Model 7 accurate at last.

S

Sam Norton

New member
My Model 7 in 7-08 cal., 20" stainless with synthetic stock is at last a 7.2 scoped weight 1" shooter. After a three year ordeal It is finally finished. Out of the box 4 kinds of hunting ammo 1.5 to 3 groups; after bedding, filling the hollow stock with spray foam to quite it down, a trigger job, a trip to 300 below for the barrel and receiver. The groups went down to 2 3/4 to 1 1/4. I then tried very carefully made reloads with only a little improvement
At this point I took a closer look at the crown with a 10x opti visor. When the barrel was crowned at the factory the tool was off center. I had what turn out to be .003 of lands removed down 1/8 at the end of the barrel also the chamfer was off .005 from center of the bore. After removing 1/8 and recrowning. My groups shrank to 1 1/8 to 1 3/4. With definite stringing and 2 cluster groups. Also my tasco world class scope puked. At this point I went with pillar bedding and then rebeded it, readjusted the trigger to a true 3 lbs. with almost no overtravel or creep and changed to a 3x9 Vari X II scope. My first trip to the range last Sunday 2 out of 3 factory loads grouped 5/8, the other 1 1/2. Now its time to work on the nut holding the gun. I hope this helps others.

Regards
Sam
 
Gosh, Sam!

Should have just gotten a Tikka Whitetail Hunter in the same caliber (blue/walnut, blue/synthetic, stainless/synthetic, take your pick...).

You would have gotten sub-1" groups at your first outing with boring and predictable consistency.

Too bad that Remington cannot produce something accurate out of the box. Insufficient quality-control, perhaps?
 
416Rigby,
My Model 7 Stainless in .308 shot 1.5" out of the box with a 1.5-5 scope. With stronger optics I could probably tighten the groups a little more and I'm not really a very good rifle shot. Load, by the way is Federal Premium 165 gr. soft point. Every company's line of products can have an occasional defect. It sounds like Sam was just unlucky with his rifle, that's all.
 
Most mod 7's I have seen shoot pretty good straight out of the box but you can get a lemmon from any manufacture.I have sure had my share of them over the years.As far as that Tasco scope going south on you, that is a given.You did the smart thing going back with the Leupold.
 
Darn if it doesn't sound more like a "kit" gun than a factory finished product. Thanks for sharing all your tips and hints with us. Your patience is admirable.
 
I feel your pain Sam :)

My mdl 7 in 7-08 shot 1.5-2" with high quality handloads. I ain't the gunsmith type with rifles so, mucho $$s later and a Shilen barrel, pillar bedding... mine will group under 1/2" when I'm doing my part.

Congrats on a job well done sir!
 
Just dropped my .308 Model 7 stainless/synthetic off at the gunsmith this afternoon. Bought it new a few weeks ago. I can live with the cosmetic flaws that this rifle came with (what’s up with Remington’s quality control?) but not the 3 to 4 inch groups at 100 yards. The gunsmith said he will get it to shoot (trigger, bedding etc.) so we will see.....


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Sam, I hate to say it but I wonder what the outcome would have been if you did the trigger job and put the Vari X on your rig at the getgo?
I have one in 7MM 08 that with a trigger adjustment and a Vari-X III 2.5x8 does an inch and a half at 100 yds. with the first handload I came up with. Maybe I just got lucky.

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"The harshest tyranny is that which is under the protection of legality and the banner of justice." Montesquieu

[This message has been edited by HankL (edited October 27, 2000).]
 
HankL
Answer to you question. I did try more than one scope with little difference around the time I tried handloads. But from now on if at all possible I will stick with leopoild.

I think the biggest problem with my rifle out of the box was the crown.
I also think I over tightened the screws when I bedded the rifle the first time causing the screws put in twist the stock.

I hope this help others
Sam
 
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