I have Remington Model 700 XCR chambered in 30-06 that I purchased last year. It has been a good rifle, and my limited time at the range with has it shooting just under 1 inch groups with handloads. With some long-range goals in mind I am eager to maximize the rifle's potential. Now that the off-season is here my question is: what should I be looking at doing to this rifle to make it a shooter? I have little experience with this field and would be taking the rifle to gunsmith for all of the work. Thanks for the help!

How much more accuracy do you need? Less than 1 MOA with handloads is about all a person needs in a .30-06.

I sent my 2" MOA guns to Hill Country Rifles for "accurizing" and got 1" MOA rifles back with the same ammo.

"need" and want are two different things

I have had a lot of fun shooting the gongs out to 550 yrds at our range using a target knob. I want to start taking the long-range stuff to the next level...without purchasing another rifle.

Good luck. I seriously doubt that it will shoot much better without a new barrel.

Not that the way it shoots now is bad.

Under an inch for an out of the box rifle is pretty good. Start messin' with it and it might get better, but then again, it might get worse. If you haven't already, I would either have the factory trigger fine tuned and adjusted or replace it with a quality aftermarket unit. The effect of a good trigger might just pleasantly surprise you.

If you're getting under an inch with handloads, I would strongly advise you to leave it alone. Seriously, as the old adage states "if it ain't broke don't fix it or you're liable to fix till it is...". If your rifle is this accurate, I would seriously call it good and invest in a hunt somewhere that would allow you to put it to good use.

bed it

I would agree with those who say its prety darn good now.
You probably could use a trigger job.
If its done by a pro it sure cant hurt anything.
I have an sps, in .257 weatherby witch I think has the same stock.
It functions fine but its uglier than sin,
If you want to spend the money an has precision stock might be a little helpfull and certainly looks better. Of course a mcmillon would be good too, and for a bunch of cash they will bed it for you.
But I would simply get a trigger job, and play with your loads a little.
My 06 shoots great too , and uless you live in alaska , a good 30,06 that shoots 1 inch with a good bullet of 165 and up is all the rifle you will ever need.
My safe holds about 16 rifles but as far as my hunting goes if all I had was my 06, I would well armed for any hunt i have ever been on...tj3006

I would be careful with "improvements".....they sometimes hurt a already good shooter.



A trigger job will be great for any rifle and could only help.



I only work on a rifle that doesn't shoot good.....if it shoots good I run with it.....and under 1" is very good.

Thanks for info! It seems that most guys would just leave it be....and that makes good sense. The problem I have is that the barrel is not floated and makes some contact with the stock....and the stock seems a bit flexible, especially where it narrows towards the front. I don't know if anyone else has found this to be problem with the XCR's, but it bothers me to no end Even though the gun seems to shoot alright at this point I am VERY tempted address those issues...if not swap the stock out entirely with something more ridged.

If you decide to re-stock...the H-S stocks are great for the Rem. 700's

quote:

bed it

X2

Look up Bill Leeper or Dennis Sorensen. They are both Canadian gunsmiths and are very good and honest.
Butch

Thanks guys. It looks like I will keep the XCR stock, but only after having it glass and pillar bedded. I will also be getting a trigger job (keeping the factory trigger) and the barrel floated.

Is there any real advantage to getting an after market firing pin and spring assembly? (faster lock time)

I have also had someone mention something about "sleaving the bolt?" Can anyone enlighten me as to what this is??

Sleeving the bolt would only be noticeable in a BR situation, maybe. I doubt in your situation that changing the firing pin assembly would be noticeable.
Butch

Another thing would be to have a qualified machinest put a target crown on the barrel. this seems to help with boat tail bullets.