So many Rem 700s!

[Blstr88]

I've been trying to research Remington 700s to make a purchase in the next few weeks, but there is SO much info...

Looking for an "entry" precision bolt action rifle - but something that I can build up as I shoot it more and more...

I've been browsing the shelves at lots of local shops and it seems there are a ton of various Remington 700 models! So many different options.

Are they all the same as far as the action/barrel goes...just put into different stocks? I definitely want to stick with .308, but otherwise I just want something basic I can start shooting and upgrade as I go.

[ICANHITHIMMAN]

If you not stuck on rem consider a howa or a tikka. They have more features from the factory. THere are just as many after market parts and they are of better quality.

That said I suppose you could consider rems in diffrent grades of refinement. Most are more or less the same qualty wise untill you step up to the higher end models. The sendaro seems to shoot better than the pss series and have a better finish to the metal.

In the lower end models the machining looks and feels rougher, bolts have more play barrels are hit and miss quality wise. You may get a shooter you may not.

If you get one of the two I mentioned above you going to get a better product and I have not seen one that will not shoot. If you go with a rem the first thing I would do is send it to Kevin Cram at Montoure county rifles, spend your 250$ and have the rem machined and polished to what it should have been from the factory.

I would not buy a rem 700 for anything other than to pull it apart and use the action for a build and thats only if I got a super deal on it. The reason why is after shipping and gunsmithing fees to true it I could have just bought a custom action for the same price.
Jon

[Alric]

Tikka does not have nearly the aftermarket as Remington. They may have one or two manufacturers popping up here and there for stocks, DBM and maybe a few other parts, but Remington has dozens of manufacturers making replacements for pretty much every part of the rifle.

My experience with Tikka involves holding a Lite model at the gun store. I was researching one as a possible build rifle. They do seem to be better quality for the price and you may discover that you don't need to change much about it once you get it home.

Having said all of that, ICANHITHIMMAN touched on an interesting topic: the total cost of the Remington. When I was looking for my next precision rifle I laid out the total cost of each rifle and all of the upgrades I was looking at. You can hit $2k really easily replacing nearly all of the parts (keeping the barrel, even) on a Remington before adding a scope. $2000 puts you just a few hundred dollars from a used Sako TRG or AIAE. That always gave me pause, and in the end I put the Remington off and found a Sako at a nice price.

[BrigandTwoFour]

I've been in the same position, a bit overwhelmed by all the possible options.

I was all set to pick up a Howa 1500 with a 20" heavy barrel. There are a lot of good things to say about the Howa and Tikka options. Out of the box, they will serve you well (and probably better than the Remington). They both have a lot of great options for stocks and chassis (check out XLR Industries and Roedale Precision). The Tikka comes with a great trigger, barrel, and an action that is pretty much already trued from the factory. The Howa has a great Timney trigger option.

I ended up, however, picking up a 700 AAC-SD. The Remington is a known entity. There are parts everywhere for them, gunsmiths know how to work on them.

Would it be cheaper in the long run to start with a Stiller custom action, buy a barrel and stock, call a smith, and call it a day? Sure.

But that would end up being a lot of money for something I'm not even sure I'd enjoy. So why not approach it the same way we tell new people to approach AR 15s? Buy a basic Remington, shoot it. As time passes and skill increases, you will figure out if you actually like the precision rifle game and what you would like to improve on your rifle. Anything can be done to a 700 to suit your needs, anything.

I figure that if I really enjoy the precision game and want to reach out a bit further than a .308 will allow me, I can go custom on a 300 WM.

[austinN4]

Looking for an "entry" precision bolt action rifle - but something that I can build up as I shoot it more and more...

If you are set on an factory entry level R700, I recommend the SPS Tactical AAC-SD: http://www.remington.com/products/fi...al-aac-sd.aspx

Or, an entry level R700 build from Mel at Sniper Central:
http://www.snipercentral.com/scrifle...ml?packageid=2

If you are willing to consider Howa you should also look at one of Mel's builds:
http://www.snipercentral.com/scrifle...ml?packageid=1

[Blstr88]

I saw a really nice Rem 700 in a custom stock at a LGS, but he was asking $2k for it...

I didnt ask much about it, but when I go back I'll get the specs. How much of that is the Remington, and how much is the stock?

I guess what Im asking is: what does a really nice "sniper" stock cost?

If I can get that exact same rifle he has for $2k for $700 because it doesnt have that awesome stock I'd rather start there and pick out my own stock down the road. Im not too concerned about a custom stock right off the bat, any basic rifle stock will suffice...I just want to make sure the action/barrel are good to keep me happy and get me started off.

Thanks guys, I'll take a closer look at Howa and Tikka as well. I was pretty well set on the Rem 700 because of its widespread support, but I'll certainly consider something else if its a better "out of the box" deal.

[BrigandTwoFour]

I saw a really nice Rem 700 in a custom stock at a LGS, but he was asking $2k for it...

I didnt ask much about it, but when I go back I'll get the specs. How much of that is the Remington, and how much is the stock?

I guess what Im asking is: what does a really nice "sniper" stock cost?

If I can get that exact same rifle he has for $2k for $700 because it doesnt have that awesome stock I'd rather start there and pick out my own stock down the road. Im not too concerned about a custom stock right off the bat, any basic rifle stock will suffice...I just want to make sure the action/barrel are good to keep me happy and get me started off.

Thanks guys, I'll take a closer look at Howa and Tikka as well. I was pretty well set on the Rem 700 because of its widespread support, but I'll certainly consider something else if its a better "out of the box" deal.

Off the top of my head, stocks you can look into include:

Accuracy International AICS $900
http://www.eurooptic.com/aics-stocks.aspx

XLR Industries Evolution Chassis $720
http://www.xlrindustries.com/evolution.html

Manners composite stocks (these can be purchased with an internal chassis) $655 - $1000+
http://mannersstocks.com/


Those are my top picks. But you can check out Wild Dog, Roedale Precision, HS Precision, Bell & Carlson, and many others. There should be a stock to fit just about any budget.

The sniper central package is actually a great starting place if you want to jump right into shooting without worrying about upgrades to a basic rifle.

[D.O.A.F.S.]

Take a look at the 700 LTR, seems like what you may be after.http://www.remingtonle.com/rifles/700pltr.htm . I think I gave around $850 for mine new but have seen them for $650-750 used. I don't know what kind of distances you're looking to shoot, one mans long range is another mans chip shot. I don't have anywhere I can get out past 400 yards but at that distance, I can hit a 10 inch gong all day long, there again I know for some guys thats not that far. My only advise would be what ever your choice of rifle (everyone has an opinion) DON"T go cheap on the base, rings, and glass. Figure to spend alot more on glass then on the rifle, good glass on an average rifle will do wonders, a POS glass on a high end gun will group like a POS. I have a couple guys I shoot with regular that have REAL nice high end guns but cheaped out on the base, rings and glass and my Remington out shoots them everytime. IMHO

[Pappabear]

Yet one more option. I am a big fan the Rem 700 5R threaded. It comes with upgraded stock, SS 5R barrel and threaded. It will be about $1,100.

I was just posting my love for the 5R in another thread. Its a little better than just a stock rig, but still needs to bedded and a Timney trigger. Plenty of upgrading still to do. It should shoot under MOA with good ammo.

[HELLABEN]

i would DEFINATELY take some of the advice in this thread if i were you. i too started off with a "budget" remington 700, and have nothing but regrets, it wont be budget at all to make it comparable to other rifles, and you will be stuck with a remington 700 action.....


buy a sako trg, or AI, or start with a good action like a surgeon