Action Truing/ Blueprinting

[BigSurArcher]

I'm making some improvements on my Winchester M70 30-06. I ordered a McMillan custom stock (which will take up to 4 months to get), and I upgraded to a VX3 3.5-10x50 scope which I'm sending in for an M1 turret. Got a trigger job too.

I'm wondering if anyone has an opinion on or experience with having their action trued? I'll have a good smith install the stock and I'm thinking about having him true up the action. Ideas on what kind of accuracy improvement I can expect? Anyone had it done? Thanks!

 

[Drhorsepower]

They say say that is the first thing you need to do when building an accurate rifle. If you think about it, it is the basis of any rifle. It is like your engine block in your car. Everything is built around it. Are you going to rebuild a motor without decking your block, line honing, and checking your cylinders? I sure would hope not.

Are you putting on a new barrel? They will have to remove the barrel to square/true the action. I do not know if it would be worth it if you are not. If you did though I bet you would have one heck of a shooter! You would have to work up a new load too if you reload.

http://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/gunsmithing/truing-m70-action-126543/


I will tell you what a bedded stock does accuracy wise. I struggled big time working up a load for my 7mm, I had a great stock on it without a bedding job and after 350+ rounds down the tube, I couldn't get my groups better than an inch. I bought a bedding kit and bedded the stock, same load shot .620. That is a huge improvement if you ask me! When I took the stock to bed it, I can see the wear mark ad where the action was touching the stock and I was amazed on how little contact it had. I have bedded all of my rifles since then and gained significant accuracy. It is a must!

How are you having him bed the stock? Barrel and action or just action?

 

[squirrelduster]

If you are not replacing the barrel then blue printing the action is not necessary.
If you are reasonably handy you can bed the new stock yourself. I actually enjoy doing it. Just remember to only do the action. There are tons of videos on how to do it.
If you have a gunsmith do it make sure you send it to a reputable smith that does bedding regularly. If you are getting a McMillan see if they will bed it for you. I know they do custom rifles so I think it would be worth a check.

 

[BigSurArcher]

Thanks guys. I only want the action bedded. I was originally going to stick with the factory barrel, still might, but now I'm considering upgrading that too. As it stands right now, the rifle shoots about 1" at 100. It does open up a bit when the barrel heats up though. If I'm going to put some $$ into the rifle, maybe I should spend another couple hundred and upgrade the barrel too. Opinions?

Squirrelduster- Do you have a good smith in mind close by? I'm in Cotati. I have some friends in Forestville that use a guy in Petaluma and swear by him. He's built some awesome rifles for them.

I wonder what kind of accuracy improvements I could get by the McMillan with a free float and action bedding alone with the factory barrel? If I just did that and later decided to upgrade to an aftermarket barrel of the same contour, would it be a big deal to switch it out?

Thanks for the responses by the way!

 

[squirrelduster]

Watch out for The guy in Petaluma.
What you could try that may make a difference is bedding the action in the stock you have. If you want I could help you out.
What caliber is it and how old? Maybe you could get it to be a 1/2 to 3/4" by just bedding what you have.
We did my brothers Remington Sendoro and it shoots pretty close to my Hart barrel blueprinted Remington 700 so there is hope with what you have.

 

[Elkoholic307]

What kind of McMillan stock did you order?

 

[BigSurArcher]

I ordered the "Winchester Hunting" model with raised Monte Carlo cheekpiece in 50% OD 25% white and 25% black.

Squirrelduster the rifle is about 8 years old and I've kept it in excellent condition. Hardly and target shooting, just killing. It might have 100 rounds down the pipe. I think when I get the stock I'll bed the action, leave the factory barrel afloat, and see what happens in the way of groups. It will probably shoot great, or at least plenty good enough, without forking out the extra $$ for a new barrel. I'll give you a holler when it gets here. Been watching a lot of videos and reading about glass bedding and it's definitely something I would have no problem doing myself. Maybe we can meet up and you can help me through the process.

 

[Drhorsepower]

You will have to rebed the the lug and forward part of your action if you decide to change barrels later to answer your question earlier. I'm sure stock barrel will shoot fine if you put in the time to find the right load.