So I have a chance to pick up a Remington Model 700 for a good price. About $80 under list. It's the SPS model, which is ugly as hell, but is it still the good ol' 700 underneath the matte finish?

It seems too good to be true, I have a Bushnell Elite 3200 sitting in it's factory box, I bought for another project. 3-9x40mm. It's a gloss finish but I have the receipt and it's still within in exchange period so I can swap for a matte scope.

I've never owned a 24" barreled '06 before, only 22" tubes, and have always wanted to throw 180gr Partitions at moose at around 2800 fps, whihc is a pipe dream with the 22" barrels I've owned.

If it really is just a Model 700 with an ugly finish, a trigger workover, bedding the action, and making sure the barrel is floated should have it shooting like a dream, so if anyone has a 700 SPS, I'd like to hear about it! What kind of velocities are the 24" '06's getting with 180's?

Personally, I'd toss it in a Ti take off and shorten the tube to 21", add Talley's and a 6x36 Leo with LR dotz in it and go forth and fill up an ark!

Mark D

I would put a 26" barrel on it if your after 2800 with a 180. My 22" 30-06 wont do 2700 with a 180.

Short barrels are for pistols.

Just funnin, Mark.

I hand piceked a Mossin Nagant with a good bore, then shortend the barrler from 26.5" to 20" and then removed the rear sight making a scout scope mount for it, then but a Bushnell pro point in Red and Geen colers with the 4 differnt reticals, put a Sportersed stock on it and have a nice little brush gun that I can drop in the swap and not give a hoot...

I have it zerod for 70 Yards and can hit 12OZ pop cans at 5 yards with it.... I will have to post pics latter

quote:

Originally posted by RMiller:
I would put a 26" barrel on it if your after 2800 with a 180. My 22" 30-06 wont do 2700 with a 180.

Short barrels are for pistols.

Just funnin, Mark.

My M-70 with a 22" barrel does 2800+ with 180s
Are you using RL-22?

quote:

Originally posted by vapodog:

quote:

Originally posted by RMiller:
I would put a 26" barrel on it if your after 2800 with a 180. My 22" 30-06 wont do 2700 with a 180.

Short barrels are for pistols.

Just funnin, Mark.

My M-70 with a 22" barrel does 2800+ with 180s
Are you using RL-22?

This seems to be a "must do" when reloading the .30-06. I got my Dad's '06 to 2790fps before backing off a bit and still hitting 2760fps average with RL-22. Even if I can only pick up 100fps with the extra 2" of barrel I'm well past my target velocity, which is why I'm kinda hankering for a 24" '06.

My 22" 06 will run 180's @ 2800 with R22 as well, but......I am hammering the hell out of it to get it there.

No thanks for me, I'll gladly do 2700 and lope along with ease.

Dober

Mikey, to your question, I think the rig you have a shot at is a great platform for a good 'beater' that would be a damn good shooter. You should definitely be able to hit you velocity goal with that barrel.

I say swap your scope for a matt finish version, and go shoot it and see what happens.

The great thing about the Remmie platform, is that putting something like a Timney trigger on there is pretty simple, and very available, as are all aftermarket stuff, it's just flat out the most available stuff for any action design available.

I've seen a so-so shooter turn into a tack driver in the Remmies by just swapping that trigger, or tuning up the original. Put her together and let us know how she does.

These are my 30-06 180 grain loads.

180 core lokt

R22 62 = 2614
H4831 62 = 2668,2649
H4350 58 = 2651, 2698


180 Rem cor-lokt
H414
53.5----2510
54.5----2607
55.5----2630, 2627 These look good

quote:

Originally posted by MikeyB:
If it really is just a Model 700 with an ugly finish, a trigger workover, bedding the action, and making sure the barrel is floated should have it shooting like a dream

Haven't worked with the SPS at all but I wonder if you can effectively glass bed this sort of plastic stock?

Nordrseta One one glass beds a plastic stock one has to make sure he roughens up the inside good and use built in locks.

I drill holes at differant angle all along the area to be bedded just don't drill all the way through.

quote:

Originally posted by nordrseta:

quote:

Originally posted by MikeyB:
If it really is just a Model 700 with an ugly finish, a trigger workover, bedding the action, and making sure the barrel is floated should have it shooting like a dream

Haven't worked with the SPS at all but I wonder if you can effectively glass bed this sort of plastic stock?

I've actually never bedded an SPS before so I have no idea what to expect when I pull it apart. p dog shooter is right though, you can probably rough the surface with some 40-grit to give it a better surface for bedding.

I was at a military collectible show today but the gun shop was closed afterwards, gonna have to head down after work and do the scope swap - I really think this project might go somewhere unless something fancier catches my eye!

It's possible to build a nice rifle out of an SPS by replacing the stock, trigger, bottom metal, recrowning and giving it all a nice bead blast. Not cheap. I have two (243 and 7mm08) which I love.

