Remington 700
I got a new rifle the other day, I took it on trade plus some cash for an M1 Garand that I wasn’t using and had 2 of. It’s the Remington 700 SPS Tactical. Had my first range time and here we go.
Remington 700
The SPS is a 20 inch heavy barrel varmint action with an adjustable trigger stuck into a cheap flimsy Hogue stock. The stock has only 1 forward sling swivel so you need to choose between a bi-pod or a sling for it. I chose the Harris bi-pod.
The trigger I adjusted all the way as lite as it would go. It’s ok but I still am going to replace it with a Timney trigger from Botach asap. Additionally The weight of the gun cause’s the stock to flex on a bi-pod and is touching the barrel then. I’ve read a lot of reports that this will throw off the shot as the barrel isn’t free floating then. Well, that might be the case with some but as my first days groups will show it went well for me. The thing is a nail driver out of the box. With a real stock and a trigger this can only get better. You can have one to your door for 585$ from gunbroker. I’d say one of the best deals ever! 
So I mounted my test scope which is a cheap BSA with terrible optics and off to the range I went. It took 12 rounds to get it dialed in and then I shot 2- 3 shot groups, both of which are EASILY covered by a dime. 3 shots-1 hole. I shot a 600 yard scaled down AQT target at 100 yards. It was cold and raining and I was layin in the dirt/mud. Not the best day but a great time and was quite pleased with the results. Check out the group and then the dime covering it. It might be a cheap stock but accuracy doesn’t seem to suffer because of it. The rifle has a good trigger as is, I like the Timneys more but if $$ is an issue you really don’t need it as you can see. I just want one. I use a B&T mono-pod on the rear instead of a sandbag. I actually have had some wobble issues with it and have been training with it to hold more still. That piece of gear is a preference I guess, I’m actually more steady with a rear sandbag but the mono-pod is quicker and easier to deploy resulting in a faster shot and less crap to carry, its a personal choice though. 
To summarize this thing rocks it out. Bone stock rifle shooting 1 hole groups with a 61$ sportsmans guide special scope. I don’t think you can ask for more for your 585$. You can spend a hell of a lot more and not get a good a rifle as this one. If your on a budget this baby is it! If your not on a budget you still can’t go wrong with this girl if they all shoot this good.
As always thanks for reading and happy shooting.
By: Cary Kieffer
Cary Kieffer
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I have reloaded in the past and may get into it again. I used and still have a rock chucker and all manual equipment, it worked well enough for what I was doing at the time, so yes I would be very interested in the recipes. I think I saw the same video on the stock shimming, I believe he used shims made out of a pop can or something like that and it seemed to work well. I was also watching videos on you tube today by Brad at low country shooters with some more info on the gun.
Kory, I’ll get those recipes around for you after x mas. I dropped my action in a Bell Carlson adjustable stock. Great stock for the price, then no more soda can shims. I also ended up putting a Vortex Viper PST 6-24x scope with the rare ” Christmas tree” style reticle that has the the windage marks all the way down and out. It’s a “busy” reticle but I really like it for windy days and long ranges. Have a great x mas. Cary
Thank you.
I hope you have a Merry Christmas as well.
PS: What brand, casing type etc of 7.62 do you buy, as there is about a million versions out there.
Kory, hmmmm…my entire 308 section is missing. I keep a recipe box full of recipe cards, sectioned off by cartridges. My 308 section isn’t there…I don’t know if I loaned them to someone or what…will keep looking. Anyway. I know I use Reloader 15 for powder, CCI large magnum rifle primers (magnums because of bitter cold around here, lots of guys do) The Sierra Match King 175 grain for the bullet. Cases never seemed to matter to me, I just separate by headstamp is all. Mostly federal match or lake city but my Hertinburger, Cavim, Hornady and a bag full of mixed NATO cases all seem to work fine. I suppose if it was a competition or prize money was on the line I’d insist on Federal match or Lapua but I don’t so for ringing steel out to the 822 yards I have here, just separating them has been fine.
Also your going to want to decide on your C.O.A.L. It will probably be longer than you think. There are tools for that but I always just use a fired case that has just the right neck tension to hold a bullet without being sloppy. Then put the case with bullet stuck way out in the chamber and close it. Remove very carefully and measure, do that about 10 times and then find an average. Subtract .015 from that average and start there. That should be roughly .015 off your rifling. I’ve done that with many rifles, all with success
Thank you for the info. It all helps.
Have a good new year.
Kory.
What type of ammo were you using?
Federal Gold Medal 7.62×51. 175 grain Sierra Match King. There’s 308 and there’s 7.62×51. The 308 is shinier and prettier ammo but the 7.62 groups better. Do you reload?? I have recipes for that rifle. Still have it and she was on the range just yesterday. Cary
For anybody who has had trouble with shots stringing out due to the Hogue flimsy stock I found an excellent video on youtube from LoneWolf USMC…he seems like a knowledgeable good dude and a fellow Marine. His video which is “Part 4 of Budget precision Bell and Carlson stock” shows his shimming fix for this stock…its cheap and easy and a superbly done video…so if your groups are no good and you have the hogue stock,….check it out.