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What choice to make? TRG-22 or FN SPR .308

djinnsnipe

djinnsnipe

Private
Full Member
Minuteman
Apr 4, 2008
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DFW, Texas
Just starting to get serious into precision shooting and need some advice. I would like to see what others that have more experience would choose and why. I've got a good deal on both, the SPR is 1/2 the price of the TRG. Wanting to start with .308 since I'll be shooting a lot. But price isn't my primary concern. Obviously I don't drip money when I sweat so it has *some* merit in the mix. But I don't want to go with the FN SPR just to turn around and buy a TRG-22 later. Was told the barrels on the TRGs heat up and open groupings after just a few rounds, I can find no validation to that, however. Really just confused on which purchase to make and want to get some insight from others. Let's here it!
 
Re: What choice to make? TRG-22 or FN SPR .308

Trg22 all day not a fan of the fn had the first patrol rifle. rifle shot like shit so put a .260 sheiln tube on and rifle still won't shoot sub Moa nomader what load. Have a trg42 in 338lm and that rifle shoots awsome never shot the trg22 but would assume its as good as its older brother.
 
Re: What choice to make? TRG-22 or FN SPR .308

I like FN products and own several, but I have no experience with the SPR. However, I have a TRG22 and like it so much I just bought a second one. They are stellar rifles, and there is no looking back as far as I am concerned.
 
Re: What choice to make? TRG-22 or FN SPR .308

The trigger alone on the TRG is worth paying a substantial extra for imho. I can't imagine the barrel comment holding much water for any manufacturer depending on what a "few" meant to the author of that statement.
 
Re: What choice to make? TRG-22 or FN SPR .308

The TRG is said to be a fine rifle. I've heard the same about the groups opening during long strings.

I shot a ten round .75 minute group with my SPR the first time out. Off an unloaded bipod with no rear support. I'm a fan.
 
Re: What choice to make? TRG-22 or FN SPR .308

You need to be careful about which SPR model you choose. I believe that A3G version is the one that is bedded by GA precision and subsequently the one that is supposed to shoot better than then others.
 
Re: What choice to make? TRG-22 or FN SPR .308

I have had 2 FN A5s, both were excellent and the action is one of my all time favorites. That said, it is an entirely different rifle than a TRG.

Both are great, but very different.
 
Re: What choice to make? TRG-22 or FN SPR .308

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jbell</div><div class="ubbcode-body">TRG, no question... </div></div>

+1
 
Re: What choice to make? TRG-22 or FN SPR .308

I had an SPR A3G, which I really, really liked, but wanted a different cartridge, so I sold it, bought another SPR action, and built a custom from it.

I have a TRG42.

Thus, I feel I can speak intelligently about both.

Both will generally shoot great. With any factory rifle, you can get a lemon. With both the TRG and SPR, there is a low chance of a lemon. Anyway, your descision ought NOT be made based on which one will be more "accurate", so lets move on...

The TRG feels slicker. Period. The bolt runs slick as snot, and the trigger is pure sex, as it comes out of the box. However, at least to <span style="font-weight: bold">me</span>, the TRG feels "cheap". There is a lot of plastic, and it simply doesn't present itself as "solid". Example: The bolt knob is plastic, and is held to the bolt lever by a screw that screws into a plastic fastener - kinda like a drywall anchor. When the screw is tightened, it forces the plastic fastener outward, thus biting into and holding itself into the bolt lever. Sorry, but for $3200 on a tough, tactical rifle - that seems lame to me. In contrast, the SPR feels rock solid, and uses no plastic anywhere.

Magazines: TRG magazines are expensive. As in $150+ each. They work great. The SPR magazines are about 1/3 the price, and also work great.

