Remington SPS Tactical 308 review

[Idaho Dana]

I bought a Rem SPS 20" Tactical, w/o the threaded barrel. I started the break in with Rem. UMC white/green box 150s not expecting much. I did the usual shoot 3-4 and clean etc. At about 15 rounds things got better!
I moved the target back from about 50 yards to 100 and changed to Federal 180 Gr. soft points. After allowing for the bullet weight and the additional recoil, I thought I was seeing things. I shot a group around .33" and another at .50. After letting the barrel cool, I went back to the cheapie 150 gr. Rem. UMC's and after getting it together with my trigger pull, I shot another .5 or less group with cheap ammo.
Needless to say, I am very pleased. The trigger is virtually w/o creep and breaks cleanly and can be adusted down a bit which I will do. The Nikon Monarch 5-20 is perfect for the rifle and I am believer in what a short barreled rifle can do.
I should mention that it shot almost as well at 200 yards. I had one group with good ammo just under an inch. 200 yard was the limit at the quarry but what the rifle did on a hot day, over a truck hood was phenominal!

 

[DIM]

welcome to the 700 club ;-) you not alone, there are still people out there shooting sub 1/2 MOA with factory REM 700, just wish I can do the same for 3 Savages I bought recently... I would suggest even if its Hogue pillar stock change it to aluminum bedding block stock of your choice, then skin bedded and as the result you'll see one hole 5 shots @ 100, I don't shoot 200, but @ 300 I get 0.85 - 0.9", but I'm shooting 223, winds is a major factor with light 55 grain bullets.
Before my rifle shot 0.5 - 0.6 right after I bedded it did this:

and this :

 

[Idaho Dana]

I have read a bunch about barrel length and velocity / accuracy. A longer barrel in a .308 doesn't make much difference at all. Actually, the dillfference between 26" and 20" is about 50 or less fps. In terms of accuracy, the physics are the same and it all comes down to the shooter and trigger, i.e. how good it is and how well it is used.
I am thinking that my 20"er is capable of really incredible fairly long range stuff. My willingness to try at really long ranges is limited by the places to shoot and my eyes. I can do 400+ yards with a high power scope and maybe even 600. Beyond that, you have to have physical gifts like great eyes.

 

[DIM]

There is drawback with Nikon Monarch, it lucks internal adjustments, last time I checked its like 20 MOA, this part I do not understand, why make great optic incapable for long range shooting...

 

[Idaho Dana]

What would you recommend? I can move the Monarch to the AR if needs be. I have a Weaver on the AR 6-20 but it is 14.5 inches and too long for the rifle. I would appreciated your thougts.

 

[DIM]

Vortex Viper is a good option 14.4" 6.5-20 x50 http://www.vortexoptics.com/product/vortex-viper-6-5-20x50-pa-riflescope-dead-hold-bdc-reticle/specs, Millett is to big and heavy, I use Nikon Buckmaster 6 -18 x40 it has 50 MOA its like 50"@100 yards, plus I put 20 MOA scope rail, now I can target 800 - 1000 no problem...

 

[DIM]

Are you planning to do long range shooting with your rifle? What max distances do you shoot?

 

[MtnCreek]

A 20" barrel has the potential to be more accurate than a 26" barrel. If you compare two barrels that are contoured the same, the 20” will be more ridged. The only advantage to additional barrel length is velocity.

 

[herkyguy]

i have the same rifle with a bell and carlson stock. It shoots sub 1/2 MOA at 100 yards if i do my part. I have shot it out to 560 yards accurately. perhaps partly due to the rifle, but more because of the caliber, i wouldn't shoot it past 600 yards. the .308 starts to drop a whole lot beyond that. mine will shoot anything from 110 gr to 168 gr. at long range, it prefers 168 gr.

 

[USSR]

There is drawback with Nikon Monarch, it lucks internal adjustments, last time I checked its like 20 MOA, this part I do not understand, why make great optic incapable for long range shooting...

+1. Same goes for many of the Bushnell models. Always be sure to find out the amount of W&E adjustment prior to buying a scope.

Don

 

[PCCUSNRET]

I thought mine only shot like that due to my reloading skills. Remington has been catching a lot of flack lately for poor QA, but my 700 SPS in .308 is probably the best shooting gun I have owned. The only thing I don't like about it is the stock, but I guess they had to cut costs somewhere.

 

[allenjeremy]

@DIM and USSR

I read that post and had to register and respond.

I disagree , I have the monarch 4-16x50 mm Obj. It is the best rifle scope I have ever shot or owned. I am not sure what the smaller Monarchs adjust to , but mine is 40 MOA of adjustment or 160 clicks at 1/4 moa per click. They also offer replaceable target turrets that are 1/8 moa.

http://www.nikonhunting.com/products/riflescopes/monarch/4-16x50_Side_Focus_Nikoplex/8439

Just wanted to let you guys know.
Thanks,
Jeremy

 

[BoilerUP]

My Nikon Monarch 5-20x44 has 34MOA of adjustment, not 20.

With a 20MOA base, I'd bet the OP could still have a 100yd zero (or really darn close) with enough adjustment to get to 800yd and maybe close to 1000 with a 155gr bullet.

 

[USSR]

@DIM and USSR

I read that post and had to register and respond.

I disagree , I have the monarch 4-16x50 mm Obj. It is the best rifle scope I have ever shot or owned. I am not sure what the smaller Monarchs adjust to , but mine is 40 MOA of adjustment or 160 clicks at 1/4 moa per click.

Well, Jeremy, you can disagree all you want, but the fact is, a .308 especially with a short barrel like the OP's, requires a lot of elevation adjustment to take advantage of the .308's potential. A scope with only 40MOA of adjustment ain't gonna get you out very far before you run out of adjustment. Facts is facts, and as I stated, "Always be sure to find out the amount of W&E adjustment prior to buying a scope".

Don

 

[MtnCreek]

40moa of total elev is only going to give you about 20moa of correction, assuming crosshairs are near center of scope at zero.

 

[BoilerUP]

155 Scenar @ 2800fps, sea level, standard atmosphere = 35.2 MOA to 1000yd per Shooter ballistics

175gr Matchking @ 2600fps needs 38.3 MOA.

OP should be fine with a 20MOA base...

 

[USSR]

40moa of total elev is only going to give you about 20moa of correction, assuming crosshairs are near center of scope at zero.

Yep, and the key word is "assuming".

155 Scenar @ 2800fps, sea level, standard atmosphere = 35.2 MOA to 1000yd per Shooter ballistics

175gr Matchking @ 2600fps needs 38.3 MOA.

You will never reach those velocities with a 20" factory barrel.

OP should be fine with a 20MOA base...

Having shot for years at 1k, it is highly unlikely that a 20MOA base and a scope with 40MOA of adjustment or less will get the OP to 1k. And even if he just barely makes it, with his elevation maxed out, he loses the ability to make significant windage adjustment. There is a reason why guys bring enough scope to the LR game, and rarely use 20" barreled .308's.

Don

 

[BoilerUP]

You will never reach those velocities with a 20" factory barrel.

You're right..I won't as I don't shoot the 30-06's little cousin...but dozens of reports of the velocities I posted using the 175 SMK and 155 Scenar with RL-15, RL-17 and even Varget prove they are in fact achievable in a 20" factory Remington barrel.

Of course maybe all those folks are lying...

 

[USSR]

...dozens of reports of the velocities I posted using the 175 SMK and 155 Scenar with RL-15, RL-17 and even Varget prove they are in fact achievable in a 20" factory Remington barrel.

Let's pretend I am from Missouri, the "show me" state.

Don