Remington accuracy worth the chance??

[Elkwonder]

I have a couple new Remington CDL SF guns located locally that I can pick up for about $950.00. I love the looks of them, but I have not bought a new Remington in close to twenty years! I read about the quality going to crap all the time, but the CDL SF guns that I have observed lately seem to be very nice in the fit and finish category. However, what I can't tell anything about is what the accuracy would be like. I would love to pick one up in 22-250, 7mm-08, and 300,wsm, and I would be reloading for all three of them. I really dont have much use for a gun that won't shoot MOA or less with reloads. Some of you guys that have bought Remingtons lately, have you had good experience with them in the accuracy department, or have they been bad? I know I have read some bad reviews, but sometimes it seems people want to over- exaggerate in the bashing department when it comes to guns...lol

 

[Creedmoor shooter]

My grandfather bought one of those in a 6mm rem limited edition. Its a nice rifle as far as fit and finish. As far as the shooting goes.... ive handloaded for this rifle and i cant get it to shoot anything less than 1 1/2in groups. His 20 year old 700 varmint special in 6mm rem shoots circles around it.

 

[Elkwonder]

I was afraid of that.....lol
I live close to a super nice gun smith who does great work, so I think I will just start gathering parts and have him build one from scratch. Just got to figure out the cheapest place to gather all my parts...lol

 

[MudRunner2005]

I have a couple new Remington CDL SF guns located locally that I can pick up for about $950.00. I love the looks of them, but I have not bought a new Remington in close to twenty years! I read about the quality going to crap all the time, but the CDL SF guns that I have observed lately seem to be very nice in the fit and finish category. However, what I can't tell anything about is what the accuracy would be like. I would love to pick one up in 22-250, 7mm-08, and 300,wsm, and I would be reloading for all three of them. I really dont have much use for a gun that won't shoot MOA or less with reloads. Some of you guys that have bought Remingtons lately, have you had good experience with them in the accuracy department, or have they been bad? I know I have read some bad reviews, but sometimes it seems people want to over- exaggerate in the bashing department when it comes to guns...lol

Don't let all the internet talking heads dissuade you from something you want. It's almost become a hipster-cool trend to take a below-the-belt shot at Remington these days. The reality of the situation is, that ANY off-the-shelf rifle has a 50/50 chance of shooting or not shooting, regardless of brand. From my experiences, most of Remington's upper-end rifles shoot VERY well with handloads.

If you do buy them, I would bed the action, float the barrel and swap the trigger immediately. That will eliminate 3 big problem areas that you find with every factory rifle. That pretty much leaves only the barrel to blame, if it still does not shoot.

Handloading for factory rifles helps out a lot. I have had rifles that shot ok before, but really shined with some load development and finding the right bullet & powder combo that it likes.

I have been wanting to get a CDL SF in 7mm RemMag for a lightweight hunting rifle, but the spare funds haven't been there yet...Hopefully soon.

Good luck, and keep us updated on how they shoot.

 

[gohring3006]

Don't let all the internet talking heads dissuade you from something you want. It's almost become a hipster-cool trend to take a below-the-belt shot at Remington these days. The reality of the situation is, that ANY off-the-shelf rifle has a 50/50 chance of shooting or not shooting, regardless of brand. From my experiences, most of Remington's upper-end rifles shoot VERY well with handloads.

If you do buy them, I would bed the action, float the barrel and swap the trigger immediately. That will eliminate 3 big problem areas that you find with every factory rifle. That pretty much leaves only the barrel to blame, if it still does not shoot.

Handloading for factory rifles helps out a lot. I have had rifles that shot ok before, but really shined with some load development and finding the right bullet & powder combo that it likes.

I have been wanting to get a CDL SF in 7mm RemMag for a lightweight hunting rifle, but the spare funds haven't been there yet...Hopefully soon.

Good luck, and keep us updated on how they shoot.

Never had to bed, free float or change triggers on any of my three Savage rifles or my TC venture. And all of them shoot well under a inch. Seems the first thing you have to do to a Remington is to do all three. Nothing hipster here. Just giving my OPINION.....

 

[MudRunner2005]

Never had to bed, free float or change triggers on any of my three Savage rifles or my TC venture. And all of them shoot well under a inch. Seems the first thing you have to do to a Remington is to do all three. Nothing hipster here. Just giving my OPINION.....

For the record, I didn't call-out anyone or mention any specific brands other than Remington...

I haven't HAD to bed or float any of mine (trigger swap was personal preference, because the XMP triggers suck)...But I chose to have those things done while the gunsmith was building the rifles.

I do still have several Remingtons that are 100% stock, and have not been to the gunsmith. For example, my 5R .308 Win shoots sub-1/4 MOA with handholds, and it's 100% factory, and has not been bedded or floated either. My Sendero SF 7mm STW shoots 5-shot 1/2 MOA groups...Bought it new in 2002, and haven't done anything but adjust the trigger the day it came in.

However, the reason I suggested those items be done, is for the fact that the CDL rifles have wooden-stocks. It's best to bed and float, because with the moisture content in the air and with atmospheric pressure swings, the wood can flex causing accuracy issues. And when bedded and floated, that helps to alleviate most of those issues.

