remington700 sps varmint what do u think
- Thread starter TacticalDan
- Start date
I think for a beginner trying to get into target shooting that or the savage 10fp is the way to go. The only thing that ended up making my mind up on the two was wholesale sports had an sps in .308, but no savages, so I went with the sps varmint.
Mine is my first centerfire rifle, so I don't have a lot to compare it too, but it has been great so far. I have also been getting into reloading for this rifle, and have only shot 40 factory rounds through it. I have managed to get .75-1MOA loads with every bullet I have tried for it (155SMK, 168SMK and 168AMAX). Every now and then I manage to shoot a group around .5MOA, but this is the exception rather than the norm. I average probably right around or just over 1MOA for an average range session. (If I'm doing my part) Personally I think right now for me, the shooter is still the limiting factor.
I think its best to start out with something cheaper like either of the two rifles I mention because chances are if you are just learning, it will still outshoot you. Plus you don't pay money for an expensive stock that you will want to replace someday anyways if you get serious about it. Both of those rifles appear to have decent aftermarket support so they can be upgraded later once you outgrow them. I would buy a cheaper rifle to start, shoot out the barrel practicing, then once the barrel is shot out you should have some idea of what type of stuff you really like, and an action that will be easy to build on. From there you can start replacing the stock and barrel and building yourself a rifle thats exactly what you want.
Mine is my first centerfire rifle, so I don't have a lot to compare it too, but it has been great so far. I have also been getting into reloading for this rifle, and have only shot 40 factory rounds through it. I have managed to get .75-1MOA loads with every bullet I have tried for it (155SMK, 168SMK and 168AMAX). Every now and then I manage to shoot a group around .5MOA, but this is the exception rather than the norm. I average probably right around or just over 1MOA for an average range session. (If I'm doing my part) Personally I think right now for me, the shooter is still the limiting factor.
I think its best to start out with something cheaper like either of the two rifles I mention because chances are if you are just learning, it will still outshoot you. Plus you don't pay money for an expensive stock that you will want to replace someday anyways if you get serious about it. Both of those rifles appear to have decent aftermarket support so they can be upgraded later once you outgrow them. I would buy a cheaper rifle to start, shoot out the barrel practicing, then once the barrel is shot out you should have some idea of what type of stuff you really like, and an action that will be easy to build on. From there you can start replacing the stock and barrel and building yourself a rifle thats exactly what you want.
They are an adequate varmint rifle; they will get you about 1 MOA, like all factory sporting rifles , and they are priced right. I have one in 204 and It is great for what it is.
Like all Remington 700's, they are a good platform on which to build and customize to turn it from factory accuracy to precision accuracy.
Like all Remington 700's, they are a good platform on which to build and customize to turn it from factory accuracy to precision accuracy.
- Location
- calgary alberta
The weak point on the entire SPS line is the stock, which is easily upgraded.
I did 1 up for a good friend of mine in a B&C stock, with factory GMM ammo 1/2 moa was attained.
Like all production rifles some are shooters and some are builders, at least with a 700 you always have a builder worth working with.
I did 1 up for a good friend of mine in a B&C stock, with factory GMM ammo 1/2 moa was attained.
Like all production rifles some are shooters and some are builders, at least with a 700 you always have a builder worth working with.
- Location
- Coquitlam, BC
I also have an inbound SPS Varmint in 204 Ruger. What's a good barrel that can be easily installed (the only I can think of is Pac-Nor, with their pre-threaded tubes)? Stock, I'm thinking Boyds' or Bell and Carlson. Should be a nice 'yote buster if all goes well.
If I was going to go with a stock upgrade I would think HS or Mcmillan. Depending on your budget and how much you want to have done to it. I never used to be a fan of synthetic stocks but these ones are really good, especially for a tack driving varmint/yote target gun.
Obtunded who posted above sells Kriegar barrels which are well known for being a top match grade barrel. You might want to shoot a PM to find out the prices for the Krieger and then compare that with a Pac-nor, Shillen Hart, or Lilja. These 4 are the big names that come to mind with barrels. I'm not exactly an expert on this so I'm sure there are other makes that are up there as well.
