Remington 700 SPS Varmint or SPS Tactical in .308?

[Grima338LAP]

Hey guys,

I am going to purchase one of these rifles but having a hard time choosing which one to get. I have a H-S Precision M24 stock that I am going to use. I want to use it for hunting as well as a bit of long distance say 800ys. I like the look of the Tactical because of the short barrel. Is the barrel thickness on the Tactical same as the Varmint? Please tell me your thoughts on which one you guys would pick.

Cheers

 

[DustyJacket]

Re: Remington 700 SPS Varmint or SPS Tactical in .308?

Same "heavy contour" barrel. One is 20" and one is 26".

Both are 1:12 twist rate.

For heavier bullets for longer range you might look into the AAC Tactical or any of the other SPS models with a 1:10 twist rate.

 

[roggom]

Re: Remington 700 SPS Varmint or SPS Tactical in .308?

If you plan on getting a 1:12 barrel, then the varmint will be the better buy. The extra money for the tactical will only get you a crappy hogue stock that you do not need. You can always have the varmint cut to 20, 22, or 24" as you like and still come out cheaper than the tactical

If you want a true multi-purpose rifle, I would scour high and low for the LTR Varmint. There were some on the shelves a few months ago. It is the LTR fluted 20" bbl 1:10 twist in a cheap tupperware stock.

The AAC is also cool and threaded, but again you are paying extra money for a crappy stock.

 

[hewlett260]

Re: Remington 700 SPS Varmint or SPS Tactical in .308?

After owning the tactical and being repeatedly disappointed I would say go with the 26" barrel. My 20" didn't like anything heavier than a 155 SMK and even those were finicky as I tried to move out to 300+ meters. My buddies 26" 308 with the same twist loves everything up to 175 SMK's.

 

[mastersniper]

Re: Remington 700 SPS Varmint or SPS Tactical in .308?

I don't know a lot about the varmit, but I have a sps tactical and love it. Mine loves 180gr, and I can shoot 700 yards all day. But if I use 150's I can't even get a 2 inch group at 100 yds. You will have to get rid of the stock, it sucks.

 

[Niles Coyote]

Re: Remington 700 SPS Varmint or SPS Tactical in .308?

I have had the opposite luck with my tactical, loves A-max in 155, 168 and 178, smk's in 168 and 175 and older 180 and Berger 168 vld's. I also ran the 190vld through it and it was great too but the velocity was a bit slow for my taste.

I have a 26" varmint as well. The difference between them is 100fps slow on the tactical when the same exact load is compared in both so I will say what I have in the past. If you plan to shoot 1000 yards all the time get the varmint. If you are hunting and/or running 0-800 most of the time with 900-1000 every now and then get the tactical.

Both rifles you will want to sell off the stocks and replace with something better.

Folks will tell you to get a 10 twist and 10 twist is not a bad thing in a 308 but neither is it necessary under normal loads that 308 will see and one can argue that if you are wanting to run suppressed/sub-sonic you may want a even faster twist yet.

Couple of posts of my tactical.
http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthre...235#Post3384235

http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthre...789#Post2888789


This is posted in my first post above but here is proof that a tactical can not only reach 1000 but do it accurately, of course fair winds help!

Had a little gust at 600 (1/4 value)on this one which took one 168 A-Max for a little ride by the time it reached 1000y

 

[Glen1978]

Re: Remington 700 SPS Varmint or SPS Tactical in .308?

I was/still am kinda in the same boat. I had a PSS with a 26" bbl before and then the short bbls starting getting popular. I just thought those were for close work....couple hundred yds at most. Then I got on here and its commonplace to see them doing just what Niles Coyotes pic shows. I only even thought about getting the Varmint because it was a bit cheaper. Not by much though. I would rather have the shorter bbl and save some weight and not be so cumbersome.

 

[Grima338LAP]

Re: Remington 700 SPS Varmint or SPS Tactical in .308?

Thanks guys for the help. I ended putting a deposit down today on the SPS Tactical so yeh can't wait to get it now.

 

[dpodgurs]

Re: Remington 700 SPS Varmint or SPS Tactical in .308?

Before you make your purchase look into the AAC-SD. It is a 20" threaded barrel with a 1:10" twist. About the same price as the tactical but gives you the option to add a break or a suppressor in the future. Since you already have a stock you should be set because the only thing I can complain about the AAC-SD is its factory stock.

-----------
Dave

 

[Grima338LAP]

Re: Remington 700 SPS Varmint or SPS Tactical in .308?

thanks mate, but the only problem was the price was alot more for the AAC-SD, I don't know the price difference in the US but since I am in Australia it was like a extra $1000.

We will see how I go with the Tactical.

Thanks again.

 

[dpodgurs]

Re: Remington 700 SPS Varmint or SPS Tactical in .308?

Ah that does make a difference. In the US I can get it for right about the same price of the tactical. Good luck with the new rifle and update us with a range report.

 

[Grima338LAP]

Re: Remington 700 SPS Varmint or SPS Tactical in .308?

yeh sucks. Will do my friend and ill take some good shots too of the build.

thanks again.