Entry level decisions

I just picked up a REmington 700 SPS tactical in .223 with the 16.5" barrel. I had read the reviews about the stock after I bought the gun so I was a bit worried. However, I don't find it that bad. I can't twist it, and when having a bipod mounted, it does not touch the barrel, I can still slide a sheet of paper between the barrel and stock all the way down. Maybe I got a good one, or maybe the shorter barrel version are not as bad?

The gun feels pretty good to me, I had a Savage model 111 before and it feels about the same really. I did have an issue with it gouging brass, but some sanding of the feed rails has fixed that issue.
 
Suputin said:
All high magnification optics produce this problem. High magnification compresses a large amount of "air" which makes the mirage much more visible. High magnification also makes the rifle shake more visible. I have used up to 32x in the field and at long ranges it is awful. The image is dark and muddy while the mirage swirls and distorts the image and the crosshairs shake and move uncontrollably.

From my experience nothing more than about 20x is worthwhile using in the field at long ranges. Personally I like the 16x because I can still use it down to about 100 yds. Looking through the same magnification all the time I get used to how big certain object appear and can make a decent range estimation just from looking at the target. This is not possible with a variable.
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I agree with this. Even with my S&B PM-II I run around 16x for the really long stuff unless its early enough that mirage hasn't started yet. High magnification is better for the precise aiming in load development and competitive paper punching.
 
To the OP, looks like your original ideas are on the right track, given your budget target. I'm assuming you're either military/LEO if you're looking at the Savage 10TR? If not, you can find them on the EE for $900 (last I checked). I got the 10TR and mounted a Vortex Viper 6.5-20x50mm with mil dot reticle, so rifle and scope cost about $1200 plus rings. The range reviews showed as good as 1/2 moa precision with Federal Match Grade 168gn bullets. So getting a precision rifle like that for under $1,000 is pretty darn good. I can't think of a better way to come in under budget on a decent setup.
 
Thank you guys for all your help! I have decided to go with the savage 10 tr, hard to beat at $599. As for the scope think I'm going to go with the sightron Sightron SII Big SKY 6.5-20 X 50 Mildot or Dot Reticle, or Sightron SII Big Sky 6.5-20X50 LRMOA, and or the
Vortex Viper PST 4-16x50. Any advice on rings?
 
I bought a CZ 550 Varmint with a laminated stock. Nice gun that shoots well for just under $1K. The only drawback is you have to buy CZ rings or have a rail made, which I am doing at ATRS. I bought a nib Vortex 4-16 x 50 last spring for about $575 and if I can't afford the NF I want, the Vortex will get the job for now. I bought Vortex rings, but the NF will get ATRS rings.
 
The stock of the SPS Tac isn't horrible considering what you pay for the rifle. If you like shooting off bags its no problem. If you shoot off a bi pod, then it flexes. I can't get my stock to touch the barrel but I don't shoot from bipods. For a $600 target rifle, its hard to beat IMO.

I would never say the Accu trigger is a good trigger. Better than what Savage used to offer but its not Timney or Jewel. Remington's X Mark Pro is better than the Accu trigger but still not in the same league as a Jewel.
 
Ranger Dave said:
The stock of the SPS Tac isn't horrible...
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I disagree... Mine was stringing 2moa vertical groups, 1/2moa wide. My gunsmith said to remove the lugs at the front of the stock and make sure the barrel was fully free floating. That reduced the groupings to a solid 3/4 moa. I dropped $100 on a Boyd's stock and haven't looked back at the SPS since.
 
For rings my favourite for a long time has been the Burris Signature Z ring because no metal touches the scope, no lapping is required and they hold the scope tighter than any metal ring due to the plastic deforming to give 100% contact.

Recently I have been using the Leupold QRW rings which are working really well for me. I even tried shooting a group, remove the scope, replace the scope and then shoot another group and the rings returned exactly to zero as advertised.
 
