Rem 700 action?

Kodiak · Dec 22, 2011

I picked-up a used Rem. 700 magnum stainless LA today. I may use it on my current build. My question is, How do I get the sand-blasted finish smoother? That thing is so rough, it'll take skin off.

Guest · Dec 22, 2011

Send it to a good gunsmith for polishing. It's the final step in machine work, and Remington is saving money by skipping that step these days. I once worked with an ADL in 300WinMag that had mold lines on all the parts, to the point I started wearing thin leather gloves to handle the rifle, rather than get tons of abrasions. Big green is going downhill fast in the QC department on their lower priced lines. I'd buy it being due to the price, except for the same money one can get any number of well finished rifles from other makers. Those other makers are finding ways to maintain quality...

Kodiak · Dec 23, 2011

Spoke with the g'smith this morning. He said the factory SAND-blasts some barreled-actions, causing some roughness. He has found that plastic-BEAD-blasting those same items seams to smoothout the finish and it even changes the overall appearence to a lighter color. I'm going to let him try that on this receiver. More news later,

Jim

BK · Dec 24, 2011

Yeah, I have to say the gravel-blast that Big Green used does not make for a fine looking product.

BeeTee · Dec 27, 2011

The earliest stainless Remington 700 rifles were roughly finished. I have one of the first SS 700s that was produced in 1992. I plan to spend some time polishing it up a bit...

My son and a friend of his each bought a brand new Rem 700 this past summer in 300 WSM. My son's is a TriNyte coated SS XCR while the other is otherwise identical except for a satin stainless finish. Both are nicely finished from the factory. Both rifles shoot very well, and neither have a problem with chambering either factory ammunition or handloads. BT

Oldtrader3 · Dec 27, 2011

Large companies tend to have large overhead and corporate charges from Cerebrus. Something has to pay for all those executive salaries and it is not innovation usually. It is fixed overhead that does not add value, so they cheapen the product to make up the difference.

BeeTee · Dec 28, 2011

Oldtrader3":2f26asz3 said:
Large companies tend to have large overhead and corporate charges from Cerebrus. Something has to pay for all those executive salaries and it is not innovation usually. It is fixed overhead that does not add value, so they cheapen the product to make up the difference.

The new stainless Remington 700s I handled this year were very nice - much nicer than those made 20 years ago. I'm amazed when considering what I paid 20 years ago for an SS 700, and see that the current price for a new rifle isn't all that different. I'll be buying a new one in 308 Win before long. Once Rem fails to meet my needs, I'll move on. That's how the free market works. How much the execs make is really irrelevant.