Stainless Remington 700 Action

[Inuvik]

My basic question is: If purchasing a base rifle on which to build from, is there any advantage or disadvantage to starting with a stainless action compared to a regular one?

The long version is this. California is going to start requiring registration of long guns purchased after 1/1/14. In advance of that, I am adding a few items to my safe that I don't necessarily need right now, but may want later. I realize how much California sucks, so spare me any lectures on that point.

I am looking at either a standard or stainless Remington SPS .308 (standard/hunting barrel profile) as an action and serial number I can purchase right now, use as a hunting rifle, and build up in the future. I am assuming the barrel would be swapped out, so I don't care much about that right now.

Thanks for any information you guys will share!

[wnroscoe]

For what ever reason, the Remington 700 stainless receivers are straighter than their CM counter parts but, both do require truing. That being said, there's really no accuracy difference between the two if both are trued prior to installing the barrel. When using a quality barrel and all machine work and stock work is performed properly both the CM & SS receivers will help to produce a .250" or better moa rifle. I cerakote all of my rifles and 99.9% of the ones I build so it never matters which I use, they all get the same accuracy guarantee.

Buy what ever you can now, you might not be able to find it later.

[ICANHITHIMMAN]

my advice dont buy a rem 700 buy a clone of it, because at the end of the day when the build is done its going to cost the same and the custom action is worth more on resale.

[wnroscoe]

my advice dont buy a rem 700 buy a clone of it

This is what I tell people if they're starting from scratch. By the time you pay $4-$650 for the receiver or donor rifle, new or used, $250 to true the receiver/bolt, $50 for a custom recoil lug and add a side bolt release, scope rail and bolt knob you'll be bumping $1,000 to $1,150.

For that money you can get a custom receiver with a fluted bolt body, better primary extraction, better extractor, better bolt body to bolt raceway fit and pinned recoil lug and scope base.

For a hunting rifle the SPS route may be OK but, there are better options.

Good luck either way

[underwoodbitsandspurs]

my advice dont buy a rem 700 buy a clone of it, because at the end of the day when the build is done its going to cost the same and the custom action is worth more on resale.

Agree 100%. I had GA Precision build a rifle for me with a factory 700 action back in 2003 and that rifle was amazing. But my next rifle will have a custom action, even if it costs a little more its worth it. Any of these are quality actions. I'm ordering a Defiance this summer unless I have GA Precision build the rifle. The Templar is made by Defiance too.

http://www.gaprecision.net/ga-precision-templar-action.html

http://defiancemachine.com/rebel-action/

http://www.viperactions.com/ (Tactical 30, 300, 338 and 408)

http://www.surgeonrifles.com/actions

[ICANHITHIMMAN]

Agree 100%. I had GA Precision build a rifle for me with a factory 700 action back in 2003 and that rifle was amazing. But my next rifle will have a custom action, even if it costs a little more its worth it. Any of these are quality actions. I'm ordering a Defiance this summer unless I have GA Precision build the rifle. The Templar is made by Defiance too.

http://www.gaprecision.net/ga-precision-templar-action.html

http://defiancemachine.com/rebel-action/

http://www.viperactions.com/ (Tactical 30, 300, 338 and 408)

http://www.surgeonrifles.com/actions

Have you ever seen a raptor? http://www.apsrifles.com/Raptor_Receivers_3H6X.html

[underwoodbitsandspurs]

Have you ever seen a raptor? http://www.apsrifles.com/Raptor_Receivers_3H6X.html

No I have not, but I just looked at them and they look like a quality action too. Nice rifles too.

OP, if you go the SPS route I would not worry about getting a stainless action. I have had a couple of custom rifles built and none of them had a SS action, just the barrels were SS. I would still recommend saving up your money to buy a custom action, but I understand the time frame you have. Just make sure you find a good rifle builder and they will make a shooter out of a custom or factory 700 action.

[ICANHITHIMMAN]

No I have not, but I just looked at them and they look like a quality action too. Nice rifles too.

OP, if you go the SPS route I would not worry about getting a stainless action. I have had a couple of custom rifles built and none of them had a SS action, just the barrels were SS. I would still recommend saving up your money to buy a custom action, but I understand the time frame you have. Just make sure you find a good rifle builder and they will make a shooter out of a custom or factory 700 action.

I have noticed on the stainless guns that the back right of the action gets polished to much to you will have to bed your base to get all you can out of the rifle.

[Inuvik]

Thanks so much to everyone who has replied! This has given me a lot of good information to think about.

For my needs, it sounds like the standard CM SPS is the way to go right now.

[AR15barrels]

Thanks so much to everyone who has replied! This has given me a lot of good information to think about.

For my needs, it sounds like the standard CM SPS is the way to go right now.

I built a 300mag on a brand new stainless 700 action for a guy last week.
The stainless actions are nicer to work with from a machining perspective.
No refinishing needed compared to chromoly actions.
The SPS is a good way to step into a good gun on the cheap though.
It will end up costing almost as much as a clone receiver and will not have all the features of resale value, but you can do it in $500 chunks instead of $1000 chunks.

If you are in Los Angeles, hit me up when you are ready for truing and a new barrel...