First build

[devinB]

I have decided to do a 300 wsm build with the Barnes Bore rider. I want to use a a 20in 1:8 twist carbon 6 barrel with the sendero contour. I would like to go with an iota stock. The action I'm going to use is a Remington 700 LA. Would yall blue print the action or no? I think the action was made in 98 it's serial number starts with S. Would yall use a blank or a remage prefit and not blue print the action. Thank you

 

[Rotten]

That depends on how much money and time you want to spend.
I have a 1980 made win m70 that I made into a 25 creed with out truing up the action and had a barrel put on. With 135gr hybrid berger bullets and 42gr of accurate 4350 it will shoot 1/4 -3/8 5 shot groups @ 100 yards off tripod and rear bag.
So for me being a tight wad I would put a barrel on and get about 100 rds down it and if it doesn't preform well enough for you you can always true up the action later on. I like tinkering however some would rather just get it over with and true it up from the start and not mess around. There's really no wrong answer it just depends on what you want to do and your skills and tools at hand vs paying someone else for work.

 

[Idaho Lefty]

I have one of the Last, CNC Made, Rem 700, L-H Short actions, in SS by Remington, before, the Plant closed,..
It was very "Straight" from the Factory. I just Lapped the Bolt lugs a Tiny Bit and installed, a Criterion "Rem Age" Barrel w/ a CrownRidge bbl Nut, myself, setting the Headspace on 2 New, Norma 6 XC Brass cases to "Close" and very TIGHT on, the Go gage,.. Getting Low 2's to, mid 3's with 107 gr. SMK's. ( 24" Bbl, . 705 Dia Muzzle, Med Hvy, Sporter ) 10.5 Pounds,.. Scoped / Braked, etc..
Getting, 3's to, 1/2 MOA with, other Bullets, that, I have Not, Fully "Tuned" seating depth,.., yet.
I'd look Hard at the action to, See If, "Straight", smooth, Threaded "Well", Deburred, etc. and go with a Good, "RemAge", barrel system.
"Blue Printing" Rem 700's, opens Up, a whole New "Can of Worms" ( I'd avoid It,.. If, possible ).
If you decide to, Blue Print the Action, just have, a "Good GunSmith install the Barrel and Pay,.. "the Price".

 

[Bobby Bailey]

Were it me, I'd blueprint the action.
Blank or prefit? Up to you we've had excellant results either way.
We just tested a blueprinted 700 barrelled with a CBI prefit, 6.5-284, 26", 156 EOL Bergers, 55gr of Retumbo.
20 shoot group 100 yd, 17 shots into 3/8" , the other 3 shots were out at max spread of 7/8".
group measured outside to outside.

 

[Idaho Lefty]

I Used, Blue Lithium Grease on the action Threads and Blue Loctite on, the CrownRidge Bbl "Nut' with , NO "issues' after, 300 rounds.
Degrease thrd's with, Acetone and a Tooth Brush,.. First.
My action is Bedded in an H-S Precision Stock from, Tang to, 1 1/4 inches of the "Shank portion" of Barrel ( and Relieved around, the bbl Nut ).

 

[Varmint Hunter]

I've done a few "semi-customs" on Rem 700 and 40X actions. All of them were blueprinted before anything else was done. Why put a load of money into a rifle if the foundation isn't as straight and concentric as possible? If you go the fast & easy route, you'll never stop second guessing your decisions if the gun doesn't shoot to you expectations.

 

[Tiny Tim]

Welcome to the forum. I'd likely take it to a smith and have the action inspected to see if the surfaces are true (bolt lugs and recesses, receiver face, and bolt face). If all it needs is a lug lapping and receiver ring facing(if at all), I'd do those things A/R and install a remage barrel. I have had one 700 action blueprinted, and for the cost, I'd have been better off with a custom action.

If this is your first and .5-.75 moa is your goal (be honest with your shooting skills), I'd minimize the cost of truing the action, and do as above.

 

[Rick Richard]

By the time it's all said and done with action work to a factory unit, you could have purchased a custom action. I learned the hard way…been there done that.

 

[Idaho Lefty]

Remington Has been making Rem 700's on CNC Machines for, a Couple of Decades or, more and MOST, are pretty "True" with, the Threads being "straight / Perpendicular" to, the Bolt and action Faces. Most can be, Made into, 3/4 MOA or Better, Rifles, like Tiny Tim stated.
If, the New Barrel is put On, "Right', the barreled action, Bedded correctly and the Barrel is Twisted properly with, the appropriate Freebore for, the desired Bullet used,.. You should Be, fine and you'll save, some Money !
For most Hunting and informal Target shooting, the RemAge system, "Can" work,.. great.
As noted by some here,.. If wanting a Full "Blue Printed" rifle,... Sell, the Action and Buy, a Custom action.
Might want to, have a Skilled G-S, Check out, the Action,. FIRST !

 

[Playtimefun]

Short answer... blueprint it. In general... Remington actions with straight serial numbers or those starting with A, B, C, D and E are way better quality (trueness) than actions made afterwards.

A very good gunsmith I know has always told me that it takes very little to make those actions shoot tiny groups. He said the others will... but you have a fair amount of work to do.

 

[shedhunt]

I did the same thing your looking to do with my build 2 years ago. I had mine trued and I'm glad I did. In the end, do what you want to do. I didn't spend anyware close to what a custom action costs. Find a good gunsmith and get it built.