Author Topic: Which Remington 700 SPS Varmint? (Read 1215 times)

DalesCarpentry · « **on:** September 04, 2007, 09:30:43 AM »

I like the Remington SPS Varmint 243 so much I have decided to buy 2 more. I have shot a 3/4'' group at 300 yards with this rifle this past week. The one I do know I want is the 308 and that will be my deer rifle this year. What I can't decide on is which one of the others.The new 17 Remington Fireball, the 223 or the 22-250. I would be using it for Groundhogs and such out to maybe 300 yards. I already have the 243 to reach out further than that when necessary. I am kind of leaning toward the 22-250 because of how flat it shoots and the knock down power. Dale

Graybeard · « **Reply #1 on:** September 04, 2007, 09:59:40 AM »

Personally I see the .22-250 as too much of a duplication of what you already have. It's almost the same case size just a bit smaller diameter bullet. It adds nothing to what you have really. I'd suggest a .204 Ruger chambered one if it's avialable. I'd also suggest you NOT get the .308 as a varmint rifle unless your hunting method is to ride to your stand and sit there waiting on game to show to be shot. Just get the more standard weight SPS rather than a varmint weight so you can actually tote the thing and hunt.

DalesCarpentry · « **Reply #2 on:** September 04, 2007, 10:08:07 AM »

GB Those are both great points. It is available in the 204 and I meant to add it and have done so. I also think the 308 Varmint would be a little heavy to carry around and will probably get one with the 24'' standard weight barrel. Dale

30-06man · « **Reply #3 on:** September 05, 2007, 02:02:07 PM »

the 17 remington fireball. i bet you can get some range out of that gun!!

DalesCarpentry · « **Reply #4 on:** September 05, 2007, 02:23:02 PM »

Yea I bet you can get some range out of it and I bet it would be fun to shoot. I just wonder what the knock down power is at a 300 yards. If I were to get that I guess I would not need a 17 HMR witch is also on my short list. Dale

30-06man · « **Reply #5 on:** September 05, 2007, 02:29:15 PM »

yeah. i have been wanting one for a while and since i seen you had luck with the sps i might get one also. i have a older adl in 30.06 and its about 1in at 100 yards. i could probably do better

DalesCarpentry · « **Reply #6 on:** September 05, 2007, 02:46:34 PM »

Quote from: 30.06man on September 05, 2007, 02:29:15 PM

yeah. i have been wanting one for a while and since i seen you had luck with the sps i might get one also. i have a older adl in 30.06 and its about 1in at 100 yards. i could probably do better

I could not be happier with the 243. There are people that pay $1,000's for a rifle that will shoot 3/4'' groups at 300 yards. I might be leaning toward the 204 the more I think about it. I had one in the Handi Rifle and it shot sub MOA at 100 yards. If the Handi could do that I would love to see what the SPS could do in that caliber. I would be willing to bet you could get one ragged hole at 100 yards with it. With the ammo it liked. Dale

30-06man · « **Reply #7 on:** September 05, 2007, 02:50:29 PM »

204 is a good choice too. i haven't had a long range gun in a long time since there is really no long ranges around here. but i have had a 243 handi that i was getting sub moa out of.

nomosendero · « **Reply #8 on:** September 08, 2007, 09:19:11 AM »

I have owned 3 different 22-250's, but I am out of those, probably for good. It is a good round, but I have rounds on the lower end & upper end that takes away it's usefulness. Like others have said, the 22-250 won't do much for you if you have a 223 or 204 & a 243.
The 243 will kick the 22-250's butt in the wind & outrange it wind or not & a 223 or 204 is a far better voolume round for PD & such
& fine out to 400 or more.

I think the 204 is a round to have & shoot, but I cannot imagine not having at least one SERIOUS 223, but you may already have one.

I have a M700VS & love it, I have a light 308 too, but don't use it much. You have a 243 SPS Var. now, so you don't have the guess if the 308 would be heavy for YOU or not. It is not too heavy for me, but to each his own concerning gun weight. No matter what the Sundra's or Boddington's of the World say, there is no ideal weight for all of us, nor with bowling balls & most thngs.

jvs · « **Reply #9 on:** September 08, 2007, 11:32:12 AM »

If the .17 Fireball is anything like the older .17 Remington, burning out barrels will be an issue at about 400 to 500 rounds. Plus a .17 is not reliable in even slight wind conditions.

The .204 isn't really anything new and exciting in my book.

The .22-250 has been around and is proven for the ranges you are describing and is an ideal varmint caliber, but a slight wind may also be a factor there too.

