Time to start...

[ColoFarmer]

In a previous thread, I asked about building a Ruger 77 or Browning A-bolt to a longer range gun, after advice here and talking to my gunsmith, I did decide to go to a Remington 700. I still need to sell the Browning to fund this build, but I found a 700 ADL in a pawn shop for $250... My background check should clear Wednesday or so, then off to the gunsmith. Now, advice I need...

It will be a 7mm Rem Mag, no advice on cartridge choice please. I have my reasons.

Was going to go a Shilen barrel, my gunsmith advises going through Brownells, they don't cary a 7mm Rem Mag in anything but ER Shaw, which from my research I may as well stick with a stock barrel... Since Brownells isn't an option, where and what brand barrel have you had luck with? My gunsmith could cut the action threads and chamber, but would much prefer a threaded, short chambered barrel to start with.

I am leaning towards a Vortex Viper scope, unless I come up with a good deal on a used scope. Also considered a Nikon Monarch. Looking to be in the $500 range. Probably going to do Picatinny mounts.

I would like to try out a Choate stock, anyplace around have them in inventory that I could shoulder and feel rather than order and hope I like it?

Recommendations on a muzzle brake?

Thanks for any help guys.

[Tim K]

I've had good luck with Lilja. Don't think they do any machining, though.

Are you planning to dial for elevation?

[C Ward]

IMO if my gunsmith wasn't comfortable chambering a barrel from a blank I'd find somebody else , a precision rifle build is all about attention to detail and the chamber is THE most important part . Short chamber barrels add variables to the equation that complicate matters .

[Delfuego]

A talented gunsmith is important to long range shooting and can be the difference between a good shooting and a great shooting rifle. Your R700 (like all 700's) would benefit from some action and trigger work. This includes but is not limited to squaring the receiver face lapping the lugs and maybe recutting the barrel threads. This work is best achieved while fitting a new barrel. Getting a blank barrel fitted and custom chambered will give you the best results. Long range gunsmiths will have all the tools and reamers in their shop and the knowledge of how to use them. As for barrels; there are a lot of nice ones. I have a Mark Chanlynn and just got a Lilja, but Rock Creek, Shilen, Bartlein, Kreiger, Benchmark, Obermeyer, Brux and Hart are all good barrel makers, lots to choose from!

An internal BDL type box for R700 is a nice addition to allow you to load more rounds and have a hinged floor plate. Sometimes they can be found used when people upgrade to DBM's.
http://www.brownells.com/rifle-parts/triggers-bottom-metals/adl/bdl-conversion-kits/remington-700-adl-to-bdl-kits-prod340.aspx?avs|Make~~Model_1=Remington__700&psize=96
(http://www.brownells.com/rifle-parts/triggers-bottom-metals/adl/bdl-conversion-kits/remington-700-adl-to-bdl-kits-prod340.aspx?avs|Make~~Model_1=Remington__700&psize=96)For BDL's
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/818519/tactical-component-mfg-mag-xtender-extended-floorplate-remington-700-short-action-polymer-black
Or you can get a detachable box magazine (DBM) conversion, but they cost more.

I would double your optics budget (nobody ever wants to hear that), but glass is important. The Vortex Viper PST is a good scope. Good rings and bases are not to be overlooked as cheap ones may come back and bite you in the ass!

Don't bother with Choate stocks, look at Bell & Carlson for quality inexpensive long range stocks. A B&C can also be inletted for the BDL style hinged floorplates when you have it installed.

Long range shooting ain't cheap, but you can get a good setup without spending $3-$4k also. Some guys on here (looking at you Hoser) have more than that in just 1 scope! Once it's built, come out to one of the LR tournaments (Pueblo, CRC, WHAC) and you will learn a ton, I guarantee it!

[ColoFarmer]

Thanks guys, should have clarified, it's not that my smith isn't capabable or comfortable, more time limited, if he can just do the action and trigger work and finish fit the barrel, he can get it out a lot more quickly.

I will dial for elevation.

I wish it was in the budget for a Viper PST, but it just isn't. If I went that route, I don't think I'd be able to afford to rebarrel, and that and the action/trigger work are where I think the money is better spent... If I get into it and keep going, maybe then think about upgrading scopes, but I think I'd rather get the basic rifle up to speed first... But then I'm not the expert some on here are, so I definitely listen with an open mind... I did think about going to a detachable magazine, but would rather spend the money elsewhere on the gun for now...

Oh, and forgot to add, I do hand load and thanks to the classifieds here I have a pretty good stock of match components.

[Tim K]

If your scope budget is really $500, you should shop for used. If I were in your situation, I might consider an inexpensive scope to get you by till you can save up for a real scope. A lot of us give great advice when we tell you to spend $2K on a scope, but sometimes is just impossible to take it.

I have a Millett TRS-1, a $300 scope, that I've tested and used pretty extensively. It tracks great, and the quality of the glass is fair. I can't say how long it would hold up to recoil since mine is on my .22LR trainer, but they have gotten good reviews. You'll sell it when the time comes for $200, so it will really only cost you $100 to try it.

