makes more sense, it doesn't just rain and snow on the west side! However, no rust so far on the stocker.

I would like to improve accuracy I am just not familiar with the effects / justification of glass bedding, I have just began to research it and wanted some input.

I am starting to miss the sling, I don't always take my pack.

So accuracy for me would be #1, weight #2, if in the process I can update the look, great!

[CAMPMEAT]

Buy a Savage of your flavor with an accutrigger and an accustock. Keep your scope and put it on your NEW Savage, you won't be disappointed.

[Biggerhammer]

There are several things you can do this winter that may help your rifle.


Trigger job, this is one of the best descriptions of a trigger job for a Rem700. Every single factory trigger I have shot that I have owned, I have a adjusted. Not all of them will adjust down, smooth out and loose the "Creep". Some Remington triggers were destined for the bone yard. Some have adjusted incredibly well, as good as some of my Shilen Triggers.

http://www.varminthunters.com/tech/crisp.html


You can also bed the rifle yourself, it is a simple process. Don't let it intimidate you. Here is a excellent write up bellow that gives instructions along with easy to follow photo's on the rifle bedding process. Randy builds some of the best rifles out there. I have shot my share of Randy's rifles (RD Precision), along with GA Precision rifles and both are top notch.

http://www.rdprecision.net/diy2.html

[j_h_nimrod]

That gives me a better idea, for your accuracy problems I would look first at rings an bases. They are a common problem and would explain the inconsistency. I would take the scope off and check the screws attaching bases to the action, I would also consider putting lock tight on all the threads and retorqueing them. 

Trigger is a pretty good upgrade, either get a nice drop in like a Timney or have a smith work on it. There are usually some adjustments you can do on the factory triggers but have had a few issues with late 90s- early 2000s triggers not offering much without a bit of work and it is not too hard to make the gun unsafe if you don't know what you are doing.

Sling is a cheap fix

Stainless has advantages but I would wait on it til you need it.

There are some good aftermarket stocks out there. I am not a fan of the XCR look and there are definately som better stocks with pillar bedding or aluminum bedding blocks that do no need or benefit from glass bedding. If you kept the wood stock then bedding is a good option, a good number of those guns were already beefed well to begin with though.

Good luck with the project.

[thinkingman]

Interesting stuff, thank you!

So my budget would be a max of $1000 if possible, could go more if justified. I have dropped the scope upgrade idea. My issues are that I fell 2 years ago and the gun did a little bouncing, my hand was under it but it rattled butt stock to barrel tip about 4 times...I re-zeroed it and then shot my buck last year with it and nailed a 172 yard heart shot, however, this year I missed a buck at 330 yards, completely! When I came home I checked the zero and the first shot at 100 yards was about 7 inches high??!! I played around with it and the rounds just seemed all over the place? Using the exact same ammo I hunt with it was left then right then low right then high left, all within 4-6 inches of the bullseye. This has never happened with this rifle?! I was using a rest, but just a cheapo red palstic one from Bass Pro. I started to wonder if maybe the scope got knocked and something inside is loose? It seemed like it hit different after every shot?? Weird! I plan on heading back up to shoot it now that my seasons are over and starting at 25yds with my rest just to double check it...I plan on sending my scope back to Leupold just to have them check it out and make sure it is good to go?! I will also be buying a better sled for sighting.

The trigger pull just seems a bit long and a little stiff to me, I would like to lighten and smooth it out a bit.

I wouldn't mind a little weight shaved off I am just tired of the look of the wood stock, that one is more for me than the weapon. I have also thought about camo-dipping it the way it is?

As for the barrel, I just thought stainless for a hunting rifle makes more sense, it doesn't just rain and snow on the west side! However, no rust so far on the stocker.

I would like to improve accuracy I am just not familiar with the effects / justification of glass bedding, I have just began to research it and wanted some input.

I am starting to miss the sling, I don't always take my pack.

So accuracy for me would be #1, weight #2, if in the process I can update the look, great!

The scope is the most likely culprit.
Buy a Burris or Nikon and get that part out of the way.
The suggestion of a factory Savage is probably a better way to go for an accurate rifle with a crisp trigger and weather resistant finish.
Remington BDL's are pretty, but not the best place to start for an all weather hunting rifle.

[brokenvet]

If your rifle is shooting all over the place then some thing is definitely loose, could be the mounts or the scope.   If the scope send it back to the factory for repairs, it maybe even warranted.

