Peruseing through the Remington site I came across the Model 40-XB Rangemaster Thumbhole...

It is a very tempting rifle, I was wondering what people can tell me about them here.
From what I gather it comes standard in .22-250, .260Rem and .308, all the other calibers are by special order.

I am thinking .300RUM, or at the other end of the scale, .220swift. for an extreme long range setup.

What would be good twist rates for the respective calibers?

I must admit that a lot of the appeal comes from the thumbhole stock, I am trying to get one for another rifle, but I may have to order it from the US...

Would have less trouble getting a Sako TRG-S, but then I am restricted in choice in caliber .30-378Weatherby or 338Lapua mag. If I put a thumbhole stock on that, I would also have a very mean machine.
The TRG-22 & TRG-42 are pretty popular here, I suspect they cost a lot less than in the States, but I can't recall the exact price offhand.
Again they are availiable in .308, .300win or .338Lapua only and are strange looking creatures.
I have not shot one yet, though 3 regulars at my range shoot them in .308win.
Unforotunatly these guys don't have a clue what they're doing so they are not much help to me.
One was pretty happy to get groups the size your a fist at 160m...

So what can be said for a Remington custom rifle, would it be worth my troubles?

Does it take a long time to get one of these put together if you ask for a different twist rate or caliber other than the abovementioned three?

For the kind of loot involved,I'd source great components and have them assembled by a great Gunsmith. Then you could scrath your every itch.

As an aside,my TRG-S in 30-378 was the biggest POS I've ever owned.

Your mileage may vary..............

[QUOTE]Originally posted by EXPRESS:
I don't know too much about the current 40x's but they are alittle expensive. If it was me I'd call the custom shot after selecting a caliber and ask about group size (they send a test target with 2-5 shot groups and what load and bullet used). I've got afew of the older ones and all were good shooters. I'd say you would be about the same cost or higher if you had a varmit rifle built. Alot of the higher cost would depend on action,barrel and stock. I've seen post were alot of guys say the curret 40x isn't as good as the old one but someone must be buying the 40x's or they won't offer them for sale. Well good luck. Tom

You might want to try a thumbhole stock before shelling out the big bucks. I find they are okay from a bench but are very ackward (to me) in the field. I guess if one were to hunt only with a thumbhole, he could get quite comfortable with it. I was trying to switch between both sorts of stocks.

I would have built most of my rifles if it was possible or feasable...

Here in order to build a rifle either from scratch or by assembleing parts;first you must obtain a permit to build, present a project/blueprint for approval; do the actual work, then it has to be tested by the "national testing bank" and further approved. In short: 18months - 3 years of FRIGMAROLE.

I have used a few thumbhole stocks and love them, it's not a strictly aesthetic attraction I toward them.

You can get away with buying a second hand rifle that has the action you are afer and build on that, or alternatively, stretching the rules somewhat, buy any rifle in the caliber and same action type you are after, destroy it, then build your rifle, stamp the same serial number and catalog number onto it.
The only problem would be that each and every firearm model, brand, in each caliber and variant that enters the Italian market must first pass therough the "banco prova" and there is cataloged. This number therefore not only corresponds to a particular brand and caliber, but also model and action type, so you would have to hope no-one ever notices that the rifle is not what it is supposed to be.
And no one would.

Frustrating isn't it?

Express,

I'm with you on thumbhole stocks, we have to stick together...

I'm not readily aware of many factory rifles that come with thumbhole stocks. Having said that, could you purchase something that has been assembled here but comes into Italy in one piece? If so, you may be able to get somebody here to put together something rather nice and then send the entire unit into Italy.

Just thinking out loud.

Good luck,

Reed

...Thanx for the though Reed, but I already tried looked into that. It would still have to go through the "banco prova"...

I was the first person here, as far I know to request that they begin work(beurocracy) on proofing the .17HMR round, and there is still no news. They will probably spend the rest of 2003 "testing" "proofing" and just generally making sure the cartridge meets their stringient standards...

I once had a pistol blow up in my hands(factory ammo)..."made in Italy" stamped on the remaining side...

