Remington SPR18?

[dracphelan]

I'm looking at getting a 30.06 Remington SPR18 in May. Does anyone have any experience with them? I need to know the opinions of people who have shot a box of ammo through one.

I realize that for the same amount of money or a little more I could get a Rossi, H&R or NEF. I also realize that for double the money TC single shot. However, I like the looks of these rifles better than the others. Plus, with the money I save over a TC, I can afford to put better optics on the rifle.

 

[clone]

any word on these rifles?

 

[ArmedBear]

If they're anything like the shotguns, they're built like Russian artillery pieces: durable, ugly, heavy, rough. They throw lead out the muzzle.

Never seen the rifles, though, just the shotguns. Don't know anyone else who has, either.

I'd get an NEF or a T/C. Ruger single shots are REALLY nice, too.

 

[R.W.Dale]

I handled one locally and was rather impressed with the lines, feel, fit and finish of the rifle. I would buy one in a heartbeat over the H&R and Rossi abominations.

 

[ArmedBear]

Hideous.

The NEF's pretend to be nothing but what they are: a utilitarian single shot.

The Russian guns seem to be trying to be something else, but with terrible wood-to-metal fit, a clublike stock, and some odd corkscrew pattern on the barrel, I just don't see the appeal. The similar single-shot shotguns, same deal.

Remington's former management, desperate to staunch the hemorrhage of money, tried a lot of things, except for producing better shotguns (I have an old 1100 and love it; what I hear about new ones saddens me, since the design is still wonderful but the execution got to be really bad). Rebadging Baikals was one thing they tried, along with reputation-trashing junk like the 710.

Might have done better just producing some more good guns. Now the Bushmaster execs get a crack at Remington. Maybe they'll improve. I hope so.

 

[R.W.Dale]

The NEF's pretend to be nothing but what they are: a utilitarian single shot.

That has all the ergonomics of a rock and shoot about as well as one too.

I've owned about a dozen different NEF barrels on 4 different frames. I started calling them my LIGHTNING rifles as they would never strike in the same place twice. Sometimes you could take one to the range and shoot a 2' group (if I was very lucky) and the next day shoot 5" groups with the same ammo on a completely different part of the target.

It took me awhile but I've finally sworn them off completely and have done what I should have done to begin with, I bought an Encore

The Russian guns seem to be trying to be something else, but with terrible wood-to-metal fit, a clublike stock, and some odd corkscrew pattern on the barrel,

how would you know?

Never seen the rifles, though, just the shotguns.

I've handled both the rifles and shotguns, the rifles are much nicer

 

[ArmedBear]

what I should have done to begin with, I bought an Encore

Exactly.

I've handled both the rifles and shotguns, the rifles are much nicer

The picture they use on the website sure doesn't look like it, but I'll take your word for it. Remington needs to use more flattering and current photos of some of its other guns, as well.

I still don't care for the design, meaning the appearance, which is very similar to the single shot shotguns.

Have you shot the rifles?

Baikal shotguns have the reputation of hitting somewhere other than where they pointed. I wonder about the rifles.

Still, I think someone looking for a budget .30-06 would be better served by a Howa/Nikko package gun than a cheap break-action.

Someone who wants a break-action ought really to consider a T/C, unless T/C really screws up under new management.

Someone who wants a fine singleshot also has the Ruger to look at.

There's just no free lunch.

 

[R.W.Dale]

No I haven't shot the SPR-18 just handled one. A couple things I noticed in the rifles over the shotguns is the rifles used steel rather than plastic for the trigger guard-action latch. The bluing is nicer and the hammer forging on the barrel is kinda neat. The ergonomics and fit of the stock are spot on.


You and I agree, an entry level rifle shopper would be much better served by the economy level bolt action offerings.