Rem 700 upgrade

If you want a custom rifle, then starting with a factory Remington 700 - ASSUMING YOU DO NOT SPEND MONEY BLUEPRINTING - is often a cheaper than going full custom.

If you want an inexpensive rifle, then you do not want a custom rifle.

If you want a rifle which will pay you back what you spent to buy it, then you do not want a custom rifle.

If you are interested in a lower cost, gunsmith free custom rifle, then I suggest you look into a Criterion Remage Nut and compatible barrel and a Timney 510 trigger. You’ll have to either replace your stock, or inlet it for the new barrel profile. Shilen also produces short chambered or long tenon barrels which minimize your costs at the gunsmith as well. Many barrel makers offer this service. Some barrel makers will do the install for you as well, if you send the action.

Plan on at least $500, probably safer $700 for a contoured blank, plus thread, chamber, install, crown, and muzzle thread. I’m $600 each into 3 barrels right now, $300 for specially priced contoured blanks from Bartlein, plus $300 each at the smith.

If you want to preserve the heirloom value to that rifle, get a new scope and look into a new stock, and shoot the crap out of it. Learn how to shoot that gun well and be proud of it

After a few hundred or even thousand rounds, get a new barrel, it’s still your grandfathers rifle, but now it is closer to what you want

If you just want a new rifle and do not care about that rifle, then figure out what you want and get it

You will make more money, and some things, like a good rifle, are worth it

If you hand load the cheapest option might be to cut the barrel back a bit, have it threaded, and load the 06 down.

VTs suggestions for modifications are excellent, and honestly probably the most cost effective options your likely to get.
ERShaw is probably the cheapest options and for just the barrel and threading your looking at about 300-320 unfinished (400 in stainless), then installation would be another 100-125 unless you do it yourself.

Im going back and forth over changing a 700 to another caliber right now, and your correct cost is much higher than just buying a rifle off the shelf.
But i LIKE my rifle, its the last of the guns i bought with my first job, so ill probably eat another 500 dollars, after the last 500 dollars, on a rifle i bought for 300 dollars.
Tho not for a while.....

I spent $5k on a 308 two years ago. It was REALLY EXPENSIVE! For me and my family. We budgeted and saved up for about a year and my wife agreed to the purchase. The level of confidence and joy I get from that rifle, that shoots so well, is worth it. Every time i shoot that rifle it makes me smile, so I always encourage others to really consider doing a custom/semi custom rifle.

Replacement barrels, while expensive compared to a ruger American rifle, are so good it is worth it

If I'm understanding your dilemma I think it's somewhat similar to the situation I was in.

I have an old Rem 700 in .270. It literally was under the Christmas tree on Christmas morning when I was 14 yrs old. (I'm now 57.) It has huge amounts of sentimental value. I take it out a couple of times per year and kind of do some ceremonial shots. My goal in shooting it is to reminisce. (I don't hunt any more.) It has an old Bushnell 3-9x scope on it. It'll consistently knock steel plates out to 500 yards.

About 1.5 yrs ago I decided to get into some longer-ish range target rifle shooting. The .243 seemed like the right caliber. So I bought a new Rem 700 varmint model (bull barrel) in .243. I put on a nice (for me) Vortex scope on a 20 MOA rail. New Timney Calvin Elite trigger. And a Bell & Carlson fiberglass stock. I load my own ammo for it and it shoots like a dream. When I decided to go down this route I didn't even consider that .270 being my target gun. It didn't seem like a good fit on numerous levels.

Two totally different needs (hunting if I were a hunter; reminiscing) and somewhat-precision target shooting. Therefore, two different guns.

I think it's tough to turn a hunting gun into a target gun, and vice versa. If your 700 has a lot of sentimental value I'd leave it the way it is and enjoy it. If you want to get into target shooting I'd add to the stable of guns, even if it meant doing things deliberately financially over time to enable you to get what you really want. (And, as you mentioned 6.5CM, if you do want to do some target shooting, I would say there are some better options than the .30-06.)

I'd keep it and buy something you like better. What you have is a very basic, but very capable, hunting rifle as is. The Burris scope is my 1st pick for anyone wanting a scope without spending $400. It sounds like you are less a hunter, and more of a shooter and something else truly would suit your needs better.

If it were mine, and I actually have the same basic rifle, I'd eventually upgrade the stock and scope to something nicer. But that can be down the road, get a rifle you like now. In my case I bought my rifle new in 1975. I rarely use it anymore, but it isn't for sale. Mine is sitting in a McMillan stock that I picked up used at a good price and has a Leupold scope on it.

Sounds like something like this in 6.5 CM or 308 would suit your needs:

http://www.tikka.fi/en-us/rifles/tikka-t3x/t3x-compact-tactical-rifle

Street prices are about $900 in blue, $1000 in SS.