[Delfuego]

Dialing for elevation is where a good scope pays dividends. Watch for BDL bottom metals used on SnipersHide and here, when people do their upgrades to DBM's they will offload their old hinged floorplates for cheap, then its just $20 to get the extended box. The inletting for ADL's and BDL's is different so it would be good to do if you replace your stock.

SWFA fixed power scopes are really nice for the money $300 or so. Not variable, but rock solid and good glass. I have a 10x with mil/mil and love it. Cannot be beat for the money!
http://swfa.com/SWFA-SS-Scopes-C1719.aspx

[JMBD2112]

I have a bottom metal that i would give you but its off of a 5R SA .308 so i'm pretty sure they're different. If you want get a cheapy DBM like an atlaswerx. I've seen them for as low as $80 on the hide.

[JMBD2112]

Their was a viper pst in the trading post, I dont know if it sold though

Found it:
http://www.ar-15.co/threads/82459-Vortex-VIPER-PST-F-F-P-4-16-X50-525-00?highlight=vortex

[Delfuego]

Their was a viper pst in the trading post, I dont know if it sold thoughHopefully that one will be mine this weekend...

[67rschev]

Quality , Speed , or Inexpensive

You only get to choose two of the three . These pieces are labors of love . I waited 6 months for Obermeyer to complete the barrel , then another 4 months at the gunsmith . Was worth every minute of the wait and you will be happy that you didn't shortcut the build in the end .

Plus it will give you some time to save for the optic , don't shortcut that either . They hold value , just as a firearm does . And if your dead set on 7 mag , your gonna want a good brake as shooting 50 plus rounds in a session would be rather brutal , I know I would pick up a flinch after 20 or so

[silentshooter]

The SWFA glass is a great bang for the buck, My 308 at the moment has a Premier 5-25x that cost as much as the rifle. I have been drooling over a new S&B 5-25x tan but find it hard to spend $3500+ on glass at the moment. (if they still had the Gen II reticles I would probably already own it).

If you can not get the glass you want now because of funds, I would hold off as long as possible and see if you can get what you want by the time the rifle is built. No matter how good of a rifle it is, if you can't see what you want to hit its not going to matter.

[JMBD2112]

Hopefully that one will be mine this weekend...

I bought the same optic to start. It has served me well. I'm trying to get a Schmidt by this spring....

[islandermyk]

Get a good scope first... along with the rings and mount.

shoot it and see how it performs first before doing any work on it. Just see what you can do with it along with what it has to offer you, and then tear it up and move on to improving it.

I've seen some good bone stock rifles out there that shot under 1 moa 5 shot groups at a 100 yards... maybe yours will perform better than you'll expect?

The sky is the limit on a long range rifle and you'll have a lifetime doing it. Buy once! Cry once... and you will cry once... just once....

This is far more worse than building an AR... as some would say "Welcome to the Darkside" [Beer]

[Madusa]

Is this a joke?

[quickdraw]

Is this a joke?

Is this a joke?

[SA Friday]

[facepalm] cry once.

[islandermyk]

[facepalm] cry once.

only once.... [Coffee]

[islandermyk]

Is this a joke?

[Dunno] what you mean?

[ColoFarmer]

Well, picked up the 700 today, tomorrow it goes to my gunsmith, we'll get the barrel ordered and hopefully the muzzle brake. Recommendations? Looked at the American Precision brakes. Going to go with a Shilen barrel, seems to be the best combination of quality/price/lead time.

On a scope, may have found a deal on a Zeiss Conquest, from reading online seems like a decent scope, anybody here have experience with them? Thinking I will go a Picatinny rail for the mounts, just because they seem to be the mount system of choice.

[ColoFarmer]

Get a good scope first... along with the rings and mount.

shoot it and see how it performs first before doing any work on it. Just see what you can do with it along with what it has to offer you, and then tear it up and move on to improving it.

I've seen some good bone stock rifles out there that shot under 1 moa 5 shot groups at a 100 yards... maybe yours will perform better than you'll expect?

The sky is the limit on a long range rifle and you'll have a lifetime doing it. Buy once! Cry once... and you will cry once... just once....

This is far more worse than building an AR... as some would say "Welcome to the Darkside" [Beer]

I'll be replacing the barrel...SEVERE copper fouling, some pretty good dings on the crown and some dings along the barrel... What can you expect for $250? :) Oh, and I got a really cool Tasco 3-9x32 with it! I'm sure I can sell it and recoup at least fifty cents of my investment!!!

[JMBD2112]

I have a Badger FTE on mine, cut the recoil down drastically. Got it off the Hide for $100.

[islandermyk]

I'll be replacing the barrel...SEVERE copper fouling, some pretty good dings on the crown and some dings along the barrel... What can you expect for $250? :) Oh, and I got a really cool Tasco 3-9x32 with it! I'm sure I can sell it and recoup at least fifty cents of my investment!!!

I hear yah.... gotta get everything you can out of it.
I've gone on many Ramen diets that would last a month cause of this addiction... at least you're having fun [Beer]