700 sps-varmint vs 12 fvss

[Honay]

Just wondering your thoughts on these rifles, looking for a rifle that I can shoot quite a lot. Any pros/ cons to these rifles, which is more accurate?

Thanks

[2ndtimer]

Well, the Remington is probably cheaper.  Call me crazy, but I like the plastic stock on my SPS Varmint in .223.  The SPS isn't available in stainless, so if you want stainless for a reasonable price, the Savage is probably your pick.  As for accuracy, I am sure both of them would prove to be accurate enough given their price.  Of course, both can be improved with careful handloads, as well as tinkering with the bedding, trigger pull, etc.  One other comparable option to consider would be the Weatherby Vanguard Varmint Special.  I picked one up at Sportsman's Warehouse a few months ago for just $479.  It features a slightly less heavy 22" barrel compared to the other's 26" full bull tubes.  It is a little handier to tote around and easier to shoot offhand (if anyone ever does that with a varmint rifle?)  Good Luck, pick whichever one feels the best to you.  I have both the Reminton SPS Varmint (with a Timney trigger) and the Weatherby Varmint Special, both in .223 Remington.  Eventually, the Weatherby will get a Timney trigger, too.

[ms]

I would always pick a Remington over the Savage reason being money value beside more custom rifles are build on Remington action.

[the jigger]

I tend to lean towards the Savage because across the board Savage tends to have a quicker twist. Their 223 is a 1in9 and their 22-250 is 1in12. I am not a 223 guy but I know the Remington 22-250 is 1in14. My son-in-law just re-barreled a Remington with a Pac-Nor 1in12. He says it shoots much better now. GOOD LUCK and GOOD SHOOTING!!!

[2ndtimer]

The twist rate kind of depends on what weight bullet you are planning on shooting.  The Remington and the Weatherby both come with 1 in 12 " twists, while the Savage has a 1 in 9" twist.  The 1 in 12" will stabilize up to a 60 gr bullet, while the 1 in 9 should handle up to a 68 gr of so, maybe even the 75 gr.  But if you are talking about popping prairie dogs or ground squirrels, I like the 1 in 12" and bullets up to 55 gr.  They can actually be pushed faster in the slower twist barrel and the lighter weight bullets give more dramatic results at closer ranges.  IF you want to try to shoot rock chucks at 500 yards, the heavier bullets give you a theoretical advantage, but I prefer using a larger caliber like a .243 Win with 70 gr Nosler Ballistic Tips for that kind of duty.  I am happy with my 1 in 12" twists and 50 gr bullets at 3300-3400 fps, and the 40 gr bullets at 3600 or so.