Free float vs tip pressure bedding?

[Jpsmith1]

Remington 700 6mm Remington sporter barrel

Wood stock.

It has always been a consistent performer BUT the latest trends have been towards "statistically significant" groups and, well, maybe not as good as I thought.

Shooting 5-8 round groups today and wasn't seeing the hoped for performance at 100. Excellent for an Eastern hunting rifle. 1-1.5" groups but for a gun to start to stretch out, I want more.

The current stock has something of a pressure bump at the front of the stock in the barrel channel. Now, I can see how, under the exact right conditions with the exact right load, this can work, but I want to get in there and knock that bump out, right?

Barrel gonna heat up, stock maybe shifts a bit and things go sideways.

Or is there some logic to this?

Gun is older. It was my grandfather's rifle in the 1980s. Possibly older than that. I've never run the serial.

Or would I be better off grabbing a new stock to take tools after?

 

[Jpsmith1]

Secondary question.

A long time ago, I remember some gadget or another to blow/flow CO2 gas through the barrel for cooling between shot strings.

With the lighter barreled rifle, would something like this be helpful?

I can build it from scraps in the garage and a 3D printer adapter for the chamber so cost is nil. Co2 is cheap.

 

[Kauaihunter]

Maybe not the same for you but I have a Remington 700 in 7mag production date per the serial number is 1968 in the factory wood stock, same front contact point. My friend owned it prior to me and he could never get it to group better than 1.5”. I lightened the trigger and bed the lug in a synthetic stock, free floated. It groups very consistently 1.5” high at 100 yards but has never been sub moa.

That being said, I couldn’t tell you how many axis deer I dropped with it when it was my exclusive deer hunting rifle. Also shot a Blacktail at 200 yards. Anything inside of 300 was a piece of cake. My son in law now uses it as his primary rifle. It is what it is.

Edit: They sell those plastic barrel fans that plug into a USB battery pack for about $30. It’s just ambient air temp but it does help.

 

[Jpsmith1]

My goal is to move into longer range "precision" shooting. First step 300 which, as an Eastern hunter, is a heck of a long ways. Then 600 and ultimately I want to shoot 1000

Not hunting necessarily although the ability to hit an animal at a longer range wouldn't be unwelcome.

I'm just burning powder right now. Trying to build a super consistent technique and covering my easy "low hanging" mechanical issues like stock contact.

 

[hereinaz]

Before buying a new stock, I would buy a whole new rifle.

Yes, if you want try free floating it and bedding.

If it were me, I would see if an old timer who like 6 rem wanted to buy and enjoy it. You’ll be better off going right to a good long range performing cartridge and rifle.

If keeping it is sentimental, you could do that. But, it’s not worth putting money into an old REM 700.

 

[Castle Rock]

Before buying a new stock, I would buy a whole new rifle.

Yes, if you want try free floating it and bedding.

If it were me, I would see if an old timer who like 6 rem wanted to buy and enjoy it. You’ll be better off going right to a good long range performing cartridge and rifle.

If keeping it is sentimental, you could do that. But, it’s not worth putting money into an old REM 700.

I would have to disagree with that.
That is a beautiful old rifle, and I wouldn’t consider selling it.

I would however bed the action and float the barrel, for more consistent results.
Just floating it could well make it worse.

That barrel is a 9.5 twist which will work very well with the 105 Hornady HPBT which is a very capable and accurate bullet out to at least 1000 yards in the 6mm Remington.

 

[hereinaz]

I would have to disagree with that.
That is a beautiful old rifle, and I wouldn’t consider selling it.

If we are talking about a tool, that’s where we differ. I couldn’t care less about it looking good. That’s why someone will love and treasure it more than me.

I have one rifle of my granddad’s but it is a lever action mostly wall hanger. I gave everything else I had to my siblings. I am less sentimental about things as the years go by.

If you want to keep it, bed and float it. You can hand load for it, but didn’t mention that.

 

[199p]

You want it free floated, mate, even if it shoots a little worse groups, but is more consistent in its grouping over more shots and different shooting positions. You cant get this with pressure point bedding even if it will produce a better bench shot group.

 

[Jpsmith1]

Before buying a new stock, I would buy a whole new rifle.

Yes, if you want try free floating it and bedding.

If it were me, I would see if an old timer who like 6 rem wanted to buy and enjoy it. You’ll be better off going right to a good long range performing cartridge and rifle.

If keeping it is sentimental, you could do that. But, it’s not worth putting money into an old REM 700.

This is my grandfather's rifle and you'd have to end me to make me sell it.

I'm not exactly sure I'm looking to go full bore into a precision rifle and I don't want to drop big dollars on a rifle I'm not going to use. This girl hasn't been out of the cabinet in 2 years so I figure run what I brung until I build the skills to use something better.

I'm just playing around. Balling on a budget so to speak. I'd like to squeeze some more accuracy out of the old girl and learn a little in the process.

 

[Jpsmith1]

If we are talking about a tool, that’s where we differ. I couldn’t care less about it looking good. That’s why someone will love and treasure it more than me.

I have one rifle of my granddad’s but it is a lever action mostly wall hanger. I gave everything else I had to my siblings. I am less sentimental about things as the years go by.

If you want to keep it, bed and float it. You can hand load for it, but didn’t mention that.

I thought handloading was required.

Yes, I load for it as 6mm Rem isn't always easy to come by. 95gr SSTs over IMR4895 is what I typically run but I'm practicing and emptying some brass to move to a slightly heavier bullet.

