Rem 700 SPS tac or SPS Varmint? Updated!!

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greyman441

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So I bit the bullet and bought a 5R milspec 308. It came with a houge overmould stock but I would like to find the original one. Does anyone know where I can track down a original one? Also I need a stainless bottom metal and screws. Anyone know the best place to find these?

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Im looking at picking up a remington 700 .308 and im not sure which one to go with. Im stuck on the Reminton 700 SPS Tactical with the 20 inch HB or the remington 700 SPS Varmint with the 26 inch heavy contoured barrel.
Which one is better? I like the idea of the 20"heavy barrel but I dont know the accuracy difference between the 26" heavy contour barrel.
Thanks
 
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Prob no difference in accuracy but the finnish on my Tac made it feel like the action was full of sand when i cycled the bolt. It's still a bit rough and it doesn't eject consistantly. Not unhappy with it, just would have been happier if the bolt wasn't parkerized. If the varmint isn't parkerized I'd take it hands down.
 
Don't know if the same is true for the .308, but the rate of twist is different in the .223 between the Varmint (1:12) and Tactical (1:9).
 
there should be no difference in accuracy between a 20" barrel and a 26" of equal quality the difference will be in velocity which becomes very important at longer ranges. have you looked at the rem 700 5r milspec in my opinion it is a much better choice then either of those
 
5R Milspec. Around $1200 or so plus or minus. I have one in .223 and .308 and love them both. Both now reside in McMillan A5 stock- pure preference only as the HS Precision it comes with is a great stock as well. I got both of mine from Frontier, but I think Wanstall's has one as well on their site.
 
ya usually they go for around the 1200 range and with some good optics will easily get you on target out to 1000 yards. it might be a little more then what you were looking for but compared to other long distance guns out there the 5r is best bang for the buck IMO
 
Also a fan of the 5R. I have the 308 version.

One of my favourite rifles.

5R-2.jpg
 
I bought an SPS-V in 308 a couple of years ago as my first LR rifle and will tell you that if you are intending to shoot it "as is" you may want to spend the money on a 5R. You will very likely want (read NEED) to replace the stock on the SPS in fairly short order, and potentially the barrel if you don't happen to luck out with a good one.

From what I've read here most guys with 5Rs find they shoot really well, and I haven't heard any complaints about flimsy stocks. Unless you're looking for a project rifle I'd say go with the 5R; I would have if they made it in LH.
 
Remington also makes a 20" barrel version of the 5R now. That would be my personal choice if you wanted to buy a great package to start with and didn't want to mess around with buying a new stock for the SPS Varmint. If you decide against the 5R then the SPS Tactical would be a better choice.

Contrary to popular belief on forums like this, you do not need a long barrel to either shoot accurately or at "long range". If you're like most shooters out there, you're shooting 300 yards or less a majority of the time.
 
A 20" version would be good. But unless they also shortened the fore end on the stock to match the change in barrel length then I don't see much of an advantage. With the Police models, the 26" barrel also had a longer fore end. The extra handiness of the 5R is probably more to do with the shorter fore end than the 2" less barrel.

Just thinking out loud here.

I found some info on the 20" version. Looks like they are threaded now too. No doubt the 20" version was meant to appeal to the US suppressor market.

ht tp://m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=87019

This guy has the exact same setup on his 20" threaded 5R that I have on my 24" 5R. Same scope and rings. Great combination with this rifle I might add. The only difference is he has a brake on his since it's threaded (looks out of place to me).
 
I have a sps varmint .308. You WILL have to change the stock, it's crap, I heard that the hogue overmold ofthe tac is a little bit bether but not much.

If you don't intend to modify the gun or invest on it, go with the 5R, if you don't like straight stock, go for the tac or varmint and upgrade the stock.
 
So I bit the bullet and bought a 5R milspec 308. It came with a houge overmould stock but I would like to find the original one. Does anyone know where I can track down a original one? Also I need a stainless bottom metal and screws. Anyone know the best place to find these?
 
Just picked up a varmint in 308 under the impression that it was the same as a tactical, just with a longer barrel. Would the longer barrel suit the 1:12 twist? I remember reading somewhere that the 1:8 twist on the tikka tac's had an easier time controlling heavier rounds.

Noob Edit: by rounds I mean bullets.
 
greyman441 said:
So I bit the bullet and bought a 5R milspec 308. It came with a houge overmould stock but I would like to find the original one. Does anyone know where I can track down a original one? Also I need a stainless bottom metal and screws. Anyone know the best place to find these?
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I would go for something a little better than the hs stock from the 5R. I feel the ergonomics aren't the greatest. If you want something cheap with great ergonomics for prone and bench work, check out the bell and carlson medalist tactical. You can get the fully adjustable model for about $500.
 
derrick1978 said:
I would go for something a little better than the hs stock from the 5R. I feel the ergonomics aren't the greatest. If you want something cheap with great ergonomics for prone and bench work, check out the bell and carlson medalist tactical. You can get the fully adjustable model for about $500.
Click to expand...

I took a look at that and like it alot. I think I may have to buy one of those stocks. It is exactly what I am looking for. I wanted the old stock to hold me off for a couple months but that stock is really nice.
 
greyman441 said:
So I bit the bullet and bought a 5R milspec 308. It came with a houge overmould stock but I would like to find the original one. Does anyone know where I can track down a original one? Also I need a stainless bottom metal and screws. Anyone know the best place to find these
Click to expand...

They come up on the EE all the time. If you are not in a huge rush I'm sure you will get one.
 
DoogenBurns said:
Just picked up a varmint in 308 under the impression that it was the same as a tactical, just with a longer barrel. Would the longer barrel suit the 1:12 twist? I remember reading somewhere that the 1:8 twist on the tikka tac's had an easier time controlling heavier rounds.

Noob Edit: by rounds I mean bullets.
Click to expand...

I have the 700 varmint in .308 and mine actually prefers the heavier bullets. Go figure <=D
 
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