Opinions on the new '08 700 VTR (Varmint Tactical Rifle)

[just bill]

I am not a "Remington Guy but.......

I seen one in a shop today and looked it over good. Personally, I liked it a lot.

The stock looks excellent to my eye but I dig olive drab/tactical look. It has black rubbery molds in the grip areas that felt excellent. The synthetic stock seemed rigid a couple notches up from the low end Savage.......maybe like a Tikka. They would not let me pop the stock off today at the shop because they were busy  Can't tell if it's bedded but, I don't it because the triangular barrel is not free floated. There are two tiny foam pad pressure points on each side of the 45 degree barrel area. It's not a true 90 degree triangle, it has to additional 45 degree kicks on the bottom/side. I worked with, formed,mig,tig & sticked welded.....fabricated steel for about 15 years......and I like the thoughts on the barrel......but I am no rifle engineer. I could see how it would stiff'in it.

By looks I thought it was going to be barrel heavy, it really wasn't (just a whisker/ slightly with out scope ). For a somewhat bench/tact gun look it really came to shoulder excellent for my frame and balanced well. I liked the L.O.P.

The barrel,bolt,receiver have a coating on them sort of like parkerized but not (remington buffs will know what it is).

New adjustable trigger system.

1/9 Twist in .223

Price tag was about $640.00 minus $50 Big Green mail in rebate.

The barrel not being free floated bothers me a little but other than that I really liked it........varmints,predators(carries & shoulders well) woodchuck,egg.......fun shoots.

Hope to here how the accuracy is.

Thought a drab olive Burris Fullfield II Tactical in 4.5-14x42 would be ideal.

One of the few .223's (of the overwhelming many) that have caught my eye with interest the last several years.

Hope someone gives us a report soon

If it can shoot ...............sure looks like a winner to me

[30-06man]

If it shoots well without the barrel being floated then I wouldn't mess with it. If I get one in .308 its going to be topped off with a Nikon Buckmasters 3-9x40 as it will just be another deer gun. Maybe it will go hog hunting some too.

[DalesCarpentry]

Others have given reports in other calibers and they all seem to shoot great. Dale

[NONYA]

My personal opinon...OUT FRIGGEN STANDING,this rifle was made for me,it is the first rifle I have owned or held that fits me out of the box,no alterations required.I topped it with a Bushnell Elite 10x with the mildot and target turrets,Harris swivel pod,Leupold 2 piece twist in base and rings.I Only got to shoot enough rounds tonight to get it zeroed at 100 and it was grouping VERY well,I put 5 shots in 1.5 inch with bulk FMJ off the hood of the truck before it was so dark I couldnt see the bullseye.It shoulders with ease,its light,the rubber inserts in the stock give me a rock solid grip for offhand shooting,the length is perfect,the action is smooth as teflon,the trigger is a bit heavy for me but that will be remedied tonight.I am seriously considering the mag conversion for 4 and 10 round magazines,I think it would be a nice addition to the tactical look and feel of the rifle as well as making PD hunting a blast 10X.I give it a 10/10 for a factory rifle and I am certian this will be a sub moa rifle with handloads,cant wait to get it bloody.

[sniperVLS]

Do you have a link to bigger pictures of yours? If not could you take some and post them?! I just fell in love!

Hey nice scope! I love mine! I still can't believe it was under $200.00!! That rifle looks so sexy in that pic but I need to see a bigger one. Nice grouping!

And to "just Bill"... these VTRs along with the SPS Varmints shoot phenomenally well with the barrel touching the stock. Now I am wondering if it's a different stock than the SPS-V because it's no secret I don't care for it one bit. I'll find out when my friend gets his, I'm tempted to get one for myself with the Stimulus check 

[DalesCarpentry]

Boy you guys are going to make me run out and buy one this summer yet!!!!!!!!!!! I think I will get the 308. I have to say though it has been a toss up between the VTR and the SPS Varmint. I been wondering if I want to spend the extra money on the VTR. I guess it is really only an extra $100.00 bucks or so and I really do like the looks of the VTR. Not to mention the built in brake. Well I still have a few months to kick it around a bit. I guess it all comes down to how much money I can hide from my wife. Dale

[NONYA]

HERES A FULL FRONTAL FOR YA....

and  a link to a bigger pic...
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y7/H3RP3S/vtr-1.jpg

[30-06man]

I am going to try to get one. I have a few guns on my list for this year and this is on it. I hope to get one around May if I can.