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- Location
- Coquitlam, BC
I have a Mac stock on my 7WSM and I am in love with it, definitely worth the money. That said, I can't justify that kind of expenditure on a 204 for which I may go shoot coyotes a few times a year only.
I think for now I'll just try shooting the gun as is, see if it works for me.
i have a varmint in .223
shoots as good as i can shoot at the moment. probably at best .75 MOA but average, yeah about 1.
rifle is stock, harris bipod with bushnell 3200 10x on it. i had wholesale assemble, boresight and ship it to me, they put low rings on it so the scope is damn close to the barrel. so close i cant properly seat the scope cover on the front glass. but i guess the closer to the barel the better right?
shoots as good as i can shoot at the moment. probably at best .75 MOA but average, yeah about 1.
rifle is stock, harris bipod with bushnell 3200 10x on it. i had wholesale assemble, boresight and ship it to me, they put low rings on it so the scope is damn close to the barrel. so close i cant properly seat the scope cover on the front glass. but i guess the closer to the barel the better right?
just looking at those prices, $509 was for the regular SPS, not the varmint. but yeah they are just under $600 or so now.
Still feel dumb...
Yes, I know ...
I do like to support the small local retailer, and it was totally my own fault that I overpaid for that rifle in Lethbridge ... just plain dumb.
I live in the boonies ... and ... here's a good non-gun metaphor ... I could get my tires and oil and stuff at Wal-Mart 50 miles from here (where I do shop unapolagetically for stuff that nobody else has) but Danny (in his modest but high-quality shop) is The Man up here near the Crowsnest Pass.
So ... down in sunny Lethbridge ... I kissed-off about a $100 on a $600 purchase ... it's never too old to learn stuff.
Yes, I know ...
I do like to support the small local retailer, and it was totally my own fault that I overpaid for that rifle in Lethbridge ... just plain dumb.
I live in the boonies ... and ... here's a good non-gun metaphor ... I could get my tires and oil and stuff at Wal-Mart 50 miles from here (where I do shop unapolagetically for stuff that nobody else has) but Danny (in his modest but high-quality shop) is The Man up here near the Crowsnest Pass.
So ... down in sunny Lethbridge ... I kissed-off about a $100 on a $600 purchase ... it's never too old to learn stuff.
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- Location
- 54°52'56"N 112°10'7"W Alpha Bravo
Hey man don't feel dumb I jus bought one today and paid $699, everyone that was advertising 579 or 559 didn't have one and didn't know when they were getting one. I called every major retailer in Canada and every small shop in alberta and no dice, these buggers are hard to come by. So anyway to pay 80 bucks more to get one now, doesn't seem all that bad (after $40 mail-in rebate from Remington)
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Thank you!!
Hey .50 Cal,
Thank you. That makes me feel considerably better.
Actually, the store-owner waited until after I'd bought it to tell me that (while I was wrestling with the "to buy or not to buy" decision) he had really wanted to say, "Don't wait. If you really want it buy it right now because it likely won't be here tomorrow."
He kept his silence because he didn't want to appear to be using that old car-sales "line" ... even if it was true ... which I think/realize now was classy on his part.
Incidentally, the actual salesperson was a very knowledgeable and very beautiful young woman ... perhaps his daughter?
Boomer
Hey .50 Cal,
Thank you. That makes me feel considerably better.
Actually, the store-owner waited until after I'd bought it to tell me that (while I was wrestling with the "to buy or not to buy" decision) he had really wanted to say, "Don't wait. If you really want it buy it right now because it likely won't be here tomorrow."
He kept his silence because he didn't want to appear to be using that old car-sales "line" ... even if it was true ... which I think/realize now was classy on his part.
Incidentally, the actual salesperson was a very knowledgeable and very beautiful young woman ... perhaps his daughter?
Boomer
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