Customer Service/Warranty: FN has a lifetime gaurantee, and they are based out of the USA. The warranty covers ANY owner of the rifle, not just the original owner. The SPR carries a 1 moa gaurantee (as does the TRG). If it won't do that, FN WILL fix it or replace it - forever. The A3G model is gauranteed to 1/2 moa. Again, if it won't do that, it will be fixed or replaced - forever. The same can't be said for the TRG, who is based in a far-off country, and you have to go through their importer, Beretta.

Ergonomoics: Many folks just love how it feels to shoot the TRG. I do too. It's comfortable. My SPR is also comfortable to me, but I probably prefer the TRG.

Accessories: The TRG arrives bare while the SPR arrives with a top quality scope base. Also, consider the price of the TRG accessories if you're inclined to buy them. They are ludicrously expensive as far as I'm concerned. I really, really like the the TRG bipod, but at $450, it's just insane. All the SAKO parts are that way.
 
Re: What choice to make? TRG-22 or FN SPR .308

I also have a TRG 22 in 308 and have never had my groups open up during any match I have shot. Barrel can get warm but the groups are always consistent. The trigger is great. Much better than the trigger on my AIAW. The bolt is very slick to operate. While is more money than the FN IMO it's worth every penny. Neither it or the AIAW feel cheap with their plastic? (sic) stocks. I don't know where that remark comes from. First of all they are not plastic and feel solid to me.
 
Re: What choice to make? TRG-22 or FN SPR .308

I don't understand the TRG is cheap comment. I have disassembled several and there is nothing cheap or shoddy about any of the components. They are lighter then you might expect but I don't see that as a bad thing. The trigger and action are all that people claim they are and then some. I have yet to find a trigger that is the equal of the TRG.

The comments about the mag prices are kind of silly imho. First how many Mags do you need? Are you buying 5 of them? Also if you have a ton of AI mags get the KRG AICS bottom metal, which is ridiculously well made btw, and sell the sako mags. I guess I find it odd that people would be worried about the cost difference of a mag when feeding said mag is where the real cost comes in.

In short get a TRG you will never regret and based on everyone I know who has one it would be the last or one of the last rifles they would wish to part with.
 
Re: What choice to make? TRG-22 or FN SPR .308

Because 2 people have now called my "cheap" comment into question, I'll elaborate.

-The bolt knob. The bolt knob is literally attached to the lever via a plastic fastener. You can snatch the bolt knob off the lever with your bare hands if you cared to. Obviously, no one would do this on purpose, but if you are able to pull it off by hand, how well do you think it will hold up in the field?

-The plastic trigger that is held in with 1 bolt. Holding anything together with 1 bolt screams light duty to me, but it works, I guess.

-The plastic stock. The stock is "polyurethane" technically, but come on...it's plastic. Not only that, it's the yellow plastic (like a bumper cover for a car) that's been painted, so a scratch through the paint (just like bumpers on a car) shows up like a turd in a punch bowl. Besides that, the hollow plastic stock does not provide the rock solid feel of a McMillan or Manners fiberglass stock. It just doesn't. Does a rifle need that "rock solid" feel to perform well? No.

Here is an analogy:

Ever handle a 1911? How about a Glock? Would you say the Glock felt cheap and light duty in comparison? I would, and I love Glocks. In my opinion it's tough to create that "solid" and "strong" presentation, when it's made of plastic...which is to say nothing of it's actual performance.
 
Re: What choice to make? TRG-22 or FN SPR .308

I have recently started precision shooting and was looking for a rifle for quite awhile and did a great deal of research online as well as talking to people at the range and getting a chance to get behind a few of their rifles.

I shot several 700's, a TRG 22, an AI, and a FN SPR A1

-The AI was pure sex! but out of my price range

-The 700's shot well (sub MOA) but I felt were lacking something.

-The TRG shot great and I liked it quite a bit with a great trigger.

-Then I shot the FN SPR, rock solid was my first impression. It just felt more natural and stable to me. The bolt was just as smooth as the TRG and I shot my first sub 1/2" group with it.

