Which one would you choose?

[wcat]

A friend asked me what rifle between these 2 I would pick, so I decided to ask the question here to have as much answers as he could get...
He wants to shoot at targets, from 100y up to 600y.
What becomes interesting is that he's narrowed his choice:
it'll be a 308, and the budget is between $1200 and $1300 (rifle only), now he told me that he would buy either a Savage FT/R or a Rem 700 5R. He said that the lenght and weight of the Savage was a downside thing for him, and that he preferred the handling of the Remington, but was afraid that the Rem wouldn't shoot as accuratly as the reports he's seen about the Savage FT/R.
Please! I'm not trolling for a Savage/Rem war here!!
Which one of these two would you pick?

Thanks!

 

[sunray]

"...preferred the handling of the Remington..." That'd be the one he should buy. If he's willing to spend that kind of money, he'd best be happy with it.
"...Rem 700 5R..." VTR? As in Varmint Target Rifle? Epp's lists the Savage(30" heavy barrel, etc) at $1108.90. $754.44 for the 700 with a 22" barrel. Not exactly in the same price range. The 700 is a hunting rifle, the Savage a target rifle.

 

[wcat]

No, not the VTR, the 700 SS 5R Milspec

 

[mustang979]

I had the same dilemma, and went 5R. It's just such a purdy rifle, how could I not...

 

[daveg01]

It sounds like the 700 fits him better. It will be more difficult to shoot a rifle accurately that doesn't fit him as well.

 

[justsomeguy]

If he's just starting out both will outshoot his skills for a long time. Go with whatever fits him best and whatever he finds the "nicest" gun, which is totally a subjective personal choice.

Me I went with the 5R, liked it so much in 308 I bought it in 223 as well.

 

[MagnumPeanut]

Factory rifles are like playing the lottery. Savage, Remington, fill in the blank. You may get a shooter, you may get a gun that can't chamber a round.
You're buddy may a good decision, he picked a gun that fit him and is comfortable.

 

[wcat]

Well, after showing him the replies you guys gave us, he decided to keep his initial idea ang go Remington.

Thanks!

 

[subneural]

I've been extremely happy with my 5R in .308. If there is a lottery to factory rifles, then I definitely hit the jackpot.

 

[dizzy]

I would recommend he buy a savage HB with accutrigger 20" barrel and then find a stock that fit him. Mine was ever so slightly less accurate than a sako trg 22 with a 26" barrel. Savages are currently winning more comps than rem700, they are indeed clubs but they really do shoot. Have no preference over rem or savage just sharing my experience.