Advice on Buying a Remington 700

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General Lee

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I am looking at buying a Remington 700 308 here in the very near future. I plan to buy the Varmint SPS which comes with the heavy barrel and the non bedded stock. I am wondering if it is worth just going ahead and buying a McMillan stock for this gun right away or if it will shoot accurate enough without one.

Looking at the different models of this gun it seems like I can spend $600 for the gun and about $850 for the McMillan A5 stock and come out about the same as buying the gun with a Remington tactical stock on the gun. I would plan to bed this stock in the future but from what I have heard the stock will shoot much better than factory stock even without any bedding. I also believe and I could be wrong that the McMillan stock would free float the barrel out of the box.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I am definately no expert on this and I am a week into research on getting this project going.
 
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Why not just see how the gun shoots before you start buying stocks. It may be a tack driver
 
I bought a R700 SPS and put a B&C Alaskan stock on it. It's light and it's a tack driver. I moved to synthetic because it doesn't change dimensions with weather and the aluminum block stablizes the receiver well (without having to add pillars or bedding).
 
my good friends dad has a remington 700 sps with a heavy barrel, and a bell and carlson stock that shoots .5 moa and has a 20" barrel, that was a 26" cut and recrowned
 
guys, the value of mcmillan or other stocks isn't that they're more accurate than a standard rem stock.

it's that they're more ergonomic for some positions.

try shooting a standard remington varmint stock from a sling in an NRA long-range prone match with a block time of 30 minutes for prep, 20 rnds for record and unlimited sighters. if you're over 30 yrs old, you'll probably need to see a chiropractor before you'll be able to move your neck again.

i'm not a sniper, but i understand they are occasionally called to stay in a position on target, ready to fire, for long periods of time. Using a standard stock designed for light deer rifles will cause the shooter to fatigue much faster than a more ergonomic stock like the AI or macmillan (or dang near any other stock)

eta: also, the more expensive stocks are adjustable

other stocks, are designed specifically for prone shooting, or for benchrest shooting, etc.

figure out what you want to DO with the rifle, and then pick an appropriate stock as your budget permits
 
taliv of course nailed it with needing to know the purpose of your rifle. some other thoughts...

whats the lead time nowadays on a mcmillan stock? 10 months or so? seems like waiting a week to see how it shoots without would be negligible.

and depending on how new you are to the game, it might be worth spending that money on some ammo to practice with before worrying about the stock.

things to consider. regardless, I bet youll be happy
 
Taliv's right. I was wanting to say something about that, but couldn't describe it.

A lot of stocks do not have a wide enough forend to allow for shooting off of bags. The tupperware stocks provided with a lot of Savage rimfires are prime offenders.
 
your purpose?

General Lee, what shooting sport or activity is this .308 Varmint SPS intended for?
If for varmint hunting, which ones?
 
actually, now that you mention it, that is a bit steep. I think I paid $700 or $750 for mine back in May. Shop around and you will find them in stock at various gunsmiths. If you order direct, you probably will have a wait.
 
Well I am definately going to buy the gun and try it stock before I get the stock. I have just read and seen so many terrible reviews on how it shoots without bedding or a different stock.

As far as what I am using it for I am strictly using it for a range gun to start. I have a range that is 600 yards close to where I live and I am tired of shooting the AR 15 with the EoTech on it. I want to reach out and touch somethning at 600 yards.

I plan to possibly use it for deer hunting down the road or possibly for coyotes until I start paying the high price for out of state deer hunting. Living in IL I can't use Rifles :(
 
I just got an SPS tactical this past Saturday. I scoped it and took it out Sunday. It shot nicely, except for the extractor problems that I was having. I shot a few cloverleafs with it.
 
After doing a lot of reading and such I think I will go ahead and get the Tactical. I found a place online where I can get the Tactical for $550 which is less than the price I was quoted for the varmint here in town. The tactical has a smaller stock than I would like however it has a better trigger and bedding.
 
I have the varmint and it's a tack driver in stock configuration. With my handload of 168gr SMK over 42grs. of RL-15 I get .59 moa for a 5 shot group.
 
Rob, thanks for the recipe. I have a bunch of 168gr SMKs and A-Max bullets coming and already have a boat load of RE15.

In terms of shooting comfort, I don't think that I gave up anything going with the Tactical rather than the Varmint. I really like the way the Tactial handles too. I can actually make off hand shots with it.
 
I have a SPS Tactical and like TonyAngel's it will shot 1/2 moa, but I don't care for the Hogue stock. The rubber grabs your cheek. After shooting a box or 2 of 308s from the bench you look like you have been in a fight. I'll take some talcum powder next trip. I like the way it shoots but I doubt if I keep it.
 
Have a look around. http://www.stockysstocks.com/servlet/StoreFront I went with an HS Precision Pro 2000 with full alum. block. My standard BDL shoots sub MOA (wooden stock) even after 19 years. I ordered the synthetic for an upcoming moose hunt in northern Canada as a precaution against weather induced movement.

The biggest problem with OEM synthetic stocks is flex especially when fired from the bench. Not all aftermarket stocks will overcome this issue but research will help you select a descent one should you deem it necessary.

Best of luck and enjoy your new rifle.
 
I purchased the SPS Tactical in 308 last month. Not a fan of the Hogue stock. However, I would not change anything until you do your own range report.
 
Well the man above made up my mind for me. I went to a Friends of NRA banquet yesterday and won a Remington 700 SPS in 300 win mag. I got a scope and I am waiting to pick it up tomorrow. I will let you guys know how it shoots. I ordered brass, bullets and the dies for my press so I will post my load also.
 
He works in mysterious ways, I guess you can tell everyone that Remington rifles are a Godsend;-) Very nice score General!
 
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