Customizing factory guns

[BRL]

Here's a bit of a different topic. Hope people enjoy it and have comments.

I've been thinking about having some custom work done on some of existing hunting firearms rather than buying a new one/s. I don't have the "nicest" or "fanciest" collection but all are tools of the trade and looked at as such. What changes, custom work, etc. might you do with the following guns to make them more accurate, easier to shoot, more huntable, etc...

Remington 7400 semi auto in .30-06 (scope: old Redfield Lo-Pro Widefield 2X7)
Browning BLR 81 in 7mm-08 (scope: new-not mounted yet, Burris Fullfield 3X9)
NEF single shot in .243 (Rifle Scope combo, Bushnell came with gun, 3X9)
Ruger Redhawk in .44 mag (factory sights)

Thanks!!

[BRL]

I know not the best starting block. Those are not a Remington 700.

Check this out...

http://www.remington7400.com/index.php

[Graybeard]

Prolly not what you wanna hear but quite honestly I wouldn't.

For the Remington 7400 and Browning BLR 81 I'd mount quality scopes of not more than 3-9 magnification range using NON-windage adjustable bases and Burris Signature Rings. I'd find loads they liked and call it good.

For the NEF I'd get a trigger/action job done to make the pull better, get the fore end properly bedded IAW the instructions on the NEF help sticky, work up a load it liked scope it as above and call it good.

For the Redhawk I'd hunt up some good rubber grips that fit my hand and then just shoot it. Work up a load it likes if necessary or if you don't already have one. Here is a link to a set of those grips for sale now here at GBO. http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,163335.0/topicseen.html
Other than that I'd not spend money trying to customize any of them.

[BRL]

Not what I wanted to hear but well taken. I kinda figured the same thing...not the best base for a project gun. And, they work for their intended purpose, as is. Ya just get that itch every so often to do something. Sometimes it just takes a little reassuring to get that itch scratched.

[Graybeard]

If ya really want a custom rifle my suggestion to you would be to get a Remington Model 70, Winchester M70 pre-64 or Mauser as you chose or prefer and have it customized to your desires. Fancy doesn't really do much for me so the type of custom work most have done doesn't hold much interest for me.

The things I appreciate in a hunting rifle are reasonable weight for the round (meaning not super light but definitely not heavy), stainless metal work for reduced effort to maintain, a gray-black laminated stock and a really good recoil pad. It must be very accurate meaning sub inch three shot groups at 100 yards even if still a factory rifle and if custom I'd expect that to drop to a half inch. I want a good solid scope mounting system definitely NOT the silly windage adjustable bases pioneered by Redfield and now made by everyone and a scope of an appropriate size and magnification range for the round it is chambered to.

[Rangr44]

Although YMMV, I would:

[Remington 7400 semi auto in .30-06] -
Re-equip with either peep or fibre-optic open rear and fibre-optic front - good for fast shooting on any game up to 200 yds.

[Browning BLR 81 in 7mm-08 (scope: new-not mounted yet, Burris Fullfield 3X9)] -
Mount a low powered variable, like 1-4X or 2-7X.

[NEF single shot in .243 (Rifle Scope combo, Bushnell came with gun, 3X9)] -
Mount a better scope, with a ranging reticle.

[Ruger Redhawk in .44 mag (factory sights)] -
Mount a small red dot sight.
.

[Nobade]

Ham Bowen can do anything you could imagine with that Redhawk, only limited by your pocketbook, you've already gotten good advice on the others.