Rem 700 best upgrades/bang for the buck?

[jackelope]

Picking up a Rem 700 SPS in .300 win mag today. It's unfired and bone stock. I don't have a huge budget to build a custom rifle with, but am wondering where's the best place to start with upgrades? It has the X-Mark trigger and the hinged floor plate magazine. 26" barrel.
I'd like to replace the stock I think, but again and as much as I'd like to be, I'm not on a Macmillan or Lone Wolf budget. Was thinking about the Bell and Carlson Alaskan 2?

[Fishstiq]

Tagging, I have a 700 in .308 I want to build as well.

[Noiro]

I just put a Knoxx stock on my 870. Im getting on for my Rem 700 Sendero 300 RUM too. You can see on Youtube the recoil reduction.

[hunting4sanity]

jackelope, I'd test out that trigger and see if you like it, I've seen some that were good from Remington and adjusted in the ranges they stated, but my brother recently got one that at the lightest setting wouldn't get low enough to be in the factory stated ranges.  He opted to put a Timney trigger in and it definitely has a better feel, hopefully yours will work like Remington claims.

[jjhunter]

I'd just bed it and see how it shoots right now.  Sometimes, you can get a really good plain jane 700 that just plain shoots.  I would shoot it before I started tweaking it. 

Bed it, throw a donor scope on it, and shoot it.  If it shoots, spend your extra dough on a quality optic to put on top of it.   

If it doesn't shoot...come back for further guidance....

[Zardoz]

Before you start changing parts, put some good glass on it and shoot it. You migt be happy where you are.   

[jackelope]

I've got a nice 4.5-14x50 vx3 to put on it. I will definitely be shooting it before anything gets done to it.

Thanks for the advice so far.

[carpsniperg2]

A good trigger is worth it's weight in gold. I cant stand the factory Remington triggers. However there new trigger "think it is the x model" seems to be a much nicer trigger then the normal.

[jackelope]

Was thinking this stock. Maybe just cuzz it's cool.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/1103199519/bell-and-carlson-alaskan-ti-rifle-stock-remington-700-bdl-long-action-factory-barrel-channel-synthetic

[carpsniperg2]

Stocks are kinda user choice kinda deal. I have never had a bell and carlson stock fit me well. You might try to shoot one before you get one for your rifle to make sure you like it. I have always gone to HS stocks on my rifles. If you want to get real fancy I really like the manners and mcmillian stocks.

[Hi-Liter]

I have a .300 win mag Rem. Model 700 I bought new in 1999 with Zeiss scope. I love this rifle use it for all my big game.

I have a drop box in mine, I would defiantly recommend getting that added to it.

I cant stand the hinge plate, 

[jackelope]

A good trigger is worth it's weight in gold. I cant stand the factory Remington triggers. However there new trigger "think it is the x model" seems to be a much nicer trigger then the normal.

Trigger is a no brainer for me. None of my rifles have the stock trigger in them anymore. Even the Encore has all the BellmTC's guts in it. I'll now be doubled up on .300wm's but thats not a bad problem to have.

Stocks are kinda user choice kinda deal. I have never had a bell and carlson stock fit me well. You might try to shoot one before you get one for your rifle to make sure you like it. I have always gone to HS stocks on my rifles. If you want to get real fancy I really like the manners and mcmillian stocks.

My concern with the stock is that it might be too short. I think 13.5" LOP. I'm a big guy and most stocks are too short for me. I might call them and see if they offer a longer one. Your other suggestions are too rich for my blood.

[carpsniperg2]

Never bad to have to many or in the same flavor. I can't even tell you how many 7mm-08's and 270wsm are stacked up around here

They are a bit pricey for sure. With the manners/mcmillian you can get them with a stock spacer kit to make it fit you. Since you have a longer LOP. I am not sure if bell and carlson makes a spacer kit for that model but I know they do for some of there stocks. You might see if that is a option you could add on direct from them.

[uplandhunter870]

i have a bell and carlson stock similar to the one you posted the link to, mines for my older rem 700 bdl .270win. its a good looking stock and feels and fits me well im a bigger guy as well and it doesnt feel short. the bell and carlson is pretty much a drop in fit only complaint is that at least with mine im going to have to sand out the barrel channel to get the barrel free floated. i know my 270 shoots well in the old factory stock but i havent had a chance to shoot it with the B&C stock yet so i cant say anything as far as how it affected accuracy, life just got busy and its a project that got put back in the closet.

