Posted: 11/25/2024 6:48:05 PM EDT
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I have a couple of these, FN SPR Action with the WSM bolt face. Both are detachable bottom metal. I also have a FN McMillan stock, adjustable one A3 I believe, and it has the detachable 308 mags. What I'm wondering is if there's any point in putting the money into building that rifle, or ditch it? The big challenge with the FN is bottom metal options. I have the stock with the detachable metal, and then the action has the hinged floor plate for 300WSM on it. Worst case I'd use the hinged metal, not a bad option, but I doubt the inlets will line up. Also I'll be reloading for the gun, and would like to be able to take advantage of how the round has evolved with longer loading. I have no idea what COL for loading 300WSM would be in either of those situations, with their mags modified to feed WSM or with the hinged floor plate. Or do I just sell the parts and start fresh? If so, looks like a Hells Canyon Tikka build or a medium action would help refresh the round. |
| That's a conundrum. Honestly if you like the actions, you've got the hard to source parts in hand. Only downside is getting a Smith that can spin up 70 barrels with cone breach and time extractor cut to bolt. Chad Dixon at lri is competent, but a 70 barrel install is alot more involved over a 700 type. Honestly, I'd lean towards 6.5prc vs a 300wsm, which it would work with all your parts also. I've owned a fn a3g 308 that was rebarreled to 6.5creed bart 5r. It was nice and no issues, but I sold it and don't really miss it. I find that I prefer actions I can buy prefits for instead like nuke, cdg, origin, solus, and AI. |
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Check with Steve at ADCO. I think he likes his FN's. @bigbore |
-Things do not happen. Things are made to happen. -JFK
-Beware the fury of a patient man.
-Thousands and thousands of laws....All for just ten commandments.
-"alot" is not a word.
-Beware the fury of a patient man.
-Thousands and thousands of laws....All for just ten commandments.
-"alot" is not a word.
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I have two FN SPR actions that were built in to .260 remingtons. Both the A1 style 4 round detachable DBM mags. I like them. I like the PRC option mentioned. CDI is gone for a metal option. The FN factory upgrade bottom metal for the ten shot mags is gone. I wish I got one but they were gone before I inew about them. Only similar option I think is the single stack mag bottom metal option from Pacific Tool. A proprietary modded mag. The FN A5 metal I think was the one to get but of course FN being FN dropped it when then dropped the FN SPR line of guns. I looked around recently for the FN A5 metal but they’re gone. I would have converted my heavy barrel 260 to that metal and kept the 4 round mag as a spare for my standard weight hunting rifle. One can still buy the A5 5 round DBX mags but all the 10 round mags are already gone. |
The only hyphenated names I like are cartridge names......30-06, 30-40, 38-55 etc.
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They are good actions and were a great option when stocks and bottom metal were readily available. If I ever get sick of my SPR it will get turned into a 6.5 Creedmoor. It really depends on what you want to end up with. Chad at LRI has done several builds with them. I think he talked about doing bottom metal at one point. |
BikerNut:
Normal people like motorcycles. Real people like motorcycles.
People who don't like motorcycles are just... weird.
Normal people like motorcycles. Real people like motorcycles.
People who don't like motorcycles are just... weird.
