My first build - 260 Rem

[gte674n]

Hi all!

Really enjoy the forum and learning from your past experiences.

I just picked up my donor. Got a Model 11 in 308, accutrigger, bottom bolt release, dbm. I want to build a 260 for shooting out to 1000 yds from a bench / prone. My "long" range experience thus far has been shooting my Rem 700 SPS Tactical 308 from a bench out to 550 yards at sporting clays on a hillside.

Here's my plan:
Choate tactical stock - http://www.kenarnoldcsa.com/savagetacticalstocksavageshortactiondetachablemag. aspx (http://www.kenarnoldcsa.com/savagetacticalstocksavageshortactiondetachablemag. aspx)
16x SWFA SS
Barrel is still not decided. Not sure if I want to go with Apache gun works, or something from NSS. I'd like to stay in the $300ish range for the barrel. Advice welcomed here.

Also, I don't really care about having a detachable mag as I'm not doing competitions and typically just load a round, shoot it instead of filling a mag. Is it worth the effort to go with a stock that isn't configured for the dbm?

Thanks!

[psharon97]

First, welcome to the forum. There's a lot of good information here.

The important thing about barrels is who chambers it. Find someone good and you'll have a shooter. I went with SSS and am very impressed with their work. They take a LONG time to complete a build but they do good work. I have not worked with anyone else so I can't vouch for their work. Others will tell their experience with some of the vendors here.

If you don't want plan on using a dbm, then don't go with one. Put your money elsewhere.

[gte674n]

Well, been trying to get the barrel nut off. No luck so far. Tried heat, sledge on vise grips. Letting some PB blaster sit on it for a while. If that doesn't work, gonna go with cutting it off.

As for the photo, that's when I first got it in the vise. I've sense moved the receiver closer to the vise and using powdered sugar.

http://imgur.com/UPt9NWo

[Boudin]

Never tried to tackle one of those smooth barrel nuts. You may have better luck with an action wrench.

[gte674n]

Had to cut it off but I got it!

http://imgur.com/a/BxAmI

Also, previous owner had striped the allen heads on the sight bases. Had to cut a slot to use a screwdriver on those. But she's all ready for a new life now!

[Boudin]

Sweet! All downhill from here

[gte674n]

Got the stock today. Barrel due in on tuesday. EGW sight base coming in as well. I'll get some pics up when I get it barreled.

[gte674n]

Made some progress today. This pic doesn't have the bolt knob that came in after but it's on there now. It looks like many before it. The plan is to take it out tomorrow and see what she does.. It has a 26" varmint contour shilen select match barrel from NSS on it and a 10x SWFA SS borrowed from a remy 700 in 308. I've got 2 boxes of federal fusion to break in the barrel. I've got a couple hundred 123gr A-Max as well to work up afterwards. I don't expect much out of the factory ammo but I'll post some pics of the results tomorrow.

http://imgur.com/nKnbZkY

[jonbearman]

You didn't mention using a go gage to set the headspace. I am just wondering how you set it? In the future you may want to invest in a receiver wrench which is a much more solid way to hold the rifle while removing factory barrels in my opinion. In the future if you need to remove the barrel a barrel vice is better and set it closer than way out on the end.

[gte674n]

Thanks for the info. I did get a receiver wrench with the new barrel, but didn't have it when removing the barrel. Also, I did use go gauge to set headspace. It shot like a dream today but didn't have any great groups, maybe 1"ish at 100yds. I put 40 rounds of Federal Fusion ammo, 120gr down the pipe. It was the cheapest factory ammo I could find. I just used it to break in the barrel and get me some brass. I'd like to find some 4350 to work up some loads. I have some Varget and 4064 that I might try.