I have a 1975 vintage 40-XB 308 that was the first rifle I ever purchased(ordered it in advance, and took delivery on my 18th birthday) and a more recent 40-XC KS 223 with a 1/8 twist. The test targets for the 308 each measuring .28" from the factory, and I don't recall a set coming with the 40-XC. However I have shot several sub-.3 groups with this rifle using 24.0 gr. of RL-15 and a 80 gr. Sierra MK.

I've also had a few other match rifles built up on trued 700 actions and they shoot excellent as well. A built up gun or a factory 40X will cost you about the same by the time the smoke clears, but the 40X will have a higher resale value.

Johnly,

FINALLY I found someone else with a 40XC-KS! Whenever I mention mine in .308, no one seems to know what I am talking about.
Don't you just LOVE that gun. Mine came from Remington with a .25" test target and can get that all day long (assuming I do my part) with 168 grain federal match a 3.5-10 Leupold tactical and 1" Leupold Mark 4 rings and bases. Good to hear the 5.56 version does as well. Liked mine so much I took it to Africa on my first safari!



Best Regards,

JohnTheGreek

[ 02-21-2003, 04:40: Message edited by: JohnTheGreek ]

daddy has a 40x with kevlar stock and a 27.5 inch bbl in 222 rem mag that will get in the .1s evry now and then.it was new in `99.

I have owned a few Remington custom shop rifles including two 40XC-KS in .308 and one .300 win mag. All of these rifles were fantastic shooters. I regularly regret selling those rifles but that is another story. I would not hesitate to buy another Remington Custom Shop Product.

John the Greek:
You have an excellent rig. Don't sell it. I tried to replace mine a year ago or so but could not find a used 40XC in .308 anywhere.

I would NEVER buy a Remington Custom shop rifle. You can go full custom and get a lot more for your money. I don't think that Remington goes to the extremes of blueprinting the action. A Benchrest gunsmith will do ALL the necessary things to the action, and the best ones will guarantee .250 groups. Remington would NEVER do this for you. The last ones that I had built up on Remington actions did shoot .250 groups, just like the Benchrest gunsmith that built them said they would.

John The Greek,

I also have a 40Xc Ks just like yours in .308. I purchased it for shooting "Across the Course" in match rifle competition. Unfortunately, I haven’t come across the right deal on the right set of match sights yet. Thus, my 40XC has been a Safe Queen for the last two years.

I may have to dust it off this spring and see how it groups on paper. (This shouldn't make my other match rifle too jealous)

Rich R: I have had wonderful experienes with the many Rifles the Remington Custom Shop has built and I have owned! Currently I own several varieties of Remington 40X's. They all shoot extremely well and are reliable and well built Rifles! And I obtain this very pleasing accuracy with Varmint style bullets and Varmint Hunting compatible scopes!
When I did load development for each of these Custom Shop Rifles many things stood out in my mind regarding them. The barrels were easy to clean, triggers were sensational and the chambers were very smooth. Also they all seemed to shoot accurately, easily! By that I mean load development was easily accomplished with each custom shop Rifle!. I have never had a 40X type headache developing accurate Varminting loads! The 40X trigger is near perfection once adjusted to my preferences (I do have 2 40X's now with the 2 ounce trigger and of course no adjusting at all need be done to that fine trigger!). Let me list my present custom shop Rifles and their best 5 shot groupings at 100 yards:
40XB-BR in 222 Rem. BG = .156"
40XB-BR in 22 Rem. BR BG = .247"
40XB-BRKS in 22 Rem. BR BG = .370"
40XB in 22-250 Rem. BG = .182"
40XB-KS in 220 Swift BG = .272"
40XB-BRKS in 6X47 BG = .151"
40XB in 243 Win. BG = .356"
Please remember that these are groups shot at my own pace and at conditions of my choosing using Varmint bullets and scopes I Hunt Varmints with!
I am absolutely certain I could obtain better "best" groupings with a couple of these Rifles but I simply do not shoot them for entertainment at the range! I do load development sight them in from time to time and dedicate them to what they do best - killing Varmints! In addition to these fine Rifles I presently own I have owned several other Remington custom shop built Rifles. Foolishly I have sold them! When it comes time to resell them though I received back a much higher PERCENTAGE of my initial investment than for custom built Rifles I have had made! Indeed I have resold 2 Remington custom shop Riles for MORE than I paid for them! Try and do that with a custom built Rifle in todays market!
I have handled the Remingtn 40X Model with the thumbhole stock and it fit me to a "T"! I have had the hots for one ever since!
In my experience the 40X line has been a pretty good investment indeed! I have been more than happy with their accuracy, function and fit as well as top resale objectives attained (quick resale and high return on initial investment). Care for them and shoot them wisely and your return on investment (should you not like them and you resell them) will be a good investment.
I highly recommend them!
Good luck if you decide t try one!
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Varmint Guy, You proved my point by the group sizes. A BENCREST built gun in .22 BR and .243 calibers would easily beat your best groups listed. My 6 BR rigs will easily shoot sub .250 groups. Newer Savage rifles from the box will match your groups. As far as resale, I buy the gun to keep and use, not for an investment for resale. Sorry, I still say to go full Custom. I would put a Custom rig built by a QUALITY BENCHREST gunsmith up against ANY Rem custom shop rig, especially the newer ones.

