The purpose of this range report is not so much an effort to encourage that people purchase the Remington 700 SPS Varmint rifle, versus any other varmint rifle. Rather, I intend for this thread to become an exercise in demonstrating the capabilities that one might expect from an off-the-shelf varmint rig, and one that is put together “on-the-cheap”. More specifically, I am in the process of setting up a rig that our 13-year-old daughter can use this summer for varmint hunting with me. I thought it would be fun to share the process with you all, from selection of a viable varmint “rig”, to initial testing of various weight projectiles, to testing the handloads, and finally watching Morgan taking up position this summer in the hunting blind that borders the fields and pond on the family farm. To that end, I hope to make this thread an on-going effort with updates. I would really like to see other shootists post their own rigs’ pictures, and especially let’s post some “results from the fields” this summer.
Details regarding Morgan’s “on-the-cheap rig”:
Rifle: Remington 700 SPS Varmint rifle, .223 Remington in a 26” heavy barrel with target crown, synthetic stock, and has no aluminum bedding block…plain-Jane.
Cost: $485.00 ($515.00 minus $30.00 rebate)
Bases & rings: Leupold Quick-release (I have had these for a few years)
$113.00 ($69.00 rings $44.00 bases)
Scope: BSA 36X with AO and target turrets (See cautionary “**Note” below)
$59.00
Bi-pod: Harris
$69.00 (I have had it for a couple of years)
$726.00 total cost for the rig. Note that the bi-pod, scope and rings can be used on multiple rifles, and so future set-ups of additional varmint rigs will be proportionately less.
As I prepare to post some targets from this new Remington SPS Varmint rifle, I want to clarify that it is 100% factory, with zero alterations. Too, I would like to clarify that this was the very first time that I have fired this rifle. For kicks, I mounted my old BSA 36X scope. Due to its cheap internal construction, it is not the best choice of precision scopes, and I really don’t care for the 1/8” dot that overlays the crosshairs. I usually prefer to zero the rifle with one target, then change out to a clean target for each new 3-shot cluster during the “test” phase to check the performance of various weight projectiles. I do not have reloading dies yet for the .223, so I had to rely on factory-loaded Remington UMC 45 grain hollow points, and factory-loaded Winchester 55 grain soft points.
The first 2, 3-shots clusters were the factory loads of Remington UMC, 45 grain hollow points. I hand wrote the details of weight on the target for the viewer’s review. While even the 45 grain rounds sub-MOA performance is adequate for varmint hunting to 300 yards, they lacked the .5 MOA precision that I personally demand of a varmint rig. All the same, for factory-loaded ammunition, they actually performed quite well. Specifically, the first 3-shot group was fired dead-center on the target. The second 3-shot group was fired slightly low. I have indicated the POA relative to each cluster’s respective POI. I allowed the barrel to cool for about 3 minutes while I sought out a different wooden block to place under my buttstock sandbag. The first wooden block was extremely flippy-floppy and was extremely unstable for the buttstock. I am not making excuses, in fact, what I am saying is that this rifle appears to be extremely accurate; far more accurate than I am capable of firing it. Too, the nature of the block’s instability leads me to question the group’s measurement. For the second, 3-shot group, had a more stable (but not perfect) wooden block to support the sandbag. I believe that the vertical spread on the second cluster was me being unstable with my hold, not the rifle. Too, as I indicate in a later paragraph, it may be the effect of the scope.
In this paragraph, I will address the cautionary note that I presented earlier regarding the the BSA scope above. **Note: As a preface to the 3rd cluster, I want to offer up one caution about many cheap scopes. Upon firing the 3rd cluster, I immediately detected and then confirmed a cheap-scope symptom with my BSA 36X. Many cheap scopes experience what my shootist friends and I refer to as “crosshair-adjustment-lag”. Specifically, by that we mean to indicate that as one adjusts the turrets, the crosshair does not move proportionate to the clicks. The internals move, but the crosshair lags, thus one frequently over-corrects. The factor results in a different between the “perceived POA” versus and “actual POA”. More specifically, the cheapness of the internals plays out as the actual adjustment taking effect when one fires the first shot. You will note this “lag” effect in the 3rd group fired. When I switched over to the Winchester 55 grain soft point ammunition, the first shot POIed high and left of the POA. That is fine, I simply set out to make a 1-shot zero. The attempted 1-shot-zero did not work with this scope. (Details provided in an earlier post Re: 1-shot-zeroing).
