http://www.remington.com/products/firearms/centerfire/model-700/model-700-mountain-ss.aspx
Looking to pick one of these up and build my brother a western big game rifle. He likes .270 and does not reload so .270 it is. Just not sure when these new 2012 700s will be available. ???

Going to throw some Talley Low mounts and a Leupold VX-3 2.5-8x36mm with the B&C reticule on it..

Manufacture Specs:
Rifle: 6.5lbs = 104ozs
Scope: 11.40zs
Talley Rings: 4ozs
Total: 119.4ozs, 7.5lbs empty, no sling.

Debating other tricks to cut a little weight, but figured for the money I'd have to get a new stock to really cut back.

Going to tune the trigger to 3lbs, pick up Butler Creek Mountain Sling and some Leupold Screw on Lens caps for it.

I also like this little add on as it locks the bolt down when on safety sort of like a 3 position safety would.
http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=13788/avs|Make~~Model_1=Remington__700/Product/REMINGTON-600-700-3-FUNCTION-SAFETY


I want this to be a special rifle for my brother. Any other suggestions?

Thanks!

Go for a .308, short action.

You could change out the factory bolt shroud/firing pin assembly for a Callahan or Gre-tan unit, that alone shaves a little more than 2 ozs. over factory and will only cost you maybe $55-$60 bucks.

7.5 empty is rather easy to achieve.

I'd look for a smoking deal on a Rem 700 XCR2. I'd get rid of the tupperwear, and order a McM Edge stock. That's how I'd do it. He'll get a greatly superior stock and a good coating.

Leave the barrel at 24 or cut to 22? Any idea how much just the barreled action of the XCR II weighs?

Interesting.. Callahan have a website? Did not find via a Google...

Cut it or leave it, doesn't matter. The Edge stock vastly superior to any B&C stock tho, or any other production stock. I've had them all, and now my 5 killing rifles all wear Edges!

I don't know what the bbl'd action weight is. I picked up a 270 at the local sporting goods store and it was light. I wish I had my scale with me, as it was lighter than advertised.

I don't know what those new mountain rifles will hit the market at, but you can probably find a XCR2 for 700ish. $500 for the Edge, or a little bit less if you sniff around a little.

Calvin is correct, the XCR coating is amazing.

That'll be more relevant in some climates than others though, I suppose.

Heck of a nice thing you are doing!!

I did a few calls around and only can only fine the XCR IIs at 900ish. Where are you seeing them in the 700 range?
I need to shop where you do! : )

I've seen them on the internet. Look around a bit and watch the classfieds etc. here in AK you'll pay a little more. I recall them wanting $1100 locally..(grin)

Yea, I saw then on the net in the $750 range, just thought maybe you had a spot in AK I needed to know about! $950 is about as cheep as it gets up here in the stores...

Here's the stock you should have bought...(grin)

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbth..._McMillan_EDGE_Rem_700_LA_Re#Post6165836

XCR2 in 280 for $700.
https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbth..._F_S_or_F_T_Remington_700_XC#Post6142163


Be patient and keep looking.

He did express interest in the CDL SF .270. Wonder how light a guy could get one of those in a McMillian stock?

I'd buy one of the stainless ADL's I see selling at Sportsmans warehouse and Dicks for $479, ditch the scope and stock. Replace the factory stock with an Edge. You'll be right at $1,000 with a heavier, thicker barrel, a MUCH better, lighter stock, and I'd bet come out at about the same weight or possibly lighter.

I have a Rem 700 mountain rifle in SS that I bought in the mid 90's. Mine is in 30-06 and has the Leupold 3-9x40, otherwise is as yours with Talleys. My only regret is not getting the 2.5-8x36 scope you have chosen. Mine weighed 6.25 lbs. exactly out of the box without scope, my son's weighed an ounce less.

My son and I bought identical rifles and both had trouble with the original synthetic stock. His stock was too flimsy to hold the recoil and began to buckle/flex on the second or third shot, throwing bullets way to one side and high. I glass bedded mine and stiffened it enough that it has held up. My son hunted with his as a single shot one season and then Remington replaced his stock but he didn't trust the stock to hold up so sold his.

