Remington 700 in .223

[johnnydangerously]

My remington 700 never shoots well. The groups are never tighter than 1 1/2 inches in diameter, and thats consistant at 100 yards. I have used a variety of ammunition, as a matter of fact everything I could get my hands on. I have used premier handloads- 50gr and 55gr-soft point, HP, FMJ, and all of those in BT. I have tried rounds with several different gr's of powder, and I have tried store bought american rounds from American Eagle, to Winchester and everyone in between. I have even purchased PMC rounds. I have tried everything shy of Wolf because I would never put that garbage laquer in my gun. The scope is fine, the hairs are not loose and it doesn't vibrate. There is no damage to the gun, I even had 2 different gunsmiths and several friends check it out.
What could be causing this problem? The lack of tight groups at 100 yds is heartbreaking. I have heard possibly trying 65 gr bullets, which I did and didn't help, and I have heard the twist rate in the 700 .223 may be too fast. I am open to all ideas, friends assure me it is the ammunition, but no matter what I try no ammunition seems to work. I really appreciate your help, Thanks

 

[newsavageowner]

I'm by no means an expert, but I've read that the faster twist barrels prefer heavier bullets...what's the twist rate in your 700? AR type rifles that have a 1/7 twist rate generally prefer 62gr bullets or heavier. I would even try some of the 69 or 75gr stuff that's out on the market to see if that helps your problem. I know Black Hills makes some 68gr match hp stuff...that would be one place to start...just to try and eliminate the ammo as the problem. You could also try another scope setup just to be sure that it is not the source of your problems if it turns out not to be the ammo.

 

[ThomasT]

I know this seems obvious but first make sure the bore is realy clean and free of copper fouling. Use some Barnes CR-10.

Your Remington should have a 1/12 twist. use 40 to 60 grain bullets. Anything heavier needs a faster twist.

You may have a bump under the barrel at the end of the stock. Make sure it is not shifting the barrel with each shot or just sand it out and reseal the wood. You might think about bedding the action and floating the barrel. You can do this yourself. Its not hard to do.

Make sure the action screws are tight. The middle screw does not need to be cranked down hard. You can flex the action if it is tightened too much. The other two screws do need to be tight.

Make sure the crown is not damaged. It can be hard to see a small nick but it will show up on shooting. Also make sure the bolt handle is not touching the stock.

 

[rcmodel]

Got to be a bedding issue.
Or a badly copper fouled barrel.
Or just a plain old fashioned bad barrel right from the factory.

Even a fast twist 1/9 barrel will shoot preimum 55 grain bullets way better then that.

Try running a dollar bill down between the barrel and stock and see if it is tight, or rubbing on one side, or completely free-floated.

Try tightening the front & rear action screws tight, then the center one snug but not excessivly tight.


rcmodel

 

[skinewmexico]

Check your scope bases. You'll have to take the scope off.
Check your torque on the action screws. Borrow an in-pound torque wrench and torque to spec.
Check the crown.
Trade it in on a Savage.

Really, it's an inherently accurate caliber. If the barrel is floated, and everything is tight like it should be, I'm betting on the crown. And I guess I'll ask the obvious question.....you do generally shoot better than that, right? I'm not trying to be rude. And every manufacturer lets a bad barrel get out the door sometime. If it's still under warranty, I'd send it back to Remington.

 

[dakotasin]

start by thoroughly de-coppering it.
then, free-float the barrel all the way back to the receiver - not just the speed bump at the end of the forearm.
then, glass bed the action in.
last, do a good trigger job.

all this stuff you can do yourself for $20, and it will be an all new gun when you're done w/ it.

to get the copper out, use barnes cr-10. once you think the copper is all out, soak the bore w/ hoppes #9 overnight, and then start from scratch w/ the cr-10 the next day. repeat the process again until the barrel is truly clean. this will give you a baseline from which to start.

 

[YodaVader]

I have heard the twist rate in the 700 .223 may be too fast.

Unless it is a 700P or 700LTR or SPS Tactical the twist rate should be a 1 in 12" twist. The others mentioned above are 1 in 9".

Which 700 model do you have? Is it a BDL sporter or one of the Varmint models like the VLS. I used to own a 700VLS and it did not group well until I free floated the barrel.

Like the others mentioned a fouled barrel will cause group sizes to suffer. Clean it thouroughly if you have not already.

I have had great results with three 700s in .223 - a VLS , LTR and SPS Varmint.

 

[johnnydangerously]

thanks!

I appreciate all of your help, The suggestions all sound great. I should have mentioned a couple of things, the twist rate is 1:12, I have tried a different scope, and I shoot better than that- no offense taken whatsoever. I will try and get the copper out, and not just use hoppes #9, and I will re check every physical part of the gun. Should have the gun back soon from a friend who is very knowledgeable and giving it a thorough once over for me. I will let you know what the verdict is- hopefully not just a bad gun!

 

[MarshallDodge]

When I first bought my 700 VS it shot about the same as yours. I went through the barrel break-in again and that helped a lot so maybe copper fouling is your issue. With my reloads using a 55 grain VMax I have shot .5 inch groups at 100 yards.

 

[Conqueror]

I had a 700 in .223 that would shoot sub-inch at 100 from a bipod, so I'd say there's definitely something off about yours rather than just being an inaccurate rifle.

 

[fatelk]

There was a time when 1.5moa was considered pretty accurate. I would be disappointed too, though, with that level of accuracy from that kind of rifle.

I have a model 700 in .270 Win. that won't do any better no matter what I do to it. I've tried free-floating, glass bedding, many different loads and weights, trigger job, etc.. The barrel was a new stainless factory take-off, installed and crowned by a world-class riflesmith. I've come to the conclusion that the barrel itself simply won't do any better. I guess sometimes that's just the way it is.

That being said, the others have some great suggestions. Don't let me discourage you too much.

 

[tuck2]

Some Remington 700 rifles need a tune up to get them to shoot under one inch groups. I have glass bedded the action, free floated the barrel, adjusted the trigger pull down to around three pounds, and have had a gunsmith lapp the bolt locking lugs, and re crown the muzzle. I have two Remington rifles a 25-06 and 221 Fireball that had only one of the two bolt locking lugs showing any wear. After having the lugs lapped both rifles shot under one inch 100 Yd five shot groups.