New barrel for a remington 700 short action?

Question

I have a Remington 700 VTR 308. I want to get into long range plinking, but I know this rifle wont get me there. I'm wanting to take her to a gunsmith and get a new barrel in the same caliber. I already have a new stock (free floating instead of the BDL P-O-S it came with), so I don't want to sell the whole rifle for another one that I have to upgrade again. I want a match-grade heavy barrel preferably 24 inches long. I'd rather not go any slower than a 1-10 twist. Looking for GOOD quality stuff. I've checked out Shilen (I think that's how you spell it) and Krieger, but I really don't know a lot of the technical details one would have to know in order to buy something above par. Any gunsmiths out there to help me out? I'm reloading 168gr HPBT matchking and eventually 175gr Sierras just to try 'em out. Looking to go out to a 1000yds without spending more than $300 (and that's pushing it) on a new barrel before gunsmithing costs. Or am I better off just selling the VTR with the original stock (keeping my new stock) and buying a Rem 700 SPS and swapping out the stock?

Answer 1

yep. quality barrels don't come cheaper than $250. for what you're looking for, you might manage $300 but shipping will push you over the limit.



I did similar with my Savage 11. I dunno about Rem 700's, with Savage it's easy to swap barrels. I could take it to a gunsmith but it really isn't anything to smith... it's like you don't need a mechanic to rotate tires on your car. If you got the tools then you're set. need action vise (you can make one) barrel wrench (you can make one or buy one) and a no-go, go, and field head space gage. you tube & forums provide plenty of help, and instructions. just loosen existing barrel, remove, install new barrel, head space and tighten. then test with the go & no-go to confirm you've done it right.



I did that and cut $175 off gunsmithing fees.



swapping stocks is easy too. I just bought a ready-to-go one from Boyd's. they make good stocks, and it's only about $120 shipped. most are with a bull barrel channel and will allow the barrel to free-float, if not you can ask them to widen the channel on yours or you can inlet it yourself.





when buying the barrel you need to your what twist you want, I'm not familiar with 30 cal twists so you'll need to find out for yourself. use the miller formula. http://accurateshooter.net/Blog/millerformula.xls

the longer the bullet the aster your twist.



if you have the tools you can always do it yourself... the barrel i mean. buy a blank with the twist you want, just profile, chamber, thread (or profile to work with 700 receiver) and crown it yourself using a lathe. blanks are cheap. like sub-$100 cheap. but you need the tools, which are not cheap.

Answer 2

I am a former military long distance competition shooter. You want a McMilian stock, and, you want someone experienced to glass bed this stock to your rifle. Each time you remove an SPS or similar rifle from the stock you destroy accuracy a little bit at a time. Your rifle was factory bedded in a several spots. Glass bedding is more than just slapping some mix in until it hardens and calling it 'good'. Do it wrong - the rifle is inaccurate. Do the proceedure wrong - and your rifle is permently mounted to the stock for life...... Because you will not be wanting to remove it from stock except maybe once every two years - be sure it is nice and clean, well oiled before you install if after the first release. Neat thing about McMillian - they will do custom colors and designs for you. Personally, unless McMillian has a stock you can't live without - I would recommend re-bedding your existing stock. And spend more time working up a better load with different match bullets. There are at least 6 additional steps you can do when handloading that will make your ammo come out better than Lake City Match - these are places you should concentrate on because you get a lot more accuracy for the buck. There is a very good chance a new stock can make eiether no change at all - and a slight change for the better, and, a slight change for the worse. Hope this helps.

Answer 3

Remington 700 Vtr Stock

Answer 4

Well I hate to be the bearer of bad news but it's going to cost you substantially more than $300 to buy, chamber, and install a match grade barrel on that action. You can go to Krieger, Hart, Shillen, Douglas etc...web sites for a look at the cost of the barrel and the fees to install it.

Answer 5

Your VTR already has a 22" barrel. What exactly do you think 2 more inches is going to get you? You'd be better off spending the money on optics. $300.00 isn't going to get you where you want to go.