I waited around a little and found a great deal on an SPR that only had 300 rounds through it and I snatched it up and it shoots just as well as the first one I shot. First day at the range I was banging a 4" plate at 425 yards with no problem.

There is my 2 pennies, everyone is different
 
Re: What choice to make? TRG-22 or FN SPR .308

I have 3 FN SPR and one TRG22, the TRG is the finest of all, better trigger, ergonomics, smoothest bolt cycling and feeding off magazine etc, accuracy wise they are very close but the TRG seems so effortless compared to the SPR's it is such fun and rewarding to shoot.
I would buy the TRG as a first rifle.
 
Re: What choice to make? TRG-22 or FN SPR .308

I got to agree with Turdo. The accessories for the TRG are outragous and the stock feels hollow and not solid to me. I like the FN more. For 3200 I say get a GAP rock and call it a day.
 
Re: What choice to make? TRG-22 or FN SPR .308

I can understand saying the TRG feels cheep b/c the stock is made of plastic (or whatever) but how many have you heard about breaking, or cracking? I have disassembled and reassembled my TRG several times and never lost zero, I know the same can be done with a properly bedded conventional stock but the fact of the matter is the SPR (except the A3G) are not properly bedded (from the ones I have seen and heard about).

I cant count the time that I have bashed my TRG bolt knob on rocks, trees, drywall, and pressure treated wood not to mention the I dont know how many thousands of bolt cycles with it never even coming loose.

As far as the mags and the other accessories being expensive, yes they are not a cheep as an Atlas or even a Harris. But TRG bipod is one of the many things (like the bad ass trigger, and IMO flawless mags) that make the TRG a cut above. What other bipod attaches as easy, provides as much stability with the wide legs and low center of gravity, articulates as easy to compiensate for uneven shooting surface and still locks up like a bank vault when loaded? I think the bipod is worth every penny and if I could I would adapt it to all my rifles.

Keep in mind these are just my opnions but I have to laugh when I hear someone complaning about the price of the TRG accessories. They use the price as a way of justifying buing some other system but cant give any true fault to the TRG system.
 
Re: What choice to make? TRG-22 or FN SPR .308

I purchased my SPR A1 through a hide vendor for $1100-ish. I don't regret the purchase at all, and it seriously has me thinking of selling my 5R. That said, if I had cash to throw away, the TRG would make the list of rifles to look at.
 
Re: What choice to make? TRG-22 or FN SPR .308

I'm aware of two TRG stocks that cracked when dropped from a gun store counter.
 
Re: What choice to make? TRG-22 or FN SPR .308

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: RyanScott</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I'm aware of two TRG stocks that cracked when dropped from a gun store counter. </div></div>

Perfectly Good Reason to Upgrade to an KRG Folder Chassis. I'm just waiting for mine to Crack...and waiting...and waiting...and waiting...and waiting...
 
Re: What choice to make? TRG-22 or FN SPR .308

I have an FN SPR A1, and two TRG (a 22 and a 42 in 300WM). When I shot TRG22 I thought I should just sell or rebarrel the FN into a 6.5; then I shoot my FN, I wondered why I had paid the extra $$ for the TRG22...

One thing for certain, the TRG22 is sexier and attracts much more attention in the range. FN is a old-style work horse with superb workmanship. The FN trigger can be tuned into a superb match trigger by a competent smith like the one who had worked on mine

TRG22 has 1:11 twist, while FN SPR 1:12. If you want to shoot heavier bullets, maybe TRG22 has a upper hand, but FN SPR shoots 175 SMK as well as TRG22

 
Re: What choice to make? TRG-22 or FN SPR .308

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: paulL01</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I would get the SPR A3G. </div></div>

I bought an SPR A3G here on the Hide about a year ago for $1850 and it shot .287 MOA the first group i put through it. I also have the SPR A5M and it as well is a .25-.5 MOA rifle. You don't see the A3G's often on here, but they're worth their weight in gold IMO. Especially as a first "long range" rifle, but the A3G for less than $2,000 and spend the rest of the difference between it and the TRG on good optics. You won't be dissapointed.
 
