Gunsmithing Build Dillema, looking for opinions

GasLight

That Guy
Banned !
Full Member
Minuteman
Well,

I just got my Manners stock in hand, and I have everything else to complete this build, but I am very torn.

The action is a standard Rem 700 Long Action and the barrel is a Christensen wrapped tube chambered in .284. This was previously fitted to a Surgeon 581 short action. I took the barrel off, because it is a 1:8 twist and I want to shoot the heavies, but still be able to mag feed.. so long action it is.

The action hasn't been trued at all, so I have been thinking of truing the action face, and the interior lugs, then lapping the bolt to the action, then sending the bolt and action to Nathan Dagley to have him time and tig weld a PTG handle on the bolt. The negative side to this is the waiting for stuff to get finished.

The other option is for me to paint and assemble it as it is and bed it into the stock. My only worry is that it won't shoot how I want, then I will be taking the thing apart and having to likely re-paint and re-bed the thing.

What are your thoughts? True it up and wait, or rock it now and see what it will do?

Dave
 
Re: Build Dillema, looking for opinions

OK, third option:

I can true the face and lugs and lap the bolt, then just rock it how it is, this would cure the time problem. However, there is already .020" between the front of the bolt handle and the action, so after facing and lapping, I am going to be around .025"+ which would be poor timing.
 
Re: Build Dillema, looking for opinions

You might as well just take your time and do it right. The problem with just lapping in the lugs is you are going to be lapping a taper into your lugs. You will be able to see this if you lap your lugs in and you dial your bolt in a truing fixture and put an indicator on the back. What this means is your headspace changes depending on where your bolt handle is because your lugs are tapered.

You will want to true the bolt lugs too when its dialed in the machine.

Mark
 
Re: Build Dillema, looking for opinions

I say wait and get it done right. Its a gamble with the odds against you by just doing it half way and if you lose then you will have to wait even more time. I hate the feeling of having doubt in a rifle worse than waiting for a rifle, by doing it right you remove all doubt.
 
Re: Build Dillema, looking for opinions

Good point Mark, I will cut the rear of the bolt lugs in the lathe as well. I am planning on kind of going with option 3 at this point. I will true up the action face and lugs on both the action and bolt. I will then shoot it without having the handle retimed until after hunting season. At that point I will break it down and send it for a new bolt and time. If I have to repaint the bolt at that point, not really a big deal.

Thanks for the input

Dave