ShtrRdy
Well-Known Member
Thanks for the stories everyone. This is a good sampling of experiences.
I agree that if you're looking at doing all of that to a action cost-wise you may be better just to buy a custom action. I just had a buddy of mine do a 700 action and he has as much if not more into it as buying a custom actionI've done a number of actions (Rem, Savage, etc) where the barrel was removed and replaced with a quality barrel. All those guns have shot 1/2 MOA easy with reloads. However, with the barrel being removed, it's hard not to clean up the lugs and face of the receiver at a bare minimum. It's the best time to do it and those steps only take a few minutes once dialed in on the lathe. Those steps have the highest cost benift ratio. Doing the bolt body really helps and makes it "feel" better too.
For me, if one is considering "the works" on an existing action, it's better to buy an aftermarket action. The only downside to that is the wait. If you have a donor action in hand and your smith has time, you could get a gun finished quite a bit sooner.
I bought, a New Rem 700, SS L-H Action, PRE-Bankruptcy ( about 2 Years ago ) and it was "Perfect" beautifully Straight / square, diamensionally and only did, a Tiny Bit of, Lug Lapping and De-Burring. It was, slightly off, on Primary Extraction ( Cheap Fix ) as so many Remington's,.. ARE..... and if you did not have the action trued up, ....... what kind of accuracy did you get (assuming the barrel was good)
From now on, I will use a precision ground recoil lug and that is all!
Hunts also does a good jobPTG, Holland, but check them with a good mic.