I have had the hankering for a larger caliber gun. I plan on picking up a SCAR 17 in the long run but right now I don’t have the cash for such a project.
My local shop has a couple Remington 700 SPS and I could pick one up for about Six and a Half.
What can I expect out of one of these. Accuracy? Needed upgrades? Crap? Overpriced. Like everything else I know nothing and so rely on you all.
I own one in 308 with the varmit/tactical barrel. It shoots adequately out of the box with good glass on it. The rubber Hogue stock is not the best but there are plenty of replacements out there.
Mine is kind of a toy and it shoots well enough to have some fun out at extended ranges. There are certainly plenty of upgrades out there to improve things if you want smaller groups. Like anything else, you get what you pay for. I always put more of my budget for hunting/target setups in the glass as opposed to the rifle so the SPS fit the bill perfectly. The 700 action is the basis for a lot of serious rifles so you are starting with a good basic building block. Where you go from there is only limited by imagination and the size of your bankroll.
Sniper Central did a pretty nice write up on them that will give you a pretty good run down:
The SPS Tac is a good rifle in a crappy stock. Buy it and replace the stock and you are in it for less than a 700P.
BTW, your shop is too high on the price.
Regular SPS Tac .308 is $574 at Bud’s:
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/42070
The .223 is $550:
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/42069
My choice would be the SPS Tac AAC-SD. Bud’s last price was $595:
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/69321
You said SPS, so I assume that’s the 24" lighter contour with 1:10 twist. Although it’s still a 700 action, it’s a different animal from the highly touted tactical/varmint/police contour in 1:12. I don’t know about the plain SPS, but am very impressed with my 26" varmint. 1/2" at 100 anytime I’m trying, and that’s with the plastic ADL stock…for $450 new. So obviously I’d recommend that! The tac version is shorter (20") and questionably better stock…for $100 more? Although I am about to spend $35 to have mine shortened to 22"…http://www.snipercentral.com/remspsv.htm
ETA: I’m with austin and would definitely look hard at the AAC for $600 if you like 20", or the P version if you like that stock and appreciate the barrel finish (park vs matte blue IIRC), or the 5R SS if you decide to drop a few more coin up front. Also keep a sharp eye out for resales.
On upgrades, see how the trigger is. If it’s O.K., just shoot it. If not, you can replace your choice. Likewise with stock. 700 aftermarket stuff abounds. Personally, the only things I required were taping on cheekpad and grip, Harris bipod, and side sling swivel (I epoxied it in). YMMV. Lots of guys say a rail is important, but I’m not there yet. I think I’m going to buy a “bolt lift” from KRG.
Sorry guys. I should have been more specific. And I was wrong ont he price.
This is a Heavier barrel 20 inch gun in .308 So the Tac Version I guess. Price is $579.00 firm. Guy at the shop today also recommended the AAC.
Guess I will have to look at that.
Saw a NIB tac version for $400 a year ago and wish I had snapped it up, but at the time I was focusing on a longer barrel. If you can get the AAC version for just a little more, jump on it. If not, there’s plenty of great reviews on it. Who knows, maybe you’ll get one that shoots fine without touching the trigger or stock! Be sure to keep us updated!
The AAC 300 Blackout is a cool round but is not going to have the reach or punch that the 308 does out at longer ranges.
I have only read a little bit on the 300 BLK ballistics but I think you would be disappointed with it if you are going use this rifle out at longer ranges. I don’t advocate one round over the other, each has uses that it is best suited for. Just make sure you know what each will do and what you are expecting out of your rifle so you can match up with the best round/caliber.
300 BLK is shooting a light (123 grain for example) 308 bullet out of a necked up 223 case. You can shoot the exact same 308 bullet out of a much larger 308 case with a lot more powder behind it in the 308 rifle. This will allow you to reach a lot further (if that is your intention).
If you are already up on all of this, sorry for the lecture.
Tommy, pretty sure he’s talking about the 700AAC, which is in 308 but adds muzzle threading, 1:10 twist, and maybe some other stuff.
Yep this is correct.
300 AAC is going to be my Next AR round. 
All of the factory SPS stocks suck. The varmint models are cheap, plastic, and hollow. The tac’s houge wouldn’t be that bad if it wasn’t so damn flexible. When you shoot off a bi-pod, the forearm of the stock will flex up and actually touch the barrel. When that happens, it noticeably throws off your POI.
However, when you place the barreled actions in a decent stock, thats fully floated, they are definitely good shooters. My SPS Tac in a Choate stock is a sub .75MOA gun all day long.
Mine too. Sorry for the mix up on the AAC model. I thought it was the model chambered for 300 AAC.
Im not sure about .308, but I have one in .223 that I put in a HS Precision stock. I get .5 to .75 moa groups with 69 grain matchking handloads in it. Great rifle for the price imho.
Not sure about the .308 but I also have a SPS varmint (.223) that I have been happy with. As mentioned, the Hogue leaves some to be desired in the way of stability but it works well for me as a coyote/varmint gun. It provides positive grip in wet conditions and doesn’t seem as cold to hang on to as other synthetic stocks. The last time I shot it I put 10 shots in .75" shooting off my range bag. All things considered, I’m a happy camper.
I’m not sure how others feel about it, but I like the x mark pro as well.
I got a used but unfired SPS Tactical a few weeks ago for $550. Then I ditched the Hogue stock as soon as I could and found a used HS Precision stock for $150. I haven’t shot it yet, but will soon with some 168 and 175 grain ammo I just received a few days ago. Sans the scope, rings, mount and bipod, not bad for a $700 budget build. 
The X Mark trigger is really crisp and creep-free, and feels great.
I’m currently selling my Savage now since this is the replacement. But both brands have their strengths and weaknesses. I did have to polish the feed ramp and rails on the Remington a little as it would not feed rounds while just testing it as they would sometimes jam.
Outlaw Don,
What is your Savage are you selling?
It’s a 12FVSS .223 Stainless. Very accurate. It’s in the classifieds (not to hijack). Just need to recoup some funds for the SPS Tactical project.
I think they are a great bang for buck rifle. I’m actually selling mine tomorrow so I decided to take it out one last time yesterday. Top groups is 10 shots 168gr Handloads(.790") and the bottom is 5 shots 168gr FGMM(.883"). Both groups shot at 100yds.
I have a stock SPS Tac. The first time I took it out I messed up and forgot all my good ammo. This is what it did with Wolf .308 off of a bipod no rear bag at 100 yards.
That is exactly why I question people who say the stock and trigger are junk. Sure, you’d lose a heated competition to guys with McMillans and Timneys, but for the overwhelming majority of average shooters, an out of the box 700 varmint contour rifle is pretty darn great. Once I realized mine was a shooter (in spite of the stock/trigger), I went to work adding a sling stud and epoxy, and I may yet sand off the pressure points at the tip, and if it stops shooting, I may practice my free float epoxy skills…Knowing that I can always throw that stock out and slap it in a $200 B&C or used HS and go right back to 1/2" at 100.
The biggest gripe I’ve heard about the x-mark trigger is inconsistency. I’ve never had an issue with mine, and its stayed set at 2 1/2lbs since I got the rifle almost 2 years ago.
For kicks, heres a pic of my stick:
