Taking the plunge

W

Willy613

New member
EE Expired
Rating - 100%
1   0   0
Location
Ottawa
I think I'm ready to "pull the trigger" and make my decision on my first precision rifle. I have decided after much reading and research that I want to start my first build with a Remington 700 sps tactical AAC-SD.

The price point seems resaonable leaving me open to progress with optics as I become a better shooter. Now I just wanted to ask and hear some opinions on this rifle specifically.

I intend to keep this rifle for a very long time and just want to make sure I didn't make the wrong decision. I intend to mostly just be shooting from a bench at first till I get comfortable then some field shooting and if the opportunity arrives, use it for hunting as well but not the primary purpose.


Thanks in advance for your insight.
 
I started off with an SPS Tactical. Essentially the same gun but with a 1-12" barrel rather than a 1-10". I think AAC actually makes the barrel for yours so it may be a bit better.

It is a fine gun depending on what you want to do with it. M700s have lots of options in terms of upgrades, etc. The stock on it is garbage and you will want to replace it ASAP.

If I were to go back and do it all over again I would get a Tikka.
 
I've owned this gun plus many, many other Remington's. First thing - congrats on the Rem 700 as a base - lots of upgrade possibilities. May I suggest though that you strongly consider a much better option - the Remington 700 R5. I think the extra cash outlay will be well worth it; a much, much better stock for starters as the Hogue on the AAC_SD is truly rubbish whereas the HS Precision on the R5 is really rather good.
 
Okay, that being said I am having a hard enough time finding the sps AAC-SD.

Is the stock the only real advantage or are all the other small differences with the cost difference, because for the extra 6-700$ if it's only a better factory stock I feel like that might be a bit too much extrra
 
Last edited:
Willy613 said:
Okay, that being said I am having a hard enough time finding the sps AAC-SD. is there a Canadian dealer that would be more likely to have stock of the R5
Click to expand...

I guess one thing I forgot to mention is that you could get the AAC and then get a magpul hunter stock set-from what I have seen it is getting pretty solid reviews.

It would solve the floppy stock problem and you would have a decent DBM set up to run AICS mags in.
 
I currently have a Rem 700 AAC-SD 20" .308. It is my first bolt gun and is a great starting point when you don't yet know what you want/like. As others have said, the factory stock is garbage. Your best bet for an inexpensive but significantly better stock is a Boyd's Pro Varmint that is worlds stiffer and that you can then bed the action into (and add a dbm if so inclined). With hand loads, my rifle holds a consistent 3/4 moa (5 round groups) at 100 and stays nice and tight, as long as I do my part, out to distance (I've shot a 10 round group at 870 yards that was a hair over moa). I started competing in precision rifle and PRS type matches with this rifle this summer/fall and was in the middle of the pack shooting matches down in the States and qualified for the finale (NWPRL). All that to say that I think this rifle is a solid choice to start out and won't really hold you back as you improve and figure out what you are interested in and what you like. There are certainly things I would've done differently had I known when I got this rifle what I do now (mainly longer barrel for added velocity, 6.5CM instead of .308 for better ballistics) but you can't know what ya don't know. There's a ton of aftermarket support for the Rem 700 platform so you can change things as you progress. I'm currently building a new Rem 700, for what it's worth.
 
great information thanks for the insight now I just have to find someone who carries them, everyone seems to be sold out or way out west far away from me.
 
Willy613 said:
I think I'm ready to "pull the trigger" and make my decision on my first precision rifle. I have decided after much reading and research that I want to start my first build with a Remington 700 sps tactical AAC-SD.

The price point seems resaonable leaving me open to progress with optics as I become a better shooter. Now I just wanted to ask and hear some opinions on this rifle specifically.

I intend to keep this rifle for a very long time and just want to make sure I didn't make the wrong decision. I intend to mostly just be shooting from a bench at first till I get comfortable then some field shooting and if the opportunity arrives, use it for hunting as well but not the primary purpose.


Thanks in advance for your insight.
Click to expand...



I feel like this (bolded above) was the Biggest mistake I had ever made. After about 3-5 rifles in, constantly buying mid range or low end budget scopes ($500-$1200). I realized if I just got one, took it off the rifle when I sold the rifle for the next "build" I would have saved myself a heck of a lot of money. I think I would have progressed as a shooter much quicker.

Take the time, find a good optic. Cherish it for life. For myself, I have a few "needs" Positive turret contact and clear glass that wont blur out on higher powers. A zero stop and reset is needed. Exposed turrets is a bonus.

Its hard to shoot well with a blurry optic. Its also frustrating when you have made adjustments but still miss... (turret skipped) If you are a new shooter, you don't know if its you, the rifle, the optic, a lot to wonder about. Nothing more frustrating then when ur equipment is out of wack.

My current coyote/Long range (ish its SWO) is a 223... I have a fixed 10x Bushnell Elite Tactical.. It has clear glass, decent turret contact and exposed turrets with a 0 reset.

