Smoothing a Rem SPS action

[gerry]

I like how my 35 Whelen built on a Rem 700 SPS action turned out except on thing, the action is rough. My other Remington on a CDL action is by far the smoothest action I have ever had even compared to my Sako, it has also been powder coated though. I realize that the SPS action is made to be less expensive and therefore has less finishing but I would like some ideas on how to smooth it up. One other thing actually while I'm thinking about it I have swapped the triggers back and forth a couple of times (a Walker trigger and a Mark x Pro) between the two and no matter which trigger is on the SPS it is much more creepy than on the CDL. Anything I can do with that or just be safe and have a gunsmith tackle that one?

 

[BeeTee]

My Rem 700 VS 223 has the slickest action of any bolt rifle I've owned, though it does have at least a couple thousand rounds through it.

Check the underside of the rear/top portion of the action where the scope mounting screw holes are located. Stick you finger in the bolt raceway, feeling for burrs where the scope mount screw holes were placed. These can be deburred with a Dremel and a polishing wheel.

The mag follower can increase drag on the bolt as it moves back/forth. Polish the top of the mag follower.

Polish the bolt body.... I've used 1500/2000 grit wet/dry followed by a buffing wheel/compound. It makes it real shiny.

Otherwise, I've read where smiths will sometimes use lapping paste on the bolt, and just move the bolt back/forth dozens or hundreds of times, but never close the bolt (might affect headspacing). BT

 

[ScreaminEagle]

Lapping compound. Sit in front of the tv at night and "play" with it. Did mine and it's smooth as silk now!

 

[nvbroncrider]

+1 on the lapping compound that's what I did to mine. It's smooth now but not silky like my Winchesters.

 

[CMBTshooter]

Mine eventually smoothed out after 900+ rounds and cycling with snap caps probably twice that amount. Lapping compound will speed that up a whole lot.

 

[gerry]

Thanks for the info, I'll start doing some of that on a night my wife is out so I don't drive her crazy Any idea if JB compound would work or do I need to buy some type of lapping compound? My CDL is so smooth it's amazing, it would be nice to get this one close to the same.

 

[ScreaminEagle]

Thanks for the info, I'll start doing some of that on a night my wife is out so I don't drive her crazy Any idea if JB compound would work or do I need to buy some type of lapping compound? My CDL is so smooth it's amazing, it would be nice to get this one close to the same.

JB won't abrade steel the way you need it to. You gotta get some lapping compound.

Lapping compound and oil!

 

[gerry]

Ok, I'll look into it. Thanks

 

[HomerOz]

G'Day Fella's,

Gerry, the best method to smooth those Sand Blasted Rem SPS rifles up, is just use them!

The problem with using abrasive lapping compound is, you need to completely remove all traces of this product, when you are finished!
If you don't have the tools and knowledge to dismantle the rifle (and put it back together correctly), this abrasive could work its way into areas of the rifle (trigger, chamber, barrel etc) and damage it and or make it unsafe!!!

Hope that helps

Doh!
Homer

 

[AzDak42]

Another option is to get the rifle refinished...

I have had a few guns done up by ARS (http://www.arizonaresponsesystems.com/f ... nish.shtml) and the final action, even on an old surplus rifle parts, is slicker than snot.