M700 Upgrade Advice

[Grumman]

I've got a rifle that has spent way too much time in the back of the safe that I want to make some upgrades to. It is a Remington 700 Sendero in 270. This was my first bolt action rifle that my old man bought me nearly 20 years ago. We went in to the LGS to buy a Remington Mountain rifle but they were sold out so left with a Sendero.

Most of my hunting has ended up being for whitetail with my longest shot with the Sendero to date only 224 yards. A lot of my shots have been offhand. The 26" barreled Sendero is horribly muzzle heavy so the balance for my type of hunting is not desirable for me. I end up grabbing my other rifles over the Sendero when hunting season comes around. So long story short, I want to revive this one to be my go to rifle and get rid of the others that don't have sentimental value. It doesn't have to be sub 7lb, just needs better balance. I'm fully aware I would be money ahead selling this and buying a Tikka or Kimber but am trying to not go that route as it would only relegate this rifle to more safe time.

I have been all over the place about what I want to do with the 700. Here are options I've been considering to improve handling and balance.

1. Replacing the HS Precision stock with a Christensen aerograde carbon sporter stock would shave off nearly a pound. That would still leave me muzzle heavy if I did nothing else right away perhaps?

2. Having the factory barrel cut shorter and leaving it in 270, or have JES rebore it to 35 Whelen and shortened. This should reduce muzzle weight but unsure what barrel length to go to? Seems like the cheapest option and the Whelen would be cool. Unsure how much felt muzzle weight impact this would have.

3. The other option I've tossed around is just rebarreling with a shorter carbon or stainless barrel option and leaving the factory stock alone until later when $ rebounds and I can afford to install a lighter one.



Sorry for being long winded, but hopefully I gave enough info to be helped. Bolt rifle mods are new to me and I'm learning here. Are there any fatal flaws in those options? Opinions or experiences with these? Any wrong order to upgrade the barrel verses the stock first or vice versa if I end up phasing this over a couple years? Any other ideas? Thanks in advance gentlemen.




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[Justin Crossley]

I think I would swap out the barrel and do the stock later. The reason I would go with a new barrel instead of changing the caliber of the original is because I think you'll end up with a more accurate rifle for basically the same amount of money.

You can also do a laminated wood stock for not a lot of money if you're up for a little work. They aren't really a light weight option but I think it would add to the sentimental part since you did it yourself and it will be totally custom.

Both of those upgrades should be doable for under $1000 pretty easy. A good quality barrel is about $325 plus chambering and installation is another $250, then the laminated wood stock can be had for under $200 which leaves you with enough for things like bedding compound and finish for the stock.

 

[realunlucky]

sentimental rifle I did kinda similar to what your thinking. I sent you a pm detailing the work. It was a fun project that for me added to its sentimental value but was close to the cost of a new rifle

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[N2TRKYS]

There's no way I'm touching a rifle that my Dad bought for me. I'm leaving it just the way he bought it. If I change it up, then it's not the rifle that he bought for me. Personally, I would save my money and buy a different rifle to do everhow you want it.

 

[belly-deep]

I'd rebarrel. I'd have a hard time conjuring up a more useless rifle than a 35 Whelen with a Sendero contour. And restock too.

But more to the point of what N2T said, your dad bought it for you.

I'd just leave it be. Pick up a 700 action if you want to start messing around with custom options.

 

[GKPrice]

I've got a rifle that has spent way too much time in the back of the safe that I want to make some upgrades to. It is a Remington 700 Sendero in 270. This was my first bolt action rifle that my old man bought me nearly 20 years ago. We went in to the LGS to buy a Remington Mountain rifle but they were sold out so left with a Sendero.

Most of my hunting has ended up being for whitetail with my longest shot with the Sendero to date only 224 yards. A lot of my shots have been offhand. The 26" barreled Sendero is horribly muzzle heavy so the balance for my type of hunting is not desirable for me. I end up grabbing my other rifles over the Sendero when hunting season comes around. So long story short, I want to revive this one to be my go to rifle and get rid of the others that don't have sentimental value. It doesn't have to be sub 7lb, just needs better balance. I'm fully aware I would be money ahead selling this and buying a Tikka or Kimber but am trying to not go that route as it would only relegate this rifle to more safe time.

I have been all over the place about what I want to do with the 700. Here are options I've been considering to improve handling and balance.

1. Replacing the HS Precision stock with a Christensen aerograde carbon sporter stock would shave off nearly a pound. That would still leave me muzzle heavy if I did nothing else right away perhaps?

2. Having the factory barrel cut shorter and leaving it in 270, or have JES rebore it to 35 Whelen and shortened. This should reduce muzzle weight but unsure what barrel length to go to? Seems like the cheapest option and the Whelen would be cool. Unsure how much felt muzzle weight impact this would have.

3. The other option I've tossed around is just rebarreling with a shorter carbon or stainless barrel option and leaving the factory stock alone until later when $ rebounds and I can afford to install a lighter one.



Sorry for being long winded, but hopefully I gave enough info to be helped. Bolt rifle mods are new to me and I'm learning here. Are there any fatal flaws in those options? Opinions or experiences with these? Any wrong order to upgrade the barrel verses the stock first or vice versa if I end up phasing this over a couple years? Any other ideas? Thanks in advance gentlemen.




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to me it sounds like the Sendero your dad bought you would look better and provide more in the way of "remembering" if it had a special place over the fireplace, on the wall in the gunroom, (you get the idea) and you spend the money chasing what you're not sure you want on a good quality modern hunting rifle like a Kimber, Browning, Tikka, etc .....that YOU choose for that purpose ... and then do it again ......