Re: What choice to make? TRG-22 or FN SPR .308

I'm buying my second FN SPR. I would have to say they are the best factory precision rifle for the money. I also have dreams of owning a TRG, but with all the money you would save with an FN you could put yourself through a precision rifle class, buy an even better optic that what you planned, shoot more, etc. I would have to say that a TRG is not a rifle you learn on and if you can't shoot worth a damn it doesn't really matter what kind of rifle you're shooting.
 
Re: What choice to make? TRG-22 or FN SPR .308

Thanks for all the feedback to all that replied! While there are some advocates for SPR, it seems the TRG is favored greatly. I'm definitely getting the TRG. But I'm debating on also getting the SPR so I can make a good opinion of them both, myself. After all I need an opinion AND you can't have too many guns! Wonder if my wife would just LOVE a rifle for Christmas :p Could get it for her early even.
 
Re: What choice to make? TRG-22 or FN SPR .308

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Djinn</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Thanks for all the feedback to all that replied! While there are some advocates for SPR, it seems the TRG is favored greatly. I'm definitely getting the TRG. But I'm debating on also getting the SPR so I can make a good opinion of them both, myself. After all I need an opinion AND you can't have too many guns! Wonder if my wife would just LOVE a rifle for Christmas :p Could get it for her early even. </div></div>

That'll work, as long as you also buy her some kind of bling-bling.
 
Re: What choice to make? TRG-22 or FN SPR .308

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: turbo54</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Djinn</div><div class="ubbcode-body">.... AND you can't have too many guns! Wonder if my wife would just LOVE a rifle for Christmas :p Could get it for her early even. </div></div>

That'll work, as long as you also buy her some kind of bling-bling. </div></div>

Have the bolt jeweled.
smile.gif
 
Re: What choice to make? TRG-22 or FN SPR .308

I've got an A3G and I'm quite happy with it. My best 5 shot group so far at 100 yds is .27 inches and the weakest link in the system is me. It's nice to have the chrome lined barrel capable of that kind of accuracy. However I did send it in for a trigger job and some work on the feeding. These actions are for a 300 WSM, and that may be the reason I had some feeding problems with my 308. After I got the rifle back I'm good to go. This is a sample of one. The A3G has a floor plate and eventually I may change that out so it can use a detachable mag. I'm guessing the 308 rifles with a detachable mag might feed better out of the box. I've only handle the TRG in a gun store and I did like the ergo's and the trigger was fantastic.
 
Re: What choice to make? TRG-22 or FN SPR .308

TRG 42 offers Best of All Worlds... at least to the switchbarreler.

Can purchase bolt bodies in .473, .533, and .590 boltface diameters so you can chamber for any ctg of those head dimensions. The .300win chambering allows you to use those magazines for .284 based wildcats, plus 6.5x55 and any of the Ultra magnums or WSM ctgs. Plenty of room for bullet seating flexibility.


TRG 22 is a short receiver rifle suitable only for .308 or 2.8" oal ctgs.


That said, the FN-H also has a chrome-lined bore so will yield superior barrel life, likely in excess of 10K rds. If you owned only 1 precision rifle, the FN-H offers greater viable longevity. Comes with the finest scope base in production, from Near Mfg. Uses the Great Win 70 action and trigger.

Can basically get everything in the FN-H with a Win 70 Classic, and get it in stainless. Buy a donor rifle, rebarrel with custom barrel and stock and call it a day. Some degree of simplicity just buying off-shelf FN-H, but if you want anything other than .308 or .300wsm, you are out of luck or still must go custom route...

Long action gives you more options. Many more with TRG 42. No factory accessories etc with the Win 70, but many HighPower rifles built out there on the win 70 action, Tubb firing pin assy, magazine floorplates, great variety in stocks, integral recoil lug receiver design.

