Looking at a Remington

[HDTwinCam666]

First off let me say hello to everyone, since this happens to be my first post. So I am getting ready to pick up a Remington 700 sps Varmint in .308, hopefully within the next couple weeks. I want the ability to build this rifle up over time. What i'm looking for are some suggestions on the direction I want to go. I am planning on getting the rifle setup and shooting for as inexpensive as possible. Let me say that at the moment I have access to up to a 300 yard range, I do reload and will be reloading for the rifle, I'm in no particular hurry to build this so I have the advantage of taking my time and building it the way that I want. I am planning on building it with the thought process of getting the rifle I want and being able to shoot and enjoy it while I build it over time. My ultimate goal is to have the ability accurately shoot a 1000 yards, that being said I am not in any shooting leagues, and am primarily building this rifle Because I have always wanted to build one. I have a Stevens 200 7mm-08 that i have as my hunting rifle. So primarily the Remington will be a range toy, with the possibility of hunting use. I'm looking for suggestions mainly for a decent inexpensive tactical scope and any other suggestions for other items needed to start being able to shoot longer distances with it. I have to find longer ranges and once I am able to do that then I can start being able reach out farther distances. I am ultimately looking at going the direction of either a Mcree or one of the a5 stocks with a dbm kit, along with a harris bipod and some good 20 moa rings and bases. I am up in the air between a couple different scopes as I like the vortex quite a bit but ive seen some others as well. Any suggestions for my just getting it up and shooting, and even my ultimate goal would be greatly appreciated.

 

[KYbandit]

For a solid scope under $500, you can take a look at the SWFA SS fixed power scopes. In the $500-$1000 range, Vortex PST and Bushnell Elite have excellent options. For rings and bases don't go cheap, because if you do, you'll want to upgrade in the future. Badger or Seekins rings and bases are good to go.

 

[09jisaac]

It seems all too common that people want to punch a grand.

The only problem is, what do you want to do out there?

The suggestions probably would be different if you want to hit a moose or if you want to try your hand at varmints.


The saying stands, you can't hit what you can't see.

If you want to be able to knock the top off of a soda bottle when you are finished, I would suggest a scope that has fine enough adjustments and enough magnification to see what you want. I would get this scope first. You don't want to have to keep upgrading scopes.

If you just want to hit a 2' gong at 1000 yds, then you wouldn't need (or really want) super fine adjustments and the higher magnification may hardly ever be used.


You see what I am saying?

 

[HDTwinCam666]

As I can understand that I didn't specify my intentions of shooting at 1000, let me correct my self by saying target shooting at that range. whether it will begoing for more precise or larger targets at that distance i believe will depend more on myself at that time. I am trying to use the mind set that I would like to spend time shooting the rifle with a very basic setup and get to know how she will shoot. Then I will be able to better determine what direction I would like to go. For a first scope I'm attempting to stay in the 100-200 dollar range. For starting out at the moment I have a 300 yard range at my disposal, so I am looking to setup for whats available to me at the moment. I have yet to locate longer ranges, but am looking.

 

[Armordude]

I am 6 months ahead of you on the same project.

Picked up a Vortex Viper PST 6x24-50 FFP Mil/Mil and a Warne 20 MOA rail and Burris Extreme Tactical rings.

I had a friend give me a Cadwell Tripod that will get swapped out in the future.

I have 100 rounds down range using the stock stock.

I picked up a Choate tactical stock Choate Machine & Tool - Tactical Remington 700 Short Action ADL - Product Details so i could pick up some accuracy over the OEM version. Just mounted that and have not shot it yet.

If I stay with it, the trigger, tripod and stock will be swapped out in the future.

But i have a good basic platform that probably shoots better then me at this point.

 

[jimmykm21]

As I can understand that I didn't specify my intentions of shooting at 1000, let me correct my self by saying target shooting at that range. whether it will begoing for more precise or larger targets at that distance i believe will depend more on myself at that time. I am trying to use the mind set that I would like to spend time shooting the rifle with a very basic setup and get to know how she will shoot. Then I will be able to better determine what direction I would like to go. For a first scope I'm attempting to stay in the 100-200 dollar range. For starting out at the moment I have a 300 yard range at my disposal, so I am looking to setup for whats available to me at the moment. I have yet to locate longer ranges, but am looking.

$100 , $200 ..That's pretty much a Walmart scope ,you could maybe look at something like this.
Bushnell 10x40 Elite Tactical Rifle Scope

 

[HDTwinCam666]

So I just picked my new toy. I got the Remington 700 adl varmint in .308 win. Picked it up at dicks sporting goods for a real nice price. It at the moment has a 4-12x40 scope and a sling on it.

 

[surffly]

Time and money spent at the range is a better investment then crazy set ups and parts.

Not sure what the total budget you had in your head is, but with the right collection of parts you might be able to do what you want sub $1000.

Here is what I just built to do similar things.
-Remington 700 AAC-SD ~$600 after rebate
-TPS scope base 20moa ~$40
-SWFA SS 10x scope with side focus ~$400(was a package with rings and such on sale)

Cabelas has a "long range" model 700 for $650ish.