[DalesCarpentry]

HERES A FULL FRONTAL FOR YA....

and  a link to a bigger pic...
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y7/H3RP3S/vtr-1.jpg

Nonya can you tell if after market stocks will fit this rifle? Dale

[NONYA]

Any stock made to fit a mdl 700 short action/heavy barrel will fit it.If you are getting one in 308 do it now rather than later because they are becoming scarce and more expensive with the online vendors,my local FFL and 2 sportings good stores couldnt order it for me,my buddy had to search a bunch of SWs to find this one and they had a few guys looking at it when he found it.

[wareagleguy]

I got my trigger a little under two pounds.  I think if a worked a little more on it I could get a little off that.  One thing the trigger is nice with zero creep.  I have been getting sub MOA with pet loads and I guess everyone else will too.

Nonya, let me know what load you are trying!!!

[bigjeepman]

NONYA ... two things ...

#1. You really take phenomenal pictures ... I have enjoyed all of them in all of the forums.
#2. What kind of money are we talking about for this rifle?   ... if you don't mind me asking ... I would want one in a .308 if possible ...
#3. Yeah ... I know I said only two ... you keep up the great photography work and maybe Sports Illustrated will give you a call to help out on next year's swimsuit issue.

bjm

[DalesCarpentry]

If that were to happen I would like to be the guy holding you camera bag. Dale

[30-06man]

Ill hold the film.     

[NONYA]

LOL sounds like a great POST hunting seasons gig,say Jan 11-may 15.I payed 620 for the rifle,Ive got about a grand into it with all the accessories.Right now Im stuck with some bulk FMJ my SW is out of brass and the powder I wanted,ill have my brass after i fire of these fmjs,im going back out in the Am to fire off some more rounds before the 500 starts.I just got done adjusting the trigger,the adjustments are the same as the old 700 trigger but they are allen head screws,1/16 and the godamn things are HARD to budge,they didnt skimp on the loktite,I got mine down to 1.5 lbs and when it breaks its CRISP,really sounds more definite than the older 700 trigger.

[sniperVLS]

Good grief that enlarged picture honestly made me drool. IF I can truly get any stock I want, preferably another H-S I have my eyes on, I will start hunting for one in .308 as of this Tuesday.

I was under the impression that the barrel was specifically cut and contoured so that pressure points in the barrel channel touched one of the angled barrel sides? Maybe I misunderstood past posts. Can everyone here who has the VTR confirm that it can be free floated and that the underside of the barrel isn't mated to that stock? If this can be confirmed, I will bother Gander and Dicks until they get me a .308 model!! I was going to get a Desert Recon 870 in a couple weeks but seeing as I just got a tactical 870, this VTR just became my next project 

I won't be able to sleep until I have one in my safe!! wareagleguy and NONYA, I blame the both of you for this!! 

wareagleguy... the Xmark has the 3 screws? I could have swore it had 1 less than the old triggers. If it's the same in every way, I'll adjust mine when I wake up later(although at 4 lbs it feels quite good. Im more a stickler for having no creep and my SPS has none out of the box. I don't mind the slightly heavy pull).

Again, thanks a lot you bastards for having a hand in emptying my damn checking account!!! 

**One thing is for sure, I'm going the same route with the scope and mounts. This Elite 3200 mated with the Burris tactical base and rings just makes the whole package that much sweeter.

[NONYA]

You probably arnt seeing the Front upper screw,its kinda hidden,Ill start a VTR pic thread and show you...

