REMINGTON 700 SPS ACCURACY

[30063030223357]

What kind of accuracy are you getting from the 700 SPS?  I have one in 30.06 caliber and at best , can get 2.0 - 2.5" groups.  Would like to get them into the 1.5" range.  Handloads and factory are all about the same. This gun has a very good trigger pull so i don't believe that is an issue. There is a pressure point on the barrel at the end of the synthetic stock. I'm thinking of sanding this down to free float the barrel. Has anyone tried this and did it make any improvement? I would appreciate any accuracy tips on this paticular gun. Thanks.

[Graybeard]

You WON'T like the result of that experiment. Leave the pressure point.

What you might do is check to see if there is any uneven pressure on the barrel from the fore end, chances are there is and that's your problem. Clean out the barrel channel so nothing touches other than the pressure point and make sure it's touching evenly and not more on one side than the other.

Bedding the action and first couple inches of barrel might help also. It might only need the recoil lug bedded.

You might also check the crown and make sure it's not damaged and if you haven't already clean that barrel to get all copper out.

[Lloyd Smale]

ive got that exact gun except i fit my barreled action into a cdl stock. I have to disagree with greaybeard here. Ive yet to see a remington shoot worse floated after the action was bedded. Anymore i bed and float any gun before i even waste one bullet or one minute on loading time. MY o6 was a bit finiky. Im going to tell you what i used in mine. It typicaly shot 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 groups and i tried every 150 and 165 grain bullet i could find. I dont load many hornady hunting bullets as ive never really got much in the line of accuracy with interlocks. Well i had 5 boxes of 150 interlocks i got free with a hornady lnl press. I tried them and the gun came alive. With either 59 grains of h4350 or 61 grians of h4831sc the gun shot right at 3/4s of an inch. I shot 4 deer with that load last year and non took a step. float your barrel and bed your action and try those hornadys. Maybe your gun will like them like mine. I will add though that if its not possible to bed your action i wouldnt go through the bother of floating your barrel. One thing to keep in mind though is that if you do take the pressure point off its very easy to put a bit of fiberglass there and get it back.

[Lloyd Smale]

keep in mind those are warm loads and you should work up to them. there fine in my gun with no signs of pressure and good brass life.

[Siskiyou]

Friend won a stainless steel SPS in 270 Winchester.  New, out of the box the rifle was/is a shooter.  His load is Nosler 140-grain Accu bond, with IMR4831.  In the this case the point is not the caliber but how impressive this out of the box rifle was at the bench.

The load was recommended to them by a local gunshop owner.

[Swampman]

I've never seen an inaccurate Model 700.  Try a box of 180 grain Core-Lokts.  The .30-06 700s like heavy bullets.  I never float the barrel on a Model 700 and would only do it as a last resort.  Most will shoot 1/2" groups.

[jrchurch254a]

I bought a 700 SPS in .243 back in 2008 and I could not get that thing to shoot worth a plug nickle.  I reloaded for it with different powders and bullets, shot store bought ammo....NOTHING DOING!!  So I decided to buy the Tubbs lapping bullets, they come in a kit with different grades of grit on the bullets.  It took darn near three hours of shooting to get through the whole 50 rounds with all the suggested cleanings, letting the barrel cool etc.  But now that thing will shoot a ragged hole all the way out to 100 yards (limit of range).  So I think the SPS doesnt have the polished barrel of the higher grade Rem's but with a little work they shoot great.

Chief

[Hooker]

I'm assuming you have already checked all the basics. Scope rings and mounts bolt and trigger has no contact with the stock crown in good shape ...
One thing I found on factory guns with plastic stocks is poor bedding and wimpy fore ends. First thing I would do is take the action out of the stock then pay very close attention to the fit as you put it back together. The action should set firmly in the stock and not walk around as you tighten the screws. The last point of contact should be the pressure pad and the stocks fore end should not flex any when you torque it down. And I do mean torque as in use a torque wrench.
Wood or laminate stocks 25-30 in/lbs
Synthetic stocks 35-40 in/lbs
Stocks with pillar or aluminum chassis bedding 50-65 in/lbs
A uniform torque is more important than the amount of torque.  Some will argue that this makes little or no difference ,but they only need to try it to prove it. Accuracy is all about repeatability and you can't get that with a screwdriver. On stock without some type off metal bedding it is even more important, because uneven clamping forces and stock crush can play havoc with accuracy.
I have to agree with Lloyd on this I never seen a rifle yet that shot worse after being properly bedded and the barrel floated.

Pat

[Graybeard]

I have to agree with Lloyd on this I never seen a rifle yet that shot worse after being properly bedded and the barrel floated.

I sure have.

[Swampman]

I sure have.

Me too!

