Some of you may have seen my other thread looking for a lightweight precision shooter. Well I am considering a Remington 700 SPS tactical in a .308. Small, pretty light with the 20" bull barrel, good price and should be a good shooter. Might consider a stock swap for a manners or mcmillan. If anyone out there has experience with this rifle let me know what your view is on it. Thanks.
Rem 700 sps tactical. To buy or not to buy?
- Thread starter logan1080
- Start date
I was in this same spot and went with a 5r, if you plan on replacing the stock that's another that's another 300-800$ depends on the stock. I figured get a better quality gun for the same price a sps with a hs percision stock would cost right off the bat.
What's it for?
Upgrading the stock or buying a more expensive rifle boils down to one question: What do you want the rifle for?
My son bought one and I reload it for him. With a Bushnell 3200 10x scope it consistently shoots .75-1.0 inch at 100m. On a really good day it has placed 5 shots at .5". It has had no mods done to it whatsoever. He bought it as in inexpensive, accurate .308 platform. He doesn't compete in tactical matches or anything like that. He just likes to take it out and shoot nice tight groups. It's an interesting exercise to find the loads that get the best groups. He is also thinking of using it for a hunting trip although it is on the heavy side for hauling around.
If you have similar plans for it I think it is fine the way it is and a good investment for the money. Getting a trigger job done and getting a superior scope would be money well spent.
If you want it for more than that then by all means, buy a 5R or more expensive rig (or stock).
Upgrading the stock or buying a more expensive rifle boils down to one question: What do you want the rifle for?
My son bought one and I reload it for him. With a Bushnell 3200 10x scope it consistently shoots .75-1.0 inch at 100m. On a really good day it has placed 5 shots at .5". It has had no mods done to it whatsoever. He bought it as in inexpensive, accurate .308 platform. He doesn't compete in tactical matches or anything like that. He just likes to take it out and shoot nice tight groups. It's an interesting exercise to find the loads that get the best groups. He is also thinking of using it for a hunting trip although it is on the heavy side for hauling around.
If you have similar plans for it I think it is fine the way it is and a good investment for the money. Getting a trigger job done and getting a superior scope would be money well spent.
If you want it for more than that then by all means, buy a 5R or more expensive rig (or stock).
If fit and finsh is anything to you get the 5r. I've had both sps and 5r, i sold the sps to get the 5r, much happier now.
the stock on the sps is garbage and touches the barrel. i always had flyers when the barrel heated. the 5r is twice the cost but it's a lot better in my opinion.
when i do my part the grouping is consistantly under 1 inch at 100m, prone or bench, off a bi-pod. mind you that's with federal gold match 175 grain. i've also had success with S&B 180 grain when i don't want to completely empty my wallet.
If you want a cheap gun look at a stevens or the savage equivalent of the sps. They're easier to upgrade and swap barrels yourselfs, doa search on here. many have detachable mags instead of the stupid hinged floorplate. hinged floorplates kill the "tacticalness" of the gun, thats a pet peeve of mine.
Good luck with whatever you get.
the stock on the sps is garbage and touches the barrel. i always had flyers when the barrel heated. the 5r is twice the cost but it's a lot better in my opinion.
when i do my part the grouping is consistantly under 1 inch at 100m, prone or bench, off a bi-pod. mind you that's with federal gold match 175 grain. i've also had success with S&B 180 grain when i don't want to completely empty my wallet.
If you want a cheap gun look at a stevens or the savage equivalent of the sps. They're easier to upgrade and swap barrels yourselfs, doa search on here. many have detachable mags instead of the stupid hinged floorplate. hinged floorplates kill the "tacticalness" of the gun, thats a pet peeve of mine.
Good luck with whatever you get.
redddogg69
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Burlington/ON
I bought an SPS tactical and put it in an AICS stock and am thrilled with it. From what I've heard from other Remington owners the higher priced ones don't really shoot much better than the SPS.
I do plan on getting in to reloading to get my rifles groups down. I do like a good fit and finish and I have read that the sps barrel will touch the stock that is why I would probably swap stocks on it. I want to be able to go hiking with the rifle but also be able to go to the range and put some nice groups down range with hand loads. I would be putting excellent optics on the rifle also, possibly a NF.
P&D had some of these on sale a year or so ago. I didn't really need a bolt action .308, but they called out to me. I bought the SPS tactical with the 20" barrel in .308. I didn't like the floor plate so after a little research and lots of second thoughts, I picked up Badger Ordinance bottom metal for it, with the AI magazine. It then wound up with a Falcon Menace 5.5-25X scope. My stock does not touch the barrel and is nicely floated right from the factory, and I like the feel of the Hogue Overmold. Yes I probably have more $ into it than it's truly worth, but it is now pretty much EXACTLY what I want. The 20" heavy barrel makes the gun a little on the heavy side, (No duh) but not so heavy that it can't be comforably carried. It shoots consistant groups, sandbagged off the bench using 180gr Wallyworld Winchester. I can sit on a hill all afternoon and pick off gophers at 200 yds. Mine was a good starter, that I was able to upgrade over the next few months to have exactly what I wanted. Buy what you like, but I can't say anything but good things about mine.
I bought one (SPS Tac .308) very lightly used at a good price, mainly because I had an HS stock at home that would fit. The gun shot very well with the Hogue stock on it, but the stock is not very stiff. Putting the HS stock on didn't improve accuracy per se, but did make it possible to lean into the gun a bit without flexing the forearm enough to touch barrel, so the gun was more consistent and easier to shoot well. The gun is a great shooter, easily the equal of my Compact Tactical in .223.
The Hogue stock is also easily stiffened up a bit by epoxying a couple of graphite arrow shafts into the forearm. It works so well that I have considered putting the Hogue back onto the SPS, as the Hogue is lightweight and extremely comfortable to carry and shoot.
Overall, the SPS is well worth the money, IMHO a much better value than the much pricier 700 target/tactical models. However, if you insist on re-stocking it the value-for-dollars factor pretty much goes out the window.
Good luck with your choice.
John
The Hogue stock is also easily stiffened up a bit by epoxying a couple of graphite arrow shafts into the forearm. It works so well that I have considered putting the Hogue back onto the SPS, as the Hogue is lightweight and extremely comfortable to carry and shoot.
Overall, the SPS is well worth the money, IMHO a much better value than the much pricier 700 target/tactical models. However, if you insist on re-stocking it the value-for-dollars factor pretty much goes out the window.
Good luck with your choice.
John
- Location
- 54°52'56"N 112°10'7"W Alpha Bravo
I run a SPS Tac in .308, it sits in an MDT Tac 21 chassis... and yes, it shoots as good as it looks...
My SPS-T shoots pretty good. Mine also sits in a Tac-21 chassis. I think it handles better now. My only concern is the barrel length and full powder burn. Bullet speed is a little slower but hasn't been a problem yet.
I run a SPS Tac in .308, it sits in an MDT Tac 21 chassis... and yes, it shoots as good as it looks...
I Just JIZZZZZEEDDDD my pants.
I do handload with fast powders but pressure is still the enemy. Fast powders will allow for a complete burn but the time for the gasses to act on the bullet is still shorter.
My SPS-T has been a great tool in learning all sorts of things about reloading and their effects.
