1st time out with Rem 700 BDL in .222 Rem. (have ???)

W

WFR

New member
I recently purchased this Remington 700 BDL in .222 Rem.
It is a mid-70's gun in excellent condition. Bore is like new, trigger has never been adjusted and bluing is a strong 95%++.
FWA011.jpg

Today was my first trip to the range. It was basically just a shake-down trip to see that everything functions as it should and to do a 3-shot test-fire.
The scope is a cheap Bushnell with a 100-350yd adj on the top turret. The trigger is still 6-7lbs easily. I just laid it on the rest and shot 3 rounds through it to see if it would group. Here's the results:
PMtnSP021.jpg

1.25" 3-shot group about 3-4" low.

Now for my questions:
1) The safety is the older style and it bothers me that I cannot put the bolt back in unless it is on "fire". You cannot work the bolt unless it is in the "fire" position. Can this be fixed to where it operates the same as my other 700's?
2) The rounds seem to seat back too far in the magazine and did not load smoothly. It looks like the magazine follower spring is not at the proper angle. If I open the floorplate and guide the floorplate into position it helps. I know there is a spacer in the back of the magazine since it is such a short cartridge. What can be done to fix this?
3) Would you have someone locally work on this or send it back to Rem? I realize Rem outsources most of their work these days.
I figure she's a keeper and with a little a little tuning should be fine.
What are your thoughts?
What scope would you mount on this that would mate up well with this caliber?
Thanks in advance.
WFR
 
Those triggers were recalled - the recall is still in effect.

Send the gun to Remington, and ask them to replace the trigger, "... and while you're at it, would you look at the..."

They will clean up everything.

.
 
You can remove the bolt lock with a pair of tin snips or a grinder. Just cut off the tab that goes into the hole in the bolt. It's a lot easier, cheaper, and faster than sending it to Remington.

Jack
 
I don't know about the triggers being recalled, but the safety was and can be fixed. Jack Roberts method does the job and your not out the postage and costs.

The trigger can be adjusted with very little problem. Do a search here for the directions.

You might try putting a credit card under the barrel up near the action to get the barrel floated. If that drops your group sizes then float the barrel. I've always had an accuracy increase with Remingtons by glass bedding them. Wouldn't hurt to put one of Brownell's piller bedding kits in it also.

This is a pretty small investment for the accuracy increase it usually gives.

Another suggestion is use a really good copper solvent, You'd be surprised how much copper is left in the bore from Casual cleaning.

Good luck with that little 222, their a durn nice gun.
 
Took mine to a Remington Authorized repair center and had the safety worked on there. Job was done just fine. They can also adjust the trigger for you (within limits) as well as check out anything else you think needs it.

Only feeding problem I had was because of an after market stock with too deep an area for the magazine well.

From the size of that group, I would start with a very good cleaning before anything else to improve accuracy. Some people just don't clean a rifle well or often enough then sell it when the "accuracy" drops off. Bad for them, good for the next person to buy the rifle.
 
I found my 788 in .222 wasn't particularly accurate with factory ammo, or handloads using new cases, producing five shot groups about the same as yours. Using neck sized,fireformed cases in handloads, reduced the groups to around 5/8", and had the VMax or Nosler BT bullets been available, I would have expected a further reduction in group size. The chamber on my gun seemed to be on the large end of tolerances, that's why neck sized fire formed loads shot more accurately.
 
Thanks for all the input guys!
You've given me several ideas.
I'm not complaining about thegroup I got as it was a rushed group fired just to see if it was on paper and would group at all. I know it will only get better with a few tweaks.
I'll update again when I get time to make some adjustments.
Thanks!
WFR
 
Scope suggestions would be helpful.
I use Leupold & Nikon on my other rifles.
On my Remington 700VS in .223 I have a Leupold VXII 3-12X40 AO and it works well. Not sure I am sold on the whole adjustable objective feature though.
What would you put on a .222 Rem?
The gun is pretty heavy already and I may opt for a lighter stock to get the weight down and ensure a free-floeted barrel.
Thanks in advance for your suggestions!
 
Most of the wood stocked Remington 700 rifles that I have worked on shot tight groups but had a problem with shifting point of impact. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif All of them were cured with glass bedding, and floating the barrel. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif With some it improvrd the accuracy slightly. None of them got worse. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
Frank
 
Quote:
Most of the wood stocked Remington 700 rifles that I have worked on shot tight groups but had a problem with shifting point of impact. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif All of them were cured with glass bedding, and floating the barrel. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif With some it improvrd the accuracy slightly. None of them got worse. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
Frank


Frank, I agree. I am very tempted to buy a take-off SPS or similar synthetic stock for this setup.
Still looking for scope recommendations!
Thanks!
 
Back
Top