Due to the cheap internals, the lag resulted in a drastic over-correction of the crosshair relative to the indicated adjustment. As a result, the second shot, POIed far right and low, in fact it POIed a full 1.5” low and 1.25” right of indication. This clarified to me that for fact the BSA is cheap, but once zeroed it should hold its POI. I made a final slow adjustment, and counted the 1/8” adjustments. I then set it to the sandbag and provided a sound “thump” to the scopes center to facilitate the internals taking hold. The “thump” replicates the effect of recoil and moves the internals and crosshairs to the actual POA. If you have a lager, you need not abuse the scope, just a mild thump. By the way, I do not intend to blast BSA, because I have noted this exact crosshair lag phenomenon with Redfield scopes and even with Leupold VariX III scopes. It is okay that the scope not be fully precise, but be aware of it, and take proper precaution to assure the exact POA relative to the POI. The caution should also be taken to mean to not be too hasty in blaming the rifle, the loads or the shootist for zeroing problems that play out as perceived poor groups.
So, back to the third, 3-shot cluster. After zeroing and thumping the scope, I allowed the barrel to cool for a couple of minutes, while I loaded up 3 rounds of Winchester 55 grain soft points. I firmed up the rifle as best I could and took aim and fired 3 shots. All 3 shots not merely were touching, but turned in an awesome 0.195” group center-to-center.
As I post the pictures, I would like to apologize for the “cluttered” target. There were other shootists on the 100 yard range, and so I could not switch out the target after zeroing, and before running the 3-shot group. Future targets will be “clutter-free”. Also, as I embark on testing my handloads, I think I will mount my Leupold scope. : ) An additional caution that I would like to put forth is that I am not convinced that the Remington UMC 45 grain hollow points’ clusters are representative of the true capability. I suspect that there too the scope had lagged, or as I stated earlier I was not holding true. What gives me pause is not the first group, but rather the second group. Observe the near perfect vertical movement. Next, observe the 0.195” cluster from the Winchester 55 grain ammunition after I thumped the scope. It measures about the same as the vertical cluster’s width. I think it is time to do away with my BSA at least for hunting, because we as sportsmen and sportswomen have a responsibility to hit these varmints true the first time…not after a thump.
Here are the pics:
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Details regarding Morgan’s “on-the-cheap rig”:
Rifle: Remington 700 SPS Varmint rifle, .223 Remington in a 26” heavy barrel with target crown, synthetic stock, and has no aluminum bedding block…plain-Jane.
Cost: $485.00 ($515.00 minus $30.00 rebate)
Bases & rings: Leupold Quick-release (I have had these for a few years)
$113.00 ($69.00 rings $44.00 bases)
Scope: BSA 36X with AO and target turrets (See cautionary “**Note” below)
$59.00
Bi-pod: Harris
$69.00 (I have had it for a couple of years)
$726.00 total cost for the rig. Note that the bi-pod, scope and rings can be used on multiple rifles, and so future set-ups of additional varmint rigs will be proportionately less.
As I prepare to post some targets from this new Remington SPS Varmint rifle, I want to clarify that it is 100% factory, with zero alterations. Too, I would like to clarify that this was the very first time that I have fired this rifle. For kicks, I mounted my old BSA 36X scope. Due to its cheap internal construction, it is not the best choice of precision scopes, and I really don’t care for the 1/8” dot that overlays the crosshairs. I usually prefer to zero the rifle with one target, then change out to a clean target for each new 3-shot cluster during the “test” phase to check the performance of various weight projectiles. I do not have reloading dies yet for the .223, so I had to rely on factory-loaded Remington UMC 45 grain hollow points, and factory-loaded Winchester 55 grain soft points.
