It's sorta subjective nowadays as to what it means and why models are labeled as such. A rifle being labeled as Tactical doesn't mean it will be used for such a purpose obviously. All of my rifles are of that variety(heavy barreled bolt actions, HS precision stocks attached, yada yada) and I love them all. I just picked up a SPS Varmint last week and off comes the stock and it will be outfitted with the HS Precision PST12 stock that comes with a 700 Police. I haven't shot the SPS yet and even if it shoots 1/4" groups, that stock has got to go. Its the cheapest thing I have ever held in my hands. The entire rifle is weighted wierd because the stock has no weight.
They necessarily aren't more accurate than a model with a thinner barrel(the 700 Mountain rifle I had in .30-06 shot almost as well[sub-MOA]) so I can't use that as a reason why I prefer them. I like the Palm swells on stocks(some hate them right GB?) so that's a plus.
Take the 700 XCR Tactical, the LTR(light tactical rifle), the new VTR, and the SPS Tactical....
The VLS, VSF, Senderos, VS SF, SPS varmint are the same as the XCR and SPS tacticals, they all have varmint barrels of the same diameter(some are fluted), all offer pretty much the same calibers, and all have stocks that have reinforcements to ensure accuracy and durability.
It just depends on the consumer and what they like and what turns them on. I get turned on by heavy barreled varmint/tactical/sniper rifles
I use them for hunting just as I would any other rifle, just need a comfy strap. Although yesterday in the Bolt Rifle section, I admitted to hating carrying them for deer in PA. The furthest shot would have been maybe 50 yards, and that doesn't work with a 10x scope. So this year when I hit PA, I'm taking a 7600 in .308, I'm not even going to put a scope on her.
*lesson for the day...
The 700 Police used to be called the PSS(Police Sharp Shooter). People moaned and groaned about that name so Big Green changed it to appease the public who deemed it offensive
So if you're at some longrange or sniper forums and you see a 700 PSS being mentioned, it's the same as a 700P.
Here is a review of the rifle some of us have(SPS Varmint)...
http://www.snipercentral.com/remspsv.htmIt shot very well out of the box but by simply changing the stock, he made it into a Police. Why and how?
Because the SPS Varmint has the same exact action/barrel the 700 Police has so I figured I could build it slightly cheaper than buying an actual 700P(available to anyone, Not just Officers) from a dealer, and still get the new Trigger(the Police doesn't have it) and have 15 colors available to me when ordering. I cancelled the all Black one and changed it to OD Green
