Gunsmithing Please help, first build...barrel channel inletting question...

[Infinity]

Hi All,

I'm having a Stiller Tac30 action built into a hunting/(some target) .308 with Keith at Phoenix Custom Rifles. I'm pretty set on a Rem Varmint contour Bartlein 20" 10 twist. Keith has suggested going with a #5 Brux but I doubt the 1/2 # weight difference matters much when I would like to target shoot with the rifle as well. Also, I've read so many good things about Bartleins that I want to see what all the hype is about. That said, I am open to suggestions regarding my barrel/contour choice. This becomes relevant below...

I ordered a McMillan Remington Classic stock in McWoody. On stockys' site, McMillan Remington Classic 700 788 600 Fiberglass Stock , it says that the stock can handle up to a #5 contour without extra barrel channel inletting. I had the stock shipped to PCR and Keith told me today that the channel would handle a Rem "#3 contour max" without additional inletting. He said he could inlet the barrel channel for the Rem Varmint contour but that the stock would be thin on the sides. What happens if the barrel channel is inletted too much? I don't want to affect accuracy, durability, nor McM's "unconditional" warranty. Thoughts?

Please share your opinions and recommendations on doing lots of inletting to the barrel channel and my barrel/contour choice. Please excuse my redundancy, alcohol is helping me write this post :$ Thanks as always,

Adam

 

[Infinity]

...another question: how many shots am I gaining in a string by going up from the Brux #5 to the Bartlein Rem Varmint? Thanks again...

 

[Infinity]

Okay, no takers... an update: I spoke with Keith at PCR today who was, as always, very helpful. He said he could inlet whatever I wanted but that, in his professional opinion, the rem varmint contour barrel in the McMillan Remington Classic stock might look funny with the barrel channel inletted to that extent in a sporting stock. He's going to send me pictures of the initial barrel channel inletting (for the #5 brux) and we will decide at that point what we think about going for the Rem Varmint contour.

I've been really happy with my decision to utilize Phoenix Custom Rifles for this build. Keith has gone above and beyond in regards to communicating with me every step of the way. I'll of course fire up a brag thread when my new baby is done being built and hook up all the pics...

 

[Jered Joplin]

If the stock gets too thin on the sides it will chip easily on the edges. The Remington classic is a standard hunting stock. Anything larger than a 3 or 4 just won't look right. Move to a larger forend like the varmint models if you want a larger barrel in it and a hunting style stock. You should get 10-12 shots out of a sendero contour (rem varmint) before she gets too hot with normal loads. A #3 you'll get 5-6 shots or so. Get the stock & barrel that's going to suit 70-80% of your needs and deal with what you have for the rest. The midrange contour ei the Sendero, light Palma etc. are really the only cross over contours that seem to suit all situations ok but if you want and or are used to a standard hunting rifle you'll probably wish that's what you had built. Just don't expect to run the hide cup with a deer rifle and it handle the heat well.

 

[Infinity]

Thanks for the reply. I've seen a few pics of #5 contours (not a Bartlein #5, those are bigger than rem varmint) in sporting stocks and don't think they look funny at all...don't think they leave the sides of the stock too thin either. Just my opinion, I appreciate yours as well. I agree that the Rem Varmint might be too wide. I don't think Keith would risk PCR's excellent reputation telling me something will work well if it wont.
I must also acknowledge the conflict of interest between you guys and PCR.

The rest of your post was very informative. Please don't take my reply as ignorant. I have been google-fuing like crazy since asking above....I had also written this thread before talking in detail with Keith.

Thank you again for addressing my questions...

Take care, Adam

 

[hangunnr]

Here is a Rem Sendero contour sitting in a McM Classic stock. There is plenty of room for this contour but you can't go much larger.

hangunnr

 

[Infinity]

Hangunnr, what's that bad boy weigh?

 

[Infinity]

And how long is that barrel?

 

[hangunnr]

Can't tell you the weight. I had it in that stock until I picked up an A3 for it.
The barrel is 20 inches long.

CR

 

[RHutch]

Thanks for the reply. ...I must also acknowledge the conflict of interest between you guys and PCR...

The rest of your post was very informative. Please don't take my reply as ignorant. I have been google-fuing like crazy since asking above....I had also written this thread before talking in detail with Keith.



Take care, Adam

Thanks for the laugh.

There's no conflict of interest, both smiths are steering you in the same direction...lighter contour or thicker forend.
Jered knows his shit and it sounds like Keith does as well.

Turn your ears on.

 

[Infinity]

hangunnr, thank you for a meaningful contribution to this thread.

RHutch, ...not so much. Your post is rude, unnecessary and has no value to the thread. I expressed appreciation for most of Jared's post, even if I disagree with one part of it. That's allowed on SH, right? I do think there may be a conflict of interest. I'm also okay with being wrong and that not being the case ...the advice given by both smiths is not exactly the same, although your summary is accurate if you don't care about details.

...Anyway, if someone cares to contribute anything else to this thread, I'd be happy to hear it. If not, that's okay too. As always, thanks all...

 

[RHutch]

You've been led to water....do what you wish.

Tell us about the conflict of interest.

 

[Infinity]

...troll...

 

[Infinity]

I thought there was a possible conflict of interest regarding different opinions between smiths. I know that Phoenix Custom Rifles is highly regarded on SH and I have not heard of APA before Jered was kind enough to contribute. Like I said, I may be wrong about a conflict of interest.

You being condescending in a threat still contributes nothing. Care to explain yourself?

I spoke with Mcmillan today and was told that my stock can handle Rem Varmint but no bigger.

 

[RHutch]

...troll...

LMAO.

Look dude, I've been down the road you are starting with your build...many times...and have made mistakes with component selection whilst I was green as you are now. Bought components that "would work" because they were readily available cause I didn't want to wait for a barrel or stock. Have sold customs that didn't turn out like I hoped and re-done others.
My point, although obviously not delivered to your liking, is to listen to what the smiths are telling you. They know the deal.
I'm out.

 

[Infinity]

Btw last post was supposed to say thread not threat. I do appreciate the advice. I've dealt with enough arf.com rudeness that I am probably a bit more defensive than I need to be. I may never build another rifle so I'm being extra cautious to make sure I don't want to change anything about the build. I hunt and shoot for fun. I don't compete. Thank you for explaining that the advice comes from a good place. Take care, Adam