700ADL stock questions and issue

[lostsniper308]

My 700ADL .30-06 shot fine 1 inch and some 1 1/4 inch groups at 100yrds but i wanted a bipod. I got a Harris but now the groups opened up to almost double the original grouping. I was thinking its the raised spots on the end of the stock that the barrel rest on thats reacting badly with the bipod on the rifle.

I have questions about the stock itself too. Does the tightness of the action screws affect the pressure the raised areas on the barrel, and would free-floating be a good idea to remove that variable? and when the front action screw is too tight it prevents the bolt from closing, or opening if its down when i tighten the screw. What it causing this, i can't figure out how.

[beemanbeme]

First off, the action screws should not affect the pressure point. As far as the bolt binding, Remington has inletted the trigger guard too deep and the front screw in going in too far.  You can file off a scant amount of the threads or (easy fix) put a thin washer between the stock and the trigger guard. The action screws should be firmly tight.
Secondly, Try putting a biz card between the stock and the barrel where the pressure point is and see if that will bring your groups back in. If it does, trim it to fit and epoxy it into place. (I trim the card to fit, then put epoxy on the pressure point, put the shim in place, put epoxy on top of it and then put a couple layers of Saran wrap over it and put the barrel back in place and tighten the action screws and leave it overnight.  The next day, I remove the barrel and the Saran Wrap and the shim nicely fits the contour of the barrel.)  If adding to the pressure point doesn't work, make some shims by cutting holes in some biz cards and putting them between around your action screws between the receiver and the stock.  You are in effect free floating the barrel.  If that works, hog out the pressure point (a piece of sandpaper wrapped around a wooden dowel) and seal it with urethane.

[Rangr44]

Or instead of doing the paper business card/Saran Wrap thing, just use a piece of an old plastic credit card - It will last longer than you.

[Brithunter]

Hmmm sounds like this is not an uncommon problem. To my mind it should never have been shipped in this condition. I would try talking to Remington about it as there is no way tightening the fore screw should effect the bolt.

[lostsniper308]

it can shoot well, even with its condition, i just want to know whats wrong with it.
I don't have the time to send it if that were nessesary, i've only got about 2months left in the states before i'm deploying.
So a washer should take care of the barrel binding, and for the stock pressure, is the biz card idea for restoring accuracy with a bipod?

[beemanbeme]

Yes

[huntswithdogs]

I'm guilty of leaning heavier on my rifle when using my bipod. Putting downward pressure n the rifle will cause you(at least it does me) to shoot higher. The pressure pushes upward on your stock and barrel. As for the screw, do like theman says and get a small washer. I put an action in a Bell & Carlson stock the othernite and the back screw wouldn't tighten without blocking the bolt. I dug around til I found one that fit the bolt and went to work with a file til it fit in the bolt hole. Works pretty good and you can't tell its there.

HWD

[lostsniper308]

alright thanks i'll give the washer trick a try.
where exaclty does the card go though? epoxyed to the pressure points out on the foreend?

[beemanbeme]

Yes. Put the biz card between the pressure point and the barrel.  What we're trying to do is NOT epoxy anything into place until we're sure it will actually help our problem. 
As posted, maybe you're leaning into the bipod which is putting a bind on your forearm.  Try shooting some groups without any pressure on the rifle except to pull it firmly into your shoulder with your right hand.  Often when we shoot from the bench, we grow accustomed to the forearm sliding back and forward acrost the bags which it can't do with a bipod. 
Its something simple.  What's hard is figuring out what it is. 

[lostsniper308]

well, i tried both the card and washer and the rifle just couldn't shoot well anymore, it wouldn't group 3shots, two would be good then a 3rd and 4th were off like their own group, the one group i got was large 2". so i just reverted the rifle back to the way it was. only thing permament was i added weight to the forend to dampen recoil, then filled the hollow area with epoxy.

[beemanbeme]

Are you starting out with a cool rifle and the first two shots are grouping and then shots three and four are flyers?  Do shots three and four group but in a different place?  Is the epoxy you added to the fore arm touching the barrel? 
You need to replace the washer between the trigger guard and the stock as the action screws need to be pretty tight or the action will slip around in the stock. If your action screws are loose, that could be part of your problem. Always tighten  the front action screw first and loosen the rear action screw first.
You have checked that your scope mount screws are tight?

[safetysheriff]

i recommend you look at www.6mmbr.com to see what their articles section has to say about shooting a rifle with a bi-pod.    they are a different creature; and can prevent issues with interaction between a bi-pod and irregularities on a shooting bench.

take care,

ss'

[lostsniper308]

none of the epoxy touches the barrel in anyway, i checked all along the channel for drops of epoxy and its clear.
the screws were tight with the washer in place, without it the screws are just snug and that's when it shot its best.

[beemanbeme]

But you say when it shoots it's best it still only a 2" group.  Also, you did not say if shots one and two formed a group (what size) and shots three and four formed a group (what size) away.  I cannot help but think we have a bedding problem.  You can try judiciously filing off some of your front screw until it no longer binds the bolt and removing the washer but before you do that, try firing a group with the front screw very tight and the rear screw merely snug. 
Have you tried another scope? 

[lostsniper308]

well when it shot its best it shoots about 1" groups(i use shoot-n-see targets and the green splatter touches)
when it does its two shot group shift the holes were touching for both 1-2 and 3-4 shots.
No i don't have the money for a new scope anyhow, i don't think its the scope cause it only started shooting when i tried the washer and biz card.

i got a 100yrd target from Fusion 165gr that measures a millimeter or so bigger than a dime places center to center of the bullet holes at the widest diameter. sorry, all this army gear, targets, cleaner, and not one ruler :p

this whole thing started with me wanting to stop the bolt binding and improve the bipod grouping.

[beemanbeme]

Well then, you can file down the forward screw a bit or leave the washer in place and not use a bipod. 
Good luck