The .223 is the one I would pick. Only because I have been wanting a .223 for a while now and I still don't have one. I am about at the end of buying rifles, so I may never own a .223. But if I did buy one more rifle, I certainly would consider buying a Remington Varmint in .223. They are by far the cheapest caliber to shoot.

As for the .308.... Of all hunting calibers, I am closer to the .308 than any other. For me, it is so reliable, it is boring. In your case, it may not be the best Varmint Calibler out there. I believe you said you are from Pennsylvania, so am I, and no varmint in Pa warrants a .308. I have shot Coyotes in Pa with a .22 Long Rifle and dropped them with one shot. I would not buy a Varmint rifle in .308. Unless I am shooting at those pesky 200 pound Groundhogs.

DalesCarpentry · « **Reply #10 on:** September 08, 2007, 12:22:23 PM »

Quote from: jvs on September 08, 2007, 11:32:12 AM

If the .17 Fireball is anything like the older .17 Remington, burning out barrels will be an issue at about 400 to 500 rounds. Plus a .17 is not reliable in even slight wind conditions.

The .204 isn't really anything new and exciting in my book.

The .22-250 has been around and is proven for the ranges you are describing and is an ideal varmint caliber, but a slight wind may also be a factor there too.

The .223 is the one I would pick. Only because I have been wanting a .223 for a while now and I still don't have one. I am about at the end of buying rifles, so I may never own a .223. But if I did buy one more rifle, I certainly would consider buying a Remington Varmint in .223. They are by far the cheapest caliber to shoot.

As for the .308.... Of all hunting calibers, I am closer to the .308 than any other. For me, it is so reliable, it is boring. In your case, it may not be the best Varmint Calibler out there. I believe you said you are from Pennsylvania, so am I, and no varmint in Pa warrants a .308. I have shot Coyotes in Pa with a .22 Long Rifle and dropped them with one shot. I would not buy a Varmint rifle in .308. Unless I am shooting at those pesky 200 pound Groundhogs.

jvs. If and when I get a 308 it would be the SPS with the shorter barrel and more of a standard contour. I have to say that once the SPS Varmint is scoped and with a bipod/ It is very heavy. It weighs 8 1/2 pounds with out the scope and bipod and I bet it is over 10 pounds now. This is not some thing I want to carry all day deer hunting. What I want is to have 3 very accurate rifles. Two for Varmints and one for deer and bear. That is why I am considering the SPS 300 Win Mag now. Dale

Graybeard · « **Reply #11 on:** September 08, 2007, 12:46:55 PM »

I thought you were trying to figure out how to feed the family so why are you even thinking of guns now Dale?

DalesCarpentry · « **Reply #12 on:** September 08, 2007, 12:54:07 PM »

I did not say I was going to run out and buy them next week or even next month. Dale

burntmuch · « **Reply #13 on:** September 08, 2007, 01:47:17 PM »

Doesnt cost anything to talk about them.

DalesCarpentry · « **Reply #14 on:** September 08, 2007, 01:58:26 PM »

Dale

30-06man · « **Reply #15 on:** September 09, 2007, 05:23:52 AM »

300win mag for deer? i like the 300wsm better

nomosendero · « **Reply #16 on:** September 09, 2007, 05:28:15 AM »

Quote from: 30.06man on September 09, 2007, 05:23:52 AM

300win mag for deer? little big don't you think? why not the 300wsm?

DalesCarpentry · « **Reply #17 on:** September 09, 2007, 05:48:55 AM »

Quote from: nomosendero on September 09, 2007, 05:28:15 AM

Quote from: 30.06man on September 09, 2007, 05:23:52 AM
300win mag for deer? little big don't you think? why not the 300wsm?

you are right. I don't understand the reply either. The 300 WSM has higher muzzle velocity and more bullet energy than the 300 Win Mag. ( WHY NOT THE 300 ULTRA MAG ) I just want 3 rifles that I could hunt anything I would like to hunt. I agree the 300 Win Mag is over kill for deer but I may want to hunt much larger animals some day. Dale

30-06man · « **Reply #18 on:** September 09, 2007, 07:36:13 AM »

i just like the wsm better than the 300 win mag.. it sorta came out wrong. the 7mm rem mag would be a good choice too but it would too be a little over kill

nomosendero · « **Reply #19 on:** September 09, 2007, 08:08:35 AM »

30-06 Man, no big deal.