 

[Thinkingman]

When I think of whitetail hunting, I think of sedentary hunting in a stand and the rifle on the sling when you're moving.
To improve balance, I'd add weight to the butt stock, behind the recoil pad. The heavy barrel is an advantage for accurate shooting.
Leave it as stock as possible, out of respect to your dad.

 

[elkguide]

You sound like you are trying to do two separate things with one rifle.

I'd keep the rifle that Dad bought me and buy the rifle that you want.

 

[16Bore]

What he said. Just buy something else. I monkied with a couple of rifles that I shouldn't have and while it seemed like a good idea at the time, I've regretted ever touching them.

By the time you finish dinking with it, you'll be out the same dough.

 

[Jimbob]

The first rifle my Dad bought me was a Remington 30-06 pump, we sold that when I was a teenager to buy Browning A-bolt 7mm with a leaped scope. That was a huge upgrade and I was very happy. However the 26" barrel was just too long and not needed. I sold the A-bolt kept the scope and bought a Tikka. Then a couple years ago I was at the gun shop with my Dad and there was a good deal on some new Leupld scopes. We each bought one and I sold the older Leupold scope.

My Dad and I are both very practical so he thought selling to fund an upgrade was a great idea. I am much happier with my Tikka T3 30-06 with Leupold VX2 2-7x33 instead of the original Remington pump with an old bushnell. Also my Dad is very happy that we spent wisely and made the money go a long way.

I was planning on cutting the barrel of the Browning but it came down to just selling and getting a new rifle was smarter financially.

I think making the gun useable is a great way to respect what it is and the gift it was from your Dad. Letting the gun sit in the safe doesn't seem like the best idea to me.

 

[Grumman]

Thanks for the thoughts and advice so far guys! realunlucky that turned into a great looking rifle thanks for the pm info I will check that out.

I should have been more clear in the sentimental comment. I would be okay with modifying this gun down to just using the original action. I have other rifles from my old man that are definitely untouchable wall hangers. This one I am okay modifying, just can't bring myself to sell it.


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[JollyRoger]

Glad I found this thread. My dad passed a few months ago and I have some very sentimental pieces from him that I'll likely never modify. My favorite being his Remington 30-06 Woodsmaster.... not cool or sexy by today's standards, but he was a great shot and had many successes with this rifle. There's no way I'm going to mess with that one unless it's old Weaver scope needs replaced at some point.

More closer to your situation: He bought me a Savage 30-06 when I was in high school... and it just doesn't quite shoot like it should. I've considered doing a complete overhaul on it (new barrel, stock, trigger, glass, etc) but in reality I think I am just going to get a new Tikka T3X or Winchester EW in either 7mm or 300WM. For the Savage I will likely tinker with making small adjustments here and there to see if I can get it to shoot better. I know it's silly, but I feel that he did his best to get me a good rifle that would serve me well forever, and by selling it or making it into something different would be a slap in his face. Just my thoughts, and I know it's not practical at all.. in reality he'd likely want me to have something usable, and if the Savage doesnt shoot, make it shoot or get something that will.

 

[Idaho CTD]

If you want to lighten it up put a #2b or 3 Bartlein on it and cut it shorter. You'd have about 600.00 in doing that unless you true the action then it would be another 125 to 250 more. The barrel will look a bit funny in the Sendero stock but it will balance much better. Then you can do a stock upgrade at a later date. Unless your stuck on the original caliber I would consider a 280 Ackley. It's about as much bang for your buck in a factory cartridge on a long action with a standard .308 bolt face.

 

[robby denning]

There's a guy in town who converted a Chevy Camero to 4x4 truck. As long as he's happy with all the work and money...
Since you asked if any other ideas, I agree maybe starting over would be best

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[Grumman]

Haha, so that is where the jacked up Camaro ended up. We used to have one in our town years ago


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[Brodie]

I've always felt the action was the heart of a rifle. My dad gave me a 700 when I was 13 and it is still my go to rifle except it now wears a different barrel, stock, shroud/pin/spring and trigger. I say change up the barrel and stock to exactly how you want and use it!


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[Grumman]

I've got analysis paralysis looking at all the barrel manufacturers and fluting options out there. Not sure what if any mods I will end up doing yet but 100% sure I won't be selling this rifle now. My 8yr old boy shot his first deer with it this weekend! 160 yards from a Caldwell Field Pod and made a perfect shot with Hornady CustomLite ammo. He's in love with the gun now too.

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[GKPrice]

I've got analysis paralysis looking at all the barrel manufacturers and fluting options out there. Not sure what if any mods I will end up doing yet but 100% sure I won't be selling this rifle now. My 8yr old boy shot his first deer with it this weekend! 160 yards from a Caldwell Field Pod and made a perfect shot with Hornady CustomLite ammo. He's in love with the gun now too.

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and the saga continues .......

 

[16Bore]

I'd let him carve his initials in the stock and forget all about it.

Read a thread over at 24HR and it was a similar kinda story will a little gal and a 260. There's a lot of lessons that us grownups could learn from kids. All the BS about this vs. that, BC, scopes, yadda, yadda amounts nothing. Kids could care less about "specs".

Everything "we" need to know about rifles and hunting is summed up in an 8 year old grin...



The smiles tell the story....

 

[LaHunter]

I would not change a thing on the rifle. The Sendero 270 is a great whitetail hunting rifle. Those rifles have a very good reputation for accuracy and the heavier barrel helps reduce felt recoil, especially important for a young child.
Now that your son got his first deer with it, I would tell him that it is his rifle now and tell him the importance of the rifle.
If it's too heavy for him to carry to the deer stand, then it looks like you will need to be the 'gun bearer' for him till he gets a little bigger.