As it comes it's coarse and the stock is pretty awful. The sling studs are reputed to pull out in the cold and the whole is not very stable.

I would buy a remington classic stock from ebay ($150max)reblast it ($40max)(is it a stainless?) ideally get some williams bottom metal ($worth it), recrown and get the trigger worked. Leupold lows and fixed power scope from ebay.

I get 2800 out of a 24" SS Douglas barrel

55 gr IMR 4350 behind a 180 gr Nosler AB

Get out a pencil and do the math to see if it makes sense to build.

On another similar thread some guys are suggesting a Savage purchase or even a Stevens for less than $300 as these are sub-MOA from the get go. Check out Savage Shooters.com

For a little more a Tikka T3 or a Mauser action CZ 550 are loved too.

My primary reason for the Remington is that I have done work on Model 700's before, familiarity breeds confidence for me. My last CDL was glass bedded with some stock work and a Timney trigger and it was a great gun, I did a BDL for my Dad that does .5 MOA and then started doing a few others with great results. I've never so much as pulled a Savage apart, not that I doubt they are great shooters, but once I've found a good thing I tend to stick with it.

I actually already have a Tikka T3 Lite as my carry rifle for deer and it's a hell of a shooter!

The project is sort of on hold as another deal came up for a 700 barreled action in .30-06 in gloss finish instead of matte - might look nice in a Hunter's EDGE stock... Desicions!

If you're truly talking "beater" , here's mine. What my hunting Uncles used to call a "Truck Gun" or "Pick-up Gun" ,because it's the one you pick-up as you're heading out.

I took an old Yogo '98 8mm , bent and shaped the bolt handle, mounted a Redfield Receiver sight, shortened the forend and added a Krag barrel/swivel band. After a bedding job it will shoot 1" 100 yd groups with 220 gr. Sierra semi spitzers and 45gr of IMR 4350.

One hell of a good Black Bear, Cougar or whatever when you need it rifle. If it gets a ding or two, it's considered character.

I know you guys love reloader 22, but just to be different you could try some VV N-560. you should get similar velocitys with it, if not better. it really seems to take off in the 06 based cartridges!

try some and tell us how you get on.

In regard to using a savage, they have one of the better barrels on them for the american made rifles, but the actions arnt as strong as a rem700. and you cant beat strength

quote:

Originally posted by D B Cooper:
If you're truly talking "beater" , here's mine. What my hunting Uncles used to call a "Truck Gun" or "Pick-up Gun" ,because it's the one you pick-up as you're heading out.

I took an old Yogo '98 8mm , bent and shaped the bolt handle, mounted a Redfield Receiver sight, shortened the forend and added a Krag barrel/swivel band. After a bedding job it will shoot 1" 100 yd groups with 220 gr. Sierra semi spitzers and 45gr of IMR 4350.

One hell of a good Black Bear, Cougar or whatever when you need it rifle. If it gets a ding or two, it's considered character.

I have an old Enfield that would probably do the trick. I can't remember if it's a No.1 or a No.4 but it's already been "bubba'd". 10 rounds down can't hurt for utility, I just want something with a little more pop and easier to get bullets in, but I have a carton of 180gr. .303 ammo from Federal with the Speer Hot Cor I think. I should dig that thing out of my old man's safe and see what the sights are like.

quote:

I have an old Enfield that would probably do the trick. I can't remember if it's a No.1 or a No.4 but it's already been "bubba'd". 10 rounds down can't hurt for utility, I just want something with a little more pop and easier to get bullets in, but I have a carton of 180gr. .303 ammo from Federal with the Speer Hot Cor I think. I should dig that thing out of my old man's safe and see what the sights are like.

That would work. Mount a scope on it, cut the barrel down to 20-22", add an inexpensive after market synthetic stock and you've got a good beater rifle.

Get some sort of 8mmx57 Mauser, mount a scope forward (scout) and remove a lot of wood from the military stock.NO MORE THAN THAT. Greatest knock about utilitarian big game rifle you will ever need.NON BETTER. roger

i bought a 700SPS SS in 300WSM for my brother a couple of years back. Every load i have made for it has shot under 1.25" 3shots 100 yds, with most under 1". Think i paid 519 for it, think i got a pretty good deal.

My beater is a VZ24 in 9.3x62mm, built over 10 years ago. Has a nice stock (a cheap on sale Royal), but it has evolved into my #1 African rifle. Be careful how much love you put into your beater!!
LLS

Well, big mistake I made... walked in to a local shop and saw they had a sale on Vanguards. The whole kit and kaboodle! Scope w/lens covers, rings, bases, sling, swivels, and a case. Regular is $680, guy was trying to talk me into one for $600 taxes in. He didn't have a .30-06 though, just a .300 Weatherby, might be a bit much for a 24" barrel. Gotta mull over this new development...