Remington 700P LTR vs 700 XCR Compact Tactical - What's the Difference?

[YodaVader]

On one of my match guns, I would be quite satisfied to use a barrel by Bartlein, Broughton, Krieger, Lilja, Hart, Schneider, even Shilen, and I'm sure there are other very good barrels I'm not familiar with.

EShell , thanks for the reply - a very good read on a fine collection of 700s. My "local" smith is a benchrest smith and when I inquired on having a 700 rebarreled he suggested Krieger. When I decide to go ahead it will be the first centerfire that I ever had rebarreled.

I'm trying to summarize this thread in my head. Is the censuses that on average the .308 700p LTR (part #5739) is more accurate than the 26" barreled .308 700p (part #5709)?

Over on snipercentral.com many seem to believe the short stiff barrel of the LTR contributes to somewhat better accuracy. Although I have had great luck with all the heavy barrel 700s I've owned or those I have fired belonging to others. Most were various 26" models - .223 VLS ,.308 P , .308 VS , .22-250 VS , Sendero and SPS.

Still my .223 20" LTR has been the most consistently accurate.

 

[EShell]

Ed,

Beautiful Collection.

Hi Ed,

Your expertise is a fantastic resource for us inexperienced folks. I've been thinking about getting a 700p/700p LTR for a couple of months now as my first real "precision" rifle. I'd only use it prone or on a bench with a bipod so weight isn't a significant concern. So my driving factor is accuracy out to about 600m (I don't have access to a 1000yd range - if I did I'd be thinking about 300win mag). For all I knew/know the LTR could be more accurate due to better barrel harmonics (or something). The other big driver for me is being able to use of the shelf ammo which is what pushed me towards a 700p to begin with. I'm leaning towards the LTR with thoughts of getting a magnum 26" down the road someday.

Do you think the LTR is up to snuff for 600m or will the shorter barrel really hurt the ballistics at that range?

Yes, the LTR is typically adequate for 600 meters, especially with the heavier (175gr) bullets. Time of flight governs drop & drift, and velocity differences produced by various barrel lengths will influence time of flight. This will affect us more as we move back and as drop becomes more dramatic at longer distances. The LTR is typically very accurate and one is only limited by it's velocity capability. If you plan to eventually get a 26" .300 WinMag for the longer ranges, the LTR is a great platform for the .308.

EShell , thanks for the reply - a very good read on a fine collection of 700s. My "local" smith is a benchrest smith and when I inquired on having a 700 rebarreled he suggested Krieger. When I decide to go ahead it will be the first centerfire that I ever had rebarreled.

I think you'll be amazed and quite pleased at the difference. A good barrel done correctly is amazingly insensitive to ammo types and your load development will go from struggling to find something that shoots better than the rule, to quickly checking for ballistic uniformity among loads that all shoot better than your factory barrel. Ballistic uniformity can be quickly evaluated by using Dan Newberry's "OCW" method:http://practicalrifler.6.forumer.com/index.php

Over on snipercentral.com many seem to believe the short stiff barrel of the LTR contributes to somewhat better accuracy.

Agreed, and your BR smith will tell you that the 20" guns dominate the short range benchrest matches. For longer ranges, we usually need the additional velocity rendered by longer barrels, and the field positions are not as stable as the mechanical rest used in BR, so the longer barrels helps us here too, in adding front end mass and stability.

Although I have had great luck with all the heavy barrel 700s I've owned or those I have fired belonging to others. Most were various 26" models - .223 VLS ,.308 P , .308 VS , .22-250 VS , Sendero and SPS.

Still my .223 20" LTR has been the most consistently accurate.

The tac models do seem more consistent, and this is what we are usually looking for. I too have seen good examples of the other models, but my own VS was a disappointment and a friend just got a .22-250 VLS which shoot execptionally poorly and that he says is his last (!!) Remington.

 

[AWMP]

Sugguestions

First time bolt action rifle buyer. I have narrowed to the below three.

Remington 700 SPS TAC HOG STK, Remington 700 SPS Tactical Rifle or Remington 700 XCR compact tactical.

I have not decided on .223 or .308.

Shooting out to 600 yards at the most. Local range.

Would like to shoot it often and will be used to take out varmits on rare occassions. (hogs and coyote)

20" barrel.

Optics, I have no idea. (newbie) Suggestions?

Cost is the factor, I would like to keep it under $1500.00 but could go as much as $2000.00.

Best place to buy? Can have it shipped to my FFL.

Currently deployed so going to be my present to me upon return from yet another trip to the sandbox. Any and all ideas, suggestions, welcome.

 

[kaanoiy]

One is stainless the other is not.

 

[tcsnake]

I just got my XCR a few days ago, and I can honestly say ITS TOO DAMN HEAVY!

 

[JNewell]

What's it wearing? The factory weight spec on those is about 7 1/2 pounds, as I recall, which is about what the standard sporter bolt rifles used to weigh.