[sniperVLS]

Sounds good, any pic you take I'll enjoy looking at. It's been 2 years since I adjusted my last trigger but I'm sure it's like riding a bike. I've got 7 trigger adjustments under my belt and all turned out very well, this one should follow suit.

[kyelkhunter3006]

Damn it, I'll never be able to buy a fishing boat if you guys keep it up with these new rifles!!!   

[sniperVLS]

Damn it, I'll never be able to buy a fishing boat if you guys keep it up with these new rifles!!!   

Why should our buying rifles interfere with you buying a boat? That is unless you wanna keep up with us and empty your account 

 

Come on join in the fun! You know you wanna!

[30-06man]

Damn it, I'll never be able to buy a fishing boat if you guys keep it up with these new rifles!!!  

Yeah I know what you mean. Sold my boats and want another but I want a canoe that has a flat transom so I can put a trolling motor on it. But yet I see more guns I want and the boat gets pushed to the back again and again.

[just bill]

As noted I like it.

But  after a couple more days thought,  I seriously question the non free floated barrel on such a varmint rifle.

Having the pressure points can in fact effect accuracy point of impact changes from bi-pods,shooting sticks,shooting slings,humidity,barrel heat,etc.

You notice the next model up,more expensive, "real" tactical is free floated.

I will pass on this model.  It looks cool and feels nice...............but not being free floated is just to important unless you can adjust your p.o.i. like a bench rest shooter on a regular basis before hunting,for conditions,off shooting sticks,etc.

[sniperVLS]

You can always remove the stock and get an aftermarket one that doesn't touch the barrel(I'll post pics of my VTR action/barrel in a HS stock when it's finished). The overall price goes up but such is life.

OR...

Do what NONYA did and remove those pressure points 

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php?topic=138323.0

[kyelkhunter3006]

Damn it, I'll never be able to buy a fishing boat if you guys keep it up with these new rifles!!!  

Yeah I know what you mean. Sold my boats and want another but I want a canoe that has a flat transom so I can put a trolling motor on it. But yet I see more guns I want and the boat gets pushed to the back again and again.

Ha ha, I want a boat and square stern canoe.  The boat for the larger lakes and rivers, and the canoe for the smaller rivers and streams that I like to fish often.  I'm having a hell of a time finding examples of either that I like.  Wait, re-phrase here:  How about " I love a lot of them, but I can only pay for certain priced ones?"  I'm about to give up on the square stern and just get a regular canoe, and put a motor bracket on it.  IF, and only IF, I can make myself stop looking at/drooling over/buying rifles all the time.   

[NONYA]

Took me ten minutes to achieve a free float,you gonna pay an extra 300 for it?Whatever makes you  happy.I just shot the best 5 round group i have ever shot out of a rifle over the hood of a truck at 300 yards,WITH BULK AMMO!You could cover it with the cap off of a can of pringles.This rifle is like a long range version of my CZ 17 hmr when it comes to pinpoint accuracy,im blown away.I cant believe how accurate this Magtech 150 gr ammo is,$32 for 50 rounds,Im going to buy 3 more boxs tonight before they disappear.

[30-06man]

Damn it, I'll never be able to buy a fishing boat if you guys keep it up with these new rifles!!!  

Yeah I know what you mean. Sold my boats and want another but I want a canoe that has a flat transom so I can put a trolling motor on it. But yet I see more guns I want and the boat gets pushed to the back again and again.

Ha ha, I want a boat and square stern canoe.  The boat for the larger lakes and rivers, and the canoe for the smaller rivers and streams that I like to fish often.  I'm having a hell of a time finding examples of either that I like.  Wait, re-phrase here:  How about " I love a lot of them, but I can only pay for certain priced ones?"  I'm about to give up on the square stern and just get a regular canoe, and put a motor bracket on it.  IF, and only IF, I can make myself stop looking at/drooling over/buying rifles all the time.  

Sounds about like me.

