New bolt action rifle, need some advice.

[berto255]

First of all I won’t claim that I'm a sniper, marksman or sharpshooter, just another gun lover with an itch for a new rifle. I really need you guys input in this one because this is my new project and is going to take me some time to get it complete. Put aside likes or dislikes, price or reputation. I would really like a hones opinion and prefer the ones from people who owns both of the rifle brands. I'm not sure if I ever going to shoot pass 500 yards or hunt. I'm only limit to the conditions of my terrain and here in South Florida I don't have too many 500+ shooting ranges. My primary use will be bench rest shooting/plinking. Start with factory ammo and maybe get into reloading pretty soon.

I am considering these 4 rifles, 2 Weatherby & 2 Remington.

Weatherby Vanguard Sub-MOA

http://weatherby.com/product/rifles/vanguard/submoa_matte
308win - 24" BARREL - 1/12" RIFLING - 7.5 LBS - $1000 msrp

Weatherby Vanguard Sub-MOA varmint

http://weatherby.com/product/rifles/vanguard/submoa_varmint
308win - 22" BARREL - 1/12" RIFLING - 8.25 LBS - $1080 msrp

Remington 700P (short action)

http://www.remingtonle.com/rifles/700p.htm
308win - 26" BARREL - 1/12" RIFLING - 9 LBS - $1000 msrp

Remington 700 SPS Varmint

http://remington.com/products/firearms/centerfire/model-700/model-700-sps-varmint.aspx
308win - 26" BARREL - 1/12" RIFLING - $665 msrp

Thank you and please let me know what do you guys think

 

[Jburt]

Re: New bolt action rifle, need some advice.

Are you mainly looking for accuracy or a tactical rifle. I'm not saying you can't have both, its just that your post mentions benchrest shooting as a use.

Weatherby makes some pretty rifles I will say that.

 

[berto255]

Re: New bolt action rifle, need some advice.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: JBurt</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Are you mainly looking for accuracy or a tactical rifle. I'm not saying you can't have both, its just that your post mentions benchrest shooting as a use.

Weatherby makes some pretty rifles I will say that. </div></div>

Well accuracy is a most (#1 priority) remember I'm just a beginner shooter with a lot to learn (really want to learn), I'm very humble when it comes to shooting and everything that I know I learn by myself. I don’t have buddies or brothers in the military or habit shooter (never held me back) but I love the rush and the smell of powder. I really want a rifle that i can be proud of. Tactical is not a priority but they looked very cool. Remington will always be tactical and very popular, Weatherby is more for hardcore hunters (my 2 cents) please don't misinterpreted my opinion (is only my opinion) and the opinion of a beginner with a lot of expectations. I won a Weatherby 223, it shoot very well and I like it. But I don’t know if I should try a Remington next or stay with what I know.

 

[Jburt]

Re: New bolt action rifle, need some advice.

Well there is a difference between the accuracy of the rifle and the accuracy of the shooter. I am by no means an expert. Just offering my opinion and suggestions.

First of all , this site has online training put on by rifles only and LowLight. I suggest joining that as it is only ten bucks a month after a fee for the past lessons.

Secondly, my opinion is to get the Remington if those two are your options. Nothing against a weatherby, I think they are very nice rifles but the Remington is a very good base for a accurate rifle. Simply because of the amount of gunsmiths that know the 700 and aftermarket accessories.

Do what you feel is best though. If you don't join the training on this site, read read read and read some more. Don't post much just read. You will find a ton of people who know what they are talking about. Myself not included. Good luck, this place is addicting and a great source of information.

 

[JSTARSZ]

Re: New bolt action rifle, need some advice.

When looking at buying rifles I always look at what I can do with it (scalability). I think you will find that Weatherby accessories are expensive compared to Remington or Savage. There are more smiths that will work on a Remington over a Weatherby. As you progress in shooting your ability to have a Remington worked on and built into a precision rifle is much easier to deal with.

One thing I would say is that I would also add a Savage to your search's. You will find that they are very accurate too for lot less the cost which in turn could be used to buy ammo.

 

[ranger1183]

Re: New bolt action rifle, need some advice.

If you buy the Remington, send it to GAP so they can tear it apart and accurize it. By accurize, I mean the recut the action threads, action face, bolt face, raceway, lap the lugs, etc to get it all square. For 500 yards and less, I would get the Remington 700 LTR (20" barrel). Low Light uses an even shorter barrel to shoot 1000 yards.

