Thoughts on the 700 SPS Tactical w/hogue stock in 223

kyotekiller25

kyotekiller25

Well-known member
Was in the gunshop today and this little bugger caught my eye. I"ve never been big on 223, I have a 700 in a triple deuce and I like it a lot. Only thing is with the 223, with the fast twist barrel (believe its a 1 in 9) I have the option to shoot the 75g amax and target shoot out to 600 with it fairly easy and very cheap. Im also thinking it would be a very good rifle for calling and the truck since its got the 20"bbl, go with 40g vmax's out to 400 on coyotes, and to do some cheep 600, maybe 800 yard steel banging with the 75g amaxs..Whatcha guys think? Anyone got one to share some thoughts?
 
I have a Rem 700 SPS Tactical 1/12 and it is a real tack driver with 60gr V-Max rounds...

Mine has a HS stock and it would be pretty heavy in that configuration for a calling rifle...but it will be great for any kind of bench work..

I installed a Burris 8-32x Black Diamond scope on it with the Z-Rings and +/-10 MOA inserts for more scope elevation..and will be using it to try some 600yd shooting this summer..

Rem700SPSa.jpg
 
You might be right on the 1 in 8 for the 75g amax. I was hoping the 1 in 9 would do it, but it might not. Never really know untill you shoot them.

My 7 RM has the factory 1 in 9 1/4" and it shoots 180g VLD's and 162g AMAX very well, which they both say require a 1 in 8" so ya never really know...

If not, I think Berger makes a 70g VLD. Not quite the BC of the 75g AMAX, but it should still get out to 600 fairly easily.

Only thing I did not like about the rifle was the action. It was by far the WORST 700 action I've ever handled. Felt like sandpaper..Not smooth at all and didn't seem to have a tight lock up. I dunno, could just be me, but the SPS leaves me a bit skeptical...The 20" heavy barrel wouldn't be a problem for me for packing or calling, all my rifles have either 24" or 28" bbl's with a brake so I'm use to packing around heavy rifles. They tend to shoot better anyways.

Amyone else got one of these rifles shooting the heavies??

Im thinking about selling either my triple deuce or my 45 to get it, but I want to do a bit more research and here from others before I sell anything.

My gunshop was asking $650 or 660 I believe. Is that a decent price?? Probly find it cheaper on the internet somewhere, but then you gotta pay shipping and FFL fees which would probly bring it right back up around the 650 mark I would think.
 
If you get the rifle, you might want to try the 75 gr. AMax. My 1 in 9 twist 223 barrels shoot the 75 gr. AMax just fine. Using VV N540 I can safely drive that bullet to 2910 fps with good accuracy. It gets to 600 yards in good shape.
 
I looked at the same rifle in 308 today. I like my Remmys, but was very disapointed in the way the stock fit and the rough feeling bolt. The bolt felt like it was full of sand. I like the Hogue stock, but not on a Tactical rifle. JMO
 
papa260- Thanks for the insight on the 75g amax in your 1 in 9's. That is good to hear on my end.

pyscodog- I didn't mind the hogue stock, it seemed to fit me ok. The one thing I did not like [beeep] was that bolt. Like you said it was just rough, like sand was in there. You could here grinding and everything. Not good IMO...I love my Remmys to, but the SPS is the lower end of Remington, so thats probly why they dont put a nicer bolt in them. Didn't the SPS essentially replace the ADL's?? I've got a triple deuce in a 700 ADL and the thing shoots awesome 1/4"-3/8" pretty much every time out, and the bolt is still slicker then snot.
 
I have the 700 LTR[Light Patrol Rifle] in .223, H.S. Precision stock, 1:9..very similar to OldTurtle's..heaviest I've shot is 69 gr Black Hills Blue Box..shoots fine. Like OT noted might get a little heavy.

Is the Hogue stock pillar bedded or full length aluminum skeleton? I like Hogue's stuff but would recommend the full length aluminum bedding though I haven't owned one but based on a couple of excellent HS Precisions[ I KNOW - apples and oranges].
 
kyote- Believe it or not, I bought a Stevens for a builder rifle today. The action is glass smooth. I got home with it and ordered a replacement barrel 10 minutes after I got home. I will have less money in the build than if I would have bought the Remmy. Really liked the Remmy, but figured I would come out ahead money wise with the Stevens build and it WILL be a shooter.
 