6.5 CM would be my pick. They offer that cartridge in 20" and 24" barrels. Out to well past 1000 yards the 20" barrel is more than enough. If you want to start shooting closer to 2000 you need the 24" barrel

I can’t help but point out the contradiction inherent to the advice for this kind of thread:

“I have a hunting rifle Gpa gave me, I don’t hunt, but love to shoot, and I want to make use of his rifle.”

Common responses:
“Keep that hunting rifle, because you’ll need it for hunting. Buy something else.”

While it IS cheaper to buy some other FACTORY rifle, it’s not cheaper to build a different custom rifle, and doing so will ensure you don’t build any of your own memories with Gpa’s old hunting rifle, which will sit in the back of the closet and collect dust.

In my experience, it’s actually VERY EASY to turn a Remington 700 from a hunting rifle into a target rifle and back again. It’s EXPENSIVE, but any custom is expensive. Replace the stock and barrel. If you blueprint the action, have the gunsmith setback the original barrel so it still headspaces - adds about $200. At that point, you have two barrels and two stocks, and it’d take about an hour to change back and forth, plus a few shots to rezero.

You can also build a hybrid design which is more stable for target shooting, but not too heavy to be hunted. I like a McMillan A3 type stock on any rifle I touch, for example, whether I’m shooting from a bench or a deerstand. A medium or light Palma barrel will ride very flat on a front rest, but still yield an overall rifle weight somewhere around 11-12.5lbs. Right on the edge of tolerable for hunting, but reasonable for stand hunting, but very stable on the bench. A guy could go a few contours lighter even, or cut 2” off of the muzzle end to drop weight from there (that’s planning a 26” barrel).

If it were mine, I’d keep the factory barrel and stock, screw on a Criteron Remage barrel in 284win, 6.5-284, 6.5-06, or 280, drop it into a McMillan Adjustable cheek Game Warden stock, and go punch tiny groups in paper. No gunsmith fees, relatively low costs, and everything is reversible in under an hour.

What kind of “emotional connection”?

Did you know your Grandfather well enough to know what he would have wanted you to do with it?

This grandfather (me) does not like his firearms messed with. Dead or alive.

Echoing jmr40 that’s a very usable scope.

The 30-06 makes a good mid long range shooter. I’d put it in a stock like a magpul hunter. Trigger, thread it for 1/2-28 and adapt it up or Use one of the non direct thread suppressors. (I’d chop it shorter if it was me down to 20) scope of your choice.

If it’s currently a safe queen and your attached I wouldn’t hesitate to make it your own.

I think post#6 gives the best advice. Leave the inherited rifle as is and look to buy rifle(s) you really want. I inherited an Iver Johnson 410 from my father. It has tremendous sentimental value so it hangs in my den attached to an old barn board with an inscription dedicated to the memory. Across the room is my gun cabinet that is overflowing with really great rifles and shotguns I've accumulated over the past 50 years. The 410 is still my favorite.

bob97 said:

thanks for all the replies and good ideas.

I think I am just going to shoot it for now as is. I do have an older vortex viper on a gun that is currently disassembled, so I am considering putting that one on. Trigger seems like a good idea as well so maybe do that sooner than later. I may play with it more towards hunting season.

regarding threading to 1/2" - the gunsmith I used before did say threading to 1/2" was an option. is that safe? keeping in mind its a 22" barrel.

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If i remember correctly @MachIVshooter has said that hes used 1/2-28 and adapters upto 300wm? hopefully he'll come on and correct me if im wrong.

LoonWulf said:

If i remember correctly @MachIVshooter has said that hes used 1/2-28 and adapters upto 300wm? hopefully he'll come on and correct me if im wrong.

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Yes, 1/2-28 is fine up to .30 cal magnums. Do it all the time.

If one is going to be putting a ton of rounds down range, the hoop stress causing the muzzle to bell a bit over time is a concern, but then, someone who will be firing thousands of rounds at paper targets isn't likely to be doing so from a skinny sporter barrel anyway.

As a general rule, your barrel OD at point of threading needs to be .080" larger than thread major diameter to ensure axial suppressor alignment. If it's under that, you need a shoulder. If your barrel measures at least .640", making a shoulder for the suppressor to run 5/8-24 is an option. Need .580" diameter to do 9/16-24 with a shoulder.

This was a .338 WM with a barrel OD of just .645" I did for a guy. 5/8-24 with a blended shoulder

One way to get the best out of that rifle without modifications is to reload specifically for it

I was given a barrel an action of a Springfield 1903 , all the parts cost me $ 300 + dollars to turn it back to a rifle . Shot great , let my Son in Law use it on his first deer hunt , first time out he gets a 8 pointer . Well it's his rifle now an he loves it .