[Lloyd Smale]

out of the box my shot 180 corelocks into about 2 inches and 1 3/4 was the best it did with any of the 180s i tried in it. Never did try 180s again after i switched stocks and floated and bedded it. I guess i really never saw a need for 180s in the 06. It just doesnt push them fast enough to suit me. theres just to many good 150s and 165s out there that will shoot flatter. I do use  180s but i use them in the 300 ultra mag and weatherby. Even in the 300 win mag i usually run a 165. find me a bench rest gun that has pressure on the barrel from this stock and ill buy into your pressure point idea. Even an ar shoots better floated. If a barrel needs pressure put on it by a stock to shoot well somethings wrong and that gun wouldnt be in my house for long.

I've never seen an inaccurate Model 700.  Try a box of 180 grain Core-Lokts.  The .30-06 700s like heavy bullets.  I never float the barrel on a Model 700 and would only do it as a last resort.  Most will shoot 1/2" groups.

[parkergunshop]

I agree with Lloyd,

The one of the  reasons the factory Ruger 77's gained a reputation for not being good shooters was the use of the pressure point in the forearm by Ruger.  I have my doubts about the logic behind the angled front trigger guard screw on the Rugers also.

I have yet to see a rifle glas bedded with a free floated barrel that would not shoot better than when in a stock factory stock as purchased, Remingtons, Winchesters, Savages, Rugers etc.

[Swampman]

The reason the Ruger M77 gained a reputation for not being a good shooter is because the barrels were (are?) junk.  Anytime someone says all rifle shoot better free floated, I know they don't know much about firearms.  Benchrest rifles have heavy barrels....moot point.

[parkergunshop]

Swampman,

Benchrest barrels in addtion to being heavier are made to much closer tolerances, often lapped and have minimum chambers and tight necks.   A good one costs more than two-three factory rifles in many cases.   And benchrest rifles are often built on more rigid sleeved Remington actions or custom benchrest actions in glas bedded stocks and yes they are free floated.

Rugers in the 1980's were built using Shaw barrels I believe, at that time I had Shaw barrels in calibers .257, .270 .338, .375 and .458 calibers on my custom guns that shot between .3 tenths and 3/4 inch groups at 100 yards useing glas bedded stocks with the barrels free floated.   And I glas bedded and floated several factory Rugers that shot between 1/2 inch and 1 inch groups between 1980 and 1993.   My Ruger No 1. in 45/70 shoots jacketed bullets into .6 tenth inch and cast bullets under an inch with the only modification being a custom trigger.

Most Rugers like most all factory rifles, Remingtons included need bedding and trigger work to improve accuracy for demanding shooters. 

[Swampman]

Rugers always need work, but Remingtons don't.  If a Remington 700 won't shoot, it ain't the rifle.

[Hooker]

Rugers always need work, but Remingtons don't.  If a Remington 700 won't shoot, it ain't the rifle.

Aside from that claim covering way to much realestate .
It could in this case be the stock which Remington does not make. My latest Remington came with a Hogue stock that was junk.
Granted out of the box the rifle was a solid 1/2 MOA performer with a factory floated barrel. But with a new stock proper bedding and floating barrel it now does 1/4 MOA groups. My next project will be blue printing the action and setting the barrel back then rechambering and getting rid of that long throat.I have no doubt that this rifle is capable of 0.1s MOA groups with just bit of tinkering. Remingtons are good rifles but they are made by men so they are not perfect.

Pat

[Swampman]

They are made by men?  I thought they were the work of the Gods....

I agree that Hogue stocks are not good.  I'd rather have good ole' Remington Tupperware than a Hogue.

still......

"The Model 700 Remington is the best selling and most accurate production boltaction rifle in the world"

right out of the box......

[dks7895]

Stag Beer also states, "Golden Quality Since 1851" right on the can!!!

[Swampman]

But can they get the most respected beer drinkers in the world to say the same thing?

[dks7895]

Just pulling your chain Swampman.  Remington makes a fine rifle, but every manufacturer claims theirs is the best.

[30063030223357]

WOW! Thanks for the replys and opinions! Although this is my first remington, i too have always free floated my barrels. I think i will will glass bed this rifle, but first i'm going to free float the barrel and see how it shoots. If no improvement ,i will glass bed. I can always replace the pressure point on the barrel. Although i bought this gun used from my son, it is nearly new new out of the box! and i thought it would shoot much better. I have and have had many other guns ( savage, H&R, marlin, dpms, etc. ) that will out shoot this remington. I really thought remington would do better? Sooner or later i'll get it shooting better. Thanks again

[yooper77]

Rugers always need work, but Remingtons don't.  If a Remington 700 won't shoot, it ain't the rifle.

My Ruger M77 MKII 270 Winchester makes your first statement untrue in my personal experience.

yooper77

[Swampman]

It all depends on how you define accuracy.  I've given up on trying to find another brand that is accurate enough to suit me.

[Lloyd Smale]

It may not improve every single gun but it will improve more then not and it will very RARELY make them worse. In fact like i said if it takes pressure from a stock on a barrel to make it shoot theres something wrong. Why do you feel that just because it has a heavy barrel it needs it and a thiner barrrel doesnt. If anything its the opposite.  A thin barrel moves more when it heats and that means that stock pressure your putting on that barrel is changing every shot. If you doubt that swithch from 3 shot groups to 5 shot groups with a rifle that has a pressure point. I dont know of a single custom rifle maker who will put a pressure point on a stock. As a matter of fact  most these days arent just bedded and floated there pillar bedded. 