Dale, it is true that the 300WSM has a little more muzzle vel. with factory loads in 180gr. & under, but it is due to the WSM being loaded at slightly higer pressures as well. With reloads, if you load both rounds to equal pressres, the 300WM edges the WSM & pulls away more with bullets of 180gr & heavier. The 300WM has more powder cap & with a real mag. action like the Rem as opposed to the std. long action like the Ruger, the 300WM can pull away even more with bullets seated out. The WSM is more limited in this regard
with most short actions. This is not a slam to the WSM & it is a good round with good velocities, but it does NOT exceed or even match a properly set-up 300WM. The marketing people talked about effiencty to sell the short mag concept without telling people about the different way they are loaded.

Some don't like the 300WM belted case, but I don't have trouble loading it really. Size it to head space on the shoulder like a beltless round. And if you talk to custom rifle builders, you will find that some of the most accurate Mags these guys build are in 300WM. BTW, the last time I grouped my Sendero at 500 yards, I group was 1.5"(3 shot), I haven't beat that with any of my std. rounds yet!!!

The 300RUM offers more power & I am not against that. It is a good & accurate round, however it does not offer me anything additional that I need, but each person can decide that. I feel that for most folks that look at a 300 mag, the WM has alot to offer. It will always have more factory ammo choices than the WSM or RUM, that is important to me only because I intend to pass my 300 down to my kids & they may not reload like me. My 300 at least because of weight & stock design is still a VERY tolerable round to shoot &
that is a concern to some.

With my Sendero I get 3,160fps with a 180 & 3,000 with the 200gr., the level I was looking for, but all of our goals are different.
Anyway, if you want a rifle for bigger stuff & are thinking about a 300, look hard at the 300WM.

DalesCarpentry · « **Reply #20 on:** September 09, 2007, 09:02:00 AM »

I have to agree on all counts. I did have a 300WM BDL a couple years ago and it did shoot. Dale

30-06man · « **Reply #21 on:** September 09, 2007, 10:27:43 AM »

i want a 7mm rem mag in a encore barrel, but can't find anyone who has one. don't know if t/c makes one i might order from the custom shop if they don't

DalesCarpentry · « **Reply #22 on:** September 09, 2007, 10:34:32 AM »

I have to say that the 7mm rem mag is also a great round But the 280 is very close in the ballistics. I don't know if Encore makes a 280 but if they do you will end up with very close to the same ballistics. Dale

30-06man · « **Reply #23 on:** September 09, 2007, 10:39:14 AM »

ok ill give them a call sometime soon.

hellacatcher · « **Reply #24 on:** September 09, 2007, 01:05:30 PM »

I favor the 22-250 but if I was in you shoes I wouldn't even be talking about one that will just lead to buying something i could not afford.

30-06man · « **Reply #25 on:** September 09, 2007, 01:59:25 PM »

heck i always do that and ill get it when i can afford it... at least ill know what to look for and whats best. thats what he is doin probably. just happens right now i can afford a encore barrel in 7mm and i got the money set aside and i am still looking around. ain't nothing wrong with looking and talking about it

Prebanpaul · « **Reply #26 on:** September 15, 2007, 03:13:08 PM »

<I agree the 300 Win Mag is over kill for deer but I may want to hunt much larger animals some day. Dale>

I always thought dead was dead. I have the sps in 22-250 and shoot 3/8 inch groups with it at 200 yrds. I hunt alot of ground hogs and yotes. But if you want a three gun here you go that is what i have.

Sako Mannlicher in 375 H&H
Remington sps 22-250
Montanna 99 in 308 Lazzeroni Warbird. This is my baby.

paul

Qaz · « **Reply #27 on:** September 21, 2007, 03:55:00 AM »

Man, 3/4" at 300yds is really fine shooting! I am really happy when I am shooting 2" at 300yds, but 5 bullets tear up some paper so I might be doing a little better. I am always envious of you guys that shoot those small 5 shot groups at long distance.
Dale, I bought the SPS varmint in 223, because with a 243, I have all the bases covered from Ground hogs to Black Bear. I picked the 223 over the 204 because I have a friend that shoots Ground Hogs out to 800yds with it on a AR platform and he said his 204 will not do it.

Qaz

DalesCarpentry · « **Reply #28 on:** September 21, 2007, 05:27:40 AM »

The group I shot was a three shot group and was tickled pink. You also have to keep in mind that this was from a bench with a front rest and sand bags under the butt. You are right about the 204 500 yards is really pushing it with that round. It does lose a lot of energy at that range. Dale

hellacatcher · « **Reply #29 on:** September 21, 2007, 02:05:17 PM »

I would be happy just to see 300 yards

Poll

Which one?

Author Topic: Which Remington 700 SPS Varmint? (Read 1215 times)