"Cheap and cheerful" 700 build ... Some questions ...

[Tikka223]

First of all, merry Christmas folks! Having unwrapped my gifts it's now time to buy one for myself. I am most likely going to buy an SPS Tactical in .223 with the 20" barrel as soon as I can find a place with one in stock. I am looking to build a winter / outdoor gun that won't be too expensive but MUST be accurate. Why? Because I don't feel like hiking around with my other longer and heavier 1500$+ rifles.

So, having said that, the very first thing I'll be doing is throwing out the Hogue stock. I'm considering replacing it with a Boyd's thumbhole varmint stock (100$ish). These stocks aren't pillar bedded and I'm wondering how crucial the pillars would be to accuracy. I would likely bed the action and if I'm going to go through the trouble I'm wondering if it would also be worth buy one of those aluminum bedding blocks made by Whidden Gunworks to supplement the lack of pillars.

In short, will no pillars in a laminate stock hurt accuracy?

Thoughts?

 

[guntech]

Bedding blocks and pillars are not needed in a heavy laminated stock... Just a stress free glass bedding job will do it... Pillars were made for weaker light hollow filled glass stocks that would crush when the screws were tightened. Pillars can be done but they are not a cure all for accuracy.

 

[romurra]

try the stock first -- I had sub MOA on my first go round with handloads with no load development, so first try it at the range.

other stocks will be better, but this one *might* be accurate enough for a walking around rifle.

here's another review: www.snipercentral.com/spstactical.htm

 

[factionrr]

Just an FYI and I hate doing this bit I aswell was in the hunt for a SPS Tactical in .223 and made my decision this morning to pick one up. Would have like to go they our sponsors but "wss" had 8 in stock a 20 minute drive for me so if your looking they do have inventory. Keep an update going once you find yours as I too am going to ditch the stock but I'm going to run some rounds first.

 

[mikeyb]

Just an FYI and I hate doing this bit I aswell was in the hunt for a SPS Tactical in .223 and made my decision this morning to pick one up. Would have like to go they our sponsors but "wss" had 8 in stock a 20 minute drive for me so if your looking they do have inventory. Keep an update going once you find yours as I too am going to ditch the stock but I'm going to run some rounds first.

I ordered one from them as well, only place I could find that had any .223's in stock. Should be here next week or so depending on how CP makes out with my package.