doc12
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Posts: 40 
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Post by doc12 on Jan 10, 2016 10:57:16 GMT -5
I have a stainless Remington Mountain rifle in 30-06. The rifle has a very narrow pencil type barrel on it. The rifle has never been a shooter, granted I don't reload but have tried various high end ammunition in it. I replaced the stock and bedded the action and free floated the barrel. I also worked the trigger down to 3.5 lbs. I did not put a dap of bedding at the end of the stock to mimic the bump of wood on the original laminate stock that put some pressure on the distal end of the barrel. From what I have read, some say these thin barrels should not be free floated die to their thin contour. I have thought about having the action trued and putting a thicker contour barrel on it. I wanted to keep it a 30-06 as I like to have one in the stable. My question is, do you think it's worth trying to get this thing to shoot as is or bite the bullet and do a rebuild?
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Post by dannoboone on Jan 10, 2016 15:31:35 GMT -5
One can only imagine what he would do if the rifle was in his hands.
I have read about some of the "pencil" barrels shooting well under MOA.
Perhaps it would be a good idea to try the bedding at the end of the barrel.
That wouldn't take long and the least amount of effort. Just one 5-shot
group would let ya know if it was worth that small amount of effort. If
that doesn't work, me thinks ya answered your own question.
I've owned only one of the "pencil" barreled rifles, a Marlin X7 with a
flimsy, tupper-ware stock. Both got replaced. Never again will I get a
rifle with anything less than a predator type barrel.
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Post by rojo23 on Jan 10, 2016 15:53:07 GMT -5
I think you can get really good performance from handloading. Since you don't reload might have to do some shooting with a few different ammo brands and bullet weights to find the one that best shoots in your rifle. I shoot a very light weight 700 in 30-06 to sight it for a friend. He had 2 boxes of ammo, the best one would shoot was 3" groups and the other shoot just over 1" group. The ammo made a huge difference in accuracy on his rifle. That is where I would start
If you figure on truing an action, and buying a barrel fitting, and chambering it you are going to spend $700-$1200. I am a fan of a custom rifles with the heavier contoured barrels, problem is the extra money they cost. Check with Jeff, he offers several different options for accuracy or rebarreling your action. He did a 300 wsm for me that shoot 1/2" groups all day with handloads. I have also shot a few 1/2" groups with factory ammo.
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Post by Hank on Jan 10, 2016 19:08:55 GMT -5
Doc... I would try the pressure point on the forearm like danno suggested. If that don't work,, move on to a new barrel... It sounds like you have worked on or replaced everything but the barrel so that's all that is really left.. Sometimes you get a barrel that just won't shoot as expected,,, when that happens it's time for a new one.
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doc12
New Member
Posts: 40
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Post by doc12 on Jan 10, 2016 19:35:34 GMT -5
Sounds good guys, Thanks for the suggestions
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Post by jims on Jan 10, 2016 22:56:14 GMT -5
Years ago I had a 25-06 that shot better with a little pressure at the front of the barrel, the fellow I bought it from had a plastic playing card or some such under it just to put a bit of pressure on the forearm area. Easily removable if it does not help. A credit card piece of plastic might work also.
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beans
Full Member
Posts: 248
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Post by beans on Jan 11, 2016 6:00:32 GMT -5
A friend of mine has a gun like yours in 7mm-08. He is also a handloader. The gun has had it's moments where it seemed to want to shoot pretty good only to not repeat next time out. He has done several of the things mentioned above with nothing that has caused a significant improvement. He even kept a "cold bore" target that he always used for the 1st shot of each range trip...of course using the same load. It's a 2 MOA gun. For what he used it for, it's actually completely adequate since it's used for being on the ground, in the woods and mainly on drives where shots are short. However, like you and I, he is an accuracy freak and when he pulls out in two .280's and prints nickle sized groups with whatever he seems to feed it, it make the little mountain gun seem very inferior.
Long story short, it's now for sale. I never liked the little pencil barreled guns that weight 5 1/2 lbs. Not only are they hard to make shoot good, they are so light that they are hard to hold steady IMO.
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doc12
New Member
Posts: 40
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Post by doc12 on Jan 12, 2016 18:02:58 GMT -5
Beans, you summed up my feelings exactly. I used that 30-06 on a couple of Newfoundland moose hunts and never felt confident at longer ranges with it. I purchased a GA Precision .300 WSM and have shot 5 moose with it from 150 to 350 yards. What a difference a tuned rifle makes. The rifle shoots like a dream. I guess I'm wanting the same performance out of that 30-06 but it's not going to happen unless I change the barrel or sell it!
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