Hi folks, I'm just looking at getting my feet wet in precision shooting. I'm looking at picking up a Remington SPS in .308 and found a used one but the round count is unknown. Would you feel comfortable buying it sight unseen other than being told (and with pics) that it's in mint condition or would you spend the extra $100 and buy a brand new one?
Buy new or used on a rifle with unknown round count?
- Thread starter Trinimon
- Start date
What he said!
The SPS Tactical I bought used was the best shooting rifle I owned. I've bought all my precision entry level tactical's used and load developed for them. The SPS best group was just under .3" @ 100 (if memory serves me right). Not bad for an entry level used tactical 
but of course I saved a lot more than that (over $300 due to value difference in trade). For a hundred bucks difference though, go new.
but of course I saved a lot more than that (over $300 due to value difference in trade). For a hundred bucks difference though, go new.
shaolin555
CGN Regular
- Location
- Southern Ontario
That is concrete advice
"...mint condition..." That means it's exactly as the rifle came out of the factory and unfired. Any SPS will lose more than $100 of its value when the original buyer walks out of the shop with it new. They're an entry level hunting rifle, so the chances of the 'round count' making any difference are nil.
'Tactical' is a marketing term that means nothing.
'Tactical' is a marketing term that means nothing.
A used rifle that isn't especially rare or noteworthy is at best worth 2/3 of the new sticker price. Unseen or more than very light range use and it's worth 1/2 the sticker price. Take emotion out of the purchase and that's where you end up. Sellers of second hand, basic, common guns often misunderstand the value of their "special" rifle. Common rifles loose their value faster than new cars.
Aren't "precision shooting" and "Remington SPS" something of a contradiction in terms?
If you want to take up "precision shooting" you will be ditching the barrel and replacing it with a good one anyway, so the current round count does not matter.
If you are comfortable with the accuracy of a stock Remington, then you are not by definition a precision shooter and regardless of the round count you will be pleased with it.
Either way, if you like the price, buy it.
If you want to take up "precision shooting" you will be ditching the barrel and replacing it with a good one anyway, so the current round count does not matter.
If you are comfortable with the accuracy of a stock Remington, then you are not by definition a precision shooter and regardless of the round count you will be pleased with it.
Either way, if you like the price, buy it.
Yeah, this is to get my feet wet and I figured that there are so many aftermarket parts to upgrade it later on, I can eventually do progressive upgrades if I end up liking it. I guess it's sorta like a project gun and if that doesn't pan out, it'll end up being a hunting rifle.
Yeah, this is to get my feet wet and I figured that there are so many aftermarket parts to upgrade it later on, I can eventually do progressive upgrades if I end up liking it. I guess it's sorta like a project gun and if that doesn't pan out, it'll end up being a hunting rifle.
That is the perfect way to look at it. If I'm not mistaken the stock has an aluminum bedding block. If that is true, all you would need to do to make it a real good shooter is replace the barrel at a cost of about $500-$600 including the barrel and installation. The heart of the rifle is the barrel so once you upgrade that, every other upgrade is really just for curb appeal.
Actually the "tactical" means it's got the heavy barrel, unlike the hunting rifles...so it's an entry level tactical rifle. A .308 Win barrel will shoot for close to 5000 rounds, so going "used" isn't a big deal IF you now that it hasn't been shot out. But, you shouldn't be paying anywhere near the new price.
I assumed the poster meant the SPS Tac, not the others. My "used" SPS Tac shot a best 4 shot group of .3 MOA with my custom loads (I did a major flinch on 5th shot), so yes it's a precision rifle (considering some $4000 custom rifles don't shoot that without the same precision load development). Most entry level "tactical" rifles can shoot half MOA or better with "precision" loading, and yes I do know what that is and how to do it A precision shooter is someone who understands how to make their own precision rounds, ballistics, wind etc. It has nothing to do with your rifle's class. "Precision" to a SKS is not "precision" to a BR rifle but the same shooter can still be a precision shooter Precision starts with you (mindset/abilities), then your equipment and shooting/loading practices (how OCD are you).
So, if you use precision loading principles (best bullet, load to bullet ogive, into/off the lands, etc, etc...), then you'll bring the best out of your rifle. Factory Sporter is a class of competitive precision shooting at many ranges, you should try it.
If your on a budget but have invested in "precision" loading equipment (this you will need); then you can make an entry tac shoot great. If you can get a $500 SPS Tac shooting .3 or .4 MOA, is the extra $3-4000 worth is to get down to .25 MOA? If you have the money, sure but if you don't, you can't go wrong with an SPS Tactical.
A precision shooter is someone who understands how to make their own precision rounds, ballistics, wind etc. It has nothing to do with your rifle's class. "Precision" to a SKS is not "precision" to a BR rifle but the same shooter can still be a precision shooter Precision starts with you (mindset/abilities), then your equipment and shooting/loading practices (how OCD are you).So, if you use precision loading principles (best bullet, load to bullet ogive, into/off the lands, etc, etc...), then you'll bring the best out of your rifle. Factory Sporter is a class of competitive precision shooting at many ranges, you should try it.
If your on a budget but have invested in "precision" loading equipment (this you will need); then you can make an entry tac shoot great. If you can get a $500 SPS Tac shooting .3 or .4 MOA, is the extra $3-4000 worth is to get down to .25 MOA? If you have the money, sure but if you don't, you can't go wrong with an SPS Tactical.
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Nice shooting Miykael! Give me confidence that the rifle is capable of pretty decent shooting. Well the used rifle was $600 and no warranty which was the deciding factor for spending the extra on a brand new one from SFRC which also came with a muzzle break. I'll definitely be looking into reloading!
I took it out to the Silverdale on Saturday shooting factory loads. I'm still shopping for glass for it so I took an older cheapie scope I had. Didn't do too bad for first time out. Sighted in at the 50yrd and then took it out to the 200yrd. Shot about a 1.75"MOA at 100yrds and around a 3"MOA at 200yrds. Not really precision shooting there. Shot at the gong with the last 4rnd and didn't miss a shot. That was fun.
Bedded the action yesterday and she's looking great. Barrel is nicely free floated even when on a bipod.
Thanks for all the advice and tips guys! Got to love CGN for that!
I took it out to the Silverdale on Saturday shooting factory loads. I'm still shopping for glass for it so I took an older cheapie scope I had. Didn't do too bad for first time out. Sighted in at the 50yrd and then took it out to the 200yrd. Shot about a 1.75"MOA at 100yrds and around a 3"MOA at 200yrds. Not really precision shooting there. Shot at the gong with the last 4rnd and didn't miss a shot. That was fun.
Bedded the action yesterday and she's looking great. Barrel is nicely free floated even when on a bipod.
Thanks for all the advice and tips guys! Got to love CGN for that!
