Remington 700 XCR II updgrades, add-ons, etc...

[MDGrand]

So.. I just purchased this rifle, and its become my new project!

It comes with some solid basics that I am pretty happy about as I want to make it a true all weather, no fuss rifle:

26" barrell, Trinyte finish, 300 RUM, X Mark Trigger (this thing is awesome.. just went to the range today.. it does "break like glass.")

Added a 3-12x42 Nikon Monarch scope, and have already ordered a HS Precision thumbole stock.

After firing it at the range today and playing gearting it all up.. my thoughts are these:

The Remington stocks suck.. they are hollow. Mine came with the cool Reatree HD print, but its SUPER light and I think enhances recoil. With so many options with this super popular rifle, the new stock was first on the list. I know the HS comes with aluminum bedding so I think the added weight will help with the recoil. So far because of the light hollow stock I notice the kick more than my 300 Weatherby which albeit is 2 lbs heavier.

My question to you is the following:

The factory Remington Ammo.. Scrocco 180 grain level III's did not group that well.. best group was 1.5 inches. As inherintely accurate as these rifles are supposed to be, what factory ammo round really thrives in this set up? I have never found Rem ammo to be that great.. does anyone else have a good experience with Rem ammo?

What other things have you guys done to outfit your 700s?

As much as I hate muzzlebreaks I am considering a magna port.. anyone done this to their factory 700 barrel 300 RUM and can share info?

[ICEMAN]

My RUM loves the 180 Scirrocco's....   

Personally, for a hunting rifle...I would not magna port it. Wear muffs and pad your shoulder at the range. I don't feel or hear my rifle much when shooting at game, but I understand touching off a round with magnaporting when you arent wearing hearing protection can ruin your day.

Since you are concerned with the kick from this rifle, any chance you are flinching the shot?

[longrange7mm]

if you are just going to shoot factory loads federal has a nice selection of ammo and in my opinion are the best bang for your $$. They have came along way in the last couple years 

[high country]

the shape of a stock has moreto do with recoil then you might imagine. if you are going to drop the $$ on a stock and magna porting, please try a mc millan stock first. if you do not like it you will have no trouble selling it for what you paid for it as most have to wait 6 plus months for one. I have 2 300 rums and they both shoot well, but both shot factory ammo so poorly that I pulled the bullets and saved the agony of wasting barrel life. mine have hand loads they love of sciroccos and tsx's. one loves 7828 the other 8700.....both in very large doses.

[MDGrand]

My RUM loves the 180 Scirrocco's....   

Personally, for a hunting rifle...I would not magna port it. Wear muffs and pad your shoulder at the range. I don't feel or hear my rifle much when shooting at game, but I understand touching off a round with magnaporting when you arent wearing hearing protection can ruin your day.

Since you are concerned with the kick from this rifle, any chance you are flinching the shot?

Not really.. I had the thing on a lead slead with 60lbs of shot in the tray.. I will only do a magna port if after I get the HS Precision stock it is intolerable. Even then I probably wont.. because I too hate the ringing ears in the field afterwards..

[MDGrand]

the shape of a stock has moreto do with recoil then you might imagine. if you are going to drop the $$ on a stock and magna porting, please try a mc millan stock first. if you do not like it you will have no trouble selling it for what you paid for it as most have to wait 6 plus months for one. I have 2 300 rums and they both shoot well, but both shot factory ammo so poorly that I pulled the bullets and saved the agony of wasting barrel life. mine have hand loads they love of sciroccos and tsx's. one loves 7828 the other 8700.....both in very large doses.

I am going to try some different rounds today if the weather cooperates.. I usually shoot handloads though so I expect I will find a round or two that it really likes.

[MDGrand]

the shape of a stock has moreto do with recoil then you might imagine. if you are going to drop the $$ on a stock and magna porting, please try a mc millan stock first. if you do not like it you will have no trouble selling it for what you paid for it as most have to wait 6 plus months for one. I have 2 300 rums and they both shoot well, but both shot factory ammo so poorly that I pulled the bullets and saved the agony of wasting barrel life. mine have hand loads they love of sciroccos and tsx's. one loves 7828 the other 8700.....both in very large doses.