Rich R: And I went out of my way to point out to you that these groups were ALL fired with off the shelf VARMINT BULLETS and off the shelf VARMINT STYLE SCOPES! Of course everyone knows that full blown $3,000.00 plus bench rest rigs, with full blown 36 to 48 power scopes, and custom made (expensive and non-mushrooming or expanding!) bullets will out shoot my Hunting Rifles, Hunting bullets and Hunting scopes! But thats not the question Express was interested in. Value, accuracy and obviously (as he is in Italy!) availability! I wonder if it might be just a tad difficult sending a "specialty" (Sniper?) Rifle over to Italy? Where as there MAY be a chance he can buy a Remington some where across the big pond from a dealer or high quality Gun Store.
And you are comparing apples to oranges with the custom shop Remington versus custom action, custom barrel and custom Riflesmith! You are also comparing an $1,100.00 Rifle with a nearly $3,000.00 job which will be difficult to do again from Europe! Express also mentions long range larger calibers again I caution you about the vast difference in price of the Remington and the "benchrest" rigs!
My full custom 6mm BR outshoots most of my Remington custom Rifles also but not by $1,800.00 worth (that is the difference in costs!)! If you spent that difference you could get a whole Remington Custom Shop accurate (guaranteed accurate and comes with a factory fired test group - maybe you did not know that?) Rifle and a top quality scope! 2 fer 1 there!
Sorry Rich, I still think the Remington Custom Shop Rifles (especially for what Express is looking for) is a PROVEN much better deal! I am going to try to contain myself with your ridiculous assertion regarding those "beautiful" Savage Rifles! Perhaps you are unaware I have been buying, shooting and assessing Varmint Rifles for 37 years now. Savage Rifles have their place. Some shoot well but not as well as even the factory Remington Varminters do (and I have proven this point to myself) let alone the Custom Shop Rifles. And since you brought them up I do not like the Savage Rifles one bit especially their looks, triggers nor their reasale value among many other things. Things most Rifle consumers do consider! There was a saying amongst the biker scum I used to put in prison - "better a sister in a whorehouse than a brother on a Honda". I feel that way about Savage Rifles! Yuck, I do not even like to type the word! Spit - spit!
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy
PS: TO EXPRESS - Have the bullets I sent you arrived as yet? Please advise. Are you home from your Wolf Hunt yet?

[ 03-07-2003, 05:18: Message edited by: VarmintGuy ]

VarmintGuy, I wasn't talking about $3000 custom rigs with Custom actions. My customs built on blueprinted REM actions set me back about $1500 each. That includes Jewell triggers and benchrest stocks. I think that we have an impasse here on our experiences and opinions, and thats OK. Good luck with your Rem Custom Shop rigs. P.S. I just had to through that Savage thing in. Over the last 5 or 6 years, I have been truely impressed with what I have seen from them.

I have had a 220 swift 40XBKS and a 222 40XBKS.THe 222 had really amazing accuracy and would keep up with my Stolle bench rifles,the 222 really liked using 50 BT's and winchester bulk brass,amazing.
I really like the Remington custom shop rifles ,only you can decide if they are worth the money.
Good luck,
Charlie