I have a M70 coyote that I will in the not too distant future want to have accurized. Its currently a 243 win and I'd like to stick with that calibre. I was just wondering what kind of options I need to think about. I'd need it rebarreled, though I don't think there is any need to go on here asking about barrel brands. But where can I get the most bang for my buck on making a rifle shoot. I have already had the trigger taken down to just shy of 2 lbs. I'd like to switch to a macMillian stock. But what else can I have done? How much difference does action truing make? This is not going to be any kind of a competion rifle just something I can use to shoot paper and have it make me have a joy joy feeling when things go right.

So what are my options?

mark

Accurizing a rifle. Nice. Im planing the same type of project for my Remington ADL 300 win mag. I know you didnt ask about barrel brands but I highly recrommend Lilja. They are really top of the line in the accuracy world, and they are made in Montana (thats a good thing). You have already done the most important of accurizing mods; the trigger. A McMillan stock couldnt hurt. Im planning on getting a McMillan fiberglass USMC camo stock for my gun. You can order McMillan stocks off their website... sorry I dont know it right now. What scope you have on it? And do you have a Bipod? Trueing the action isnt really a big thing, but it helps. Trueing/squaring the action keeps the bolt from troquing/twisting when the gun is fired. This adds stiffness to the action, thus increasing accuracy. How about cleaning equiptment? I have a Dewey one piece coated rod, which protects the barrel when you clean it. Also, get a bore guide, one with a solvent port... Dewey makes them too. Cleaning your rifle regularly is a very important thing.

Well I believe "cleanliness is next to godlyness" I clean my rifle regularly until it is spotless. I'm not sure what type of rod I have but it is a coated rod but it may be time for a new one, Its pretty old now. As for the other cleaning tools I need to get them. I am a fan of No.9 and barnes cr-10 and I have to admit JB compound from time to time. Currently I just have a cheap bushnell on my rifle but I am leaning towards a 6-18 vari X III. This will be my first rifle prject gun other than regular glass bedding and pillar bedding I have done on remingtons. Any idea of what kind of performance I can get. Would a 24" barrel possibly be more accurate than a 26" due to less of a barrel whip effect?

thanks alot for any help

I think the M70s are a pretty good basis for an accurate rifle and use them often in building long range rifles. The extent of what can be done with them is limited only by the amount the owner wants to spend!
In general, the difference in accuracy between a 24 and a 26 inch barrel would be more in the mind of the shooter than real. The exception would be if there happened to be a flaw near the muzzle of the longer barrel or if vibration charactaristics were better with one length or the other for a given load.
I clean a lot less than I used to especially after the barrel has seen a couple hundred rounds. With the BR rifles I clean after every other relay and with the long range rifles I usually clean every 60 shots or so. I don't shoot moly.
My M70 based target rifles shoot at the 3/8 moa mark while te hunting rifles are both solid sub-moa performers. In fact the 6.5x55 is capable of better than 3/4 regularly. Regards, Bill.

If you're going to the expense of having a new barrel fit, then go to the expense of having the action trued. Kinda like having a turbo fit to your car, but leaving the factory rubber on, you can't put the power to the pavement and you won't necessarily realize the accuracy potential of a quality barrel with a tweaked action.

The most important thing you can do is spend time finding a good gunsmith, more accuracy is gained or lost in the care taken to chamber the barrel then any other job. Sadly most "smiths" are a waste of a good barrel. Also budget what is needed to have the job done right. There are plenty of folks that had ~80% of the money to have had the job done right, but had a low dollar smith do the work, and they were very unhappy with the job, and getting it done right the next time will be the full price of the job, plus the cost of the "bargain" job.

I'd expect to pay ~$500 to have a quality barrel fit, the action trued and blueing if a cro-mo tube. Stainless will set you back about the same, more $ for the barrel, but no finishing cost.

I would give Matt a call at Hill Country Rifle: Hill Country Rifle-Accurize
This sounds like what you are looking for. They do great work and also build great custom rifles.

Good Luck,

Bob

Bob got it right. Call Matt or David and have them do it. They have either built or accurized three rifles for me and they all shoot .5", even the wildcat.

You can do it all yourself.

Get some books or magazines on accurizing rifles. Your library search function can find them for you. From Whelan to Boddington there are hundreds of books and how to articles on the subject.

These may also include how to shoot well from a rest. On that I am not expert but using proven techniques will yield benefits.

Then there is precision reloading also. So there is so much that you can do right now without spending money and then you will earn the education.

Also I would lap a barrel before I bought a new one.

If you have any specific questions feel free to ask here.

markus,

IIRC the Coyotes rifle have laminated stock, but without the aluminum bedding block like the Stealth rifles have. I would suggest glass bedding first, since good bedding gives the most significant accuracy improvement.