Rem 700 7mm mag. need advice

[GARLICSALT]

Thinking that perhaps I should consider accurizing my Rem 700 7mm mag. The gun is bone stock old school in stainless steel with wood stock. I'm not doing any long treks so not very concerned with weight. I hunt mule deer and Black bear here in So. cal. and some seasons I don't even pull the trigger other than at the range before the season.
I had a gunsmith lap the rings and install a new scope last season and when I got the rifle back the action was not a smooth as when I delivered the gun to the GS, not sure what the deal is with that but it has me feeling somewhat discouraged and I feel like I need a tune up. I called Hart custom rifles and got the run down on the accurizing they do starting at about $450 and going up, this would include lap lugs, lap barrel, crown. trigger work, bed action and lap rings and install scope and bore site. Does anyone have experience with Hart and this kind of work?
Are there other gunsmiths that people here can/would recommend for this kind of work?

 

[IrkedCitizen]

Did you get new bases and rings at the same time as the scope? If so, the screws for the bases might protrude into the action and cause interference with the bolt. Remove the bolt and see if you can see the base screws inside the action

 

[GARLICSALT]

We used my existing rings and bases.
I was afraid of that and felt like that could be the problem but I don't see any marks on the bolt, that being said I will look down the action with a light and some good glasses.

 

[IrkedCitizen]

I don't know if he removed the barreled action from the stock to do the lapping job but action screws can also interfere. Bolts/actions don't generally just up and become less smooth.

 

[Sadie]

Check the front action screw. I've seen stocks shrink and the screw would contact the bottom bolt lug. If this is the case just need to grind some off the screw.

 

[Dave Thomas]

If I was going to do all of that to a rifle I would rebarrel it at the same time instead of lapping the factory barrel.

 

[Sadie]

Take it out of the stock and blow out the receiver and clean the bolt. Might have gotten lapping debris in it when rings were lapped. Just a thought. Not that any of the pipe fitters I mean gunsmiths I've used would do that. Just sayin.

 

[cq0302]

Take it out of the stock and blow out the receiver and clean the bolt. Might have gotten lapping debris in it when rings were lapped. Just a thought. Not that any of the pipe fitters I mean gunsmiths I've used would do that. Just sayin.

Second on this, I’d give it a good cleaning.

 

[cq0302]

Thinking that perhaps I should consider accurizing my Rem 700 7mm mag. The gun is bone stock old school in stainless steel with wood stock. I'm not doing any long treks so not very concerned with weight. I hunt mule deer and Black bear here in So. cal. and some seasons I don't even pull the trigger other than at the range before the season.

what problem are you trying to fix with the “accurizing”? Does it not currently shoot well or are you chasing better. Bedding and ensuring accurate float is important. I’ve shot quite a few of the older rem 700 7mm mag and with load development, bedding and floating they have all shot well. Paying for the rest doesn’t seem necessary for what you’re saying you use it for.

 

[cq0302]

If you reload, or know someone that does, the above mentioned and a little load development would go a long ways, although there are plenty of good factory offerings these days

 

[GARLICSALT]

I did like Sadie said, tore the gun down and gave it a good cleaning and she's a slick as she ever was. Also spoke to a smith in regard to the accurizing, mentioned what I am doing with the gun and he said to run it as is or invest the money in something new.
Thanks for the help guys.

 

[cq0302]

I did like Sadie said, tore the gun down and gave it a good cleaning and she's a slick as she ever was. Also spoke to a smith in regard to the accurizing, mentioned what I am doing with the gun and said to run it as is or invest the money in something new.
Thanks for the help guys.

Glad to hear it. And that’s good advice. Glad he shot you straight

 

[SDHNTR]

Check the front action screw. I've seen stocks shrink and the screw would contact the bottom bolt lug. If this is the case just need to grind some off the screw.

Especially if over tightened in a wood stock without bedding.

 

[SDHNTR]

What Smith did you take it to? And where in SoCal do you live?

I just went through the same deal with a buddy and his 700. It’s probably not worth spending the money on that it would take to really do a complete job, unless there is some sentimental attachment. You’d be talking about $500 worth of blueprinting, and another $600 for a good barrel and chamber cut. Plus another $200 for a trigger, and $150-$200 for stock bedding.

 

[SDHNTR]

I did like Sadie said, tore the gun down and gave it a good cleaning and she's a slick as she ever was. Also spoke to a smith in regard to the accurizing, mentioned what I am doing with the gun and he said to run it as is or invest the money in something new.
Thanks for the help guys.

So the gunsmith got lapping compound inside the action from lapping the rings? Thats bush league! Or did he also attempt to lap the bolt lugs?

 

[IrkedCitizen]

I still think it was action screws

 

[cq0302]

So the gunsmith got lapping compound inside the action from lapping the rings? Thats bush league! Or did he also attempt to lap the bolt lugs?

Seems that is the case, I got one of these exact rifle from a buddy to do load development and it felt like crap, it was just old tarnished oil. Pulled it from the stock and cleaned it with brake cleaner, light layer of Otis dry lube and good to go

 

[cq0302]

What Smith did you take it to? And where in SoCal do you live?

I just went through the same deal with a buddy and his 700. It’s probably not worth spending the money on that it would take to really do a complete job, unless there is some sentimental attachment. You’d be talking about $500 worth of blueprinting, and another $600 for a good barrel and chamber cut. Plus another $200 for a trigger, and $150-$200 for stock bedding.

I think this is a bit of a misnomer. A lot of these older rifles can shoot well with a simple bedding job and a little float and finding the right load. I have many that shoot moa or better. The biggest downside I see to a lot of them is if there isn’t enough barrel to thread, which is why I choose not to shoot my older rifles as much since I can’t toss a suppressor on

 

[SDHNTR]

I think this is a bit of a misnomer. A lot of these older rifles can shoot well with a simple bedding job and a little float and finding the right load. I have many that shoot moa or better. The biggest downside I see to a lot of them is if there isn’t enough barrel to thread, which is why I choose not to shoot my older rifles as much since I can’t toss a suppressor on

I’m not saying they can’t. I thought the idea was to maximize potential and semi customize the thing. If not, then yes, bed the action, float the barrel and find your load. And in the case of an older 700, definitely a new trigger.

 

[cq0302]

I’m not saying they can’t. I thought the idea was to maximize potential and semi customize the thing. If not, then yes, bed the action, float the barrel and find your load. And in the case of an older 700, definitely a new trigger.

Yes, I definitely agree with that. I have several 700 actions that have been through a handful of barrels. I’m still not super convinced on the whole blueprinting though, not in a hunting rifle anyway