Remington 700 stock question

[Dollar914]

Can I put a "BDL" stock on a Remington 700 SPS DM? Rifle is a short action in .308

If it does, does the SPS mag still fit or would it need a new one?

Also, I see a lot of message boards talking about "bedding" and "floating" the barrel. What does this mean?

I just bought my first rifle but I dont really know much about them. I own and have fired many hand guns, but no rifles...until now.

 

[Effigy]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free-floating_barrel
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rifle_bedding

 

[jmr40]

The BDL stock would fit a standard SPS, but would not work with the detachable box magazine. The stock would bolt on the rifle. But your magazine would not work.

 

[Whiskey11]

Dollar914 - A direct fit, it is not. In order to get it to fit you will have to potentially widen the channel for the magazine and cut the tabs in the side of the magazine well, or you'd need to procure one of the many (superior) detachable box magazine systems.

I was in the same boat you where, got my SPS DM from Cabelas without much thought on the whole DBM thing. Kinda left me screwed on stock options for the stock DBM. The easiest way to do this is to just buy a BDL stock and a different DBM system (Badger Ord, Wyatts, etc) and use that instead. I never liked the Remington DM as the follower had a tendency to tilt during use. Sadly, we are kind of screwed in that way, as you can't just install a BDL change over kit to an SPS DM because the feed lips that would normally be present in the receiver are milled out so the magazine can do that job. So either you do some work on the stock yourself, buy one of the SPS DM specific stocks (there are a few out there), or buy a BDL stock and some other bottom metal with a detachable box magazine system.

I went the extreme route and bought an AI AICS 1.5 stock for my 700 SPS DM. It includes a DM system, is a fully adjustable stock, and has an aluminum bedding block. The cost to do all of that with a standard profile stock is about the same. The AICS stock is at least all together and designed that way. Well worth the cost.

As for free-floating and bedding, the Wikipedia links are a great start but all you really need to know is that for the most part, a floating barrel is going to be more accurate than one where the stock touches it because the barrel's harmonics cause the barrel to move. Free Floating allows it to return to the same position each time without influence. Without it free floated, the barrel will have an influence (the stock) which means it may not stop in exactly the same spot each time.

Bedding seats the action into the stock and relieves stresses that can reduce accuracy. Aluminum bedded stocks have a big aluminum block running through the stock (like the AICS stock) which is more capable of handling the forces of recoil than the plastic stocks. This helps keep the action tied to the stock and help reduce group sizes. Bedding compounds help reduce stresses in the action that would cause the barrel to return to a different location after each shot. It does so by providing a 100% contact area for the action to the stock.

 

[Dollar914]

So if I were to acquire a BDL stock, would it just be the mag that needs to be replaced? or is there a larger kit with other mods needed? I probably wouldn't complete the mods myself because like I said I don't know a whole lot about rifles.

Where do you find some SPS DM stocks? all I can find for the 700 is ADL and BDL stocks.

Thanks to all of you for your help!

 

[Whiskey11]

I'll try finding the SPS DM stock again. I think I found it on Stockysstocks.com but I may be mistaken.

The modifications are quite simple, if you look at the bottom metal of a standard BDL or ADL and the area around where the internal magazine is, then look at your SPS DM, it is missing the cut outs for the tabs on the magazine that you push in to release the magazine. Those would need to be cut out. Test fitting the SPS DM bottom metal (this is the trigger guard BTW, which also has the places where the magazine latches to when it's put into the gun) should show any other areas that need modification to install the trigger guard.

The easiest way around this, is to buy a BDL stock and something like the Badger M5 bottom metal which takes AICS magazines, or the Wyatts DBM system. Can be costly, but a far superior magazine system than the Remington DBM.

I hope that helps clarify a little bit....

EDIT: Stocky's Stocks has something by Bell and Carlson that says "DBM" but it's unclear if that is Remington's DBM or some other DBM like the Wyatts that they heavily advertise as being a "drop in fit" for the B&C stocks. You could call Stocky's and find out which it is for. Worst case, you would really be better off ditching the Remington DBM system for all it's headaches and getting an aftermarket DBM system in any stock you want.

http://www.stockysstocks.com/servlet/the-304/bell-carlson-tactical-remington/Detail

 

[Dollar914]

Thanks for your help whiskey.

Ok I found these Wyatt DBM systems (link). If I were to get this, or something similar, along with a BDL stock would that work? Would the trigger, barrel, and bolt then transfer over? Also, since it is short action now would I need to keep it short action? Or can I buy the long action mag system and stock?

http://www.wyattsoutdoor.com/.308detmag.html

 

[Whiskey11]

Yes, any aftermarket dbm and a bdl stock will work, it will transfer over with no issues. If you have a short action you need to buy a short action magazine well as the long action is longer and the bottom metal will not mount and the magazine will not line up correctly.

Make sure that your stock will accept your barrel and has an aluminum bedding block to help reduce group size.