Help Me Upgrade my 80's Shooter

[phildobaggins]

I’ve re done a few m70’s.  Glass bed, aluminum pillars, trigger spring kit, and they shoot great.  I’d leave the stock as is for finish myself.  If you do the work yourself it leaves a lot of budget for scope.

I know nothing about bedding rifles, what are aluminum pillars?

[b23]

I’ve re done a few m70’s.  Glass bed, aluminum pillars, trigger spring kit, and they shoot great.  I’d leave the stock as is for finish myself.  If you do the work yourself it leaves a lot of budget for scope.

I know nothing about bedding rifles, what are aluminum pillars?

Just Google how to install pillars in a rifle stock and you'll find allll kinds of how to videos.

Wood stocks in particular I always go with pillars and a full action bed but a good argument can be made you don't necessarily need to bed the action in the stock if pillars have been properly installed.

[BULLBLASTER]

Yea, I'm going to do the trigger spring kit for sure. Watched a Youtube video on it last night and looks easy to do and should make it lighter and a lot more consistent.

As much as I'd like to honor the guns heritage by leaving it heavy and battle scarred, it will still always be the gun that my dad gave me, even after I modify it. I'm just not convinced I want to spend $900 on a McMillan stock

Also, I don't know if it's normal, but I feel like the bolt handle has some up/down play when it's in battery... I don't think I ever noticed this before but it bothers me. Is this common? Perhaps something worn in the bolt?

What do you mean it has some up down play? It can be opened? Where is the safety at when you experience this?

[Karl Blanchard]

Maybe I missed it but how does this rifle currently shoot? Lot of people suggesting a lot of things but my opinion is don't sink money into solutions for problems that don't exist

At min new scope, rings/bases, and trigger spring. Continue from there if need be. Me personally I'd be ditching the wood stock into the back of the safe. I LOVE the look and feel of a classic wood stock but I don't love how wood can behave. For a bomb proof mountain gun I want composite. Just personal preference, no need for the wood guys to tell me why I'm wrong 

[Karl Blanchard]

I also agree with others that said just get a new gun. Send off the scope for a spit shine and put the gun in the safe. Buy a proven shooter like a tikka, dump it in a mesa precision Alpine stock and you're off to the races for about $1,300 and don't have to worry about any of the Christensen QC issues

[Jpmiller]

I've yet to think to myself "gee, I wish I didn't have that new rifle"

If it were mine I'd buy a new one and keep that one as is as long as function isn't an issue.

[dreadi]

You know, I could have you into a Bergara B-14 Wilderness Ridge Rifle 7mm Rem Mag, Trijicon Huron 3-12x40, and a Silencer Co Harvester Evo for $2052 before base, rings, and taxes.

[Alchase]

You know, I could have you into a Bergara B-14 Wilderness Ridge Rifle 7mm Rem Mag, Trijicon Huron 3-12x40, and a Silencer Co Harvester Evo for $2052 before base, rings, and taxes.

OK that is almost cruel, 

Sweet setup!

[bod]

Get a stainless Tikka 7 rem mag smooth action and will shoot great right out of the box, see if you can find a Leupold 6x42 with dots.

[JakeLand]

outfit it with a new scope....maybe a zeis v4 4-16 so you have the ability to dial elevation with confidence.  Then pull the stock, strip and refinish it.  Put it back together and it will be good for another 100K miles.

X2

[phildobaggins]

First thing I'm buying is a scope, because if I change my mind and want to get a different rifle, I won't have spare parts

I really wanted a Leupold VX-5HD with the firedot. The CDS turret sounds super slick to have, but I heard a few complaints about the scopes not tracking.... they return to zero fine, but that was a little bit heartbreaking to read... now I'm leaning towards a Nightforce SHV... if anyone has a gently used Nightforce SHV they want to sell hit me up 

[bustedoldman]

First thing I'm buying is a scope, because if I change my mind and want to get a different rifle, I won't have spare parts

I really wanted a Leupold VX-5HD with the firedot. The CDS turret sounds super slick to have, but I heard a few complaints about the scopes not tracking.... they return to zero fine, but that was a little bit heartbreaking to read... now I'm leaning towards a Nightforce SHV... if anyone has a gently used Nightforce SHV they want to sell hit me up 

I have 2 VX-6HD's (6.5PRC & 300WM) and 4 VX-5HD's (.270, 6.5CM, 300PRC, 338LM), 2 VX-3HD's (.22LR & .22 Mag) all w/CDS..........I have ZERO issues with tracking or otherwise. I would feel 100% comfortable buying one.

[phildobaggins]

First thing I'm buying is a scope, because if I change my mind and want to get a different rifle, I won't have spare parts

I really wanted a Leupold VX-5HD with the firedot. The CDS turret sounds super slick to have, but I heard a few complaints about the scopes not tracking.... they return to zero fine, but that was a little bit heartbreaking to read... now I'm leaning towards a Nightforce SHV... if anyone has a gently used Nightforce SHV they want to sell hit me up 

I have 2 VX-6HD's (6.5PRC & 300WM) and 4 VX-5HD's (.270, 6.5CM, 300PRC, 338LM), 2 VX-3HD's (.22LR & .22 Mag) all w/CDS..........I have ZERO issues with tracking or otherwise. I would feel 100% comfortable buying one.

Really good to know, thanks for the feedback! I would just die if I dialed on a nice animal and missed 

[NW SURVEYOR]

I've got a Nightforce NX8 2.5-20X50 for sale in the classified ads.
It might be more than you need, but?

I also have a Leopold VX 5HD with the Boone and Crocket reticle on a 7MM Tika Superlight.
This is a lights out setup.
NOT for sale.

Good luck on your project.
Rob.

[phildobaggins]

Figured I'd just touch base on this thread.

I put in an MCARBO trigger spring. The trigger is EXCELLENT, I like it more than the Timney I have in my other gun.

I also ordered a new VX5-HD for it. On the fence about whether or not I am going to put a stock on it or keep it as is, but this thing is going to be a peach in no time.