Remington 700 SPS Advice

[NYShooter]

I'm looking for some advice and this is probably the best place to ask. I have a few hunts planned for the next 12-18 months and need something in 300WM. I'm not looking to spend $2-3K on a rifle. I just need an economical yet accurate rifle that will hit targets out to 400 yards or so.

I've always been a fan of Remingtons and have found a 700 SPS w/ a 26" barrel for $540.

If the goal of this rifle is to hunt Elk out west what modifications are a must do to the platform? I plan on purchasing a quality optic so that is a given.

 

[rrflyer]

Re: Remington 700 SPS Advice

What ranges are you gonna shoot?

It'll probably work fine as is for normal hunting ranges

 

[BigJohn141]

Re: Remington 700 SPS Advice

Maybe a little sanding at the end of the stock if it contacts the barrel when supported and maybe skim bedding the stock. Both of these are not needed but will help improve the accuracy of the rifle. If you just plan on shooting 400 then optics, ammo, and practice is all that is really needed.

 

[NYShooter]

Re: Remington 700 SPS Advice

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: rrflyer</div><div class="ubbcode-body">What ranges are you gonna shoot?

It'll probably work fine as is for normal hunting ranges</div></div>

I doubt anything past 400 yards.

 

[STI_1911_Guy]

Re: Remington 700 SPS Advice

I have a remington 700 sps 300 win and i really think its a good rifle. It is fairly light so the recoil is certainly the most i can handle and shoot well off the bench. I did glass bed and install a new trigger but it seems to hold .75 Moa on average and sometimes it surprises me with better. I reload for it and that is where i was able to squeak the mos from it. I have no problem ringing steel at 600 and can usually hold about 4-5" for 3 shots at that range.

 

[NYShooter]

Re: Remington 700 SPS Advice

Would it be worth it to put a B&C stock on the rifle?

 

[rrflyer]

Re: Remington 700 SPS Advice

Shoot it first.

If you just want to do something order a new trigger for it

 

[NYShooter]

Re: Remington 700 SPS Advice

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: rrflyer</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Shoot it first.

If you just want to do something order a new trigger for it </div></div>

Timney trigger?

 

[pawprint2]

Re: Remington 700 SPS Advice

Where did you find this price? That is lower than the Bud's Gun Shop price! Is it new?

 

[Goodwood]

Re: Remington 700 SPS Advice

The SPS should do great for hunting. The only real weakness can be addressed by doing a little stock work on the factory stock. Or, if you can afford, a B&C stock with the aluminum bedding block would take care of all the stock issues for about $225.00 or so.

If you can stand to have a 300WSM or 270WSM, Winchester made a limited run of model 70 "Extreme Sporter" rifles last year that went for about $649.99 at Sprtsmans Warehouse. The gun was the same as the Extreme Weather Rifle (an $1100.00 street price gun) except in blued carbon steel not stainless. This gun is a steal of a deal, and they are still out there if you do some searching. i recently saw one on sale through the cabelas gun library. These guns have a bell and Carlson lay-up stock that was made for Winchester installed on them already.

If I couldn't have the Winchester and I was setting up an "accurate on a budget" elk rifle for me it would be a stainless steel SPS in 300WSM or 270WSM, with a skim bedded B&C stock. That gun should give you about 90-95 percent of the $1200 to $1500 factory guns at about 2/3 of the cost. Just substitute the 300 Win Mag if you prefer, and cut the stainless if budget won't allow for it.

Just an observation; I have seen a few standard SPS's that just are not very accurate no matter what you do with them. But, I haven't seen a stainless steel SPS that just sucks in the accuracy department. If it sucked out of the box, they have always gone to "acceptable" accuracy with slight stock adjustments (like insuring the barrel is floated). This may be my luck, and others may have had different experiences, but I feel like the 416 stainless barrels are probably better than those going on the standard SPS.

Weatherby Vanguard is worth a look as well. They are great shooters in the same price range.

 

[NYShooter]

Re: Remington 700 SPS Advice

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: pawprint2</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Where did you find this price? That is lower than the Bud's Gun Shop price! Is it new?</div></div>

Yes, it is brand new. The dealer only lists one left in stock so I don't want to say the company just yet.

 

[NYShooter]

Re: Remington 700 SPS Advice

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: The Woodyguy</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The SPS should do great for hunting. The only real weakness can be addressed by doing a little stock work on the factory stock. Or, if you can afford, a B&C stock with the aluminum bedding block would take care of all the stock issues for about $225.00 or so.

If you can stand to have a 300WSM or 270WSM, Winchester made a limited run of model 70 "Extreme Sporter" rifles last year that went for about $649.99 at Sprtsmans Warehouse. The gun was the same as the Extreme Weather Rifle (an $1100.00 street price gun) except in blued carbon steel not stainless. This gun is a steal of a deal, and they are still out there if you do some searching. i recently saw one on sale through the cabelas gun library. These guns have a bell and Carlson lay-up stock that was made for Winchester installed on them already.

If I couldn't have the Winchester and I was setting up an "accurate on a budget" elk rifle for me it would be a stainless steel SPS in 300WSM or 270WSM, with a skim bedded B&C stock. That gun should give you about 90-95 percent of the $1200 to $1500 factory guns at about 2/3 of the cost. Just substitute the 300 Win Mag if you prefer, and cut the stainless if budget won't allow for it.

Just an observation; I have seen a few standard SPS's that just are not very accurate no matter what you do with them. But, I haven't seen a stainless steel SPS that just sucks in the accuracy department. If it sucked out of the box, they have always gone to "acceptable" accuracy with slight stock adjustments (like insuring the barrel is floated). This may be my luck, and others may have had different experiences, but I feel like the 416 stainless barrels are probably better than those going on the standard SPS.

Weatherby Vanguard is worth a look as well. They are great shooters in the same price range.</div></div>

The stainless is another $100, I'll jump on that one then and house it in a B&C stock.

 

[Goodwood]

Re: Remington 700 SPS Advice

I think that would be an excellent choice for a "cheep build" elk gun! Have fun with the "build" and good luck with the hunts!