Remington 700 .270 BDL around 45 yrs old-various questions??

[Dobeman887]

I have my Dad's old/but like-new Remington 700 chambered in .270, BDL model purchased new in 1980. He originally purchased it to go Elk hunting in West TX when we lived in San Antonio years ago. He got transferred from the air force base there to IL and never got to use the rifle for anything other than Whitetails. He has also never reloaded for it, which he originally intended to do. He has an old Redfield 3-9x scope on it, which is fine for the Whitetails he was hunting in WI, but I want to use it for hunts out west- Pronghorn, Elk, Axis to name a few. This rifle is in immaculate condition, but I am concerned about a few things: 1) Ability to shoot consistent groups well beyond 100yrds, out to around 400yrds; 2) This is not a bedded stock, would it be worth bedding it to improve that long distance accuracy (I would have to pay a gunsmith to have it done-I have watched videos on bedding and it's-handed and I am not (not a huge deal) and it has a nice Zeiss 4-16x scope beyond my capabilities to do it well); 3) Does it have plenty of power to take down Elk at potentially 400yrds. I have access to my neighbor's Tikka T3 300 Win Mag with a 1:11 twist, which shoots relatively well, but it is left-handed (I'm not, but not a huge deal), and it has a Zeiss 4-16x scope with a 50mm objective. I have been experimenting with various loads for the 300 win mag, but not getting the results I want (certainly not bad, but could be better-see one of my other threads regarding this rifle). My basic question is do you think it is worth investing the money in a new scope (Leupold around $1400+), and reloading materials for the .270? Thanks for any info.

 

[aachey]

1. Ability to shoot consistent groups is most likely more on you, than the gun.
2. Bedding usually improves accuracy.
3. 270 is plenty powerful for elk sub 500 yards, shot placement is always key whether its a 223 or 300 magnum.
4. In my opinion quality glass is always worth it. Plenty of scope threads on here that i suggest you sift through till you end up with what you like.

My two western guns are factory 700’s. 300 bee i went to reloading right away due to expensive ammo. 7 rem mag shot the factory ammo i had 1.25-1.5 moa, but since i liked reloading i bought components. Both are shooting sub moa if i do my part. If you can shoot around 1 moa you can kill an elk at 400 yards.

 

[Dobeman887]

1. Ability to shoot consistent groups is most likely more on you, than the gun.
2. Bedding usually improves accuracy.
3. 270 is plenty powerful for elk sub 500 yards, shot placement is always key whether its a 223 or 300 magnum.
4. In my opinion quality glass is always worth it. Plenty of scope threads on here that i suggest you sift through till you end up with what you like.

My two western guns are factory 700’s. 300 bee i went to reloading right away due to expensive ammo. 7 rem mag shot the factory ammo i had 1.25-1.5 moa, but since i liked reloading i bought components. Both are shooting sub moa if i do my part. If you can shoot around 1 moa you can kill an elk at 400 yards.

Well, I just purchased a die set, powder, and a couple different bullets for the .270. As for brass, I inherited about 12 boxes of Remington Cor Lok 130gr soft points which he used for Whitetails, so I will shoot that initially and see how that groups, and then use that brass to reload.

 

[dallen]

My dad bought me a .270 ADL in 1978….I used it plenty. It’s killed about a dozen or so sheep, many caribou, lots of deer and 4 bull moose that I can think of, to include two pretty big bulls at 400 yards. The gun performed well. I did get rid of the wood stock and got a McMillan for it just for weather. I used nosler 130 grain partitions for all of it. The pic is a bull my wife shot at about 450. He spun a slow circle and fell over. The rifle eventually started shooting poorly and think the barrel just reached the end. It’s now becoming a 280 AI…just because.

 

[ResearchinStuff]

I did my first western hunt with an 80s 700 bdl. Learned a lot that hunt, but relevant to your situation:

1. Needing to baby a wood stock that is pretty and has sentimental value is a distraction from actually hunting and enjoying the rockies
2. A reliable dialing scope is a must, as is a rangefinder. Swfa, nightforce, trijicon or maven rs1.2 for scopes.

 

[Dobeman887]

First of all, I wish I lived up your way dallen to get an opportunity (cheaper opportunity) on some of those trophy animals. Good to know that the .270 will pack plenty of power for me. I'm guessing that I will either have to bed that beautiful wooden stock, or buy a new pillared stock of some kind. I really want to stick with the wood, but still get precision accuracy out of it. I know my father has probably only put 100 rounds through it over the years, and it has been well cared for, so the barrel should be in excellent condition. It hasn't been shot in more than 10 years, and I think he used it for about 10 years on his annual Whitetail trip to WI. He always liked the 130gr Remingtons. All the factory rounds I have from him are at a minimum 12 years old.

 

[Dobeman887]

I did my first western hunt with an 80s 700 bdl. Learned a lot that hunt, but relevant to your situation:

1. Needing to baby a wood stock that is pretty and has sentimental value is a distraction from actually hunting and enjoying the rockies
2. A reliable dialing scope is a must, as is a rangefinder. Swfa, nightforce, trijicon or maven rs1.2 for scopes.

Yeah, the Redfield is gonna have to go, just a matter of when. I am a big Leupold fan with their zero lock, push button system. I have a VX5HD 4-24x on my smokeless ML that is the most accurate rifle I have ever shot- 78grns of H322, with a 300gr Fury bonded bullet will shoot clover leaves for me at 200yrds (furthest I've shot it to this point, but I have my dope card out to 400yrds). I would be taking this on Western hunts during rifle season, but would like the capability of having a quick follow-up shot if needed. I have taken a couple of Whitetails at 200yrds with this gun and it really puts the smack down on them.