Win 70 Heavy Varmint in pushfeed short action will shoot with these, as will the custom factory Sharpshooter models.
 
Re: What choice to make? TRG-22 or FN SPR .308

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: xXlojackXx</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: paulL01</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I would get the SPR A3G. </div></div>

I bought an SPR A3G here on the Hide about a year ago for $1850 and it shot .287 MOA the first group i put through it. I also have the SPR A5M and it as well is a .25-.5 MOA rifle. You don't see the A3G's often on here, but they're worth their weight in gold IMO. Especially as a first "long range" rifle, but the A3G for less than $2,000 and spend the rest of the difference between it and the TRG on good optics. You won't be dissapointed. </div></div>

Dang, that's good to hear. I don't know what else to say, other
than I agree 110%.
 
Re: What choice to make? TRG-22 or FN SPR .308

I have and FN PBR (I know not an SPR) and a TRG 22 both in .308. Both are solid rifles and both shoot great (even my PBR in the factory hogue shoots 1MOA), however I have pulled off some really nice groups (sub .3 MOA) with the TRG on several occasions. Here is what I like about each:

TRG Pro's:
- Fully adjustable stock out of the box (LOP,cheek height,cam)

- Very nice trigger out of the box (adjustable to the shooter, inboard, outboard, back to front.)

- Very smooth action

- 10 round, reliable factory magazines

- Bolt on accessories, depending on need (NV tri rail mount, brake, etc.) that don't require gunsmithing

- Threaded barrel from factory

- Chassis system that does not require glass bedding

- 60 degree bolt throw w/ oversize knob

- 1:11" twist barrel

- versatile sling mounts (AI hooks, flush cups, different mount locations)

- Anschutz rail

- Multiple bipod mounting options (Sako, Atlas, or harris)


TRG con's:
- expensive (both rifle and accessories)


FN PBR/SPR pro's:
- Nice trigger when adjusted

- Good picatinny scope rail

- McMillan stock for SPR (but most lack any adjustment of any kind)

- reliable action


FN con's:
- Three sling studs on stock

- lack of stock adjustment

- factory 4rd DBM sucks

- any accessories require gunsmithing or new stock (muzzle brake, night vision mount, CDI bottom metal to run AICS mags)

- 1:12" barrel (I prefer a faster twist and yes I own 1:10", 1:11", and 1"12" .308 rifles)

- bolt knob not a true tactical knob, but is better than a remington 700 factory knob

- depending on SPR model, should glass bed stock (additional expense)

Basically for an out of the box rifle that is as close to a custom rifle (without the wait time of most smith's or expense) the TRG is the way to go. If you just need a basic rifle to get you started but could upgrade over time when money and skill allow then the SPR is a good starter rifle (much better than a 700 PSS).

I think both are very accurate and will serve you well, but in the end to have all the luxuries that the TRG gives you out of the box the SPR will require additional funds beyond the initial purchase price. If you don't need all the luxuries then go with the SPR and put the extra cash into glass and ammo.
 
Re: What choice to make? TRG-22 or FN SPR .308

Well I have owned 3 fn spr's and about to buy my 4th. Opinions are great but the fact remains, I can tell you to buy a super gun because its not my money. Depending on your skill level, either will shoot better than the shooter is capable of period!
You mentioned fn cost 1/2 of a trg, that being the case and tacord here on the hide selling them for 1195/1500 for a1/a2- bedded.
With 1200$ extra I can buy a lot of sw ammo to practice with+ a tact bolt nob+ stoc doc loggerhead mod, possibly putting part of that 1200 towards better glass or other acc...

Best of luck
Kenny
 
Re: What choice to make? TRG-22 or FN SPR .308

did you get the TRG yet? If you haven't got either rifle yet...get the TRG first.

It's easier to start with the larger purchase then work backwards than start small and work your way back up.
 
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