Tuning for accuracy. Rem M 700

[5pins]

I have a Remington M 700 in 30.06 that is completely camouflage from the factory. It will shoot 1in or better with my handloads. It is stock except I bedded the action. The rifles primary use is for hunting but I would like to see how accurate is can be. I know that I should be happy with 1in groups but I have this voice in the back of my head telling me I need something more accurate.

My ideas are to make this one more accurate, or buy something new. I do not want to re barrel it or put a new stock on it, since this will ruin the cammo pattern. So I was thinking of doing the fallowing.
1. Re crown the muzzle.
2. Firelap the barrel.
3. Lap the bolt lugs.
4. Adjust trigger or install new one.
5. Install a lightweight firing pin.

Any ideas? Work on this one, or sell it and get something new? If you think I should keep it what do you think I should do to it?

 

[Steve Smith]

Double check and see if the barrel is completely floated...if it is, try it with a thin shim of business card between the barrel and the end of the foreend. Might group better.

If the crown isn't dinged, it probably isn' t bad.

I know a lot of guys who firelap, but I know more who are afraid to...I dunno yet.

Lapping the bolt lugs can't hurt, but it might not help either.

A trigger could very well help a lot.

Light pins are often TiN and therefore one primer piercing and she might not shoot again till you replace the pin...I like the reliability of steel myself.

Try the float or business card trick, then trigger.

 

[kudu]

I'd start by adjusting the triger to about 4lbs, this would be sufficient and safe for hunting. Most Remingtons come from the factory anymore at about 7-9lbs on the trigger. If you want a real good trigger try a timney.

Fire lapping the bore could do more harm than good. Try different bullets and loads before doing major gunsmithing work. Make sure the barrel is free floated and not touching the forestock.

It took me several months of fiddling with handloads to get a consistant and accurate reload for my .300 winmag in a Rem. It shoots 1/3 inch at 100yds now if I do my part. It takes time.

 

[dakotasin]

re-crowning might help - it at least won't hurt.

i sure wouldn't firelap anything i own.

lapping the lugs might help, but if you are already getting 20% or so contact on the lesser side, this may not help (but it sure won't hurt - just have a 'smith do it as it is possible to run into headspace troubles).

lighten your factory trigger as much as you are comfortable w/. this does not make the gun any more accurate, but it sure makes the shooter more accurate.

i put lightweight firing pin in one of my 700's... if groups have tightened, they have not tightened enough to justify the money spent on the pin.

all of my 700's have responded very positively to floating. i suggest you float the tube properly, and then re-check your bedding. you might need a skim-job put down. good bedding is the best way to get a rifle to shoot.

how much effort have you put into load development? what components? w/ a bedded, floated, trigger-tuned remington, you should be easily .75 moa or thereabouts... after you float the barrel you will likely need to re-develop the loads anyway... try approaching load development a little differently.