FNH PSR 3 or A5 vs. 700 XCR or R5?

[davebirwin]

I am wanting to purchase my first bolt action .308. Hopefully at the age of 34 I'm not too late. I feel like the 34 year old virgin in this department. Anyhoo...I'm new to the forum and will apologize ahead of time for my ignorance.

I have been researching .308 bolt actions for some time now...
I like the FN's claw extractor, chrome lining, match grade barrels, McMillan stock and external mag vs. what the 700 offers. I'm probably opening myself up to criticism and scoffing, but I need to learn the ropes from folks who know...and from what I have read...That's you.

Thanks in advance. I really appreciate your help.

 

[Wheres-Waldo]

Re: FNH PSR 3 or A5 vs. 700 XCR or R5?

Welcome to the Hide Irwin, make sure to fill out your profile before you do much else

I'm in love with Rem 700's, and have nothing but praise to sing of them. I have not however owned an FN, they seem nice though.

What calibers are you concidering?

ETA: Missed the part about 308.... Nothing wrong with a 308, its just EVERYONE has one...you gotta be a little different. take a look at .260 Cal./6.5mm chambering and see what you think.....

 

[davebirwin]

Re: FNH PSR 3 or A5 vs. 700 XCR or R5?

Thank you for your service, and thanks for your opinion. An informed opinion helps much more than what I find on the manufacturers web site.

I like the .308 because it is such a common caliber. Do you agree? I was considering the 30-06 because of the variety of weights...but most of the posts I have read talk about how great the .308 is. You guys know better than me.

 

[treebasher]

Re: FNH PSR 3 or A5 vs. 700 XCR or R5?

Let's see, the FN has...

- Controlled Round Feed
- Blade ejector
- Flat bottom receiver
- Integral recoil lug
- Coned breaching
- Both of the bolt lug raceways are blocked when in battery. Helps keep gasses out of your face.
- Left gas block serves as contact point for bolt stop instead of the bolt lug.
- Three position safety
- Three-lever Trigger
- Bolt handle won't break loose like a Remmy. It isn't soldered straight to the outside of the bolt body.
- Cold hammer-forged fluted barrel
- Hard-chromed bore
- Well finished and machined.
- Headspace is held to +/- .001"
- NEAR one-piece steel MIL-STD 1913 20 MOA rail
- McMillan™ fiberglass stock

What is there not to love??
Plus the Model 70 has always been the Rifleman's Rifle.

 

[davebirwin]

Re: FNH PSR 3 or A5 vs. 700 XCR or R5?

I agree treebasher. Those features sound like some major upgrades that come standard on the FN. Thanks.

 

[Scimitar]

Re: FNH PSR 3 or A5 vs. 700 XCR or R5?

I have both, custom rifles built off both actions. For a heavy duty field use gun, I do like the FN better. For target use,
fun shooting etc. its a toss up.

 

[hgr2]

Re: FNH PSR 3 or A5 vs. 700 XCR or R5?

Got to love them Winchesters. My SPR is truely a grest rifle.

 

[buffybuster]

Re: FNH PSR 3 or A5 vs. 700 XCR or R5?

The Remington M700 is like the "Chevy smallblock" of the Tactical rifle world. It may not be the best, but it has the widest aftermarket support and the largest knowledge base.

The FN-SPR is a good platform and comes pretty close to being ready to run out of the box. There have been a few reports of uneven chrome lining in the barrels but they are taken care of by FN. The only upgrade I would do is replace the factory mag system with one that uses AICS mags (CDI Precision-slight action machining required).

The only issue I have found with the FN (M70) action is you can't just drop a round in the chamber close the bolt. The claw extractor doesn't want to snap over the rim. The round needs to be picked up from the mag.

 

[dmg308]

Re: FNH PSR 3 or A5 vs. 700 XCR or R5?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: buffybuster</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The Remington M700 is like the "Chevy smallblock" of the Tactical rifle world. It may not be the best, but it has the widest aftermarket support and the largest knowledge base.

The FN-SPR is a good platform and comes pretty close to being ready to run out of the box. There have been a few reports of uneven chrome lining in the barrels but they are taken care of by FN. The only upgrade I would do is replace the factory mag system with one that uses AICS mags (CDI Precision-slight action machining required).

The only issue I have found with the FN (M70) action is you can't just drop a round in the chamber close the bolt. The claw extractor doesn't want to snap over the rim. The round needs to be picked up from the mag. </div></div>


It should snap over fine there is a relief on the face of the extractor.If you had problems it probably needs to go back to FN.

 

[Scimitar]

Re: FNH PSR 3 or A5 vs. 700 XCR or R5?

DMG is right. An original Mauser will not feed by dropping one in
but the FN will unless there is something wrong with the extractor.

As for the chrome lining in the FN, If you can find one of the
1st generation FNs in the HS stock they have "the" barrel.
I built my FN off one of the actions from CDNN with a Broughton.

 

[davebirwin]

Re: FNH PSR 3 or A5 vs. 700 XCR or R5?

Thank you. Your posts are very informative. Your experiences with these rifles provide valuable information when making a decision.

 

[mdmp5]

Re: FNH PSR 3 or A5 vs. 700 XCR or R5?

My first .308 bolt was a Rem 700. Early last year, I sold it and bot an FN SPR A1a. I love this rifle to death. It shoots about 0.75" with factory, but with reloads straight from the Sierra manual, I have been able to get it consistently sub 1/2 moa.