Remington 700 VTR

Slater said:

This rifle has the unusual triangular barrel profile which is supposed to increase stiffness and heat transfer.

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They do, pound for pound. But not enough for most people to get past the ugliness of them.

MachIVshooter said:

They do, pound for pound. But not enough for most people to get past the ugliness of them.

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I actually like the way they look, tho not nearly as much as octagons....could just be that I want to see something different from time to time. I still havent owned either an octagon or any other flat sided barrel design.

My friend who works at "The Arms" as it referred to locally says its just a marketing thing. I say if you like triangle, go for it.

I met a guy at the range who had one. I was impressed with the accuracy. I don't think it really increases stiffness. I see it as an alternative to barrel fluting. Flutes, or a triangular barrel, reduce the overall weight of a barrel without giving up much if any stiffness.

Personally I like fluted barrels on a hunting rifle. I get some weight reduction without having to go with a shorter barrel or a skinny mountain barrel profile. The triangular barrels accomplish the same thing. But hunters/shooters are a conservative bunch. Most don't like flutes, and I can see why the triangular barrels weren't a success. None the less, if I could get one at a good price I'd think they would work just fine.

I had a chance to shoot one a number of years ago when they first came out. I had to zero the rifle for a friend. I shot Federal 168 GMM ammo. I was not impressed with the accuracy.

Worked with one when they were new.
OK rifle, a Remington rep said the barrel shape was mostly for marketing.
Accuracy was nothing special.
Denis

Walkalong said:

Can't say that is surprising. I wonder how overall sales were.

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Id be curious also, there were a few that sat in my local sports authority for a ridiculous length of time.

Easier to clamp in a brrl vise?

I had one in 22-250 when they first came out in 2008. It liked lighter bullets and was a laser with max loads and 36gr Varmint Grenades. The muzzle break was obnoxiously loud and concussive. I traded it off a couple years later, but at the time, it was the coolest thing Remington was offering and I just had to have it. I wouldn't ever buy another one, its not my style, but I wouldn't necessarily advise someone not to buy one.

I had one a few years ago and wish I had it back. Very accurate rifle and I like the look.

Nothing special but nothing bad about the triangular vs. conventional profiled Remington barrels in regards to accuracy.

The Rem triangular barrels aren’t really triangles, but the geometry below will give you an idea of what weight, stiffness, and cooling area look like for comparing triangular prisms to cylinders:

For equal weight, a triangular barrel will be 55% greater diameter than a cylindrical barrel, and the flat side will be ~35% wider than the diameter of the round barrel.

For equal cooling area, the triangular barrel would have to be 21% larger diameter than the cylindrical barrel, which means the flat side would be ~5% wider than the diameter of the round barrel.

Note: this is considering the diameter of the triangle to be a cylinder the triangle could slide inside. The width comparison is really comparing a square tube which the barrels could slide inside - I offered both because the round barrel’s widest point is uniform across its centerline, whereas the triangular barrel’s widest dimension does not pass through the centerline.

What the above means: a round barrel of the same diameter as the triangular barrel will cool FAR better than the triangular barrel, whereas the triangular barrel will weigh less for its level of stiffness.

Since the Remington triangular barrels are rounded at the corners, significantly, the cooling loss isn’t as bad as the math above, but the stiffness gain isn’t as good either.

Got to looking at the pictures from the workout on the sample I had here.
In camo, and I used a camo scope.
It was no sniper rifle, but accuracy was good, and now I'm kinda wishing I'd bought it.
Can't get that camo from Remington anymore.
Denis

I shot a 223 model once, with quality ammo. Did about 1.5 MOA. Do they still make those things?

I have owned a .308 version for 6 or 7 years. At first, the accuracy sucked, maybe holding a 3" group at 100 with 150gr loads. Started experimenting with loads, and realized the factory stock was so flexible the action was apparently moving with each shot. I replaced the stock with a Boyd's laminated wood stock, and with 168gr AMAX loads of mine, it shoots <1/2" at 100 yards now. Head and neck shots are a breeze out to 200. It carries a Nikon 6x18 scope, which is a bit much for it, but it is a laser beam shooter. I love it!

My brother bought an early model one in 22-250. It shot very well.
I bought one of the later ones in 260 for my wife. It got a timney 2 stage trigger and the forearm channel needed stiffening to make it shoot well. It is now the most accurate rifle we own. The brake will give you a headache if you shoot under an awning.

I have two VTRs, .223 and .260 Remington. After adding Timney triggers, I get sub-MOA results on both rifles. I love these guns for hunting. For some reason, the length and weight feel terrific for off-hand shooting.

I have one in 204 Ruger which doesn't have the muzzle break. I haven't had the chance to work up loads for it yet but with factory ammo I'm getting decent accuracy. I'm not in love with the stock, may look into putting a HS Precision on it some day.

I had a M700 XHR that had a triangular bbl in .25-06. It was as accurate as any other M700 I have used (all sub-MOA) but its canoe-paddle stock and bbl turned me off. I thought about doing all my usual mods but ended up selling the rifle instead. No regrets.

LoonWulf said:

Id be curious also, there were a few that sat in my local sports authority for a ridiculous length of time.

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Same with my local Gander Mountain. Even when they were liquidating inventory that VTR was still in the rack