Model 700 XCR Compact Tactical for long shots?

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scottm

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Remington advertisement on the rifle complete with plenty of tacticool allusions below:

http://www.remington.com/products/firearms/centerfire_rifles/model_700/model_700_xcr_compact_tactical.asp

I will mainly use this to learn to shoot better at my range to 200 yards but I tried Service Rifle at Vokes with an AR and had a great time shooting to 500 meters. I would like to shoot some longer tactical or precision matches with the bolt gun next year and wonder if this will be an adequate starter gun.

I went with this as my first "precision" (loose use of the term) rifle because of:
- The Model 40-X trigger.
- The stainless steel barrel and action. Stainless barrelled ARs are supposed to be accurate, but that is compared to chrome lined ARs.
- The WDLC coating. Hopefully this and the stainless parts mentioned above will ease maintenance chores somewhat.
- The stock appears to be the Bell & Carlson aluminum-bedded 2958 ( http://www.stockysstocks.com/servlet/the-185/Bell-and-Carlson-Medalist/Detail ).

Questions:
-Most reloading data assumes a 24" barrel. How much velocity will the 20" lose versus 24"? I know my 16" AR loses about 100 fps versus a 20 inch AR but hopefully a 20" barrel is long enough to mitigate this loss somewhat. Maybe 75 fps loss?

-Related to barrel length above. I have access to a reloading press and assume that I will need to load something like the Amax 75 gr for accurate longish (500 meter) shots. Mysticplayer recently said on this forum that "75gr Amax or Berger VLD is max with a 9 twist Savage" but that is probably assuming a longer barrel. I ran the Miller stability numbers as follows: 2800 FPS/1 in 9 twist/.224cal/75 grains/1.1" length/59 degrees F/ 30.2 inHG. I got an f of exactly 1.00. Ragged edge, but may work. Obviously 2800 FPS is marginal. Can I safely reach 2800 fps or a bit more with the short barrel?

-Is the trigger as good as the anonymous intarweb posts say it is?

-Is this stock any good / will I be able to get away without bedding the action (aluminum bedded vs pillar bedded)?

-Last one. In stock trim with good 75 gr handloads (assuming it stabilises 75 gr of course), a good scope and a competent shooter, is MOA to 500 meters realistic?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

PS: If my post didn't make it obvious, I know next to nothing about precision rifles but I hope to learn.
 
scottm said:
Questions:
-Most reloading data assumes a 24" barrel. How much velocity will the 20" lose versus 24"? I know my 16" AR loses about 100 fps versus a 20 inch AR but hopefully a 20" barrel is long enough to mitigate this loss somewhat. Maybe 75 fps loss?
[...]
-Last one. In stock trim with good 75 gr handloads (assuming it stabilises 75 gr of course), a good scope and a competent shooter, is MOA to 500 meters realistic?
Click to expand...

1. I know that .308's loose very little velocity from 24" to 20", from what I've seen here (around 30-50 fps)

2. It'll probably shoot just as good as any Remington Heavy-Barreled 700, in the sub-MOA range with the odd group that makes you go "wow" and another that makes you go "wtf".

My 2¢
 
out to 500m a .223 shooting 69grn SMK or Amax will suffice for MOA or less, depending on wind of course. These days, 500m isn't really a long shot.

As for the rifle itself, its just like any other factory rifle. You may get a good one and it shoots well or you could get the one made Friday afternoon and it doesn't even get on paper at 50yds.

I'm not sure what the XCR comp tact. retails for, but I would look at building a stevens 200 that you know will be able to give you good results and for the same or less $$$. That way you will also not have to worry about barrel length for MV as you can choose between 20-32", get the twist you want, contour you want etc...
 
Received the rifle with a 20 MOA Nightforce one-piece base:

imgp1081.jpg


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I scavenged a scope off the AR in the first pic for now. The NF Unimount with scope can in theory be swapped between railed guns without losing zero(s). In practice I'll eventually need another scope. Probably the Nightforce 2.5-10x32.

The trigger came set to 2 pounds 1 ounce according to my RCBS trigger pull gauge! Apparently the 40-X trigger can be adjusted from 1.5 to 3.5 pounds but I really expected it to initially be set to 3.5.

I'll break it in tomorrow using the GAP regimen. Perhaps barrel break in is a myth, but I want to know I did what I could to get accuracy out of the gun.

http://www.gaprecision.net/ga-precision-download.html
 
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I have a 700 XCR Compact Tactical in .308. I was shooting it at 1000yards yesterday.

I load 168gr Hornady HPBT over 46gr Varget (max) and my muzzle velocity is about 2600FPS.

I have absolute faith that the XCR-CT can hold MOA or better (I haven't had it that long and just bedded it). I was shooting 3/4moa with the odd flier before I bedded it. It should be a solid platform now.

Lemme know where you get it and how much you pay for it.

http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=402602
 
Mysticplayer:
Now you tell me its a myth. :)
I did 5 shots 5 cleans and may not bother doing the 3 shot then clean strings next time. The ritual wasn't too bad. I just brought something else to shoot while waiting for the chemicals to work in the barrel.

Re bedding:
I assumed this would not be necessary with the aluminum-bedded B and C 2958 vs pillar bedded stock. Do you know anyone in Vancouver who does a good bedding job? If not, what is bedding/shipping/turnaround time to your shop in Summerland for this rifle?

Also, is it likely to stabilize Amax 75 gr projectiles?

Thanks in advance.
 
The idea of using a much softer material to burnish a surface is about as productive as using a cloth to shape wood.

Also, proper copper solvents will remove copper back to bare metal whether that alloy was deposited after one shot, or 100 shots. Copper fouling at any point in a barrels life can and will be easily removed if you use the right solvent.

Sorry, but the alum chassis is one of the worse inletting you can get in any stock. Bedding will really improve the consistency of this rifle.

If you would like me to do your bedding, please send me a PM and we can discuss details.

You will have to check the twist rate. If this is a true 9 twist, it should be I have heard that some Rems with a 9 twist will not. I have no first hand experience as I have not owned a contemporary Rem in some years.

Jerry
 
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