Over time you will spend money on a better bipod, want a better scope and change the stock.
Don't go super cheap on here glass.

To me I would rather a spend the money on glass then bull barrels and all the other "tactical" stuff these days.
There is a rebate of $50 on all 700 varmints, check it out online

 

[HDTwinCam666]

It's the 700 ADL varmint with the 26 inch heavy barrel and it came with a 4-12x40 scope. It was 550.00 out the door, plus I bought a sling and some ammo. My intentions for this rifle are fairly high, but I fully intend to spend my summer putting lead down range. Once next winter rolls around then I will be starting my upgrades. This allows the opportunity to get fully familiar with her first, then build her accordingly. I do intend fully to use good quality products once I start building it, I wanted to be able to shoot it and enjoy it in the mean time. I was hoping to find a inexpensive tactical scope, just to start getting use use to the reticle, but whats on it will do good for now.

 

[Punkface]

I got the same 700 adl package from dicks a while ago. I put the scope on a .22 and last weekend while shooting it the screws holding in the adjustment knobs popped out. I would prioritize changing the scope out as soon as you can.

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[delixe]

So I just picked my new toy. I got the Remington 700 adl varmint in .308 win. Picked it up at dicks sporting goods for a real nice price. It at the moment has a 4-12x40 scope and a sling on it. View attachment 29805

Congrats, but kiss all your disposable income goodbye.
Don't skimp on the replacement scope unless you have something to move it to when you replace it or you're just beginning a pattern of losing money on each upgrade.
Take it from someone who's been down that road, wised up eventually, and now only buys midrange or better scopes, like Vortex PST or Bushnell Elite Tactical (my preference).
Watch the classifieds here, and checkout Cameralandny.com and samplelist.com for demos.

 

[09jisaac]

Just remember, on the big end, you can (usually) get more out of a $1500 scope and a $500 rifle than you can a $1500 rifle and a $500 scope.

I am saving up for my first "long range" precision firearm, I am only looking at high end scopes. I'll probably have $2k+ in a scope setting on $1000 worth of rifle.

That way, if (when) I decide to go bigger, further or harder I would have a scope that'll take it.

$100-300 is on the bottom end of scopes. I am not saying you can't find any gems in the bunch, but the lesser quality glass takes a better shooter to do the same task.



Some people have 5K in scopes and not one that'll really work for long range. They think they need a scope on every rifle they own. Get some good rings and put a single scope on all your guns. You only need one scope for each shooter per task. I have a great short range hunting scope, now I am going to buy a great long range scope. That should be all I will ever need, unless (until) my GF wants to go to a grand with me.

Buy the best scope you can. You won't regret it.

 

[HDTwinCam666]

Thank you for all the advice. well so far here my rifle is sitting with the scope that came in the package and the rings and bases that were on it as well. I did add a cheapy 1 inch sling and a cheaper Winchester bipod. I do intend to mount a good scope, ring's and bases, bipod, and a new stock once i actually start to build my rifle up. That will probably start as a project for next winter (have plenty of other projects at the moment with recently buying a house and motorcycle season around the corner). I didn't want to not be able to shoot my rifle for the next year though. Like most people these days I have to mind a budget, especially with having a wife and two girls. this is so far fitting the bill, my main objective was a good barrel and action and I am more than happy that part of it. the stock actually feels pretty good, I'll see how it shoots once the weather breaks. I'm sure there will be many gun shows as well as sales going on to take advantage of between now and the time I start to actually build what I want. I feel I have a good starting point, I can get trigger time in this summer and start to develop a load for it. At the moment I'm very happy and absolutely love my new rifle, minus the freakin Mossy Oak wanna be camo the stock has on it, but hey if it starts to annoy me to much I'll just have to say it with krylon.

 

[HDTwinCam666]

I got the same 700 adl package from dicks a while ago. I put the scope on a .22 and last weekend while shooting it the screws holding in the adjustment knobs popped out. I would prioritize changing the scope out as soon as you can.

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The scope rings and bases will more than likely be my starting point!!!!!

 

[Killer Spade 13]

Bought mine at Dick's.
Changed the stock and trigger.
This is what it's capable of when I'm on my game . . .



Those are both 5 round shot groups at 100 meters. The one on the right is the first group, the second, of course, is after adjustment. All shots were made approximately 10 minutes apart.

 

[HDTwinCam666]

Those are some nice groups!!

 

[delixe]

Thank you for all the advice. well so far here my rifle is sitting with the scope that came in the package and the rings and bases that were on it as well. I did add a cheapy 1 inch sling and a cheaper Winchester bipod. I do intend to mount a good scope, ring's and bases, bipod, and a new stock once i actually start to build my rifle up. That will probably start as a project for next winter (have plenty of other projects at the moment with recently buying a house and motorcycle season around the corner). I didn't want to not be able to shoot my rifle for the next year though. Like most people these days I have to mind a budget, especially with having a wife and two girls. this is so far fitting the bill, my main objective was a good barrel and action and I am more than happy that part of it. the stock actually feels pretty good, I'll see how it shoots once the weather breaks. I'm sure there will be many gun shows as well as sales going on to take advantage of between now and the time I start to actually build what I want. I feel I have a good starting point, I can get trigger time in this summer and start to develop a load for it. At the moment I'm very happy and absolutely love my new rifle, minus the freakin Mossy Oak wanna be camo the stock has on it, but hey if it starts to annoy me to much I'll just have to say it with krylon.

