Slight disappointment with Remington

[35NCO]

Time to rebuild it with barrel, stock, and bed. I too think you got a good run for your money.

I feel the same of my auto engines. I get my investment return on them and then rebuild them for another lifespan.

I generally do my own work though. So time, money and skill is always of consideration to just starting over with something new.

Nice gun either way. A fine choice.

[Divemaster]

Have your gunsmith check the rifling just ahead of the chamber. Depending upon how many rounds you've put through it over the years, you might see the first few inches of rifling worn almost smooth.

Our M24 (Remington Custom Shop) sniper rifles in 7.62/.308 were rebarreled after 10,000 rounds. Hotter rounds call for rebarreling after much fewer shots down the barrel. If memory serves, I think the .300 Win Mags got new barrels after about 2 or 3 thousand rounds.

[Peregrino]

Guy - Your comments got me thinking about how custom "safari rifles" were built 30 years ago so I asked my gunsmith about your experience. He stated it was unusual to bed the actions back then. They actually had craftsmen who could inlet a stock so that the action didn't need bedding and a properly fitted stock would last longer than the bedding compounds available at the time. Does your stock have a cross bolt behind the recoil lug? That would have been the preferred custom touch at the time. And yes - heavy recoil will eventually crush the wood fibers and loosen the stock fit. Thing is - bedding breaks down too. Depending on the bedding compound your gunsmith is using, and how much you shoot it, you should be prepared to get the bedding redone seasonally.

Side note - and far less expensive for diagnostic purposes - have you gotten the bore scoped? It's not at all unusual for magnums to have a sharp drop-off in accuracy once the barrel starts showing wear. It sounds like you've already checked everything else.

[Guymullins]

Originally Posted by Peregrino

Guy - Your comments got me thinking about how custom "safari rifles" were built 30 years ago so I asked my gunsmith about your experience. He stated it was unusual to bed the actions back then. They actually had craftsmen who could inlet a stock so that the action didn't need bedding and a properly fitted stock would last longer than the bedding compounds available at the time. Does your stock have a cross bolt behind the recoil lug? That would have been the preferred custom touch at the time. And yes - heavy recoil will eventually crush the wood fibers and loosen the stock fit. Thing is - bedding breaks down too. Depending on the bedding compound your gunsmith is using, and how much you shoot it, you should be prepared to get the bedding redone seasonally.

Side note - and far less expensive for diagnostic purposes - have you gotten the bore scoped? It's not at all unusual for magnums to have a sharp drop-off in accuracy once the barrel starts showing wear. It sounds like you've already checked everything else.

Thanks for the info Peregrino,
I got the rifle back on Friday, but have not had the opportunity to shoot it yet. I will do so tomorrow at the beginning of the hunt. My gunsmith says he bedded it with a epoxy compound and he thinks it should do the job. I have not had the bore scoped. To the naked eye, it looks surprisingly pristine and if the slump into inaccuracy were gradual, I would suspect the bore to be the problem. However, the jump from MOA to 4xMOA took place between two shooting occasions and I feel deterioration of the bore would be more gradual.
It does have a cross-bolt. It also has a pound of lead I had added to the butt to balance the rifle. It has a mighty bull barrel up front.
I wouldn't be happy re-bedding every season though. This excersize cost an arm and a leg.
Lets see what happens tomorrow.
I will report back, with pictures. Lets hope they are of carcasses and not Wildebeest heading for the horizon.

[Guymullins]

Brush, 35 and Dive. I think one of the reasons for the wood compressing is that my home is at 6000ft altitude. The air is very dry, which is great for producing no rust, but it is very hard on any wood. One dare not use wood for door or window frames here because your life will be taken up with maintenance. The wood on my rifle has a not-very attractive urethane-type finish which has been scratched and worn down over the years. The wood now is very dry, so perhaps that has contributed to its compaction. I have just helped a Turkish walnut wholesaler to establish some sales in my country, so maybe it is time for payback. A blank of superior Turkish Walnut would be appreciated. The Remington wood looks a bit blonde for walnut, but I could be mistaken.

[craigepo]

Originally Posted by Guymullins

Brush, 35 and Dive. I think one of the reasons for the wood compressing is that my home is at 6000ft altitude. The air is very dry, which is great for producing no rust, but it is very hard on any wood. One dare not use wood for door or window frames here because your life will be taken up with maintenance. The wood on my rifle has a not-very attractive urethane-type finish which has been scratched and worn down over the years. The wood now is very dry, so perhaps that has contributed to its compaction. I have just helped a Turkish walnut wholesaler to establish some sales in my country, so maybe it is time for payback. A blank of superior Turkish Walnut would be appreciated. The Remington wood looks a bit blonde for walnut, but I could be mistaken.

If you ever get a Macmillan, you will leave the walnut in the gun case forever. This coming from a guy who lives in walnut heaven.

[Guymullins]

Happiness. The bedding seems to have worked a treat. Sighting the rifle in before the hunt produced the following, the flyer was my fault, I pulled it badly. A wasp on the nose does that to me.

[Divemaster]

Originally Posted by Guymullins

I have not had the bore scoped. To the naked eye, it looks surprisingly pristine and if the slump into inaccuracy were gradual, I would suspect the bore to be the problem. However, the jump from MOA to 4xMOA took place between two shooting occasions and I feel deterioration of the bore would be more gradual.

Actually, when the bore goes, it can happen faster than you think. If after the bedding job the accuracy is still not there, I think you should definitely inspect the rifling ahead of the chamber. Also, inspect the crown for damage. This is the last place the rifle physically interacts with the bullet.