I'ma benchrest shooter only , my one an only Rem 700 started out as a Rem 700 LTR . Stock change , Jewell trigger , completely blueprinted , M24 5R match barrel 308 Cal. Love shooting it , wouldn't think of buying or shooting anyother rifle . Find a rifle you love shooting and your hooked . Reloading your own makes it that much more enjoyable .

Chris

I’m probably a jerk for voicing this but I am also a loudmouth so here goes: a white elephant, as in the expression, refers to an old practice of gifting these creatures (usually to one’s enemy). Because they were considered sacred they could not be put to practical use (work) and would often cause the owner hardship due to the added expense. I am not implying that your grandfather wished you ill will by gifting a rifle, only that as it stands I perceive it as more of a burden than blessing. So what does a blind man do with snow skis? He gets rid of them or builds a rocking chair.

The honest truth is you have a basic rifle manufactured to hunt. If that’s not your thing, don’t sweat it. If Grandpa gave it to you without further instruction then you should conclude he wanted above all for you to enjoy it rather than suffering displeasure under the weight of a white elephant.

I can be sentimental as well, and I too have an Iver in .410 waiting for me when my father passes that will remain unaltered but I promise that 1911 is getting a full facelift before I pass it to one of my kids.

As far as what to do? Plenty of sound advice on how to adapt it to your wants.

I guess this is what I was going for in #9.



Or inversely, like a girl I dated as a teenager whose Grandfather gave me a 1923 Ford Model T, that I turned into a T bucket roadster. I was proud of what I had built but could tell the look on his face the “glory” I had created wasn’t anything he had envisioned.

Good thing is either way it should be easy. If you don’t care, it doesn’t matter and if you do, you already know what to do.

Yep, once you do all this stuff what do you have. Once all the modifications are done will your really have anything left of the original. Much of the work cannot be undone. Might do well to look for a rifle made for the shooting you like. Adding up the cost you may be able to come out ahead buying a complete factory rifle.

Mowgli Terry said:

Much of the work cannot be undone.

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Someone pencil this out for me, because this is either utter inexperience, or a bold faced lie.

A stock and bottom metal is a matter of a few screws. You can return the old one onto the rifle in about 4 minutes.

A barrel is ONE “screw”. With about $100 in tools, you can replace the barrel in under an hour. As I mentioned above, it only adds about $100 to have the gunsmith set back the barrel when blueprinting the barrel to re-establish proper headspace. Once headspaced, a gunsmith would swap barrels for $25-50, as it’s just a matter of retorquing to alignment with a witness mark for headspace.

A trigger is two pins. Done in 10 minutes, including pulling and replacing the stock.

A scope, rings, and rail are a matter of an hour or so, which any firearm owner should be able to manage alone.

What you likely MEANT to say - much of the work WON’T be undone. Once you have the rifle how you want it, why would you return it back to the form you didn’t want? The permanence of this type of work is voluntary. Any of the mechanical modifications can be undone at low to no cost.

I'm not sure I understand on screw to remove the barrel. I'd study looking for a donor rifle. The rifle would have a short action and potentially a small bolt face for 223 or one of the 6.5.s. Also, I would study alternative of stock and bottom metal. Doing this you would come closer to a long range rifle. Have at it if you want a long action rifle with 30-06 bolt face. Where I'm going is a more usable rifle. The cost of work would be the work and accessories would be the same. Based on local work having all this done would be seriously more expensive. The cost of a donor rifle would be a drop in the bucket compared to the rest.

@Mowgli Terry - could you elaborate as to how poor a long action .473” bolt face in 6.5-284 would be as a long range rifle? Would a fast twist 260 Remington be a poor choice? Utter inexperience.

Barrels are screwed into receivers, just like a bolt into a nut. Make a witness mark on the bottom of the barrel, concealed by the stock when assembled, and the barrel can be removed and replaced with simple wrenches in a matter of minutes. Utter inexperience.

Your advice is to buy another rifle, and leave a boat anchor in the safe, and NOT make his own memories using his grandpa’s rifle? Spend more, and not make use of his grandpa’s gift, vs. spend less and use the gift... seems pretty straight forward to me. Too many “grandpa’s rifles” are sitting in the back of closets, wanting for use, because the next generations don’t have use for them, and spend money on something ELSE instead of making use of the fantastic gifts they were given. As @Skylerbone noted - a gift without utility isn’t really a gift - but I’d challenge, if given a useful gift, it’s wasteful to not make use of it.

Should I have left the factory stock on my grandpa’s 270win pre-64 Model 70 just because it was grandpa’s? My wrist injury precludes me from using traditional swept grip stocks without a lot of pain. I could leave it in my safe, never to see the light of a morning sun coming up in deer woods, or I can be happy using it every season in a replacement stock. Which do you expect my grandpa would prefer?