Its a bit cheaper (also a lot more durable then any variable power optics under 1500), but I'm saving up for a sightron. Also, make sure if you get a variable power optic, you do not get a POI shift when adjusting magnifications... Seems like anything under 1000 bucks doesn't fit that requirement unless its a fixed power.... Obviously.
 
Last edited:
Tomochan said:
You can dress up the AAC_SD pretty nice: Here is what I did with one: https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/for...ild-Tactical-Improvements-to-a-Rem-700-AAC-SD
Click to expand...

Yeah, you sure can. Mine is currently bedded in a Boyd's stock modified with flush cups and a Stiller dbm. An Insite Heathen muzzle brake, Rifle Basix trigger, Badger 20 moa rail and rings, and a Nightforce SHV 4-14x50F1 scope. Here's the thread: https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/1411943-My-first-precision-rifle

I also agree with what Canadiankeeper said in regards to getting a good quality scope.
 
The 700 sps is a good starter rifle. You'll want to ditch the hogue stock pretty quick. They're just too flexible to shoot off of a bipod. I grabbed a b&c m40 stock, 20 moa rail, and a bushnell elite scope for mine. Still doing load development but I should be able to complete the <0.75" factory gun challenge.
 
Just got my rifle lastnight and still on the hunt for optics, I'm torn wether I want to go big and high end right away or wait and start with something more modest, I understand the lack of consistency for cheaper glass could affect my learning curve. Any recommendations for the 300-600$ price range that I could use for the first little while then after some range time I could justify 1500$+ for some real glass. As always thanks for the wealth of information
 
I have the AAC-SD in .308 and love it. I got it with the intention of swapping the stock or my next choice would have been the 5r because I liked the 24" barrel it comes with. One thing I regret is buying the Nikon prostaff for $250 I should have just waited and got something a little better, it's still a great scope for the price range. If you just want to get started I would commend it, cabelas has them on for $179 right now and they can't be beat for price, but to get shooting ASAP it'll be good until you outgrow it. I bought the magpul magwell for it as well, had to do a little dremel'ing but it works flawlessly.

IMG_2744.jpg
 
Very interesting thread - I picked up a Axis in 308 (line up on the left to slap me) just to get more into reloading for it - and - to see how good of a shooter I can be with it - as for my future plans - a Remington was looking into the SPS as for caliber may stay with the 308. Been reading on how the 6.5 CM burns barrels though as for the AXIS my plan is to get 5k rounds down the pipe and see how it hold up. Have a total of 70 to date no problems with the magazine falling out - when ever I press the trigger (okay really hard) it goes bang - I have a cheap scope to compliment the overall appearance of the gun - not planning on replacing the stock.

cheers
ivo
since 1967
 
Willy613 said:
Just got my rifle lastnight and still on the hunt for optics, I'm torn wether I want to go big and high end right away or wait and start with something more modest, I understand the lack of consistency for cheaper glass could affect my learning curve. Any recommendations for the 300-600$ price range that I could use for the first little while then after some range time I could justify 1500$+ for some real glass. As always thanks for the wealth of information
Click to expand...

the fixed bushnell 10X Canadiankeeper mentioned... It's the only scope under 1K that I'd consider putting on a precision rig. I suspect you'll read this, and say to yourself "Silly man, I want more zoom!" Zoom is useless without Image quality, repeatability and reliability. people that are new to precision shooting focus too much on zoom, and not enough on Image quality, repeatability and reliability.
 
mustang979 said:
the fixed bushnell 10X Canadiankeeper mentioned... It's the only scope under 1K that I'd consider putting on a precision rig. I suspect you'll read this, and say to yourself "Silly man, I want more zoom!" Zoom is useless without Image quality, repeatability and reliability. people that are new to precision shooting focus too much on zoom, and not enough on Image quality, repeatability and reliability.
Click to expand...

Exactly. And knowing what I know now I wish I'd bought a 5.5-22x NXS for my 308 rather than a 3.5-15x.
 
mustang979 said:
the fixed bushnell 10X Canadiankeeper mentioned... It's the only scope under 1K that I'd consider putting on a precision rig. I suspect you'll read this, and say to yourself "Silly man, I want more zoom!" Zoom is useless without Image quality, repeatability and reliability. people that are new to precision shooting focus too much on zoom, and not enough on Image quality, repeatability and reliability.
Click to expand...

This is what I have on my 223 "trainer" "yote" rifle.

223 is difficult to stretch out without hand loads anything.

I love it, it has solid turrets and is clear and bright.


This is what happens when you get an unreal deal on a good rifle... Got it on sale 500 ish bucks off... Used that cash and got a Bell and Carlson stock... It has an aluminum bedding chassis in it... Found the torque sweet spot... Now a below 1/2 moa rifle when I do my part.... Since I was initially going to use it for hunting, I wanted durable but fairly cheap optics....

 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom