I picked up a Rem 700 SPS LT Tactical in .308 with a 20" fluted barrel. Found a B&C light weight tactical stock to add to the mix. Have some good leads on what rings and base that I want. Looking for some tips on bi-pods. I have never used one so not sure what options are really needed. Mostly will be a range gun, and an occasional varmint / predator rig.
Looking at a Leupold VX-3 3.5-10x40mm with M1 Turrets to round it off. Debating cheek pads, but will wait till I shoot it to see.
Am set up to reload and being a Hornday fan I am going to experiment with the 168 and the 178gr A-MAX’s.
Ditch the Amaxes in favor of the new 178 BTHP’s, if you’re set on hornady bullets. Load them to mag length as you’ll never reach the lands in a factory Remington. Get a harris type-s bipod with a KMW pod loc. Shoot it a lot.
178g AMAX is a great choice and will work well on elk, deer etc. Dont over look the 208g AMAX and the VN powders that combination will suprise you. Sounds like a nice rifle. If you get a pod lock make sure its the metal one I have broken 2 of the plastic ones. I use Harris bipods but more times than not I end up shooting off the backpack.
Let me clarify. The two factory 700’s that I’ve had required seating the bullets out farther than magazine length in order to kiss the lands. If you are good with single feeding, then that’s not a problem. In a “tactical” rifle, I wouldn’t want to be single feeding.
Interestingly enough, I’ve found that every bullet that I’ve tried (JLK’s are the major exception) didn’t mind a jump to the lands. 155 SMK palma (2156) bullets are jumping .050" in one of my .308’s.
That has been my experience as well. Found out the hard way when I 1st started reloading and ended up with a single shot on a remote hunting trip. Came home and promplty adjusted all my loads to the max magazine length. That is my practice on all bolt action reloads now… : )
Thanks. Spent enough as of late, perhaps I 'll just stick with the backpack for now and keep an eye out for a deal. Lighter rifle that way too… Its worked for my hunting setups…
Install a wayats extended mag box and you will not have any issues with mag length. SMKs are not jump sensitive bergers, jlks, barns, amax and accubonds all are. I find load tunning with jump sensitive bullets to be much faster.
If your running a howa rifle mag length can be even more of an issue but you can have your smith instal a rem box mag on your howa action and get your a few more thousands of an inch just a little tip
I like it. Someone else makes them for TRIAD… I forget who.
I might like a slightly fuller bag out of personal preference, but not bad enough to buy a different version. The material is really tough and the handles are a nice feature.
I’d bed the stock with Devcon 10110 or MarineTex, consider Vortex glass, and have to debate Seekins or Warne on the rings. I like Harris bipod for the money.
IMHO Vortex is a better deal for the money, due only to the name (heritage, long-term rep, etc.). Vortex makes solid glass, impeccable CS, warranty, and vet owned. Dunno re: the turrets, etc. They have a good website…
Seekins and Warne make great stuff… if you want to drop coin, check out Badger. Thinking of Badger, if you are spendy, I’d also look into a detachable mag. Sorry I forgot that on previous post, but I’m NOT there.