 

[hereinaz]

This is my grandfather's rifle and you'd have to end me to make me sell it.

I'm not exactly sure I'm looking to go full bore into a precision rifle and I don't want to drop big dollars on a rifle I'm not going to use. This girl hasn't been out of the cabinet in 2 years so I figure run what I brung until I build the skills to use something better.

I'm just playing around. Balling on a budget so to speak. I'd like to squeeze some more accuracy out of the old girl and learn a little in the process.

In that case, bed/float it. Alternatively, consider my favorite the inexpensive KRG Bravo that can be bought and sold all day long. If it won’t shoot in that it’s probably not gonna shoot.

 

[Jpsmith1]

In that case, bed/float it. Alternatively, consider my favorite the inexpensive KRG Bravo that can be bought and sold all day long. If it won’t shoot in that it’s probably not gonna shoot.

I have seriously considered moving the action to a chassis instead.

The other topics I've started here about it seemed to have steered me away from a chassis or stock replacement.

 

[TaperPin]

To determine if it will shoot better free floated a time tested way to do that with a Remington action without altering the gun is to add a shim or two at the front and rear action screw cut from a cereal box. It not only lifts the barrel up off the forend, but hugs the receiver with extra side pressure. Every rifle I’ve shimmed like this shot just as well as when bedded and free floated. I use them so often when shooting new rifles some shims stay in my range bag.

 

[hereinaz]

I have seriously considered moving the action to a chassis instead.

The other topics I've started here about it seemed to have steered me away from a chassis or stock replacement.

If this is a range experiment, buy a used Bravo, if the rifle doesn’t shoot in that, then bedding won’t help. Sell the Bravo if you don’t like it.

I say give the Bravo a try, especially if you have not experienced a vertical grip before. Bravo are chassis on the inside and solid plastic on the outside so they feel like a stock. It’s inexpensive and easy to sell.

Or, the Stocky’s is on sale now, and I may have a code for another 10% off.

That’s the quickest way to find out. But, we don’t always do things that way.

 

[hereinaz]

To determine if it will shoot better free floated a time tested way to do that with a Remington action without altering the gun is to add a shim or two at the front and rear action screw cut from a cereal box. It not only lifts the barrel up off the forend, but hugs the receiver with extra side pressure. Every rifle I’ve shimmed like this shot just as well as when bedded and free floated. I use them so often when shooting new rifles some shims stay in my range bag.

Did this once, and worked for me.

 

[Jpsmith1]

To determine if it will shoot better free floated a time tested way to do that with a Remington action without altering the gun is to add a shim or two at the front and rear action screw cut from a cereal box. It not only lifts the barrel up off the forend, but hugs the receiver with extra side pressure. Every rifle I’ve shimmed like this shot just as well as when bedded and free floated. I use them so often when shooting new rifles some shims stay in my range bag.

This may very well happen for my next range trip. Thank you

It'll be a quick down and dirty test and tell me whether to spend on a chassis or a whole new rig.

 

[Jpsmith1]

If this is a range experiment, buy a used Bravo, if the rifle doesn’t shoot in that, then bedding won’t help. Sell the Bravo if you don’t like it.

I say give the Bravo a try, especially if you have not experienced a vertical grip before. Bravo are chassis on the inside and solid plastic on the outside so they feel like a stock. It’s inexpensive and easy to sell.

Or, the Stocky’s is on sale now, and I may have a code for another 10% off.

That’s the quickest way to find out. But, we don’t always do things that way.

Ive searched for them and found a few that have gone pretty quickly.

Very limited experience shooting "modern" rifles. Wood stocks and blued metal are where my experience ends.

 

[freezerfull]

You want it free floated, mate, even if it shoots a little worse groups, but is more consistent in its grouping over more shots and different shooting positions. You cant get this with pressure point bedding even if it will produce a better bench shot group.

This has been my experience as well.

The below comments are for factory sporter barrels and wood/laminated stocks.

Free floating and bedding a factory sporter barrel rarely improves group size (with the same ammo/load that is), but it does make it much more consistent. Day after day regardless of rest used (within reason), temp and humidity the group is always in the same place. The 5 or 6 factory sporter 700’s I’ve bedded have all shot the same or worse groups without the pressure point but the groups no longer float around. It’s the same group location day after day.

If I was in your shoes, regardless if this becomes your primary rifle for longer ranges, I’d float the barrel and bed the action and bottom metal.

Edit - One additional thing before deciding on the route to go. Make sure the pressure point is actually applying pressure. The worst situation is the pressure point is only occasionally contacting the barrel while shooting. If this is present that could be a reason it’s not grouping as good as you’d like.

 

[N2TRKYS]

Sand down that pressure point, making sure the barrel is freefloating. Bedding it won’t make it shoot better. It’s not needed to get accuracy. I would definitely keep it. A Model 700 is definitely worth spending money on.

 

[wpeach1912]

I understand wanting a more accurate rifle, but it doesn’t sound like you’re going to be shooting very far anyway. A 1.5” rifle is plenty accurate for 400 yards on whitetail. The additional benefit to the bravo is that it will make it easier to shoot. Chasing your tail trying to do “cheap” improvements frequently ends up costing more in the long run. Wait for a bravo to pop up, try it out, and resell it for what you bought it for or a small loss. You aren’t going to lose hundreds of dollars on one.