M700 Bolt Thrust Tolerance

[Argonaut]

I have a Model 700 BDL SA .243  (70' or 80's vintage) and when it is uncocked, there is about  .014 movement (thrust) from front to rear, measured with a feeler gauges. Even if I am off in my measurement buy .004 that still seems alot of movement. My very early vintage 700 varmit model .222 has less than half that. but it also has a machinced follower and a checkerd aluminium butplate.

Has anyone else ever looked at this?  it would seem more than the normal  ammount of unsupported brass and lend to case streching.  Any Way this old Remington has seen some use, I am not the first owner though I have had it a number of years . It is off to the gunsmith next week for reboring and rechambering to .308, and I will get the head space issue addressed then.

Roy

Semper Fi

[trotterlg]

Why in the world would you re-bore and re-chamber a Remington barrel when a new factory takeoff barrel can be had for $50.00?  Bet you're gunsmith loves to see you come througth the door.  Bolt play has nearly zero to do with headspace, there are lots of places in the bolt assembly that will give some play, buy a set of head space gauges is you are worried and see what you really have.  My personal thought is that the lack of a checkered butt plate is the problem.  Larry

"A fool and his money are soon parted"

[Argonaut]

I bought a take off barrel in .308, it wouldn't shoot better than 2 inches at 100 yards. factory loads and many different combinations of handloads.   I guess i found out why that particular barrel was taken off.  and of course now the flaming begins about my shooting skills. so be it. 

I also though it might be interesting to have a twist rate I choose, and if possible a lead angle in the throat more suitable for Cast bullet accuracy.  I have several .30 call bullet molds, the sizer dies, etc.

Before I had the old but accurate .243 barrel taken off I put a witness mark on the barrel and reciever. so after several frustrating months of poor accuracy,  i made some soft  vice jaws to fit the barrel, i machined a jig to hold the recoil lug in place, then made a wrench to fit the exact diameter of the reciever, i  then swapped the .243 barrel back on.  At least that made the rifle accurate enough to be interesting. 

And before anyone asks,  I have no personnel issues with the .243 win,  just never cared for it.  I bought the gun at a bargin price about 10 years  with the intention of doing just what you said. and I already explained how that worked out.


roy

[Argonaut]

and the buttplate thing was to point out that the early M700 was more expensive to produce than the later one.  sorta the way the winchester folks looked at the changes on pre and post 64 models. though of course nothing so sever and abrupt as that change was for winchester.

[roper]

Argonaut, who's doing the reboring?  My gunsmith sends some of his customer (at their request ) barrels down  to Az then he does the chamber work etc.  Years ago I had LaBounty rebore one for me  did a nice job.  Well good luck

[Argonaut]

I am going to have it done my Dan Pederson, He is "the guy in Arizona", I am thinking that there aren't that many guys doing that sort of work.

[roper]

I am going to have it done my Dan Pederson, He is "the guy in Arizona", I am thinking that there aren't that many guys doing that sort of work.

 

Thats the guy he does a good job according to my gunsmith.  I got a McMillian barrel before he sold out and thinking of having it done in 7mm with them doing cut rifling cann't go wrong.

[Sweetwater]

I'm keeping this reference as I prep to put a takeoff 35whelen barrel on my 30-06 - rifle is a mid-70's Rem700ADL - may end up reboring the old '06 barrel.

Regards,
Sweetwater