 

[Elkwonder]

Ok guys, you seem to know your Remingtons so let me ask you this. My thoughts where to shoot the CDL's the way they were while I order Mcmillan stocks to put them in. I then figured I would be able to sell the nice wooden stocks for $200.00 or so and my Mcmillans will cost me $550.00 So in the end ....... My cost would be

$950.00 for rifle
$550.00 for Mcmillan stock
Sell the wooden stock for $200.00

Total end cost of nice stainless fluted CDL in Mcmillan stock..........$1300.00

Not bad at all for what I consider to be the perfect weight and feel for a hunting gun!!

However after looking around, it doesn't look like I will even be able to get $200.00 out of the pretty wood stock. And, Im not sure that I won't have to get the Rem rebarrled.............Decisions Decisions

So does anyone know if remington makes this same contour in any of there other models thats fluted that would make a better donor rifle?

 

[MudRunner2005]

Ok guys, you seem to know your Remingtons so let me ask you this. My thoughts where to shoot the CDL's the way they were while I order Mcmillan stocks to put them in. I then figured I would be able to sell the nice wooden stocks for $200.00 or so and my Mcmillans will cost me $550.00 So in the end ....... My cost would be

$950.00 for rifle
$550.00 for Mcmillan stock
Sell the wooden stock for $200.00

Total end cost of nice stainless fluted CDL in Mcmillan stock..........$1300.00

Not bad at all for what I consider to be the perfect weight and feel for a hunting gun!!

However after looking around, it doesn't look like I will even be able to get $200.00 out of the pretty wood stock. And, Im not sure that I won't have to get the Rem rebarrled.............Decisions Decisions

So does anyone know if remington makes this same contour in any of there other models thats fluted that would make a better donor rifle?

I believe the CDL SF is the only rifle they offer that has a fluted sporter barrel. The only other fluted barrel they currently offer is the Sendero SFII.

That sounds like a solid plan. You can probably get $200 shipped per stock, if you put them on eBay. The wooden factory Rem stocks bring a premium over there.

If you're wanting to build rifles, the cheapest option for a stainless BDL donor rifle, is going to be the SPS Stainless. Those are normally $600-650, unless you find them on sale somewhere, and you might can get them cheaper than that. Or, if you're buying 3, the store might cut you a discount for buying in bulk.

Like I said, my experiences with upper-end Remingtons have been good with handloads. You might want to start out and try one of them, and see how well it shoots. If it shoots good, then buy the other 2 and proceed with your plans. They might all 3 shoot great. It's a gamble...But sometimes the reward is worth the risk...Sometimes you get burned. It's your money, not ours, so only you can decide whether you want to risk it or not.

 

[FEENIX]

Seems the first thing you have to do to a Remington is to do all three

4 guys from my base did exactly that in the last 2 hunting seasons but only 1 of them keep his. 1 went full custom instead and I don't remember what the other 2 ended up getting since they have a change in duty station early on this year.

To the OP, "IF" you are willing and able to do as noted above, then it might be worth your chance.

If I am paying $950 it better shoots. I purchased a non-Remington last year for $370 and it shoots .75 MOA with factory ammo at 200 yards out of the box. Half MOA with my handloads.

 

[gohring3006]

4 guys from my base did exactly that in the last 2 hunting seasons but only 1 of them keep his. 1 went full custom instead and I don't remember what the other 2 ended up getting since they have a change in duty station early on this year.

To the OP, "IF" you are willing and able to do as noted above, then it might be worth your chance.

If I am paying $950 it better shoots. I purchased a non-Remington last year for $370 and it shoots .75 MOA with factory ammo at 200 yards out of the box. Half MOA with my handloads.

I agree,$950.00 is alot of money to just to turn around and swap triggers, stocks and true up the action. Just to get it to shoot.

 

[Elkwonder]

Whats the best custom action for light weight and affordability to do a full up custom? Thanks

 

[gohring3006]

Deleted

 

[gohring3006]

For the record, I didn't call-out anyone or mention any specific brands other than Remington...

I haven't HAD to bed or float any of mine (trigger swap was personal preference, because the XMP triggers suck)...But I chose to have those things done while the gunsmith was building the rifles.

I do still have several Remingtons that are 100% stock, and have not been to the gunsmith. For example, my 5R .308 Win shoots sub-1/4 MOA with handholds, and it's 100% factory, and has not been bedded or floated either. My Sendero SF 7mm STW shoots 5-shot 1/2 MOA groups...Bought it new in 2002, and haven't done anything but adjust the trigger the day it came in.

However, the reason I suggested those items be done, is for the fact that the CDL rifles have wooden-stocks. It's best to bed and float, because with the moisture content in the air and with atmospheric pressure swings, the wood can flex causing accuracy issues. And when bedded and floated, that helps to alleviate most of those issues.

mudd please elaborate on which brand you are saying needs this work done besides Remington....

 

[MudRunner2005]

Now that the conversation has lost ALL relevance, I'm out. I'm not derailing this guy's thread.

Best of luck Elkwonder.