[Renegade Ziggy]

I'll be buying one in 308, but I'm torn between the tactical and the varmint, any suggestions? I'll mostly be using this for whitetail deer. A lot of my hunts involve thick brush and I usually have a good distance to travel on foot.

[rayatphonix]

If you're carrying it far, neither. Both are heavy and the heavy barrel isn't much of a benefit for a single shot or two at a deer.

I bought the AAC tactical and really enjoy shooting it but I found out that it's not much fun to deer hunt with and I use a lighter weight gun when I'm out in the woods. You didn't give a lot of details of your hunting but light is good if you need to cover much distance. I hunt where there's lots of trees and brush and the longer varmint model wouldn't be much benefit and that's why I chose the tactical.

[ColtPythonElite]

Neither... I would get a Model 7 for toting around.

[DRYHUMOR]

Go light and don't look back.....

Here's a M700 .308 mountain.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=311255573

I have a M700 .280 mountain. Rifle, scope, rings and bases, it weighs 7 3/4 lbs. Light enough to tote all day

[stubbicatt]

I agree. A heavy rifle that one carries all day is not nearly as easy to use as a well balanced, light weight rifle which one uses for maybe 1 or 2 shots.

Also, were I in the market for a hunting rifle like that I would look long and hard for a Winchester or FN Model 70 rifle, which I think is a better built arrangement than the Remington. Also, even as far back as the late 90s I had a Remington 40X and the quality was not very good, I have heard other reports which have done nothing to dispel my reluctance to buy another of their products.

[helotaxi]

Define what you mean by "a good distance to travel on foot" and the terrain involved. Back home a good distance was maybe as much as a mile, from where you parked the truck to your tree stand and it was flat. You walk in, climb the tree and sit for a few hours before you walk out. Rifle weight didn't matter much at all. Where I live now, stalk hunting is more the norm and it's in the mountains. Walking the entire hunting time is expected and the elevation changes make every ounce noticeable.

If the first situation sounds like your type of hunting, get whatever you want. If the second, a rifle with a lighter barrel and lighter stock will be your friend.

[CharlieDeltaJuliet]

I have the SPS Tactical AAC-SD also. While it is a heavy rifle it is one of the most accurate out of the box rifles I have ever seen. I would not want to trek miles with it on my back. I would choose a different rifle for hunting just due to the weight. Mine is used strictly for punching paper and dinging steel. Remington still makes very accurate rifles, just picking the right one for your needs is the key.

[MAKster]

The 700 varmint barrel is 26" instead of the standard 24." So its thicker and longer and is really heavy. The Tactical barrel is the same thickness as the varmint barrel but only 20" so it is only slightly heavier than a standard barrel.

[back40]

for a deer rifle, neither. if you are dead set on on of the two i guess i'd go with the tactical, being it has a shorter (but still heavy) barrel.

[para38super]

The tactical will do just fine, that's what I use. It's light enought to hunt and heavy enough to shoot competions. Mine sits at 10 pounds with scope, sling and bipod. The tactical is about the same wait as 24" standard because the tactical has a 20" barrel which I think is more suitable for hunting.

[borrowedtime69]

NEITHER.... go with a Savage and dont look back. Ever since Cerberus Capital Management group bought them (and Marlin, and NEF) out their quality has bottomed out, its just dumb luck if you get a good one. I had a Remington 700 and sold it for a basic model Savage Axis and it shoots 1/2 - 3/4 inch groups ie: rings around the remmy i sold.

Pre-buy-out Remingtons are ok though!

[hentown]

I don't understand why anybody would want a heavy barreled varmint or (gag) tactical rifle for hunting whitetails in heavy brush? That just doesn't compute..as a matter of fact, it's just plain nonsensical.

Take the advice others have given and get a standard, sporter-weight rifle for long hauls and negotiating thick brush!

Besides, if deer hunting were really difficult and required precision rifles, how do those 7-yr-old little girls keep killing those big bucks with their sks rifles?? ;)

[CharlieDeltaJuliet]

I do agree, the only reason I bought the tactical was the heavy barrel. When shooting quite a few rounds and doing it in a short time, the standard barrels get too hot and get a little more flex in them. For hunting, shooting one or maybe two shots, the standard barrel is fine. Don't get me wrong, I love the SPS and have convinced two buddies to buy them. They like there's equally as much. I just would rather have a lighter rifle for hunting deer.

As far as the quality, out of the three I have shot personally, they are all great shooters. Not a single issue with them. Between me and my shooting buddies, we have 8 newer model 700's and they are all great rifles.

[WVRJ]

If you want the cool tactical look and something you can carry,go for the VTR.Mine weighs less that 9 pounds scoped and loaded.But the other guys are right,even if you don't hunt far from the truck,the heavy barreled rifles won't handle as well as a sporter.

[earlselwyn]

Hey Ziggy, I have an SPS V in 308. Its a great gun. I got it as a starter target rifle to tinker with and to hunt with a little bit. You're getting some good advice here. The SPS V is a bit awkward as a carry gun. It is heavy and unbalanced. If you're just hunting stationary tripods or ground blinds and need to make 300+ yard shots I'd say the SPS V or SPS Tac is worth a look, but if you're stalking/hiking I'd go with something lighter. I haven't handled the tactical SPS but my guess is that the barrel will make standing shots very difficult. I really like the new Ruger American. It's light, cheap, and very accurate. Good Luck, -Earl