I like the light weight to carry in the alpine, without dropping a pile of money in it. Mine has proven to be an excellent shooter with only one bullet. It was the most finicky barrel I've ever tried to find a load for. Mine begins to spread a group after three shots, which I assume is due to the thin barrel heating up. So I make sure that it shoots true on the first cold shot from the barrel. Mine groups the first three hunting rounds under 3/4 inch starting with a cold barrel. Fortunately, the bullet it shoots well is the 180 Swift A-frame.

So a mixed review: I have one, like it, know its quirks, positives and negatives. Depends on how much money, time, focus etc. you want to spend. It is a light rifle as is for the money. 'Course, I paid $395 for mine.

Midway, Brownells or PTG all sell them. Not sure they have a website?? I think PTG makes the Callahan.

I can't fathom going that route when the Kimber 84L MT in 270 is already available.

That's because you've played Kimber roulette and won.

Yup... 11 times.

Can't say that about the Remington's I've owned, and I've had more than 11...

Unimpressed at 6.5#s...5.5 would be worth looking at.

Kinda like car companies raving about their 38 mpg cars in 2012 when 50 mpg was around 30 years ago.


Where's the advancement for Remington?

My Kimber 84L MT weigh's 6lb's 10oz's scoped with sling and 4 rounds.

I paid $1050 for the rifle and it shoots great.

The McM Edge stock is in a whole different league than the Kimber Montana stock. Can't compare them.

I'll take a 700/Edge over a Montana any day.

Utter Bull Chit. I've had both.

The Kimber is a hand-laid fiberglass stock with pillars.

You need to get a clue if that's possible.

McMillan Edge is hands down the best thing going for a hard use mountain rifle, that will last you through countless mountain hunts in a harsh environment and conditions. I give the Kimber Mt stock a slight Edge over the B&C Ti stocks, but not by much.

Both the production Kimber and the B&C stocks are worth about $125 to $150, and even that is a bit much, IMO. And I've had, hunted, and beat the snot out of all 3 stocks. Edge by a mile when it comes to long term durability, stiffness, and fit/finish.

Okay Calvin, I'll take your word for it, but I'd like a few "for instances" regarding the B&C and Kimber MT. The only McMillan I have any experience with is an Army HTG and that thing had the ergs of something DeSade would design and was a boat anchor for sure. The MT stock is stiff, the B&C not so much I've noticed. The fore end needs to be a lot stiffer to make me happy.

I don't like the ergos of a Kimber Montana stock, it just does not work for me. In fact I got rid of the stock off my 243 Montana and its going to have a MPI stock put on it.

Now that just goes to show we ain't all the same. The stock on the MT is the only reason I haven't sold the one I have. I'll bet you like that B&C that is on the Weatherby UL's. I hated that stock so much I sold a good rifle.

Having owned McM edge for a rem model 7 and a Kimber Montana I prefer the Montana regardless of if it is a cheaper stock. I just like it better and for any of us that's all that matters.

Personally I feel you're working in a very good direction for this. I have as similar rig in a .260 and it's a pure joy to run.

I even have a 2-8 Leo on it with a M1 on top. It works very well, if one wanted to go a bit lighter and liked the B&C concept then I'd go with a 6x36 Leo with dotz. That'd save you a couple maybe.

I'd say rock on with your project, and he can get to filling up some arks.

Dober

You couldn't buy a clue.

The B&C is a chopped glass stock and is junk.

The Kimber is a laid stock ala McMillan, Bansner, et al.

The Edge has a laid shell but a different fill. Dat's it.

Considering you don't know the difference between chopped and laid glass, you're WAG in public is funny.

If a Costa Rican stock floats your boat, then have at it. I've had them all, and I know that McMillan is head and shoulders above anything on the market as far as stocks go.

Is the Kimber Montana a good all around package for hunting? Sure. One of the better production rifles out there. I sold one of the most accurate ones around. I've never seen guys post pics of groups of what mine would do. But I suffered no inflated love affair for a $800 production rifle.

BTW, I've attended and graduated from the military school of advanced composites in Pensacola FL. Composites was my thing, as an a&p mechanic in the service. I'm sure if I'd have taken a career of dunking fries I'd understand more.