Took me ten minutes to achieve a free float,you gonna pay an extra 300 for it?Whatever makes you  happy.I just shot the best 5 round group i have ever shot out of a rifle over the hood of a truck at 300 yards,WITH BULK AMMO!You could cover it with the cap off of a can of pringles.This rifle is like a long range version of my CZ 17 hmr when it comes to pinpoint accuracy,im blown away.I cant believe how accurate this Magtech 150 gr ammo is,$32 for 50 rounds,Im going to buy 3 more boxs tonight before they disappear.

Sounds good Nonya. I am really wanting one now if not drooling over one. If this is not a real long range rifle I don't know what is.

[just bill]

You can always remove the stock and get an aftermarket one that doesn't touch the barrel(I'll post pics of my VTR action/barrel in a HS stock when it's finished). The overall price goes up but such is life.

OR...

Do what NONYA did and remove those pressure points 

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php?topic=138323.0

I don't think you should have to swap stocks on $650 guns.................jmo

In regards to the "free float yourself".  Not sure it would perform best as such, if it's not in the design to start with.  It would likely cost less for Remington to have free floated it, rather than pressure point it, it they could.  To be free floated,  the action needs to be well bedded into the stock and in general things need to be tight and stiff.  Likely a reason it's not free floated now............in that stock.

BTW-  There is more difference between the VTR and the real Tactical than just the free float for $300 

[NONYA]

Your right,VTR has a bad-ass looking barrel with a built in muzzle break.I just shot 2 five shot groups under an inch this morning over the hood of the truck on a bipod,no bags,no vise just a bipod,I think its working just fine the way I set it up.Free floating the barrel from the stock is not going to do anything but increase consistency and remove any effect pressure from the stock may have on zero,it cant possibly hurt to do it,with or without a bedded action.Nobody said you HAVE to swap anything,I didnt swap mine out and I dont plan on it,its the most accurate rifle i own and the barrel cools very quickly while shooting 5 shot groups over and over..BTW I paid $617.

[just bill]

Free floating the barrel from the stock is not going to do anything but increase consistency and remove any effect pressure from the stock may have on zero,it cant possibly hurt to do it,with or without a bedded action.

Respectfully..........I disagree with the statement "can't possibly hurt anything".  It may not have on yours but,  I have free floated other rifles that were pressure bedded at the end of the forearm like the VTR and it did "hurt" accuracy.  IMO - free float on a bolt action,  needs to be well bedded at the receiver, a solid barrel to receiver connection and a stiff barrel  (sporters sometimes suffer).  Maybe the VTR from factory meets these needs and can be free floated as is?  Don't know............but I have had negative effects as noted above.

On a bright note-

 I read a article/reveiw in the new Shooting Times on the VTR just yesterday.  They tested the .223 / 1-9 twist.  The review was very favorable.  Accuracy testing included the average of 5 - 5 shot groups at 100, with over counter factory ammo.  On the day of testing the author reports "very high winds unfortunately" and "shot between gusts".  Still, with 2 of the 4 factory loads (55 gr) it averaged 1/2 MOA (.5's to slightly under).  With the other two heavier grain ammo's it averaged sub 1 moa (just under 1".  Given the conditions, overall the accuracy test was excellent to outstanding.  In fact he noted you would not likely find a better shooting .223 for under $800-$1000 dollars.
The muzzle brake was one of few designs he liked.............and it worked well.  The increase in muzzle blast was not significant.  Like us he felt it was one of the sharpest looking guns to hit the market in some time.  They showed pics of the stock taken off.  There are no bedding points in it at all.  He noted "a good tight fit however" and after accuracy testing noted "bedding would not likely improve its accuracy, as accuracy was excellant".  Like us he also felt it handled great,  from off hand on predators to bags at bench and was very well ballanced. 

[NONYA]

I can not understand how relieving the pressure the end of the stock is putting on the barrel could posibly reduce accuracy,maybe on a VERY thin barrel where it depends on the stock for added rigidity,not on a heavy barreled rifle like the SPS and VTR.The review is supported by every VTR owner I have talked to so far,10/10.