[rbros]

Stock, bedding and trigger will typically help.  As pricey as they are, Jewell triggers are worth every penny.

[Tbar]

I've found that a trigger improved shooting the most for me especially in hunting situations as opposed to bench shooting.

[Special T]

I have a rem 700 and had a trigger job done to it. It went from the gritty 8lbs to 2.5 of smoth silk.  When i took my gun to my smith I talked him about a bunch of different things to do to my gun. He told me to let him do a trigger job and see how it shoots. My Normally poor shooting got acceptable after just a trigger job. I think the nex step to taking my shots to the next level is likely reloading. 

I have a rem 700 laminated stock stainless in 06

[Three_Oh_Eight]

It depends on what your goals are with the rifle.  700s can be made to be light and handy, they can be made to be super-accurate.  They are the chevy small block V8 of hunting rifles. 

I've re-stocked with McMillan and Bell & Carlson stocks.  McMillans are lighter and have more contours and are made to order.  Finish is superior to B&C.  B&C is economical and work great.  The Alaskan II and Medalist use full bedding blocks and are heavy.  The Ti and Ti II stocks are much lighter and plenty stiff.  Stay away from the carbelites in my opinion.  I don't buy HS Precision due to the people they associate with.

[WhackNStack300]

Jack, the best scratch you could spend on that rifle would be a Jewell trigger.

[Heredoggydoggy]

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned the weakest link in the 700 rifles--the extractor.  Builders of custom guns on the 700 action usually go for one of two mods= an AR-15 extractor, or a Sako extractor.

Disclaimer: I own 2 Remington 700's and both have the flimsy Remington extractor.  So far, no problems.  (But I've seen other guy's 700's that had the extractor go TU.) 

[high country]

I have never seen a rem extractor bite the dust.

Stock/bedding, trigger....always worth looking at the crown....and spend the rest on your load work up.

[high country]

Keep in mind that lots of guys build a rifle to fit them in their tee shirt, then stack on hunting clothes and a backpack and can't mount a gun in the same day as they can nekkid. I have a pile of stocks if you think you know what you want....I may have a used one.

[257 Wby Mag]

I agree on the Jewell. I also agree with the extractor problem. Never had one or heard of one in my circles, and thats alot of model 700's.

[Heredoggydoggy]

I have never seen a rem extractor bite the dust.

I have--And unless you have the tool to squeeze the tiny rivet that holds them in, it's a real PITA to replace....

One gunsmith in the area does a lot of Sako Extractor mods to 700 bolts.  It's not a "Drop-in" conversion.

[Bearhunter]

Josh Ive got a real nice HS precision synthetic I just took off my 7mm cause I ordered one of the new Manners Elite stocks Im getting ready to sell...  Aluminum bedded block with the swelled foreend, nice stock was just ready for something different.  Also put a benchmark barrell on yours!

[jackelope]

Josh Ive got a real nice HS precision synthetic I just took off my 7mm cause I ordered one of the new Manners Elite stocks Im getting ready to sell...  Aluminum bedded block with the swelled foreend, nice stock was just ready for something different.  Also put a benchmark barrell on yours!

Sent you a message, James.

A Benchmark may be down the road...baby steps.

Over time I hope to have a tack driving 500-600 yard gun. Not looking to be able to shoot 1k yards at all.

[Taco280AI]

Just depends on budget. Stocks can go from a $200 B&C to a $600 McMillan Edge. Triggers, extractors, bolt releases, barrels, action truing, bedding, barrel and bolt fluting, and more.

I'm finally done with mine, but has cost a bit. 700 stainless SPS (older X pro mark trigger at 2 lbs), 270, McMillan Hunters Edge, bedded by RBros, bolt Ti fluted and bead blasted, talley extra lows, VX2 3-9x40 LR duplex and CDS added with Alumina caps.

[rbros]

The Elite Hunter stocks are nice.  Just finally got my 7 Rogue dropped in my EH-1 stock today.  I helped develop that version and was very pleased with the results.  Weighs 27oz with a 1" decel pad.