I've done a bit of rooting around (so to speak) in two bansners and one mcmillan. I fixed a Winchester bansner that cracked at the recoil lug, converted a mauser Bansner to blind bottom metal, and hogged out a pristine KS ADL mountain rifle stock for BDL bottom metal (before I had a clue - that stands alone as my Biggest Rifle Regret).

The bansners appear to have lots of epoxy resin and not a great deal of cloth in the skin. The opposite was true of the McMillan.

Not that this has anything to do with the topic at hand. I do know that a ti sits nicely in a 25-oz KS ADL short action stock.

Since sourcing MR barrels and/or complete rifles is a bit of a sketchy game (to me, anyway), I'd send a ratty blued 700 LA to IT&D for a new SS MR contoured douglas in 270 or 30-06 or 308, put it in a TI takeoff or KS or edge (depending on luck and budget) and do your best to convince him that this agglomeration of parts is better than any factory hunting rifle.

"Head and Shoulders above anything"... that's ridiculous. Because you say so?

You have nothing to back that up, apart from "I went to composites school!" Laughable.

You is a gradgiate, yet you compare a Hand-Laid Monocoupe stock (Kimber) to a Chopped Glass Stock (B&C). You're not an expert, you're an idiot. You know as much about stocks as you do about hunting Montana or what I do for a living... which is to say next to nothing.

Truth of the matter is it doesn't matter if the stock was made in Costa Rica... quality is quality. Laying up fiberglass is a relatively easy, though time consuming thing to do.

If the Kimber was made in the USA its price would be right there with McMillan ($550+), which would put the Kimber rifle well out of its $1100 price range.

Though I have no way to prove it, I'm of the opinion because the Edge filled stocks are so stiff, they transmit recoil more than a slightly more flexible stock like the Bansner or Kimber (I actually rate the build quality of the Kimber above the Bansner).

That's the compromise of making an overly stiff stock.

Yeah, I've had B&C, Bansner, Kimber and McMillan Edge stocks. And yeah I have hunted them all, as well as built around them. The McMillan Edge stocks are very good stuff. But not "head and shoulders" above everything else. Being a composites expert you should know all builds bring a set of compromises weighted one way or another.

Here ya go... here's the cross section of a Kimber stock... look like "chopped glass" to you Mr. Composites Expert?

Brad,

The reality is that despite your claims that I'm an idiot, I've been educated in composites beyond what your internet searching can teach you. BTW, what prompted you to cut the stock on the Kimber? Please don't tell me you took the picture off the internet...

The Kimber Montana is a very good $800 production rifle, and can be used fine all over NA in a variety of hunting situations. I'm glad Kimber outsourced it's stocks to Costa Rica too, to help keep costs down so you can afford to have 11 or 13 of them in your safe. But, as far as the stocks go, they can't, won't, and never will hang with the McM Edge or the McM Swirly. The McM Edge is head and shoulders above any stock I've seen on a production rifle.

Mountain hunts:

Chopped Glass:


Slightly better, but not by much:


Head and Shoulders above the rest:

Brad, why do you wanna pick on Calvin man? I think I'll go out to my shop now and bandsaw my B&C stock into little pieces.

I am not nearly refined in the way of stocks as either of you. I like the MCM in my model 7, the B&c on my browning ti, and whatever came on my Kimber. But not nearly astute enough to say one is WAY better than the other. I guess it's a bit of a blessing really that keeps more coin in my pocket.

What makes one way better than the other for either of you? Educate us less in the know.

The way I see it's a lot of SG (aka stock gack), all of them will do well and then some. I'm talking Ti take offs McMillans and the stock that comes on the Montana.

Find one that fits the way you like and go forth and fill some arks...grin

Dober

WTF Dude?

Can't disagree without calling the guy an idiot?

I think everyone knows the idiot here now....

Well, in Brads' defense Calvin has uttered an uncharitable thing or two about Brad, but he's minding his manners in this thread and I wish Brad would as well. I've been known to get belligerent in a thread or two on the Fire myself but I do really try to behave in this forum 'cause there are some really great guys here that I look up to.