I have been looking at this rifle in the 308 for a while, mainly because of the reports of accuracy on it.
First article that turned me on to it was this:
http://www.snipercentral.com/spstactical.htm

Groups like that, even with the stock touching, seems like a shooter to me. I've been looking into it for months, and different threads have popped up, and all reports seem to be great on accuracy, but people concerned about the flimsy stock. I guess if the accuracy is that good, the stock touching doesn't bother me, because I like the feel of it.

Nice compact gun too, I like it, but I got a few more weeks of research to do before I pick my long range shooter.
 
Originally Posted By: UnkI have the 700 LTR[Light Patrol Rifle] in .223, H.S. Precision stock, 1:9..very similar to OldTurtle's..heaviest I've shot is 69 gr Black Hills Blue Box..shoots fine. Like OT noted might get a little heavy.

Is the Hogue stock pillar bedded or full length aluminum skeleton? I like Hogue's stuff but would recommend the full length aluminum bedding though I haven't owned one but based on a couple of excellent HS Precisions[ I KNOW - apples and oranges].

Just an FYI since you already bought the Savage
UNK,, the Hogue stock that came on Turtle's rifle was pillar bedded (no bedding block) and the for-end would flex enough to touch the barrel when shot from a rest or tri-pod. I bought the rifle and put the HS take-off stock on her,, but eventually found out that some of the early SPS Tac's made it out of the factory with 12twist's.. Sure enough it was one of them so even though it was super accurate I sold it to Turtle and built a 22BR with a Pac-Nor barrel..
Truth is,,, that even though I can shoot the heavier bullets now,,, my fancy BR isn't a whole lot more accurate than that 223 was...
Live and learn EAH???
That's OK though because it couldn't have went to a more fitting or nicer guy..

Oh yea,,, The stock was trashed when I got it so I painted it with ChalkBoard Paint.
That stuff's harder than a whore's heart,,, and looks pretty good too..LOL
 
psycodog- I actually have a stevens in 243 right now that I"m using for coyotes. Shooting the light 55-58g nbt/vmax/BK's through her to shoot the barrel out quicker, and then I"ll rebarrel to 243AI. Its going to be set up for 1K shooting though, gonna be a totally different rifle with a 26" tube and a nice laminated stock...

Dont really wanna buy another one at the moment, but I like your idea. Thats why I bought this stevens in 243 as much as I dont like savages. I figure for $300 if it dont shoot, I can buy a decent barrel and screw her on myself and it will be a decent shooter then and be in it the same as a Remmy. I love my 700's though. But I lucked out on this stevens, it shoots 1/2-3/4 MOA with the lighter 55g and 58g bullets so thats what shes living off of untill the barrels toast, which should only be a couple years away. I dont figure it'll last much more then 2K rounds with a steady dose of 55's at 3800fps. I've already put around 400 rounds through her in 4 months and about 15 dogs have already went to heaven so...
 
I have another Stevens in 223 that I bought to rebarrel in 223AI. I trimmed the barrel to 18" and it shoots so good I'm gonna leave it alone till I shoot it out.
 
does the Remington have that rough mat finish over the reciever and barrel. We used to call that type of finish Parkerizing i do not know if that is the actual name for it or not. I was always told it was a more durable finish than just blueing. But I have and SPS Varmit and it has the Parkerized (or what ever you call it) the bolt and inside of the reciever have the same finish on it. That may be the sand fealing that you are talking about. My SPS felt rough until I shot about 100 rounds through it and the finish wore down. Now it is a smooth as my other 700's
 
I DO NOT like Hogue stocks. I had one on a remington 700 tatical .308. The stock affected the accuracy due to flexing. I took it off my gun and put the gun in a Bell and Carleson stock. Great choice in my part.
A friend took the Hogue stock and put it in a .223 700 Remington. He sold the hogue stock. It took his accuracy from 1.5 inch groups at 100 yds to 4-5 inch groups.
 
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