Remington 700 sps tactical 308 16.5" bbl?

[Winny94]

Hello all. So I'm starting to wade into the world of precision shooting, and have an opportunity to buy a 16.5 700 in 308 for a great price.

I love a lot of things about this rifle, in theory. But I'm wary of a few things too. Most notibly, what am I looking at for velocity loss when compared to the 20" AAC-SD (which I'm also debating)?

I say I'd like to shoot 700-800 yds, but realistically it will live inside 500 yds, and be used for hunting.

So what kind of drop am I looking at when compared to the 20" at longer ranges? Anyone have this gun? Thoughts? I see people hate the stock, so that would be the first logical upgrade, then maybe a trigger.

Thanks for any help

 

[Shibby!]

I've owned the 20" version.

Replacing the the stock is definitely #1. B&C's are cheaper and good quality. I use the stock I had the ACC-SD in and put my 5R in it. Still enjoy the stock for the price.

The trigger isn't that bad when tuned properly. My Timney is nothing to write home about and I wouldn't say it's better than the X-Mark Pro that I tuned.

Generally about 100-125 FPS loss per inch reduced. I was shooting 178 AMAX's at 2730fps behind a reasonably healthy dose of Varget in my 20". Gauge from there.

For shorter ranges and hunting it will work just fine. I'd have no hesitations shooting it out to 800yards. Hell, it'll easily do farther, you just deal with the repercussions of less velocity (more drop, slightly more wind effected). Drop is not a variable. The forces acting on the bullet are.

 

[recon762wt]

My thoughts...http://www.snipershide.com/shooting...cal-aac-sd-16-5%94-threaded-barrel-308-a.html

Velocity will be negligible. Easily compensated for by a few extra clicks on ye'ol elevation turret.

 

[docdredd]

I have the 16.5 and love it. Throw the stock out the window on the way home and get a stiffer one ( Hippy hooked me up with an awesome HS precision) . I put a vortex flash hider because in LL you do put off a bit of a fireball, set a SS MRAD on top and have been in love with my truck gun ever since.

 

[Niles Coyote]

In the 20" R700 tactical I am sending 175's at 2550 and 168's around 2630 using varget. This is almost exactly 100 fps less then when the same load is used in my 26" R700 varmint. My S.W.A.G. is that in a 16.5 you would be looking at another 75-100 loss with the shorter barrel. But switching to a faster burning powder like H4895 or imr8208 may bring some of that back.

"I say I'd like to shoot 700-800 yds, but realistically it will live inside 500 yds, and be used for hunting."

It will do that without issue. My tactical shoots ok at 1000 but lives 800 and in. It just depends on what the wind is doing when I reach for those extra 200 yards. The 20" makes a nice compact and well balanced carry rifle that hunts well. I went with a B&C light tactical stock and when scoped with a MK4 it tips the scale at a handy 10-10.5 pounds.

 

[Winny94]

If suppressors are not an option, should I go brake or FH

 

[J-Ham]

Niles is a lot closer on his velocity loss estimation. Someone on here did a test quite awhile ago (I can't remember what barrel was used) where he would shoot over the chrono, whack an inch off the barrel & repeat... Went from something like 24" down to 16 or 18. If I remember correctly, I think he was seeing something like an average of -30 fps per inch, so you'd be looking at somewhere in the neighborhood of 120 fps vs the 20". I'd say for your intended use (and especially the handiness of the shorter tube while hunting) that SPS Tac would do ya just fine. Good luck.

Oh & I would go with a brake over a flash hider if you're going to do something... might as well have a little less recoil than less flash in my opinion, plus I've never been a fan of the way flash hiders lood on a bolt gun... But that's like my opinion, or something, haha!

 

[J-Ham]

LFB does make a good point, something I hadn't thought about as I don't hunt... A 16" .308 with a brake & no hearing protection isn't going to be real fun, haha!

 

[J-Ham]

Winny, you might find this interesting...

The Truth About Barrel Length, Muzzle Velocity and Accuracy | The Truth About Guns

 

[mallrat]

LFB does make a good point, something I hadn't thought about as I don't hunt... A 16" .308 with a brake & no hearing protection isn't going to be real fun, haha!

I'd spend the money on quality electronic ear protection. I picked up some electronic ear muffs for less than $40, you might spring for earplugs to retain cheekweld.

 

[J-Ham]

Do you wear them while you're hunting?

 

[mallrat]

Do you wear them while you're hunting?

I figure that's the point, to be able to hear your game while protecting your ears so that you can still hear the game years from now. I'm not a big game hunter, but I wear normal earplugs when I'm bird or varmint hunting. When I'm shooting a pistol I use the electronic earmuffs, I can hear everything normally, or even turn it up, the sound just cuts out for the loud noises.

 

[BoilerUP]

I briefly owned the 16.5" 700 Tactical 308.

168gr Hornady TAP @ 2524fps, average 10 rounds over a chrono and verified on steel out to 900yd.

 

[J-Ham]

I figure that's the point, to be able to hear your game while protecting your ears so that you can still hear the game years from now. I'm not a big game hunter, but I wear normal earplugs when I'm bird or varmint hunting. When I'm shooting a pistol I use the electronic earmuffs, I can hear everything normally, or even turn it up, the sound just cuts out for the loud noises.

Yeah I get that, I just figured most hunters went without any hearing protection because they didn't want to wear it for such long periods of time... But good for you man, you've only got one set of ears, haha!

 

[Niles Coyote]

Yeah I get that, I just figured most hunters went without any hearing protection because they didn't want to wear it for such long periods of time... But good for you man, you've only got one set of ears, haha!

They have the extra benefit of keeping your ears warm as well. Of course that can be a good thing or bad depending. I have been using them for years as I hunt with a handgun in a blind here in Michigan, when I hunt in your great state I deploy them as needed as my shots have usually allowed me more time to set up.

 

[1slow01z71]

Another reason I bought a few silencers. I dont want to wear ear pro while I'm hunting and the ear muffs are annoying as hell. The surefire ear plugs are the best I've found and beat the hell out of the foam ones.

 

[Danco411]

Use Power Pro 2000 MR and pick up 100 of the FPS you lose. 47.5 g of 2000 MR in Lapua brass pushes a Hornady 178 Amax 2820 out of my 26" barrel and 2740 out of my 20. Don't have a 16" but it would think maybe still 2600+. It's a killer powder.