precision rifle

[ACP]

Your experience/opinions please on these 2 rifles as candidates for a sub-300 yard precision rifle:

1. Bushmaster AR-15 Varmint Special (stainless steel barrel) in 5.56mm

2. Remington 700 LTR in .223 Remington

The Bushmaster weighs 8.75 pounds and has a 24" barrel. It can shoot 5.56 mm milsurp for plinking.

The Remington weighs 7.5 pounds and has a 20" fluted barrel. It can shoot generic .223 American Eagle 55-gr. FMJ for plinking. I DO NOT plan on shooting 5.56mm in the Remington.

Neither barrel is chrome lined. Both are 1:9" twist rate. Both will be shot freehand and/or with a Harris bipod, and both will be shot with a minimum 6x scope.

 

[AR-180]

I recommend the AR. Options abound for customization. The barrels last a long time, but switching out the barrel is a breeze if you want to change twists, profile, etc.

Out to 300, the AR will do anything the boltgun will do except it will do it faster.

 

[DoubleTapDrew]

Another vote for the AR. Plus if you want to play with different calibers or combinations you can get different uppers.

 

[hps1]

My preference between the two you mention would be the AR, but I am not a Remington fan and use my rifle for predator hunting where quick 2nd shot can be beneficial. If you are concerned about potential accuracy of the AR's, the 5 shot .354" group below was shot w/Bushmaster Predator, 100 yds.

The Predator, IIRC, is same specs as the VS except has 20" carbon steel bbl.:

Regards,
hm

 

[rockstar.esq]

Yeah another vote for the AR mostly because the AR won't lose anything to the 700 at that range. Plus the AR's modularity is a huge plus should you choose to modify anything. Personally the ergonomics of AR's are a turn off but I can't argue that they shoot straight and run right most of the time. Plus the AR's are about as cheap as they're likely to get whereas the Remington's price will stay the same. Should any incoming legislation effect the firearms trade, the AR's will likely be at the forefront of price jacking.