Well, I was advised by my riflesmith that he uses McMillen stocks.. that was his recommendation. But He also endorsed HS Precision as they are the go to stock for 700s and the military. The only difference he noted was the aluminum bedding. I went for the HS precison because of what you said.. the wait time.. I can get an HS Precision in about 8-10 weeks.. which is good because I REALLY want it for hunting season.

[yorketransport]

1.5" isn't great grouping, but it isn't terrible. I'll bet that after breaking in the barrel, bedding the action, and a little searching, you'll find a good load. I bet 1" would be a reasonable expectation for this gun. I personally have taken a break from Remingtons because of mediocre accuacy. I've had 4 different rifles, and I couldn't get any of them to shoot under 1". They all got pretty close though after a bedding job and some load developement.

Andrew

[MDGrand]

Well,

If I cant get this rifle to get to 1" or less.. I will sell it. The accuracy of these rifles with the bedding, etc is supposed to get those results pretty regularly. If I dont, I will find myself a new set up.

[mattaylor81]

The factory Remington Ammo.. Scrocco 180 grain level III's did not group that well.. best group was 1.5 inches. As inherintely accurate as these rifles are supposed to be, what factory ammo round really thrives in this set up? I have never found Rem ammo to be that great.. does anyone else have a good experience with Rem ammo?

First off Swift bullets perform awesome on game.  Give the Swift A-Frames a shot.  I don't have a 300RUM so I can't be of help there.  I do have a 30-06 and the Swift A-Frames that Remington loads grouped better for me than the Sciroccos.  I now handload 180gr A-Frames due to the price of factory ammo.  

[high country]

md, I just noticed that you were using a nikon on it. no offense to the nikon guys, but my light 300 would not hold zero with that exact same scope. wearing the zeiss and 4200 it shot better. the nikon now lives on a 270 and is fine. so before you junk the gun chuck up a known good scope and give it a shot.

[carpsniperg2]

yep my thoughts also high country, putting a Nikon on a 300 rum is a  if you are going to sink money into anything i would get a new scope. like a Leupold of some other higher end scope i do not trust Nikon's on anything bigger then 270 had no luck with them and now no longer even own one. get a good scope and that should help. next the stock, when packing that thing around all day adding weight with a heavier stock is something i could not justify. like said a lead sled at the range will do you just fine and in the field you will not notice it when shooting at the animal. next factory ammo most times will not shoot as great as good handloads i do have a few guns that shoot well with factory but not many rem is some of the worst that i have found ,go to federal they have some good offerings if you want factory ammo. "So far because of the light hollow stock I notice the kick more than my 300 Weatherby which albeit is 2 lbs heavier." your dang right no matter the stock it is still a 300 rum its going to kick when running the level III or any other pumped up loads good luck to you keep us posted

[MDGrand]

Well, Carpsniper and High Country.. I will have to take the Nikon advice with a grain of salt. I have a Nikon on my 300 Weatherby, 4-16x50, Monarch.. and its right on.. very clear, great optic. Cant justify paying 100 bucks more for the Leupold name. I'm actually a pretty big fan of the Nikon stuff.. to me its the best bang for the buck and I never see a difference between a leupold and Nikon when looking through it. That being said, I am not above keeping my mind open and if it still does not settle down I will think about a different optic.

 I am on my way to range again to try out some Federal ammo and see what it does. If I dont get better results, I will be a bit shocked.. Thanks!

[carpsniperg2]

yep no prob each to there own i had one on a 30-06 and it broke one of the inner lenses out of the scope sent it back and got it back and it did it again and i had another on a 7mm that would not hold zero so i am not a fan but that scope is probably like 450.00 and the vxII are about the same money and have always been great or you can jump up the vx III but i see no need for that i have both and both are great i just put a 6-18 vxII on a 338 i picked up the other day. good luck in the search

[carpsniperg2]

o and as far as the 1.5" group that aint to bad my standards for hunting "practical" is smaller then 27 cal 1" bigger 1.5" of course all the guns can and do shoot better i find that these standards will get the job done