Action milling/skeletonizing

[Edd]

Who does good 700 action milling to reduce weight? I like the angular look I have seen on some but most of the shops I see that even offer action work just mill slots in it or do some light fluting.

How much weight do you think you are going to remove?

 

[shortgrass]

How much weight do you think you are going to remove?

A very good point! Cost verses return........

 

[TK 1985]

Makes sense as to why many don't do it then, and the ones that do want to build the whole rifle. Probably makes up for the cost in other areas. You're right I don't have the experience, it helps there is a place to get feedback like this as to what is feasible. I know you can only remove a few ounces at most.

 

[Edd]

I know you can only remove a few ounces at most.

I don't know what your definition of "a few" is but that sounds optimistic to me unless you define it as 1 or 2.

Karl Feldkamp used to do, may still do it, some tasteful milling on 700 actions. He told me his work removed about an ounce.

I'll give you an example you can visualize. Find a spot on your action where you can remove a slab of material that is 1/16th of an inch thick, 1/2 inch wide , and 1 inch long. Now find a place where you can remove 7 more slabs just like that one and you have removed an ounce.

Considering the action shape is round, you would need to remove 8 slabs that were about .075" thick, 5/8ths of an inch wide, and 1 inch long to equal one ounce.

 

[TK 1985]

Yeah I talked to Karl, he isn't taking that kind of work right now, seems like a nice guy. The only place so far that will do that, Match Grade Arms, I'm not sure I like the slots milled into the left side of the bolt raceway. They told me the charge is $599 and that is bolt and action, which from what you guys are telling me is involved with that, does not sound like all that bad of a price.

 

[Edd]

If you like the slabbed look, why don't you use a Defiance Ultralight action?

 

[TK 1985]

I did look at them, they are nice, though I could not find a weight listed to compare.

 

[Memberberries]

If you want the faceted look and light weight a lone peak Fuzion ti might be worth looking at. By the time you get the bolt fluted and threaded, and all the machine work done on an action you're looking at probably 1k in Smith work on a $500 stainless remington 700 action $1700 sounds pretty good when you look at it as an investment that will probably sell used for $1400-$1500 vs the custom remington that you would have a hard time getting even $1000 for with $1500 in it.