Gunsmithing R700 Optimal Action Clearances?

[Rprecision]

This is the third R700 I have blueprinted, trued and re-barreled,

The former models were built with tighter clearances. Bolt to barrel .005” to bolt recess .005”, bolt lug to barrel .010” These guns have never had a single problem and shoot the lights out. I sleeved the bolt on my 22-250 and run around .002” The reality is however, those tight of clearances are sketchy for field use. They also take attention to prevent problems.

My current build is a long action in 300 win mag. I want to ensure that the gun is both accurate and field expedient. It is going to have factory bolt clearances but what I am trying to settle on is the bolt to barrel, bolt to recess and bolt lug to barrel. The gun could see arid desert to alpine snow and rain.

I know there has to be some folks out there who have been challenged by the same thing?

What have you done that works and what didn’t?

Thanks

 

[hero's machine]

Re: R700 Optimal Action Clearances?

It's all about trade offs. You can try to eek out that last wee bit from your .25 moa gun or be happy with it and know that the thing will always cycle. I would not go much tighter than your first build if it is gonna be a field used gun myself. Mid to lightweight rifles used for hunting are my thing. I would take a .75 moa gun that is dead nuts reliable over a .1 gun that I had to pussyfoot. I would not tighten up any more, and if you do....proceed with caution.

 

[Rprecision]

Re: R700 Optimal Action Clearances?

What do others run for clearences?

I dont really know what is standard

 

[Rprecision]

Re: R700 Optimal Action Clearances?

I was hoping to get some more feedback, anyone ?

 

[eddieharren]

Re: R700 Optimal Action Clearances?

This does not pertain to any Tactical or diciplines other than 100,200 & 300 Yd. benchrest. I, along with my wife, have been shooting in IBS registered matches since 1988. The IBS Hunter and Varmint hunter classes were originally intended to provide shooters to use factory produced bolt actions in a class where they did not have to compete against custom made actions. In fact the rules, at one time, stated that in order for an action to be legal, the manufacturer had to produce at least 1200 per year. That rule has been ammended to allow custom actions in the above mentioned classes. Getting back to the original question of tolerences. I use a trued Rem 722 and my wife uses a trued 700. Both of these rifles were built in my shop by me. Trueing consisted of facing the action, boltface, locking lugs on bolt and in the action, as well as lapping the lugs to full contact. Internal actions threads were chased with a tap. No bolt sleeving. Barrels are mated with the action using surface ground recoil lugs (Rem). In the past 20 years we have set 5 IBS records, won 11 National Championship yardage titles, 3 National Championship Grand Agg titles and both of us have been "IBS Score Shooter of the Year" in the 6X scoped Hunter and Varmint Hunter classes. My point is, how tight do the tolerences have to be? You can be the judge.

 

[Robert Gradous]

Re: R700 Optimal Action Clearances?

.010 on bolt to barrel
Lug clearance to barrel Dia. .002 to .005
.

 

[my human host]

Re: R700 Optimal Action Clearances?

On my 700's that have sleeved or PTG bolts I run .004 to .005 total clearance for the bolt body.

Counterbore dia. .010 over bolt nose dia.

Counterbore depth and lug to shank clearance is .010

My coyote rifles sometimes go months at a time without anything more than a squirt of oil on the bolts and I've never had any issues. If I'm in the mood I'll sometimes get up into the front of the action with a q-tip and clean things up a bit.

 

[Rprecision]

Re: R700 Optimal Action Clearances?

Great thanks for the feedback. I was leaning towards .010" all around.