Precision Rifle Build

[MeatyMac]

The most accurate factory rifle I bought was a Sako L461 Benchrest model in 6mm PPC USA. It sits in a place of honor in my safe.

Mine is also a Sako, the model 75 stainless varmint w/a factory laminated wood stock in 22-250 Rem. that I bought new about 15-years ago. It shoots one-hole 5-shot groups with Winchester USA 45gr. hollow point ammo, it shoots so well with this factory ammo I've never felt the need to work up a handload for it.

Mac

[symbology]

I did not find a Vanguard 2 here on Weatherby's site.

Is this possibly the one you are talking about?

If you want to put the action in a chassis, just start with this.

http://www.brownells.com/rifle-parts/receiver-parts/receivers/barreled-receivers/1500-barreled-action-varmint-heavy-barrel-blue-6-5-creedmoor-6-prod94611.aspx

[Rorge Retson]

If you want to put the action in a chassis, just start with this.

http://www.brownells.com/rifle-parts...prod94611.aspx

Now that looks nice...

What are we talking as far as chassis are concerned???

[symbology]

You just missed the $100 off sale at XLR.

https://xlrindustries.com/

https://mdttac.com/

I am not sure who else makes a Howa chassis. The MDT will be similar to the chassis on the Howa HCR

[ar15barrels]

Now that looks nice...

What are we talking as far as chassis are concerned???

$600 to $1200 for most chassis.

[Rorge Retson]

$600 to $1200 for most chassis.

Is it better to bed or free-float a barrel?

Or bed the action, and free-float the barrel?

I've been reading but getting conflicting recommendations...

Also different reasons (i.e. stability vs. harmonics)...

[symbology]

Bed the action, float the barrel. An advantage over some of the chassis systems is there is no bedding required (in most cases). You just bolt the action in and go.

[symbology]

Well that sucks... I thought for that price it would have been fully worked up / trued.

If that is the case and after having to spend a couple hundred more here and there on gunsmiths you might as well just go all the way and get a quality 700 pattern action from one of those other 3rd party companies.

According to Savage, they do a lot more than truing the bolt. May not be the complete truing job that Randall would do, but closer to it than just truing the bolt. The Stealth's also come with tuned extractors and ejectors (for what ever that is worth).

[symbology]

Those actions are not blueprinted in the way you and I think when we read blueprinted. The bolts are fit to the action and thats it. Is it better than a bone stock 700 action, sure. But not $300 better in my opinion.

How much is a 700 in an aluminum chassis? $300 less than the Stealth? Where is this rifle?

[ar15barrels]

Is it better to bed or free-float a barrel?

Or bed the action, and free-float the barrel?

I've been reading but getting conflicting recommendations.

Bed the action and float the barrel.

[jimmykan]

According to Savage, they do a lot more than truing the bolt. May not be the complete truing job that Randall would do, but closer to it than just truing the bolt. The Stealth's also come with tuned extractors and ejectors (for what ever that is worth).

As I understand it: Savage actions have floating bolt heads, and thus at least the bolt and lugs do not need truing.

[ar15barrels]

An advantage over some of the chassis systems is there is no bedding required (in most cases).

The disadvantage of most chassis is that they distort the action when you tighten the action screws.
Bedding them solves the problem.
Most chassis will cause a trued receiver with a tightly fitted bolt to actually bind the bolt.

This is really easy to check for with a looser fitted bolt which it not binding with the receiver installed in the chassis as well.
Just hold the rifle around the barrel and forend and loosen/tighten the rear action screw.
You will feel the barrel move in relation to the forend in about 90% of chassis systems.
If the barrel moves while simply loosening the rear screw 1/2-3/4 turn. that's the action springing back to it's relaxed state as you release the bending force from the action via loosening the screw.

[ar15barrels]

As I understand it: Savage actions have floating bolt heads, and thus at least the bolt and lugs do not need truing.

Correct.



The bolt head fits sloppy within the bolt so that if the lugs in the receiver are not square, the bolt head can lean over to make contact.
When this occurs, the cartridge case head is not supported square to the barrel/chamber though, unless the barrel also happens to be crooked on the receiver in the same direction as the lugs.

[symbology]

The disadvantage of most chassis is that they distort the action when you tighten the bolts.
Bedding them solves the problem.
Most chassis will cause a trued receiver with a tightly fitted bolt to actually bind the bolt.

This is really easy to check for.
Just hold the rifle around the barrel and forend and loosen/tighten the rear action screw.
You will feel the barrel move in relation to the forend in about 90% of chassis systems.
If the barrel moves while simply loosening the rear screw 1/2-3/4 turn. that's the action springing back to it's relaxed state as you release the bending force from the action via loosening the screw.

Thanks for this, I will check on mine when I get the chance.

[NorCalFocus]

How much is a 700 in an aluminum chassis? $300 less than the Stealth? Where is this rifle?

I was speaking of the Pacific Tool & Gauge Rem 700 actions being $300 more than a plain jane Rem 700 action.

If you want a 700 in an aluminum chassis you have to buy a 700 and then the chassis separate. TO my point that I made earlier in this thread, if your going to go this route, I would do it with a custom barrel. The parts will run you about $1400 to $1600 and labor would be about $500. So unless a Savage Stealth is $2300 + your not saving $300.