Originally posted by MikeW
View Post
X
-
Originally posted by Tommyh View Postwith all these custom actions, does it make you want to take on a project of an ugly, stock action to see what you can do with it?
nope .... b/c a plain jane factory action or rifle will never outshoot a custom action .
I've been there and done that trying to save $$$$
when you're addicted to "accuracy" and shooting one-hole groups @ 100, 200, and 300 yds , factory actions won't cut it . If shooting deer at 200 yds, then you're OK with a factory rifle/action. When trying to shoot 5-shot groups under .1" , custom is the only vehicle that will get you there .
factory rifles (i.e. - Rem 700) are built for hunting and their tolerances / machining are sloppy.
Custom rifle parts & actions are usually machined by CNC or wire cut EDM
notice these 3 different bolt faces and the machine work:
factory - 375 Steyr
trued Rem 700 ($200 investment to make it trued and blueprinted)
McMillan action - notice how tight the tolerances are . Bolt body and lugs are probably within .0005" spec
conversely, some people do NOT recommend hunting with a custom action because sand , dirt, debris can cause a bolt to hang up
(copy/paste info) The picture below is the best illustration of what separates a custom rifle from a factory rifle. The top chamber is from a factory rifle. Note the rough, unpolished chamber showing tooling marks from a dull reamer. As well, the corners of the shoulder are not sharp or distinct but are rounded. The bottom chamber is from a custom barrel. The hand polished chamber is bright and shiny, showing no evidence of tooling marks or gouges. The corners of the shoulder are sharp and distinct because the reamer used was not old and worn. Factory barrels are notoriuos for having 1 reamer cut 30 + chambers before being sharpened. The 1st barrel cut on a new reamer will be nice; whereas the 30th barrel cut will be rough looking.
My custom rifles give me 110% confidence as I know exactly where my bullet will hit when I touch the trigger. With factory guns, I have a general idea where the bullet will make impact .
.
Comment
-
I'll throw one out here as well. This is my best shooter -- a .260AI, Surgeon 591, Kreiger heavy palma fluted, McMillan A5, Badger M5, Jewell.
I agree with Blake, while improvements can often be made regarding accuracy with factory rifles, it is virtually impossible to get the kind of accuracy that an average custom rifle with have. I too have tinked with factory rifles for many years, and while most will respond positively with bedding, barrel floating, and load tuning, well built custom rigs are in a different class. Even within custom rifles, there are different levels of accuracy to be expected, depending on the tolerances, etc.
Comment
-
trued Rem 700 ($200 investment to make it trued and blueprinted)
Unless of course you just have an old one laying around or get a heck of a deal on one, but there is really no reason to go buy a new Rem. 700 and fix it.
Wow y'all make me hate y'all!
All I can say is I understand now.
Comment
-
Originally posted by MikeW View PostMost accuracy nuts will tell you dumping the money into blueprinting and truing a Rem. 700 is a waste of money, not that it isn't good when it's done it's just that after you go buy one(and what's the cheapest Rem 700 now days?) $400-$500? and then dump an other $200-$300 into it you could have just spent an $100 and got a custom in the first place.
Unless of course you just have an old one laying around or get a heck of a deal on one, but there is really no reason to go buy a new Rem. 700 and fix it.
If it makes you feel any better I lost all my guns except the 6mm Ackley in my divorce after 27 years of marriage and 32 together. I love watching all those "Forensics files", "Snapped" & "First 48 hrs" shows and you see the husband & wives kill each other and I think to myself "how bad can it be?" just walk away and be done with it.
All I can say is I understand now.
Comment
-
Here's my 308 and 280 Ackley. Also have a 257 Wby at the Smith getting finished.
Ill post my 257 Wby when I get it back. Its going to be my baby. 25.5" Lilja barrel on a trued & blueprinted Rem 700 LH action. Screw on/screw off removeable custom brake with a protector nut so I can shoot it with or without brake. B&C stock bedded and Nightforce NXS 50mm on top.Last edited by J.B.; 03-15-2012, 08:04 PM.
Comment
Comment