 

[go_deep]

My son and I have killed over 20 elk with a .270 Win and 130 grain Core-Lokts. Cows to herd bulls, 20 yards to 500 yards, shoot them in the vitals, they die.

 

[ResearchinStuff]

Leupold scopes are very predictably unreliable.

 

[dallen]

Yeah, the Redfield is gonna have to go, just a matter of when. I am a big Leupold fan with their zero lock, push button system. I have a VX5HD 4-24x on my smokeless ML that is the most accurate rifle I have ever shot- 78grns of H322, with a 300gr Fury bonded bullet will shoot clover leaves for me at 200yrds (furthest I've shot it to this point, but I have my dope card out to 400yrds). I would be taking this on Western hunts during rifle season, but would like the capability of having a quick follow-up shot if needed. I have taken a couple of Whitetails at 200yrds with this gun and it really puts the smack down on them.

That rifle carried a Leupold VXII 3X9 on it until just recently. It never failed me and it got pretty abused on those mountain hunts. I do like the ability to dial in a range vs holdover.

 

[TaperPin]

With any rifles more than a decade old it’s a good idea to disassemble the bolt and trigger to clean out any old sticky grease or oil, and leave a light coat of oil. With a 40 year old rifle it’s essential.

Don’t believe the internet posts that talk about just shooting carb or brake cleaner and leaving them to dry. Metal on metal has to have a light coat of oil.

 

[Dobeman887]

With any rifles more than a decade old it’s a good idea to disassemble the bolt and trigger to clean out any old sticky grease or oil, and leave a light coat of oil. With a 40 year old rifle it’s essential.

Don’t believe the internet posts that talk about just shooting carb or break cleaner and leaving them dry. Metal on metal has to have a light coat of oil.

Good call-approximately 12 years worth of oil just sitting there could be gunky.

 

[aachey]

I will also say, i like reloading, and i do usually find my rifles to be more accurate with handloads than factory ammo. Plus I love tinkering.

 

[FuddRucker]

Curious to see the responses you get because I have the same set up (700, .270, 3-9 redfield) from my grandpa. It shoots well and I want to kill an elk with it, but I'm concerned about the scope and kind of don't want to mess with the set up so I can pass it to my son as is.

1. Needing to baby a wood stock that is pretty and has sentimental value is a distraction from actually hunting and enjoying the rockies
2. A reliable dialing scope is a must, as is a rangefinder. Swfa, nightforce, trijicon or maven rs1.2 for scopes.

These basically my exact concerns. That said, I know it will get the job done so it's hard to justify the expense of another set up just yet.

 

[ResearchinStuff]

an old redfield might actually hold zero better than the current production leupolds. you'd have to do some drops to find out for sure how the system is performing though.

 

[S-3 ranch]

With any rifles more than a decade old it’s a good idea to disassemble the bolt and trigger to clean out any old sticky grease or oil, and leave a light coat of oil. With a 40 year old rifle it’s essential.

Don’t believe the internet posts that talk about just shooting carb or brake cleaner and leaving them to dry. Metal on metal has to have a light coat of oil.

Yeah this is good advice , break it down and get All the old gunk out of the action and out in between the metal and wood,
I just got a pre 64 win m70 .270 and it was gunked up , while I had it apart I
Waxed both the wood and metal, and lightly oiled the action!
And also nothing wrong with a older scope ( assuming the lenses still have good coating)

 

[Agross]

Where’s the pics of the rifle?

 

[Unckebob]

I did my first western hunt with an 80s 700 bdl. Learned a lot that hunt, but relevant to your situation:

1. Needing to baby a wood stock that is pretty and has sentimental value is a distraction from actually hunting and enjoying the rockies
2. A reliable dialing scope is a must, as is a rangefinder. Swfa, nightforce, trijicon or maven rs1.2 for scopes.

My dad can no longer hunt and gave me his like new early 80's 30-06. For now, I am not hunting with it (I have other rifles I bought I want to hunt with.

When I do hunt it, I'll buy a synthetic stock and have the action bedded. The gorgeous Leupold 3-9 scope will be saved, but I'll hunt with a modern scope. After I am done, I'll put the old stock and scope on it.

The 270 is still a great cartridge. OP should hunt it if it is accurate.

 

[Koda_]

This rifle is in immaculate condition, but I am concerned about a few things: 1) Ability to shoot consistent groups well beyond 100yrds, out to around 400yrds

If its been well cared for it has the potential to shoot consistent groups out to 400yds. It would be worth seeing what it can do with factory ammo before making changes, I have a late 80s 700BDL and brand new 400 would have been a stretch, it held 1.5moa with good factory ammo new which I dont think is that great. The older 700s are solid rifles but its because the platform is so easily customizable that gave it their fame...

2) This is not a bedded stock, would it be worth bedding it to improve that long distance accuracy (I would have to pay a gunsmith to have it done

It would be essential to bed the action and float the barrel if you want to shoot long distance accurately.

3) Does it have plenty of power to take down Elk at potentially 400yrds.

plenty

My basic question is do you think it is worth investing the money in a new scope (Leupold around $1400+), and reloading materials for the .270? Thanks for any info.

Yes, if you want to shoot past 300 yards its best to get a modern scope with an adjustable elevation dial.