I don't shoot varmints 'cause the local constabulary thinks they ought to have their rights read to them and a fair trial first. Oh, you meant little furry kinder things? Don't do that either onaccounta livin' inna city, but . . . if I were to take up big bore competition shooting I would certainly seriously consider purchasing a Rem 700 varmint w/laminated stock in .308 because I am sure that it could shoot far better than I can hold. However, I am unlikely to do so. In any event, I would absolutely change the stupid triggerblock safety before I bought so much as a single box of Federal Gold Medal Match to put through it. Other than that, on things that don't hunt back they're probably jus' fine.

Righto Jim! I can't see why the method used to send and remove the cartridge from the chamber has any bearing on accuracy. Maybe I'm simplifying things too much, but once the round's in the chamber, the whole point of CRF is over. I like CRF as much as the next guy, but it really has no bearing on the way the rifle actually FIRES the round. It's just a very good way to deliver it to the chamber. The rest of the action and barrel has the say over how the thing shoots. The Mauser I worked over will do easy 1" groups if I'm having a good day - just as good as the Ruger 77, Savage and Rem 700s that my buddies shoot. A good chamber and barrel on a tuned action control the accuracy - according to me. maxman

I shall live as long as it takes the rest of you to accept the fact that THE action for varmint hunting is the Sharps 1874...

I don't think that benchrest-type actions have anything to offer big game hunters in terms of real-world accuracy advantages. Not unless you have big game hunting confused with pocket gopher hunting, or spend more time hunting statistics than trophy animals.

You can blueprint a controlled-feed action such as the Model 70, perform a full compliment of accuracy-enhancing proceedures, screw in a match-grade custom barrel, carefully bed, etc., yet still retain all the numerous advantages of a controlled-feed action, a direct-acting safety, a bolt you can get apart without tools or gimmick proceedures, a simple yet crisp trigger, etc., etc. Do the same things you'd do to a Model 700 action to a Model 70 action, and the Model 70 will shoot just as good. And yes, have the gunsmith alter the extractor just a wee bit, and you can surely drop a cartridge in the chamber and close the bolt on same without risk of breaking the extractor. In fact, the current Model 70s close over a chambered cartridge easily right out of the box.

Lots of guys have caught up to Jarrett in terms of building accurate custom rifles. He no longer has a lock on that market, and hasn't for quite some time. Many of the other gunmakers build tackdrivers on controlled-feed actions that will shoot half-inch groups with premium bullet handloads, and even factory ammo in common chamberings -- no tight-necks, 'deep-throats', weird case dimensions, or fire-forming required.

AD

[quote}When the Mod 70 ruled the 1000 yd range, it was the PF model that did it.

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My fellow Marines and I sure went out of our way to procure pre-64 Model 70s for our bolt guns. This was early-mid 1970s.

Anyone remember PJ Wright of Las Vegas? He was the preferred gunsmith for LR shooter I knew.

About this time a young Marine {Jim Carmichel's boy?} wrote an article on the optimal sniper's rifle. With CRF Model 70 out of production he made a good case for the Ruger 77.

Here is a picture of a match rifle set up for ammo testing. The action is a pre 64 M70 and it's a 6mm/250 now. The guys that own this rifle build them also and were getting ready for the national match.

If you think you can shoot better than these guys "come on out". They travel so maybe you will get the chance.

CRF M70 Target Rifle
Closer Look

Properly-adjusted CF actions just-plain feed better and function better under dusty or frozen conditions, and in any environment -- no matter if you hunt DG or if you don't.

AD

Remember, George... Jimmy Carter got attacked by a swimming rabbit. Who knows; a groundbound gopher may just bite your leg clean off!

Properly-adjusted CF actions......

And therein is the potential problem for the average CRF rifle. They are also more critical with case dimensions and especially extractor groove diameter.

I think in an ideal world the CRF will be better and an ideal world would also include a calibre with a tapered case that reduced the angle of the cartridge leaving the magazine.

But when heaps of guns are taken into consideration and also all types of use my experience has been the PF will win the day.

While it is only a sampling this site also indicates that the CRF guns are more likely to involve feeding problems. Undoubtedly much of that can be traced to rifle quality but the PFs are from the same lack of quality control departments. Put simply, a CRF needs more to be right.

Mike