I would like advise on what Remington 700 to buy as the base of my build. I plan on changing the stock out, I just haven't decided exactly what stock I want yet. I was looking at the AICS 2.0 and a few others but haven't decided quite yet. I've done some research and I was thinking of buying a Remington 700 SPS AAC or a SPS Varmit in .308. The rifle will be used for target shooting between 100-300 yards. This will be a slow build. Any suggestions for my first precision rifle build?
Suggestions on Remingtion 700 Build.
- Thread starter Jbrew011
- Start date
The cheapest 700 you can find. I bought a 700 adl for $350. Buy a barrel for 300 and have it installed.
If you want to just drop it into the stock then buy the acc, I would imagine an adl action with a krieger 5r barrel would outshoot a factory gun and you would be about the same in the end price wise.
If you want to just drop it into the stock then buy the acc, I would imagine an adl action with a krieger 5r barrel would outshoot a factory gun and you would be about the same in the end price wise.
If money is not the biggest consideration, get a 5R milspec and drop it into the AICS. One of the best shooting guns out of the box. If on a budget, get the AAC-SD. They will shoot very well in a better stock, even with a factory barrel. For what you want to do at this stage, save your money on the custom barrel for now and instead spend it on reloading equipment. Tuned loads will get you further than "custom" anything at this stage.
I would start with a Remington 700P LTR, comes with 20" bbl coated and fluted in a short and handy HS precision stock. You can shoot it as is for years and add what you need later.
buy the cheapest Rem 700 you can find, then drop it into an H&S stock, all together you are still less than $1,000. throw some rounds down range and note your progress. Once you can see some steady improvement you have 2 options.
Option 1: send the rifle to either a local gunsmith or one of the sponsors on here for truing services. They will true the action, true the bolt, true the barrel, bed the stock and boom for about $700 you are now a 1/2moa rifle.
Option 2: Send the rifle to a gunsmith for a new barrel. New barrel will be about $350 and you will still have to pay for action truing, your new barrel will need to have tendon threads, chamber, true to 12oclock, cut to length, possibly flute and thread and all that costs money. for all of this this you are looking at close to or over $1,000.
If you choose to change out the stock consider your true purpose before purchase. Some are great but heavy as hell, some may have options you do not need, and some may be out of your pay range. If you want a drop in aluminum you have Rock Solid at $750 or AI at $1,300. If you want something lighter you have Manners and McMillan. If it is just for the short range you mentioned a properly bedded H&S is just fine.
BEING YOUR FIRST RIFLE UPGRADE ONE STEP AT A TIME, DONT WASTE YOUR MONEY ON THE "GOOD" SHIT TILL YOU GET PLENTY OF TIME BEHIND THE TRIGGER AND GET A BETTER FEEL FOR WHAT YOUR LONG TERM GOALS ARE WITH SAID RIFLE.
P.S. My light weight deer rifle is a Rem 700 AAC-SD that was trued and bedded in an H&S, it holds 1/2moa and in November it took a buck at 200yds with a heart shot.
Option 1: send the rifle to either a local gunsmith or one of the sponsors on here for truing services. They will true the action, true the bolt, true the barrel, bed the stock and boom for about $700 you are now a 1/2moa rifle.
Option 2: Send the rifle to a gunsmith for a new barrel. New barrel will be about $350 and you will still have to pay for action truing, your new barrel will need to have tendon threads, chamber, true to 12oclock, cut to length, possibly flute and thread and all that costs money. for all of this this you are looking at close to or over $1,000.
If you choose to change out the stock consider your true purpose before purchase. Some are great but heavy as hell, some may have options you do not need, and some may be out of your pay range. If you want a drop in aluminum you have Rock Solid at $750 or AI at $1,300. If you want something lighter you have Manners and McMillan. If it is just for the short range you mentioned a properly bedded H&S is just fine.
BEING YOUR FIRST RIFLE UPGRADE ONE STEP AT A TIME, DONT WASTE YOUR MONEY ON THE "GOOD" SHIT TILL YOU GET PLENTY OF TIME BEHIND THE TRIGGER AND GET A BETTER FEEL FOR WHAT YOUR LONG TERM GOALS ARE WITH SAID RIFLE.
P.S. My light weight deer rifle is a Rem 700 AAC-SD that was trued and bedded in an H&S, it holds 1/2moa and in November it took a buck at 200yds with a heart shot.
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Thank you for the responses. I priced out a 700 SPS Varmint for around 700 at my local shop but haven't found a price on the AAC-SD yet. In you opinion which would be better varmint vs aac-sd for up to 500 yards? I've researched both and see that the AAC-SD has a 20" with a 1/10 Twist and the Varmint has a 26" 1/12 twist. I'll have around 700-850 to spend when I go to buy the base rifle. I've been shooting rifles for years so eventually I would move beyond 300 yards but the ranges near my area only go to 300 from what I've seen. At first I plan on keeping the rifle pretty simple and buying different parts as I move forward with it. I like the look and feel of the AI but will check out the other stock options as I decide. This rifle would only see the range as I don't have plans to hunt with it at all so weight doesn't matter too much to me.
that is up to you, both rifles with the right ammo are capable of 1,000yd shots. the added 6" will give you 100-150 extra fps but the 1/10 will let you shoot heavier bullets.
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Personally, I would go for the AAC-SD over the varmint. The 20" bbl will be plenty to get you well beyond your 300 yd range and I shoot mine to 1000' very successfully. The shorter bbl is easier to transport and just easier all around to maneuver. Some would say the shorter barrel is actually MORE accurate than the longer bbl because of stiffness, but that is a separate debate. I think you will like the SD better than the longer gun. I find anything over about 22-24" very unwieldly.
As mentioned, the 1/10 twist of the SD is a bonus. As is the threaded barrel. I have a brake on mine and it makes a BIG difference in comfort and the ability to see impacts during recoil. Even though a .308 is relatively tame - it still hurts a bit after 50-75 rounds at the range.
Finally, I HIGHLY recommend you get behind and ideally shoot an AICS before you spend the cash on one. It seems they are either a love em or hate kind of thing and they are not for everybody. Really spend some time behind an expensive stock before you pay that much money. Same goes for the other high end stocks if you can. I personally like my Manners T4 over an AICS by a lot - but again its personal preference. $1300 is a lot to spend on a stock and then not like.
PS - I've seen AAC-SDs for $600-650. So its in the same ballpark as the Varmint.
Just buy a 20" 5R MilSpec or even the 24". The 24" is a happy medium in barrel length. By the time you buy a AAC and restock it you going to be over the cost of a 5R. The 5R from all my experience with them have been outstanding rifles out of the box. Best of luck and welcome to the hide.
Very well said. The quality of these actions from a machining standpoint is much better as are the barrels. IMHO
Paul
the 700 aac is a good choice and also the remy 5r.... i personally have a 700p and love it its sub moa out of the box....if you plan on changing the stock for what ever reason then get the aac sd the 5r already has a good stock on it and if you plan on changing it you shouldnt have a problem selling it after wards the big factor is price ive seen aac run close to 700 and 5r your talking close to a grand...
I went ahead and ordered the aac-sd and am now looking at glass. I'm thinking about going with a vortex viper pst 4-16x50mm. From what I've read its a pretty good scope? Suggestions up to $700. Also what rings and base would u suggest? From my research I could go with the percision matched vortex 30mm medium rings and a egw 20moa rail.
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