Since this is uncharted territory for me, would like to ask for some input.
Looking at getting a Rem. 700 sps .308, here’s a link for the set up.
http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/97359-1.html
Going to be an all-around rifle, where the M4 leaves off in range. Some hogs and deer as well.
Anything I should know or look for or should be aware of?
Thanks.
As a general purpose hunting rifle that should work fine. For long range target shooting I would look at the SPS Tactical that sells for about the same price. Comes with a 20 inch heavy barrel and a Hogue stock. That is the “bang for your buck” for precision rifles right now.
For what you said you are going to use the rifle for, it will work just fine. Good luck with it!
Good advice.
Having the impression the 700 is pretty much the standard by which others are judged (within that price range obviously), would there be a good reason to consider any other options - objectively so not based on personal preference - or just go with the SPS tactical and KISS?
Thanks.
The 700 is basically the gold standard. Lots of aftermarket for it and it is a well known design. The Winchest/FN rifles are also very nice but a bit more money. For target use the 700 SPS Tactical is a great rifle for the money. But as a hunting rifle it might be a bit heavy if you are stalking.
The 700 is the 10/22 of useful calibers. The sps tactical is really a solid improvement over the normal 700. I like the youth model 700 as a pack gun- granted a non traditional choice, but the sheer yardage makes up for the weight. May look at 30.06 if you reload, kind of a jack of all trades as far as bullet weights, but the .308 is popular because it is that good too, and a short action at that. Yes the fnar is a nice bolt gun, but at nearly twice the price it can’t provide twice the gun. Get a 700.
-Chris-
How? Its a rem700 with a beefier barrel. Otherwise it is identical to an sps or any other rem700.
If you are not dead set on Remington, give Tikka rifles a look. They are very accurate, with a smooth action and great trigger. Handle one at a dealer near you if you can. I own 5 of them and they all shoot great.
It says “TACTICAL” on the friggin barrel, Bro.
Really though… you’re buying the barrel and the action. Once you shoot it a while, you’ll want a stock and a decent trigger.
After doing some more homework i’m getting that. Apparently changing the stock from plastic hogue to any good reinforced free-float yields improvements anywhere from .5 moa and up.
Also not hearing many terrific things about the Xmark trigger-what seems to be the main issue?
Considering the above makes me wonder what would be the ideal barrel/action combination, from which to build, given a fairly limited budget. Looking for .308, 20-24" barrel.
Any suggestions?
It’s a piece of shit. Oh, if you want specifics… it breaks like garbage, it pulls like garbage, and the worst is that it has a variable pull weight without ever having been touched. Of the 12 or so I’ve replaced, only 2 were what I would call acceptable. I wish remington would just leave the fuckn trigger out of them and charge us less for the rifle.
We’ve said rem700… plenty of times. This is the answer you’ll get on any forum on the internet when a NEW SHOOTER that doesn’t know anything asks this question. I mean, it has only been asked on every forum about 10 times a day for the last decade. 
Are you just going to keep asking until you get a different answer? Rem700 is your cheapest, most standard, and most readily available option.
If you don’t like that answer for some reason (since you keep asking)… then get a surgeon 591, and krieger barrel, and come into the big-boy pool. Just don’t forget your big-boy swim trunks.
Not on that rifle it won’t. Many of these are sub MOA out of the box. Mine was about .77 MOA. With the fancy bedded stock it is now about 0.7 MOA. On a good day 
There is no rule when it comes to restocking.
I’ve had hogue stocked sps tacticals that wouldn’t shoot better than 1.5 moa come down to .4 moa after restocking. Then I’ve had others that start as .5 moa and end as .5 moa.
However, the confidence level and positional ability after restocking was always much higher.
Indeed. I didn’t realize any gain… but I was very careful about keeping my artificial support as close to the receiver as possible before I swapped stocks. And I didn’t use a bi-pod with the rubber stock.
There are many 700 models (or so it appears) to be had in the .308, that’s kinda where I was going.
It is a bit confusing if you’re new to it.
Their website is really not helpful in explaining. Not is there much info to be found in general, geared to those that are ignorant. Like me.
This was my basic experience with my SPS Tac also.
Yes, there are 25+ Remmys. The SPS is there base gun with a good black finish that shoots well. If you don’t get the Tactical bull barrel, you can later upgrade the stock with a Bell and Carlosn or HS Precision from “Stocky Stocks.com” or some other dealer for your Sporter barrel.
If you go tactical, get the HS Precision for Bull barrels.
The quality on the SPS is just as good as most of the Remmys, so don’t think your getting a shit gun, even though there is quite a bit of refinement possible before moving into $2,500+ realm , plus $$optics.
Choose the Tactical or the SPorter, buy it and shoot it. Oh and buy it a Nightforce for a hat::dance3:
The Rem. 700 SPS is a great out of the box rifle in the price range. That can be easly upgraded. Mine started of as. This.
With std. Houge stock.
Primary arms 4x-16x 30mm scope.
Got a H/S pricsion stock and upgraded to a Bushnell 4200 3x12x 44 FFP.
Now final configeration. AI stock.
Great rifle. With 168gr. match I can get sub 1/2MOA.
I noticed nobody has mentioned Savage–Specifically the 16fcss. No Savage fans here?
Not this guy. Whenever I throw the bolt on a savage, I feel dirty.