Nachogrande & 9dawgs, thanks for your input.
The Rem. 770 is sold as a ready to use hunting rifle combo. It's targeted buyer is the average Joe who's looking for a low cost rifle and not for the one who's looking to buy a high quality rifle. I bought this rifle for around $400 from Wal-Mart a few years back.
When I said I had no cash, I meant I didn't have the extra money for a new rifle. I was thinking of buying a Rem. 700 and it would have been around $800+. Because of back injuries I needed to reduce the recoil. There for, the improvements were going to be done any ways. I should have said I had a limited budget. The original scope was changed right after I bought the rifle. So I already had a head start with the 770.
I agree that a 2.5" group is not great but, bare in mined this is a hunting rifle and not a long distance competition rifle. However, two things will and could have improved that. 1. The trigger adjustment was done after the rifle was tested and could have already improved the groupings. 2. I have not come to a conclusion as to the bullet and load for the rifle. My test range is at my lease and being that the season was about to start at the time, I had put all testing on hold until the end of deer season. That's why 2.5" is good enough for now.
As far as how much I have spent on it. I estimate around $600. The muzzle brake was done by a gun smith and came out to $225 parts and labor. Everything else was done by myself.
While not everyone is going to take the time and money to do this, those people that won't can all ways buy a "silk purse" and be done with it or a low cost rifle and leave it in its original condition. There is no challenge in that.(other than making the money to buy it) I am the kind of person that looks at something most of the time and thinks ok it's nice but, how can I improve it for me.
Finally, yes your right Nachogrande all it has to do is make me happy. :clap
:united Vote Republican
