Buy SS 5R or Modify 700 ADL?

[sotexhill]

Newbie here with a question.

I have a thirty year old Remington sporter 700 ADL in 308 with a 22 inch barrel with 300 plus or minus rounds through it. I bought it new and have used it for deer hunting.

I would like to do NRA mid-range F-Class. I have been doing NRA high power with .308 and .223 gas-guns. My 65 year old eyes are having problems with the gas gun service rifle sights, especially the 223, which used to be the rifle with which I shot my highest scores.

I want to end up with a Remington 700 with a heavier, possibly fluted, 24 inch barrel and probably a Bell & Carlson 2094 stock with an adjustable cheekpiece and adjustable buttstock. Target weight is about 11-12 pounds with about 1-1.5 pounds in the scope.

I can buy an SS 5R, replace the H&S Precision stock with the B&C 2094, and be ready to go. Then try to sell the H-S Precision stock. As a plus, I still have the 700 ADL. As a minus, I get to play with the new X-Mark Pro trigger.

Or, I can rebarrel my ADL with a barrel with the SS 5R specs, with fluting for possibly better cooling in the NRA rapid fire strings, and put the B&C 2094 on it. And still have my old style 2.5 pound trigger.

Which would be the better course of action, and why?

Would a reasonably priced replacement barrel (Shaw, Douglas, or Krieger) probably be equal to, better than, or not as good as the Remington factory SS 5R barrel. I say probably, because I understand that any given barrel may or may not be as accurate as another similar barrel from the same source.

Thank you in advance for your input.

 

[fdkay]

Re: Buy SS 5R or Modify 700 ADL?

That's a tough call.
I would be hard pressed to start hacking away on a fine, 30 year old gun, especially if it has a really good looking wood stock, but that is just me.
You could go down to Academy or one of the Wally Worlds that sell firearms and buy a basic remington SPS, have it rebarreled with a rock 5R barrel and buy your new stock and trigger and be out about the same as a Rem 5R, but you would have a better trigger.
Remingtons 5R barrels have a decent rep, but if you go with one of the aftermarket barrels you speak of, you would most likely get a much better tube.
What is your budget?
Savage makes a two rifles specifically for f-class.
They are excellent shooters with a very fine trigger adjustable all the way down to what I believe is 6 ozs.
I have a cuople of Remingtons and a couple of Savages. The accutrigger is a very good trigger, the one on my 12FV, which is a varmint hunting rifle adjusts down to about 2 pounds, the trigger on the 10PC and the other LE models, adjusts down to about 1.5 lbs, their target rifles, 6 ozs. Nothing complicated, remove the stock, turn the screw with the tool provided and replace the stock. no fingernail polish.
savage F class champions:
http://www.shootingwire.com/story/204844

 

[sotexhill]

Re: Buy SS 5R or Modify 700 ADL?

I could even buy a $350 ADL from Academy and go from there. I don't know if one Remington 700 action is as good as another. Or if the currently available ADL's didn't make the grade as BDL's or SPS.

Or are Academy's ADL's several years old in the warehouse?

I like the 700 for the aftermarket stocks, bottom metal, etc.

 

[SHOOTNBLANKS]

Re: Buy SS 5R or Modify 700 ADL?

Buy the 5R and swap your old rem trigger with the new xmark. Sell the HS stock and buy your B&C. Oh darn you have another gun.

 

[sotexhill]

Re: Buy SS 5R or Modify 700 ADL?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Shootnblanks</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><snip> Oh darn you have another gun. </div></div>

I reckon that is tongue in cheek.

 

[sotexhill]

Re: Buy SS 5R or Modify 700 ADL?

fdkay, my budget is about 1200. Buying the 5R, putting on the B&C stock and selling the H-S Precision gets me there. But barrels get pretty hot during competitive strings. I don't know how much of an advantage the fluting is for cooling. Or if it's mostly hype.

I believe that an aftermarket tube will probably be more accurate, but the turn key path with the 5R is tempting. Unless the advantage of an aftermarket tube is worth the hassle that would be involved in getting one.

If I pick up a used 700 action at a gun show or the cheapest available at Academy, Dicks, or Walmart, will the action be equivalent to buying a new 5R?

Any opinions or experience. Douglas says that if I send them the action, they'll install and chamber the barrel, after "Rockwell checking" the action. I am wondering what the chances are of the action not checking out, leaving me stuck with a questionable action.

 

[JS Stokely]

Re: Buy SS 5R or Modify 700 ADL?

How much do you like your current ADL? It would make an excellent donor action for a new build. I like the older Remingtons best. If you go this route, you will spend slightly less than the cost of a new 5r. That would include a match grade premium barrel chambered, installed and having the action trued. If you go new trigger and change the bottom metal, then you will be more than a new 5r. A custom build SHOULD shoot better than a 5r, but there are no guarantees. (well almost no guarantees, they will cost you dearly if there is an accuarcy guarantee) Another thing to think about is the wait time on custom work.

On the other hand, you can gamble on a new 5r. Most that I know about the 5r's is positive. I bought one knowing that if it didn't shoot as well as I wanted, then it would be off for a new tube and truing. So far it really has done great. When I was breaking in the barrel, I cleaned it before firing and shot it once at 50 then moved to 100 yds. The first three shots at 100 were well less than 1/2 inch even cleaning between shots. This was with factory Fed GM 168's. I'm shooting handloads now that will shoot in the .250 range, 168 A-max's. (I'll be shooting some 175 SMK and 175 Nosler CC's tomorrow)
I don't like the trigger on the new Remington's, but they are not terrible. I don't like feeling the little set screw on the top of the trigger...it may not bother you. Mine has zero creep and breaks clean.
Let us know how it turns out.

 

[sotexhill]

Re: Buy SS 5R or Modify 700 ADL?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: nchandmade</div><div class="ubbcode-body">How much do you like your current ADL?
</div></div>

Thank you for your time in replying.

My ADL is a good looking rifle, and would be good for a grandson, if one would be interested.

I am interested if anyone has experience or some practical knowledge of benefits of fluting for cooling. I do believe that fluting will make for a more rigid barrel for the same weight and length, all else equal. That's getting a thicker barrel and fluting 1/2 pound off it, give or take.

 

[3PER]

Re: Buy SS 5R or Modify 700 ADL?

Well, it seems really simple to me. Buy the 5R and have two rifles. I took my new 5R out for the first time yesterday (my first bolt gun) and I was shooting bullseyes right from the beginning and was doing it in good groups at 200. It shoots so good, I'm anxious to take it out again. I can tell the gun is way better than I am but that just gives me more incentive.

 

[sotexhill]

Re: Buy SS 5R or Modify 700 ADL?

Thanks for ya'll's input. I've pretty much decided to leave the ADL alone.

My first choice on the "new to me" rifle is a Remington 700 short action with a custom barrel and stock. I'll see if I can locate a used action with the proper sized bolt and go from there.

If I have trouble finding an action, I may go with a 5R when sniper country px gets their next batch in.

Again, thanks for the input.