True up a Rem 700 or buy a custom action?

[SteelBanger]

This is a spin off of my other thread down below where I ultimately decided that a switch barrel rifle fits my current needs the best. I don't have the budget to build multiple rifles right now so i think I'm going to build a single top quality rifle that I can swap barrels on due to the specific need at hand.

My question for this thread is what I should do for the action: I have a Remington 700 LA with standard bolt sitting on my bench that I had planned to have trued up for my first custom rifle. However, considering this will be a high end, long range build, would i be better off just selling the rem action and buying into a nicer custom action? I know a trued action should shoot just as good as any custom action, but I don't get all the bells and whistles with a trued action vs custom action. To have WTO true the action and install their switch-lug I'm guessing I'd be around $350 - $400.

I guess a secondary question is that I can't decide if I want to build on the long action, or go with a short action. The short action is more appealing to me because I can add a second bolt and spin on a .223 barrel for cheap practice, then I would likely go with a 6.5 PRC barrel to cover me for most game and up to elk if I had to but I would rather add a 7saum or 300wsm barrel for elk. If I stick with the long action I would do a 6.5x284 and then probably a .280ai so I don't have to get a second mag bolt, but I'm not sure what could be a cheap practice cartridge for the long action?

So assuming money isn't a factor, would you spend the $350 - $400 to get the rem action trued and lug installed, or just get into a $900 range custom action that can have shouldered prefits spun up for it?

 

[Ross1147]

I'll start off with saying I'm no expert and there are people on here that shoot a lot more than me. If I were in you shoes I would go custom action. My first custom I went with a defiance, second I went with a PTG Rem 700. The defiance is hands down a better action. Fit, feel are all top notch. That being said I shoot better groups with my PTG than I do with the defiance, but I think that has a lot to do with pushing 120grn pills instead of 200grn+.
If you want to swap barrels I'd keep the Remington and just buy a couple remage barrels for it. Trigger time is trigger time in my book. Spend the big money on the custom action in the caliber you want to mainly hunt with and then remage barrels in your plinking caliber. I recently bought a rem 783 to do just that. After the rifle, tools to swap barrel and xcaliber barrel I have a 308 and 6 Dasher for less money than I spent on the defiance action alone. And 6 dasher is super fun to shoot!

 

[Terry Balding]

The most for your money is to buy a used rifle with a custom action. I helped two friends do so recently. There are great deals out there if you look.

 

[Triple BB]

I have a Stiller on a custom 300 RUM. Currently having a 338 Edge being built with a Rem stainless LA. My Smith said it would be better than my Stiller when he's finished. Its getting the works; trued, re-cutting to clean it up and ensure it's square, re-cutting the threads, PTG one piece bolt, & a Sako extractor. Cost is about the same. We'll see in a month or so...

 

[SteelBanger]

The most for your money is to buy a used rifle with a custom action. I helped two friends do so recently. There are great deals out there if you look.

This isn't a bad option and not really something I had thought of ... I'm a sucker for putting my own touches on things to get them exactly how I want them but there are probably decent savings to be had buying a used custom rifle.

 

[SteelBanger]

I have a Stiller on a custom 300 RUM. Currently having a 338 Edge being built with a Rem stainless LA. My Smith said it would be better than my Stiller when he's finished. Its getting the works; trued, re-cutting to clean it up and ensure it's square, re-cutting the threads, PTG one piece bolt, & a Sako extractor. Cost is about the same. We'll see in a month or so...

That's kind of what I was getting at, just a simple true up isn't terribly expensive, $250 is within reason, but to get a rem 700 to the level of a custom action you're going to put as much money into is as the custom action costs, so what's the point? Let us know if it really is better than the Stiller. I'm not opposed to truing the 700, just not sure it's the final product I want for this build.

 

[dok7mm]

I have 3 WTO switch-lug builds and they are really handy for changing barrels and cartridges. Two are L/A, one with standard bolt and one with magnum bolt. My other one is S/A Tuebor Raider with both standard & magnum bolts fit to action by Clayton. All three are 1/2 moa or better, with my handloads to 600 yds.

I chose to use custom actions on all three builds, two Stiller Tac 300s and the Tuebor Raider.

The 700 action is fine, but not cheaper in the long run, I have several that are tack drivers, but they've been blue printed, fluted, firing pin hole bushed and bolt handle moved, or replaced, to insure optimal primary extraction. Not cheaper and hurt resale value.

I do love the easy barrel changes. My latest build has 4 barrels for 3 different cartridges. 6.5SS for hunting and 6.5CM & 7-08 for plinking steel.

 

[Creedmoor shooter]

Remingtons actions are just fine with alittle work. However, by the time you true it up your not far off from a custom action like a defiance tenacity or a big horn arms origin. Those go for around d 850. If it were me I would go that route vs the Remington.

 

[Creekrat]

Arc has some nucleus actions on sale right now if you go to their site. Think it's right at $800

 

[Terry Balding]

Arc has some nucleus actions on sale

Do a search on this. Read the reviews.

 

[SteelBanger]

Remingtons actions are just fine with alittle work. However, by the time you true it up your not far off from a custom action like a defiance tenacity or a big horn arms origin. Those go for around d 850. If it were me I would go that route vs the Remington.

The Tenacity and the Gunwerks GRB actions are at the top of my list. The GRB is cut for a Wyatt box which would allow for seating long and heavy 6.5 bullets to the lands and the feature list is pretty nice. Not sure if the Tenacity is Wyatt cut but I haven't seen reviews of people having issues seating bullets to the lands, and I know you can have them cut for AW mags, plus the overall feature list is extremely nice for the price tag ... integral recoil lug at that price is pretty sweet.

I know the Big Horn origins are super popular, obviously the big selling point is the swapable bolt heads, but having completely different bolts isn't that big a deal to me ... once you buy it. I don't think they are Wyatt cut and they don't accept AW mags, but again I haven't seen complaints from people saying they can't load long heavy bullets in them so maybe that's just not an issue?

 

[FEENIX]

I have a Stiller on a custom 300 RUM. Currently having a 338 Edge being built with a Rem stainless LA. My Smith said it would be better than my Stiller when he's finished.

 

[WanderingGoatie]

In building 7 rifles in the last 10 years, I've learned... we're now in the absolute golden age of custom rifles. An action that used to cost $1300 now costs about $800 and can take a chambered prefit. I'm super excited about building a new 7mm-08 on a tenacity 2.0 and having a better gun than could've been built ten years ago , with better components, and less $.

maybe a long action this time... oh god custom rifles are fun.

ok, in summation do a custom.

 

[cajun]

Truing up a 700 action is nothing more than squaring everything up and lapping the lugs. Not that expensive.