I've taken the trouble to cut up a B&C on a bandsaw. Wouldn't want another after seeing how they are made. Especially the Carbelite or TI stocks. The Medalist stocks are OK if you don't mind a heavy stock. The B&C stocks with no metal blocks in them are very weak. Chopped fiberglass mixed with plastic ain't in the same league with laminated layers of fiberglass or Kevlar. Like comparing plywood to particle board.


http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=375703

The Medalist stocks are strong, but heavy. They get all the strength from the aluminum block with chopped fiberglass and plastic poured in a mold around the metal.

Got a couple of rifles in an Edge and one Kimber. If one is better than the other I cannot tell the difference.

I'm not minding my manners here at all. Didn't you see me take a shot at Brad for his career in the fast food industry?

It's wide open season on me, and my feelings never get hurt.

Actually seems like a lot of trouble when a Tikka T3 is available, at a lower price. If it has to be a Rem. 700 I guess I can understand that.

forepaw

Yeah, those bandsaws can be some kind of sneaky buggers in the back country can't they...

Seriously, I've never once heard of a problemo with a Ti take off handle anywhere anyplace. Has anyone else ever seen first hand an issue with them?

I mean of course other than when a bandsaw goes berserk in elk camp...

Dober

No real problems with mine but its a range/safe queen so far. The forearm has a LOT more flex than I'd prefer for shooting with a bipod. The MT stock seems quite stiff in comparison. McMillans? Well, the armors that build the M40s at Quantico used one of the old HTG stocks as a shop club for quite a few years before they broke it.

Try this again.

I am not nearly refined in the way of stocks as either of you. I like the MCM in my model 7, the B&c on my browning ti, and whatever came on my Kimber. But not nearly astute enough to say one is WAY better than the other. I guess it's a bit of a blessing really that keeps more coin in my pocket.

What makes one way better than the other for either of you? Educate us less in the know.

Have you guys had a certain stock break in the field or something or the just don't like the way they fit your body?

Personally I have looked at rifle stocks like, boot and pack personal fit is king, but just cause it doesn't fit you doesn't mean its no good overall, but what do I know I have never broken any of my synthetic stocks.

I'm with you, the McM's might be a better stock to some but I've nothing against my B&C Ti stocks. Just got my first McM, so I'm interested to see if animals are any deader when shot with that rifle. Time will tell...

The biggest issue for me is how the action fits into the stock. McM Edge stocks have proved to be spot on, and a dab of bedding it all that is needed to secure the lug, and produce a very accurate rifle.

Secondly is the hardness of the stock. It takes very little time to trash (scratch/gouge) a Kimber Montana stock or a B&C Stock in the rainforest of SE. Gelcoat is the king of keeping stocks looking ok despite abuse, but not an option on a lwt rig. I've found the McM Edge to hold up extremely well considering it's paint, and not look like dogshit after a few hard hunts.

Thirdly, it comes down to preference. Many options available with the Edge, my favorite being the McM Mtn Rifle pattern. Styles, pads, LOP, etc. Much different than a production stock, off a production rifle.

Just my observations from owning them all, hunting them all, and abusing the crap out of them all. For me, I'll choose a McM Edge stock over all other stocks, for all my hard use hunting rifles. And I have. If Kimber gives you the warm/fuzzy, have at it!

I've never had an issue in the field with them, but I've gone through hell with trying to get rifles to group while wearing them, that was instantly cured when dropped in a McM.

Thanks for the reply Calvin. My wife MCM edge shows a bit of wear after its first season but not as much as my Kimber did (though the Kimber I have had for three years)

I guess I got lucky in that my non MCM rifles are accurate, and I would rather be lucky than good anyways.

Personally I don't mind beauty marks on a rifle stock especially synthetics as they aren't that purdy to begin with, so long as it shoots well and is lightweight I am of the mind that I don't care about a scratch or scrape here n there certainly not enough to say one is head and shoulders better than another. If that were the case we could praise the tikka t3 stocks as the don't mark up as fast as either the MCM edge or Kimber and all tikkas seem to shoot very well.

Hmm, to date I've only had 3 or 4 of them (Ti stocks) and to date I've dropped barreled actions in, opened them up as needed and bedded them and have never had any accuracy challenges.

I heartily agree though that the McM handle is a way better piece.

The Montana, isn't on my big list. I find it adequate in feel and I have other reasons I don't like it but will leave it at that.

Dober