Custom barrel - accuracy expectations

[Bigdog425]

I have a Rem 700 XCR in 300wsm that shoots around 2-3MOA at 300+ yards. On rare occasion, I have acheived near 1MOA. I have a Jewel trigger, glass bedding, and I reload..tried many bullets...all about the same. This is a hunting rifle, and I desire consistent 1MOA at 300-600 yards.

On average will a custom barrel shoot 1MOA with hand loads? I am trying to avoid spending $750 to later end up buying a custom gun.

Thanks,

Kenn

 

[BountyHunter]

Just about any of the custom barrels IF properly chambered and bedded will do 1 MOA quite easily.

BH

 

[gr8whyt]

Yep...what BountyHunter said. Also that Rem action will respond nicely to a quality blueprint job as part of the rebarrel.

-- gr8whyt

 

[blipelt]

If you plan on keeping the rifle for a long time, yes squaring the action and a match barrel would be the next option. I sure would think you could achieve better accuracy from a factory rifle than you are. Especially reloading for it.

Is the stock pillared and bedded? What factory stock? Have you had a good smith look at it? For $750 you should be able to have your action squared and have a match barrel chambered, threaded, crowned, and installed. With what you already have done you pretty much will have a custom rifle after the barrel.


Brent

 

[backwoods83]

I just bedded and done a trigger job on a friends 700 SPS 300 wsm, boyds feather weight thumbhole and x-mark pro @ 35ozs, weaver 20moa rail, tactical rings and 6-18 Nikon. It will shoot around .75 moa @ 300yrds (2.25-2.5" groups) with 178grain Hornady BTHPs and 68.5grns Imr 4350 which is pretty good for a remington barrel. I have saw bad shooting rifles but 6-9" groups at 300 something is a little off, check the crown, remington has had some issues with that recently.

 

[midnightmalloy]

if you are going to pay that much ($750) for a rebarrel i would look at benchmark barrels out of arlington, wa. it was only $525 for them to do a similar job for me. if you are right handed (im not) you should look into a greybull stock for $325. thats $850 for a new stock and barrel. also have someone else shoot the rifle that is a known competent shooter. Im not saying your not im just saying that if the stock fit is off or some other problem is being induced i always have someone else test it before i do anything. just a thought. oh and the benchmark barrel was a match grade stainless and beadblasted for that price. I havent seen that anywhere as of yet. check 6mmbr.com for some feedback on them. Im not getting paid by them or anything but there turn around time on a rebarrel was like 6-8 weeks.

 

[rscott5028]

I have a Rem 700 XCR in 300wsm that shoots around 2-3MOA at 300+ yards. On rare occasion, I have acheived near 1MOA. I have a Jewel trigger, glass bedding, and I reload..tried many bullets...all about the same. This is a hunting rifle, and I desire consistent 1MOA at 300-600 yards.

On average will a custom barrel shoot 1MOA with hand loads? I am trying to avoid spending $750 to later end up buying a custom gun.

Thanks,

Kenn

Kenn,

No offense intended, but are you sure it's the rifle?

Do you have anything else to compare to?

How well does it shoot at 100 yds?

And, what are you using for ammo?

-- richard

 

[Bigdog425]

Am I positive its the rifle...no. However, I am reloading with premium bullets and shooting on calm days with "professional" rests. I am NOT an expert shooter, but have shot other guns (including others I own) to well 1MOA. So, anything is possible, but most other bases are largely covered.

My one hesitancy is reloading. I have tried five bullets with typical magnum powders (4831, RL17, RL19...) with tight spacing (0.005 off the lands) which works best in all other guns I shoot.

Thanks,
Kenn

 

[rscott5028]

Kenn,

Like I said, I didn't mean to be insulting. But, I had to ask.

Some guys are experts and some don't know how to set paralax.

-- richard

 

[RockZ]

When I get a custom barrel and set a rifle up I expect .5moa accuracy or better.
I've rarely if ever been dissappointed.
Have you tried different seating depths and powder charges in trying to find a load that will work?

 

[MontanaRifleman]

It sounds to me like it could be the barrel or a combination of things. First thing to do that will be very easy ans inexpensive is to shim your barrel in the forearm of the stock so there is a little positive pressure on it and see what happens. You might be surprised.

Next, if you still have the cheap factory XCR stock I would replace that first with a B&C Medalist or better quality stock. Then devcon bed it instead of glass bedding. Then if you want to rebarrel it, get it the action trued and blue printed.

Most custom barrel makers advertise 1/2 MOA accuracy or better if properly smithed, and most quality smith's guarantee 1/2 MOA accuracy on their work, if you use quality materials.

 

[rscott5028]

If the rifle had been a great shooter and the barrel was worn out, maybe skip the action true/blue.

But in this case, I wouldn't skip it and I'd sure want to try the things MR suggested before rebarreling.

-- richard

 

[GNERGY]

I would suggest trying a target bullet from Sierra or Hornady and see how that shoots, that was suggested to me by some target shooters at the range about my .308 Win. If you can get good groups with that then your barrel has the potential of being a good shooter, I would try that first.
Tarey

 

[mike33]

Sometimes it is what it is. And you also get what you pay for. There are some factory guns that will shoot and i do own a few of them but most of us wouldnt of spent the big bucks for custom barrel job, etc if it wasent for a reason.
mike