I wouldn't let the crappy scope it came with prevent me from shooting it. If it works at all it will be good for some trigger time until you can get something better. I'm preparing for yet another storm this winter and dreaming of the day I can get out to the range.

 

[HDTwinCam666]

I'm not going to let the scope keep me from shooting. I was originally looking at getting the 700 sps varmint which didn't come with a scope. so I was looking for suggestions towards a inexpensive one to use temporarily till i start building it. being I bought the ADL varmint it came as a package so no need to pick up a cheap scope.

 

[Randoman5]

I can tell you from experience that any scope you buy for less than $200 and plan to crank up and down will be temporary. It's just not enough money to pay for quality mechanical bits that will track consistently in the long run. I've got a $100 Simmons I use on my .22 and it still works well but it's my second one in that price range and I can tell it's on borrowed time.

I have the same rifle as you and I've got a Vortex Viper HS 5-15 mil/mil I bought here on the hide for 450. Vortex sells a better one now the HS-T 4-16 with a slightly better reticle. You can still find ones like mine on here occasionally for the same or better prices. Unless you're going to go with a fixed SS or Bushnell I don't think there's a cheaper viable scope out there for what we want to do. Plus I have the assurance that if I ever have an issue with it Vortex will fix it no questions asked.

I stuck my rifle in a Mcrees Chassis because I couldn't get comfortable behind a conventional stock, and I got a great deal on mine, but you might be fine with the factory stock for a while.

 

[308sniper147]

Here is my current rig built on a remington 700 sps varmint action.

And here is a 5 shot group with one cold clean bore shot(that is the one not in the group). There are 5 shots all touching and I have had great success with 168 SMKs, 175smks, but my best groups came with the 155gr lapua senars. This will be my match load.
44.5gr varget
155gr lapua senar 2.815" OAL
Lapua brass
CCI 200 LR primer


And this group was shot 15 minutes before dark with my illuminated reticle turned on which makes it very thick, so I feel as though I could've made it a tighter group if that hadn't came into play. But .566" with a factory barrel and action makes me happy. I am about to try out some 178gr amaxes so I will let you know how those turn out. As others have said, get quality glass and a bell & carlson stock at a minimum and you will be a happy camper.

 

[KelsonAK]

Did something very similar - started with a sps varmint, added a vortex pst with seekins rings, it spent some time in an aics but is residing in a b&c butt hook with a ptg 'stealth.' Worked very well for my competition gun last year with 155 lapua and 185 vld Berger out to 600 yards. The throat on the rem 308 is long. Best accuracy was with single load length coal. Have found that the amax 168 doesn't mind the jump one bit and will work well to the 600 yard line that I have access to. I have't done much to the trigger other than change a spring and tweak the screws to lighten it up.

If I were to do it again, I wouldn't change my end result. Order of operations would be optics/rings/mount, then trigger tweaking, then stock swap, then possible trigger swap, then bolt handle messing about and any other cosmetic crap.

Wouldn't recommend a really cheap scope. Vortex pst, Sightron s3, swfa SS, type of thing as a 'minimum'. If ya got more money - rock on.

Spend a bit of attention on your ammo as well. If your real goal is 1000 yards, you do need to be on top of your game with the ammo, generally. It isn't that there are 'best tools' requirement there, but technique matters a lot and the tools do have to be a good fit for your technique and rifle.

It is a system...

 

[308sniper147]

Did something very similar - started with a sps varmint, added a vortex pst with seekins rings, it spent some time in an aics but is residing in a b&c butt hook with a ptg 'stealth.' Worked very well for my competition gun last year with 155 lapua and 185 vld Berger out to 600 yards. The throat on the rem 308 is long. Best accuracy was with single load length coal. Have found that the amax 168 doesn't mind the jump one bit and will work well to the 600 yard line that I have access to. I have't done much to the trigger other than change a spring and tweak the screws to lighten it up.

If I were to do it again, I wouldn't change my end result. Order of operations would be optics/rings/mount, then trigger tweaking, then stock swap, then possible trigger swap, then bolt handle messing about and any other cosmetic crap.

Wouldn't recommend a really cheap scope. Vortex pst, Sightron s3, swfa SS, type of thing as a 'minimum'. If ya got more money - rock on.

Spend a bit of attention on your ammo as well. If your real goal is 1000 yards, you do need to be on top of your game with the ammo, generally. It isn't that there are 'best tools' requirement there, but technique matters a lot and the tools do have to be a good fit for your technique and rifle.

It is a system...

It's funny how much Remington varies. My bullets hit the lands at 2.825" so I load mine at 2.815" lol.

 

[remington patriot]

The McRee chassis are nice. You should definitely consider one

 

[HDTwinCam666]

Here it is how it's sitting now. Now I just need the weather to break to head to the range and start getting her broken in.