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I bought a new SPR A3G and after returning it to FN a number of times for inaccuracy, they finally admitted I had one with a bad barrel. Nearly a year later they finally managed to replace the rifle with the bad barrel with another brand new A3G. The second A3G wouldn't reliably feed rounds from the left side of the magazine as the bullet nose would jam into the rear face of the barrel. Again after returning the rifle a number of times, FN finally admitted they couldn't fix it. FN finally said I could select any other FN products of an equal value. I really had high hopes for the SPR A3G and was terribly disappointed that I couldn't get one that worked properly. I sold the other replacement firearms from FN as I lost faith in the company, and haven't purchased one since. |
| I built a rifle off an SPR action in the late 00's. It's a nice rifle that I still shoot. With that said, I wouldn't bother today. You can use an Origin or Nucleus for the same money, have all of the aftermarket support, and choice of prefit barrels without the extractor headaches. |
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I have two SPR actions as well, however both of mine are 308's with the DBM. If you bail, I'd be interested in the McMillan. Your have several options. It's the same action size and bolt spacing regardless of bolt face size. A one piece bottom metal should fit with minimal fitting. If you haven't already, you'll obviously need to acquire a mag box, spring, and follower. All are available from multiple sources. PTG is the only company currently making a DBM. I found a couple CDI's in a shop in Australia, but they weren't will to ship to the US. Atlasworx, also Australia, has made them in the past but currently does not list them or have any in stock as of last week. If enough people were interested maybe they would so a short run? Personally, I have a PTG I purchased from someone here. Eventually, I think I'll get it to work, but it isn't drop in. It does not mount flush with the bottom of the receiver and is going to require some pillars to bridge the gap. I've gotten the action to feed reliably using washers, but that isn't going to be my long term solution. If you decide to go with the one piece bottom metal, it has potential as well. With the right size mag box (or modify one) you'll have room for 3" COAL. Personally, I'd go 7 WSM, but I'm a little goofy. There is currently a thread on the 'fire you might want to check out although it is a bit tough trying to speak and understand Big Stick https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/19996646/1 |
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Thanks for the replies everyone, some good info and more to think about since I have 2 of these WSM actions. Update on action #1 though, local gunsmith got a Douglas blank. We're going to throat freebore for the big Berger 215's, finishing it off at 26" in a Medium/Light Sporter type profile. Using the Win 70 internal box and WSM follower for 3+1, that's plenty and they'll fit 2.995" COL. So I think I got this one figured out. At the same time another one just fell into my lap. It's a PBR XP 300 WSM, 24" fluted barrel that's been threaded 5/8x24 and a McMillan A3/5 with 308 DBM. Apparently this was somebody's project that they gave up on. So I might be researching DBM for that one. |
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A few years ago I had an extra FN SPR action laying around. I took it to a local builder, Phoenix Custom Rifles. Trued the action Barrel chamber and fit - 6.5CM, Proof Research Threaded the barrel Bedded the McMillan PSR stock CDI bottom metal for AICS magazines Installed Flush cups Installed OPS 2 Titanium scope base The gun is a laser and not too heavy due to the barrel. 
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Originally Posted By mleaky: A few years ago I had an extra FN SPR action laying around. I took it to a local builder, Phoenix Custom Rifles. Trued the action Barrel chamber and fit - 6.5CM, Proof Research Threaded the barrel Bedded the McMillan PSR stock CDI bottom metal for AICS magazines Installed Flush cups Installed OPS 2 Titanium scope base The gun is a laser and not too heavy due to the barrel. https://i.imgur.com/fNy3snO.jpg If I ever rebarreled mine that configuration would certainly be a top contender. The SPR’s are a bit heavy so even a steel barrel with lighter contour would help a bit. |
BikerNut:
Normal people like motorcycles. Real people like motorcycles.
People who don't like motorcycles are just... weird.
Normal people like motorcycles. Real people like motorcycles.
People who don't like motorcycles are just... weird.
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This is a model 70 in a McMillian a5 , LRI did all the work. Model 70 is never wrong and those FN actions are great. Attached File |
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Reviving this thread Does anybody have a print or dimensional info on the action inletting required for AICS mags? I have an FN PBR I bought one of the PTG wide mouth bottom metals for years ago but never really completed that project. I’m about to send it out to have some barrel profiling done and figured now might be the time to get the action inlet machined. All I’ve found is these pictures of a completed inlet. But no depth dimensions. In the same box as the bottom metal parts was a Magpul aics 10 round mag I had dremeled on and it fits well. The steel aics mags I have, stop ~.224” short of engaging the mag release. Can’t remember if I ever did any feeding tests from the modified Magpul, I just put the FN DBM back on and put it off till later  Pics i found on the Hide of the completed inlet    My action   Modified Magpul and steel AICS mag  
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Originally Posted By TheLowlyEngineer: There might be a .pdf somewhere. I'd need to look through a couple thumb drives. Honestly, I just hit mine with a dremel until things fit. What do the mags index off of? I was wondering if the cut is to deep, the mags could over insert and the rounds are presented too high for smooth feeding. The machining doesn’t look difficult ,and if done in small increments and test fitting, I could probably do it myself. But if I send it out for barrel work and have them do it, some kind of print would be helpful. I was hoping to just send the barreled action out and not the whole rifle. |
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As best I can determine, the mags index of the latch/ledge on the back end. IME, there isn't enough play to worry about over inserting one. It might go a 1/16 past the click, but the weight of the loaded mag drops it into place. With the AICS setup there isn't much holding the mag. The "improved" FN TBM is a much more secure setup. IMO, it is also a cleaner/better looking setup. It just sucks they went with proprietary mags instead of AICS. However, I think it "might" be possible to modify the TBM to take modified AICS. I need to take some measurements to be certain. LRI probably has a print, they also have their own bottom metal. |