Before you spend any money you need to decide what kind if precision shooting you want to do. Then read the rules of that particular course of fire. DCRA 'F' Class rules aren't the same as DCRA 'Sniper'.
 
Ranger Dave said:
Remington's X Mark Pro is better than the Accu trigger but still not in the same league as a Jewel.
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I couldn't disagree more. The X-mark pro trigger is a POS... from it's constantly varying weight of pull to it's joke of an adjustment range. All the accu-triggers i've owned are in a completely different league than the X-mark.
 
wheels said:
I couldn't disagree more. The X-mark pro trigger is a POS... from it's constantly varying weight of pull to it's joke of an adjustment range. All the accu-triggers i've owned are in a completely different league than the X-mark.
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Gonna have to agree here. The Accutrigger is much better than the x-mark. I replace all my Rem triggers with Timney's but I use the Savage trigger as it comes straight from the factory. The accutrigger on the precision carbine is a thing of beauty.
 
I just got a R700 and I quite like the X-mark. I like it better than the accutrigger that was on my savage 111.


Suputin said:
Gonna have to agree here. The Accutrigger is much better than the x-mark. I replace all my Rem triggers with Timney's but I use the Savage trigger as it comes straight from the factory. The accutrigger on the precision carbine is a thing of beauty.
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Ranger Dave said:
Remington's X Mark Pro is better than the Accu trigger but still not in the same league as a Jewel.
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Speaking from personal experience here, I have to disagree with this statement as well.

The Rem trigger I had was a pos that had a pull of about 12 pounds from the damn factory. To get it even within the range Rem stated it comes in (approx 8 pounds), I had to loosen off the adjustment screw so much that it almost fell out. This got me to about 7.5 pounds iirc. Then I had to pull the stock off, and heat the trigger with a torch to loosen the glue in the trigger assembly itself so that I could loosen the other adjustment screw more. Eventually, after about an hour, I got it down to a somewhat consistent 3.5 pounds of pull.

The Accu-trigger I have now came from the factory about 4 pounds. It is very smooth and it breaks crisp.

IMO Accu-trigger >>> X-Mark
 
Mossberg?

How about something like the Mossberg ATR Night Train? That looks like it could fit your requirements.

http://www.mossberg.com/product/rifles-bolt-action-centerfire-atr-night-train/27200

The Mossbergs appeal to me because some of them will accept M-14/16 mags, depending on the caliber you choose.
I recently read a favourable review of their MVP Flex which gives you the option of swapping in a more conventional
looking stock.
http://www.mossberg.com/products/rifles/mvp-series/mvp-flex

.
 
Sporting Lad said:
How about something like the Mossberg ATR Night Train? That looks like it could fit your requirements.

http://www.mossberg.com/product/rifles-bolt-action-centerfire-atr-night-train/27200

The Mossbergs appeal to me because some of them will accept M-14/16 mags, depending on the caliber you choose.
I recently read a favourable review of their MVP Flex which gives you the option of swapping in a more conventional
looking stock.
http://www.mossberg.com/products/rifles/mvp-series/mvp-flex

.
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I did look into this, didn't know how it would perform. Don't know enough about them.
 
Hmmm... Yeah. I think the MVP Flex is too new to have much in the way of reviews. But it might be worth waiting for....
I like the shorter bull barrel in .308--I wonder if it's 'legal' to use 20 round M-14 mags? It's not a SA, but a bolt action.
I think they come with a 10 round mag in the box.
 
Ha ha, no. If the mag is for a semi-auto and you get caught, chances are huge jail time. Doesn't matter if you're using in a bolt action or not if it is still able to fit a semi auto and you have that thing unpinned your ass is going to the slammer for a long time. If you want a 20rd mag for a bolt action I think archangel makes a stock for the remington 700 that comes with one... Also 20rds? Seriously? Sorry just a lot about that statement rubbed me the wrong way man, I don't normally troll like this but I just don't get why you would want a 20rd mag in a bolt action.
 
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