It seems like you want a hunting rifle that is accurate and light enough to carry around all day and we a good trigger pull.
I say it is cheaper to buy a new rifle. 

[jaymark6655]

On the bedding subject, I would check a stock with aluminum pillars or v bed.  Certain solvents used in cleaning can soften up the bedding material or it can be chipped an ruined when pulling the action to clean the rifle after a wet hunt.

[j_h_nimrod]

IF (very strong IF) it is the scope then send it back, Leupold has about the best warranty around.

Burris and Nikon are good but don't stack up to a Leupold, stick with what you have.

[coachcw]

honistly if the budget is a grand then I would sell that rifle and buy a sako hunter in 300wsm (pick your cal.)and top it with a good 4x12 vx3 your gun plus a grand gets you there . I don't think for a grand that you can restock , bolt face , barrell , trigger and glass .                          Hart barrell #4 flutted $500.00   Trigger $180.00, box mag $180.oo , stock $350 - 450 .00 glassbed $125.00 , blue print and chamber $125.00  that puts you around $1500.oo in the gun you have now , plus breakin and glass .

[landcbeitner]

I would take the rifle to Benchmark Barrels since you're in arlington anyway... I think you could look at some stuff down there... get some good advise based on your purposes and priorities... I've always been very happy with their work! Couple examples for your consideration...

Custom action


Mauser


Reminton hunting rifle

[jaymark6655]

Hey land, nice MK13 clone sitting next to that Mauser    Those are some awesome rifles.

[Jamieb]

My goto rifle for big game that I got for Christmas in 1985got a makeover a few years ago..
700 bdl in 7 rem mag.
Before

After, bedded in a Micky clasic/swirl stock, trigger at 2#, talley LW rings. VX-III 4.5X14X40 w/M1 turrets.

I worked a new load for it useing 160gr accubonds over IMR-7828

[gadwall]

There is a lot of good advice here.  Before you think the rifle needs to be revammped, take the scope off and put another on, even if you have to borrow one for awhile and maybe that will eliminate one variable in your accuracy problem.  The Remingtons I have had all got trigger jobs on the factory trigger and none too soon.  Rems are great guns but the triggers usually need a little help right out of the box.  This may have been brought up but the stock may have changed with the fall you took or could have taken on moisture.  Spend a smaller amount of money on the existing rifle if you like it ; get it shooting again and save up for a full custom job if that is what you want in the future.

[Blacktail Sniper]

In reading this section there sure seems to be a ton of guys on here that know their ballistical chit! 

So I wanted to throw my ideas out and get some input. I have a Remington model 700 BDL in 30.06 purchased new in 2000, bone stock with the traditional wood stock and topped with a Leupold VXII scope. Basically I am bored with it and want to do some upgrades this off season. Here are my ideas so far...

1) Remington composite stock (XCR camo).
2) Glass bedding.
3) Trigger job, smoother and about 3lbs?.
4) Stainless barrel.
5) May upgrade the scope to the VXIII?? (Pricey)
6) Shoulder strap. it had one but I didn't like it and took it off, my pack has a scabbard so I left it off.

My questions are, would it just be cheaper to get one of the new Remington XCR rifles and keep the scope I already have? How much difference will the bedding process really make? Is the stainless barrel worth it? Is 3lbs too light for the trigger?

Anything else you guys can think of would be appreciated. Thanks in advance 

Have you looked into this as an option?

http://rbrosrifles.com/services.php

Have been reading alot of happy customers stories on here about these rifles and their work.   Am considering dropping my .300 Win off after I am done with it this year.

[bassquatch]

WOW! Lots to ponder and research but I love it! 

Update: I am fairly sure I found the problem and it wasn't the scope, the front mounting screw in the stock was loose! It wasn't before season so I am curious if the stud has an issue? Weird. I will be heading up to test fire it again this weekend, see if that was the issue or not? I have never had a single problem hitting what I want with this gun so it would be tough to sell. At this point I may just do a composite stock, trigger job, rings and mounts and let it ride another season... If I choose to purchase a new rifle I would be keeping this one anyways, add it to the stable as it were.

I have never been much of a Savage fan, but I know they have come a long way! I am very much a Leupold guy but would not shy away from anything Nikon makes. I am going to hold off on the bedding, just doesn't seem worth the hassle at this point.

Thanks for all the info and the pics, some sweet rifles out there for sure!! I may look at the Sako? Never tried one. I was always more in to tactical type weapons, this has been my first 'hunting' rifle. Nice to know there are tons of options when it comes to customizing or personalization!