The first 2, 3-shots clusters were the factory loads of Remington UMC, 45 grain hollow points. I hand wrote the details of weight on the target for the viewer’s review. While even the 45 grain rounds sub-MOA performance is adequate for varmint hunting to 300 yards, they lacked the .5 MOA precision that I personally demand of a varmint rig. All the same, for factory-loaded ammunition, they actually performed quite well. Specifically, the first 3-shot group was fired dead-center on the target. The second 3-shot group was fired slightly low. I have indicated the POA relative to each cluster’s respective POI. I allowed the barrel to cool for about 3 minutes while I sought out a different wooden block to place under my buttstock sandbag. The first wooden block was extremely flippy-floppy and was extremely unstable for the buttstock. I am not making excuses, in fact, what I am saying is that this rifle appears to be extremely accurate; far more accurate than I am capable of firing it. Too, the nature of the block’s instability leads me to question the group’s measurement. For the second, 3-shot group, had a more stable (but not perfect) wooden block to support the sandbag. I believe that the vertical spread on the second cluster was me being unstable with my hold, not the rifle. Too, as I indicate in a later paragraph, it may be the effect of the scope.
In this paragraph, I will address the cautionary note that I presented earlier regarding the the BSA scope above. **Note: As a preface to the 3rd cluster, I want to offer up one caution about many cheap scopes. Upon firing the 3rd cluster, I immediately detected and then confirmed a cheap-scope symptom with my BSA 36X. Many cheap scopes experience what my shootist friends and I refer to as “crosshair-adjustment-lag”. Specifically, by that we mean to indicate that as one adjusts the turrets, the crosshair does not move proportionate to the clicks. The internals move, but the crosshair lags, thus one frequently over-corrects. The factor results in a different between the “perceived POA” versus and “actual POA”. More specifically, the cheapness of the internals plays out as the actual adjustment taking effect when one fires the first shot. You will note this “lag” effect in the 3rd group fired. When I switched over to the Winchester 55 grain soft point ammunition, the first shot POIed high and left of the POA. That is fine, I simply set out to make a 1-shot zero. The attempted 1-shot-zero did not work with this scope. (Details provided in an earlier post Re: 1-shot-zeroing).
Due to the cheap internals, the lag resulted in a drastic over-correction of the crosshair relative to the indicated adjustment. As a result, the second shot, POIed far right and low, in fact it POIed a full 1.5” low and 1.25” right of indication. This clarified to me that for fact the BSA is cheap, but once zeroed it should hold its POI. I made a final slow adjustment, and counted the 1/8” adjustments. I then set it to the sandbag and provided a sound “thump” to the scopes center to facilitate the internals taking hold. The “thump” replicates the effect of recoil and moves the internals and crosshairs to the actual POA. If you have a lager, you need not abuse the scope, just a mild thump. By the way, I do not intend to blast BSA, because I have noted this exact crosshair lag phenomenon with Redfield scopes and even with Leupold VariX III scopes. It is okay that the scope not be fully precise, but be aware of it, and take proper precaution to assure the exact POA relative to the POI. The caution should also be taken to mean to not be too hasty in blaming the rifle, the loads or the shootist for zeroing problems that play out as perceived poor groups.
So, back to the third, 3-shot cluster. After zeroing and thumping the scope, I allowed the barrel to cool for a couple of minutes, while I loaded up 3 rounds of Winchester 55 grain soft points. I firmed up the rifle as best I could and took aim and fired 3 shots. All 3 shots not merely were touching, but turned in an awesome 0.195” group center-to-center.
As I post the pictures, I would like to apologize for the “cluttered” target. There were other shootists on the 100 yard range, and so I could not switch out the target after zeroing, and before running the 3-shot group. Future targets will be “clutter-free”. Also, as I embark on testing my handloads, I think I will mount my Leupold scope. : ) An additional caution that I would like to put forth is that I am not convinced that the Remington UMC 45 grain hollow points’ clusters are representative of the true capability. I suspect that there too the scope had lagged, or as I stated earlier I was not holding true. What gives me pause is not the first group, but rather the second group. Observe the near perfect vertical movement. Next, observe the 0.195” cluster from the Winchester 55 grain ammunition after I thumped the scope. It measures about the same as the vertical cluster’s width. I think it is time to do away with my BSA at least for hunting, because we as sportsmen and sportswomen have a responsibility to hit these varmints true the first time…not after a thump.
Here are the pics:
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