Reworking a REM 5R Barrel.

R

Russ Schaeffer

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Question for the experts. I have a new REM 700 5R in 308. It's about a 1MOA barrel. What improvement could I expect if it was set back and re-chambered and re-crowned. Any? Some? About the same?
 
i think you would have to check what you have today...
size, straightness,
 
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Other Things to Check

Have you slugged it? At 24 inches you don't have too much to work with if it's getting loose near the muzzle and has to be cut back some. Ditto for setting it back and re-chambering. I have heard that at least some of these have very long throats. Have you been able to get a bullet into the lands and still have enough in the neck? With an 11.5 twist you may not have a good option for long bullets like 190's and above.

What do you want to use this for - F-Class, tactical, varmints? I really like the look of these rifles and have recently considered both the .308 and the .223. Problem is, other than pride of ownership, I can't think of why I need one as I have better rifles for about any purpose unless I get an exceptionally accurate one.

What you are proposing will run you some bucks, and then you'll have a customized rifle, which will knock down the value. These things are fairly well sought after so maybe the best option is to sell it and get something purpose-built for your chosen sport. That, or drop a Krieger on it and sell the 5R barrel.
 
Certainly, any modification could turn out a "shooter" but I don't think it would shoot much better. Could shoot worse! If you've got money to throw at something, start building an accurate rifle from the ground up - don't stop short of the real deal. If it takes a while to get it built...then it just takes a while.
 
If you can do the work yourself and have free time try it out. If you have to pay somebody AND can find somebody that will mess with a factory barrel its not gonna be worth it
 
Is there something about the crown and chamber area that concerns you? And how's the rest of the bore? Maybe a lap job prior to cutting?

Now if it's new I assume there isn't much throat erosion, right? For all the effort of setting it back, I'd upgrade (Hart, Shilen, Lilja, Schneider if you like buttons.....Bartlein, Krieger, Brux, etc if you like cut).

-Lee
www.singleactions.com
 
Russ Schaeffer said:
Question for the experts. I have a new REM 700 5R in 308. It's about a 1MOA barrel. What improvement could I expect if it was set back and re-chambered and re-crowned. Any? Some? About the same?
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I tend to doubt you will get any noticeable improvement. The real measurable difference will be somewhere in the $150 to $250 range missing from your wallet. If you have a source for free chambering work the difference will be measured in number of hours spent working on a project that gives very little return.

Just my 2 cents worth.
Dick
 
If you're going to use the Remington action, sell the barrel and buy a premium blank and have it fit. I sold a take-off 5R last year on GunBroker and they went nuts over it. Bought $300 if I remember correctly. You may do even better selling it on E-Bay, as they're kinda' nuts, too!
 
Thanx guys. From what I hear the 5R barrel has been rejected once already when it didn't pass inspection for use on the military rifle. So I guess it will be two rejections and I'll just toss the thing. I only have 32 rounds through it so I'm going to try a 175grain bullet and see where that takes me (I was using a 2156 155grain Sierra). But I'm guessing it's going to need a good barrel to shoot good enough to be satisfying. I'd be happy with a solid 1/2 MOA gun but I'm not seeing any chance of that with the stock barrel. Thanx for the help, all the replies were very insightful.
 
vtmarmot said:
...and have recently considered both the .308 and the .223. Problem is, other than pride of ownership, I can't think of why I need one as I have better rifles for about any purpose unless I get an exceptionally accurate one...
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That is how I got where I am today. I guess I'm at the point where no factory gun is going to satisfy me (maybe except an Anschutz or an other exceptional rifle).
 
Russ Schaeffer said:
Thanx guys. From what I hear the 5R barrel has been rejected once already when it didn't pass inspection for use on the military rifle. So I guess it will be two rejections and I'll just toss the thing.
Click to expand...

From what someone said earlier in this thread people pay ridiculous prices for them. Sell it, put the money towards a custom barrel.
 
Selling on eBay for Fun and Profit

If you haven't tried selling on eBay, do so. It's quite easy. Sell a few small things first to get your feedback up. I have a checking account at a small bank that's tied to PayPal. I keep a few hundred dollars in it in case I see something to buy for myself. When I've sold a few things on eBay (I only take Paypal) I transfer the balance to the checking account so I can use the money for something else. I have done very well selling takeoff stocks and barrels as well as collectible recurve bows. I made a couple of grand this summer just selling stuff I had no use for.
 
If i was gonna pick a bullet to test the 11.25 5r barrel it would be the 175smk and 4064 powder. If i could pick a bullet that id say would shoot the worst besides a very light br bullet it would be the 2156 in that barrel. I bet youll keep it if you try the 175smk and 4064 in some palma brass
 
vtmarmot said:
If you haven't tried selling on eBay, do so. It's quite easy...
Click to expand...
Yes, it's very easy, I hand it to my wife, the EBAY queen, LOL.

Dusty Stevens said:
If i was gonna pick a bullet to test the 11.25 5r barrel it would be the 175smk and 4064 powder. If i could pick a bullet that id say would shoot the worst besides a very light br bullet it would be the 2156 in that barrel. I bet youll keep it if you try the 175smk and 4064 in some palma brass
Click to expand...
The 175SMKs are on their way but I'm out of 4064. I've got some 4895 that should get me close. Thanx again.
 
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