The reason the Ruger M77 gained a reputation for not being a good shooter is because the barrels were (are?) junk.  Anytime someone says all rifle shoot better free floated, I know they don't know much about firearms.  Benchrest rifles have heavy barrels....moot point.

[Lloyd Smale]

Swampy this isnt my first rodeo. Ive been loading for bolt action rifles for 35 years. In that time ive had more then 50 bolt guns many of them remingtons. I too like remingtons. Ive had a bit better luck with accuracy with them then the other brands but im the first to say you can surely get a bad or mediocure remington. Ive had remintons that shoot 1/2 to 3/4minute at a 100 yards with a bit of work but ive also had winchesters, savages, weatherbys and even rugers that did. Thing is there all as rare as hell. two of the most accurate rifles ive ever owned were both ruger 1bs in 2506 and 280. Guns that most would tell you dont shoot and chambered in rounds that surely no bench rest shooter would use. Does that make every #1 a tack driver. Not even close.  Same goes for corelock ammo. Its good ammo not great ammo. Ive had guns that shot it into an inch and guns that sprayed it. I pulled some bullets out of some 280 corelock ammo this year to get the brass and weighted the powder charge and it varied up and down 4 grains. NOT match quality in my book. I wish youd share the majic spell you put on your ammo and guns before going to the range. Alot of competitive shooters would surely buy that secret of yours. It would save them thousands in custom guns, match bullets and hours at the bench assembling match ammo. I spend many many hours on the bench with every gun i buy trying many differnt bullets powders and primers to find its best load and you just buy a box of corelocks and every gun majicaly likes them . Sorry pal it aint happening. Your not a bad guy and i actually enjoy some of your posts but youd sure add to your crediblity a bit if you toned it down a tad.

[dks7895]

I wish youd share the majic spell you put on your ammo and guns before going to the range. Alot of competitive shooters would surely buy that secret of yours. It would save them thousands in custom guns, match bullets and hours at the bench assembling match ammo. I spend many many hours on the bench with every gun i buy trying many differnt bullets powders and primers to find its best load and you just buy a box of corelocks and every gun majicaly likes them . Sorry pal it aint happening. Your not a bad guy and i actually enjoy some of your posts but youd sure add to your crediblity a bit if you toned it down a tad.

Amen

[Swampman]

I just post the facts.  It doesn't matter to me wheather others accept them or not.  I don't consider 1/2 MOA all that great.  That's why I stick with the Model 700.  Mausers, Model 70s, and M77s need bedding.  That's where the old wives tale that rifles need to be bedded and floated to shoot well came from.

[parkergunshop]

Swampman,

Too bad they don't have toilet facilities in the swamp,   I think you have come down with a case of Retinoashitanitis.  You  obviously have something distorting your vision that creates a lack of objectivity.

There are good and bad rilfes in all brands, some just happen  to be more consistent one way or another.   Remingtons were much better in the 60's and 70's than now from my experience.   Almost all the local Remington fans are moaning about the slackness in quality control over the past few years.

One of my benchrest rifles was a aluminum sleeved Remington 700, and I stll have a couple of new model 7 barrels pulled off of Remingtons to be turned into benchrest rifles.    My choice for  hunting rifes are Mausers, Springfields and Endfields customized to my tastes.   Enfields for the big magnums.   And my big magnums shoot between .3 tenths and 3/4 inch groups at 100 yards including a .458.

Things I'm not crazy about with the Remingtons,  weak extractor, plunger ejector, escaping gas can expand and ruin the bolt face enclosure, trigger mounted safety, much perfer a bolt sleeve safety like the Mauser,  Model 70 Winchester or one like the Enfield's separate side safety.  Flimsy sheet metal trigger assembly.    I also like bedding a flat bottom vs round bottom action from my viewpoint.   The Round tubular receivers are another manufacturing short cut to reduce cost for materials and labor.   I actually like the Savage Bolt head design  and the Savage and Winchester sliding plate extractors better than the Remingtons.

There is no absolutely no perfect  rifle made to suit everyone's taste.  But it is hard to improve on the basic design of the 98 Mauser action, many have tried and fallen short.  That's why we see modern clone custom actions costing between $1,000 and $3,000.

[Swampman]

I'm only iterested in accurate rifles.  That's why I'm not interested in the off brands and antique designs.

[Lloyd Smale]

next to the mauser the reminton is probalby the oldest action still used in comercial guns. Guess if any of them are antiques its the remington. Like ive said many times i like remington rifles and have more of them then any other brand but Ive owned great rifles from about all the manufactures and it would get pretty boring to me if all i bought was remingtons and i think even swampman posted some pictures of a winchester that he bought. Kind of wonder why you wasted your money on an inferior gun! Id about bet it shoots as good as your remingtons.