Weatherby's and Howa's are CNC made in Japan. The end result is an excellent out-of-the-box rifle. If you go this route, buy either a Weatherby Sub-MOA or get yourself a Howa 1500 <span style="font-weight: bold">Heavy Barrelled</span> action and drop it into a Bell & Carlson Tactical Medalist A2 or a Bell & Carlson Weatherby Medalist Varmint / Tactical Heavy Barrel Channel stock. The Howa Heavy Barrel with action is readily available on Gunbroker.com and runs under $600 the last time I checked. The full aluminum bedding block on the B&C stocks make it a very good buy money wise.

http://www.stockysstocks.com/servlet/the-110/Bell-Carlson-tactical-700/Detail

http://www.stockysstocks.com/servlet/the-200/Bell-&-Carlson-Weatherby/Detail

Spend your money on Match grade ammo (Federal Gold Medal Match, Corbon Match, Hornady Match) and all the time you can spare at the range. Lots of trigger time will make a world of difference in your shooting.

my ¢2

 

[berto255]

Re: New bolt action rifle, need some advice.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ranger1183</div><div class="ubbcode-body">If you buy the Remington, send it to GAP so they can tear it apart and accurize it. By accurize, I mean the recut the action threads, action face, bolt face, raceway, lap the lugs, etc to get it all square. For 500 yards and less, I would get the Remington 700 LTR (20" barrel). Low Light uses an even shorter barrel to shoot 1000 yards.

Weatherby's and Howa's are CNC made in Japan. The end result is an excellent out-of-the-box rifle. If you go this route, buy either a Weatherby Sub-MOA or get yourself a Howa 1500 <span style="font-weight: bold">Heavy Barrelled</span> action and drop it into a Bell & Carlson Tactical Medalist A2 or a Bell & Carlson Weatherby Medalist Varmint / Tactical Heavy Barrel Channel stock. The Howa Heavy Barrel with action is readily available on Gunbroker.com and runs under $600 the last time I checked. The full aluminum bedding block on the B&C stocks make it a very good buy money wise.

http://www.stockysstocks.com/servlet/the-110/Bell-Carlson-tactical-700/Detail

http://www.stockysstocks.com/servlet/the-200/Bell-&-Carlson-Weatherby/Detail

Spend your money on Match grade ammo (Federal Gold Medal Match, Corbon Match, Hornady Match) and all the time you can spare at the range. Lots of trigger time will make a world of difference in your shooting.

my ¢2 </div></div>

20" vs 26" because for portability and/or accuracy? What will I be gaining or losing going from 26 to 20 inches.

 

[ranger1183]

Re: New bolt action rifle, need some advice.

I recommend reading this.

http://www.tacticaloperations.com/SWATbarrel/

 

[HOGGHEAD]

Re: New bolt action rifle, need some advice.

IMO it really depends on how much cash you have to work with. Do you have the extra money to buy the extras. If not then I would definitely buy the SPS, and buy a reloading set up with the difference.

If money is not a big issue then I would buy the 700PSS. That is a great rifle right out of the box. You will have to shoot a long time and a lot of shells before your expertise is better than the out of the box accuracy of that rifle.

Alot of guys recommend spending big money to upgrade things. Which IMO is a waste of good money until you develop the skill needed to take advantage of an upgraded rifle.

Spend your money on reloading equipment so that you can afford more ammo to put down range. You will be far ahead in the long run.

You can spend a bunch of money and have the tacticool rifle if you want. But what good is it if you aren't a good enough shooter to be able to take advantage of it.

I can't tell you how many times I have seen guys show up at the range with the latest and fanciest and most expensive equipment. Then I out shoot them with an open sighted 45-70. It really pisses them off. But they have all their money tied up in their rig, and can not afford to shoot it.

Burn your first barrel off that SPS, then you might be ready to shoot an upgraded rifle. Maybe. Tom.

 

[Cascade Precision]

Re: New bolt action rifle, need some advice.

Dont forget glass. I dont know the budget of your rifle, but get decent glass to begin with. I see this phrase a lot, but have only recently followed it: Buy once, Cry once.

IMHO, you really should add Savage to your list. Savage rifles out of the box are shooters. I know that Remington used to offer really good rifles, but have seen more than a few recent builds that can barely hit the ground given three chances. Just my view and experience.

My Savage 10-FCP will shoot under an inch at 200 yrds. Just a thought.

 

[berto255]

Re: New bolt action rifle, need some advice.

It looks more & more that the remi 700P is winning the batle.

 

[berto255]

Re: New bolt action rifle, need some advice.

Come on guys post post post, give me a reason to get a new rifle

 

[TalkingBush]

Re: New bolt action rifle, need some advice.

