How much "extra" accuracy package is needed...

[fmajor]

Hey guys -

I've price-shopped a couple of the well-regarded 'smiths here about this, but i'm sorta curious.....

What I'm wondering is with a new barrel install (i'll go w/a Lilja) on my 1983 model year Rem 700 ADL in 7mm RM how much "Accuracy Enhancements" would i really need for sub-MOA accuracy potential?

Loads/shooter/etc notwithstanding.....

 

[Broz]

Let your smith look at the trueness of the factory action. If he suggests it needs truing up then do it. If you don't have trust in the smith you are using look elsewhere. I will add that I have not owned a 700 action yet that didn't need trued in one area or another. And why do a barrel change and leave excuses in the rifle. I would fear that it would be a 1moa rifle that could be a 1/2 moa or better.

Jeff

 

[Good]

Let your smith look at the trueness of the factory action. If he suggests it needs truing up then do it. If you don't have trust in the smith you are using look elsewhere. I will add that I have not owned a 700 action yet that didn't need trued in one area or another. And why do a barrel change and leave excuses in the rifle. I would fear that it would be a 1moa rifle that could be a 1/2 moa or better.

Jeff

This.

 

[rscott5028]

If it was already a straight shooter, then perhaps just rebarrel.

If it was 2 MOA, then definitely have the action trued.

You'll probably be fine. But, he may cut you a deal if you get the action trued at the same time. Afterall, the rifle will already be completely disassembled and he'll be headspacing, etc.

In the grand scheme of things, now would be the time to have the action trued because chasing the threads on the reciever later means that you'll have to do a setback or worse yet, get a new barrel.

A good stock and/or bedding will go a long ways. But, you can do that latter and/or do it yourself with no penalty.

...same for trigger work, picatinny rail, optics, etc. i.e. you can always add those later.

 

[WildRose]

Hey guys -

I've price-shopped a couple of the well-regarded 'smiths here about this, but i'm sorta curious.....

What I'm wondering is with a new barrel install (i'll go w/a Lilja) on my 1983 model year Rem 700 ADL in 7mm RM how much "Accuracy Enhancements" would i really need for sub-MOA accuracy potential?

Loads/shooter/etc notwithstanding.....

Square/true/tune, pillar bedding and completely free float it.

If the gunsmith does all of the above for you, you're adding about $600-750.00 to the package.

Hart, Krieger, and some of the others will do the squaring/truing as part of installing the barrel if you send it to them.

Precision rarely comes cheaply or easily.

 

[Buffalobob]

Any smith can tell you if your lugs are locking up tight in less than a minute. If they are not then you have a problem. There are other issues on an actin but this one has to be fixed.

A good trigger or worked trigger is easy for a smith to install.

You should be able to free float and bed your own action. If the stock is no good then you will need to restock.

 

[fmajor]

I've lapped the lugs previously, but otherwise i was thinking to have the action blueprinted while it was all apart. The stock work i'd do myself, but it seems the price tag for the re-barrel goes through the stratosphere as soon as true-ing or any other accuracy add-on gets figured in.

Theres no free lunch, but i just wasn't prepared to see the prices....

 

[rscott5028]

I've lapped the lugs previously, but otherwise i was thinking to have the action blueprinted while it was all apart. The stock work i'd do myself, but it seems the price tag for the re-barrel goes through the stratosphere as soon as true-ing or any other accuracy add-on gets figured in.

Theres no free lunch, but i just wasn't prepared to see the prices....

It all adds up quickly, but you may be looking at as little as $175 to do the action. It's a one-time expense that will benefit every shot you fire and every future barrel you install.

There are a number of smiths that frequent these forums and have good reputations. Kevin Cram and Jim See are just two of them. They respond to a lot of questions which is worth a lot if you've ever tried to deal with a smith that won't return calls.

As somebody else pointed out, a good smith should be able to steer you in the right direction. If it's not required, then you've got more to spend elsewhere. But, it pays to lay a solid foundation.

-- richard