Rem. 700 sps tact. AAC-SD .308 opinions needed please!

[p5200]

I just did some trading for a brand new 2012 model and am putting it in a Bell and Carlson Medalist A2 style stock and plan to replace the trigger with a Timney #510 trigger.  I was hesitant due to a lot of talk on most forums about the Quality and CS. of the Remingtons going downhill in the last few years and this one being a brand new 2012 model I thought maybe I should get some opinions from people who have also, purchased a model 700 which was manufactured within the last couple of years or so. I finally, buy not touching the crappy stock without much grip or touching stock much at all managed a 10 shot group with one ragged hole measuring .697" with a flier that opened it to 1.3" at 100yds with factory Hogue stock. This was with 168 gr. Hornady A-Max over 44gr. of Varget my first, test load I just mainly wanted to make sure I didn't have a crappy barrel which some people have been saying the barrel quality has really went down with Remington. Don't know if I just got one of the better luck of the draw barrels or, if Remington was listening to all the complaints and got tighter with their QC. on the newer year models or, if it's just been a luck of the draw for quite a few years now? Since I managed to get a decent 10 round group I'm going to go ahead and purchase the new stock then next the Timney trigger. I may even put a brake on it not for the recoil but just to reduce muzzle jump while shooting from the bench. Not trying to stir things up on the subject just, would appreciate all the opinions on the most recently built models of Remington products.  Thanks for all opinions!   

[Zachary]

managed a 10 shot group with one ragged hole measuring .697" with a flier that opened it to 1.3" at 100yds with factory Hogue stock.

A .697 group is a very good group by many shooter's standards.  Most people will tell you "don't fix what ain't broke."  Well, that having been said, if you want to customize your rifle, then by all means do it.  The only suggestion that I have is instead of you getting the Timney Trigger (of which I own one), I would strongly recommend the Jewel Trigger (of which I also own one).  Specifically, I bought a Remington 700 BDL SS DM in 7mm-08 some years back, and the factory trigger was so freakin loose that it was moving left and right as much as a Hawaiian Hoola Hoop Dancer.  The gunsmith told me to get THE BEST trigger made....which is the Jewell Trigger.  I did, and I must say that it is an amazing trigger.
As for the stock, it's up to you and what feels best in your hands.  I have bought McMillan and also HS Precision, and they are both great stocks.
 
As far as  muzzle brake goes, I own several rifles with them, and I must admit that they work (I own them with the Vais MB, and another make from another gunsmith which I don't recall right now).  However, those things are so dang loud that I would never get a MB again!

Zachary
 

[gunnut69]

I second the dislike of brakes.. They work but there is a price (ain't there for everything??).

[Hooker]

The SPS tactical is a great little rifle and is capable of good accuracy It's two biggest faults are the wimpy Hogue stock and the crappy trigger.
With very careful stock placement on the rest and good handloads I was able to get results like these with a out of the box rifle.


I have since replaced the stock with a B&C tactical stock and a Timney trigger. The groups are getting smaller solid in the mid .3s  this may be all that the rifle is capable of without some metal work or better higher power glass.

Pat

[mkee]

All in all, I like it just the way it is.  Best groups with mine have been with Horn. 180gr SSTs.  One 3-shot group from earlier this year measured 0.205" over 38.5gr of  IMR4064.  It likes the 210 bergers too.