+1 700P

 

[ESSAYONS]

Re: New bolt action rifle, need some advice.

berto I started rifle shooting about a year ago and I purchased the 700P in .308 for $900. I topped it with a Leupold LRT 8.5-25 scope for $1300. Throw in a couple hundred dollars for a target bolt knob, trigger job, rings etc and the whole rig costs about $2800.00. As for accuracy, I am shooting 168 SMk with 42 grains of Varget with CCI primers on brand new lapua brass- hand loaded on redding competion dies and I am consistently shooting .5 groups or less. It is a very accurate out of the box gun and I am sure that it is capable of more accuracy then I as a shooter can deliver. This is a great set up for a newbie like me.

700P all the way.

 

[berto255]

Re: New bolt action rifle, need some advice.

Any takers???????

 

[villhelm]

Re: New bolt action rifle, need some advice.

i vote for the 308win - 26" BARREL - 1/12" RIFLING - $665 msrp

mainly because you have alot of room to upgrade, it will shoot well out of the box, its a good caliber, and because i currently have one and i really like it

 

[desertrat1979]

Re: New bolt action rifle, need some advice.

I dont have much info or experience on the Weatherby's. But that second one looks really nice and comfortable to shoot. If accuracy is what you are looking for, by way of parts availability, experienced smiths, go Remington. The Short Action Police would serve to be more utilitarian and they shoot good from the box. Put the optics/base/rings of your liking on and have at it.

 

[berto255]

Re: New bolt action rifle, need some advice.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: villhelm</div><div class="ubbcode-body">i vote for the 308win - 26" BARREL - 1/12" RIFLING - $665 msrp

mainly because you have alot of room to upgrade, it will shoot well out of the box, its a good caliber, and because i currently have one and i really like it

</div></div>

The only bad thing I heard about the lower end models 700 was the the SPS varmint had cheap and flimsy stocks. Out the box the P and LTR models got better stock (even they need upgrade soon) than the SPS varmint and SPS tactical.

Any remy owner can agree with that?

 

[desertrat1979]

Re: New bolt action rifle, need some advice.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: berto255</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: villhelm</div><div class="ubbcode-body">i vote for the 308win - 26" BARREL - 1/12" RIFLING - $665 msrp

mainly because you have alot of room to upgrade, it will shoot well out of the box, its a good caliber, and because i currently have one and i really like it

</div></div>

The only bad thing I heard about the lower end models 700 was the the SPS varmint had cheap and flimsy stocks. Out the box the P and LTR models got better stock (even they need upgrade soon) than the SPS varmint and SPS tactical.

Any remy owner can agree with that?</div></div>

Sound like you have narrowed it down. And youre correct. The lower end 700s do have the flimsiest of the stocks. The 700P usually gets an HS or Houge. Better than factory, but there is better out on the market.

 

[bm11]

Re: New bolt action rifle, need some advice.

^^^And furthermore, if you ARE planning on upgrading to a specific stock, then you should go with the SPS as what you are paying for on the P is the HS stock, if I'm not mistaken. However, if you want a shooter out of the box with doing as little to it as possible, thegeneral concensus is that the HS stock is worth the extra cash.

Just from the research I've done, as I just was making a similar purchase decision myself!

 

[Blazed30]

Re: New bolt action rifle, need some advice.

I think everyone made excellent points so far. I agree about adding Savage to the list but if you look at prices now they are about on par with Remington if you get into the 10 series. If you plan a stock upgrade soon then definitly go with the SPS line and the 200 you save can go to a stock of your choice. In the end you have a good selection and you have it narowed down a bit. Get into a couple gun shops if you can and handle them all. I think that regardless of what you choose you will be happy. remember to keep in mind your overall goal and what you want to achieve and what feels good, everyone else has hit all the points of how to get to there above.
Good Luck and welcome to the site its a wealth of knowledge!

 

[HillbillyfromAL]

Re: New bolt action rifle, need some advice.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: berto255</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: villhelm</div><div class="ubbcode-body">i vote for the 308win - 26" BARREL - 1/12" RIFLING - $665 msrp

mainly because you have alot of room to upgrade, it will shoot well out of the box, its a good caliber, and because i currently have one and i really like it

</div></div>

The only bad thing I heard about the lower end models 700 was the the SPS varmint had cheap and flimsy stocks. Out the box the P and LTR models got better stock (even they need upgrade soon) than the SPS varmint and SPS tactical.

Any remy owner can agree with that?</div></div>
Yeah the higher end ones do have a better stock so do yourself a favor and go with the shorter barrel in whichever you choose. I'd suggest reading the article that Ranger1183 gave you the link to. Save up and get a Nightforce or USO scope.