Im looking at buying a Remington 700 Vls in .223.

What is a good price for this rifle? I found one locally for $500 brand new on clearence, and from what Ive seen on the Net, this seems to be a good price.

Will it perform out of the box, or can I expect to to put money into it for it to shoot MOA.

Im going with the .223, b/c I have 2 already and have all the reloading equipment necessary to reload for it.

This will primarily be a bench gun, but ocassionally it might make it out to the woods. Im hoping it will shoot as good as my friends 700 police .308.

Are the factory triggers pretty decent(4lbs or less), or will I need to get it worked on right away? Im sure it will be better than my New Englands .

I have been looking at Savages too, but I dont like the 1 in 9" twist, since Ill be shooting lighter bullets(40-45grs).

I really like this rifle, the stock is beautiful, and the action is smooth. The only thing Im worried about is the trigger pull, since the store wouldnt let me try it .

So should I buy it?

Buy it and have a blast! It should be a tackdriver with a little trigger adjustment, bedding, and load work-up. You might even try it as-is with your existing loads to see how it does. I've not seen many Remington 700 Varmint rifles of any flavor that wouldn't shoot pretty decent right out of the box, and that is a pretty fair price for the VLS model.- Sheister

It's a great caliber in a great rifle, it will probably benefit from a little trigger work ,most rifles do, but it's easily done. I agree that they are a good looking rifle. To get the best out of it don't get in a rush and run out to the range and bang away. A little extra effort breaking it in right pay's off for the rest of the time you have the rifle, not only in accuracy, but ease of cleaning as well. Don't get the barrel to hot by shooting to much to fast and clean regularly using good technique ( bore guide, coated rod etc). If you do those things I'm willing to bet that rifle will shoot better than an inch by quite a bit as long as you find the right load. I have a similar mod Rem .223 , it is tweaked a bit but mostly just broke in right and taken care of, my rifle shoots 50gr V Max's loaded to about 3,350ish into sub 1/2 inch all day long . Great rifles , you'll love it!---Shoot Safe---montdoug

I've got one & I think I paid $620 for it. It's an out of the box accurate rifle, lain & simple.
What scope are you going to put on it?

If I lived near you, and could buy one new for $500, I'd be asking where it was.

I've got one, and it shoots great. It consistently shoots in the .3's and .4's with Sierra 53 gr Matchkings, with a (one time) best of .098"! I've done nothing but adjust the trigger.

Don't pass it up because they wouldn't let you dry fire it. Get it, adjust the trigger (very easy job), and shoot it. If for some reason the factory trigger won't get to where you are happy with it, just drop in a Timney or Shilen or Rifle Basix and you're guaranteed to have no complaints.

I sure wish I had gotten mine for $500....

well, I took everyones advice and went and bought it Sat. Ill pick it up in the morning . It was being discontinued, last one they had .

Just how hard is it to lighten the trigger? Is there a link that tells you how to do it.? Ill probably be pretty satisfied with the way it is if its any thing like my friends 700 .220, or his .308 police. Like I said, Im used to my New Englands , but out of the 3 I have, I can say one came pretty decent from the factory with around a 3-4 lb pull.

I havent decided what kind of scope yet. Im used to the cheaper brands like Tasco, Simmons, BSA, and I even have a Blazer. I will probably try to find a used higher quaility one, but I dont have alot to spend on one, so I might have to settle for something a little less right now.

How should I go about breaking her in?

One last thing, Can any one recomend some good loads for this gun?
Im just getting into reloading, so I dont have alot of components yet, but heres my list of bullets and powders so far-

40gr v-max
40gr nosler bt
50gr v-max
50gr TNT
52gr matchkings

H335
Varget
AA 2520

Primers
lots of WSR's
a few CCI 450M

I will be getting some different powders soon.

Thanks

Congrats! I'm sure you'll be happy with it.

Just how hard is it to lighten the trigger? Is there a link that tells you how to do it.?

http://www.snipercountry.com/RemingtonTriggers.htm

I havent decided what kind of scope yet. Im used to the cheaper brands like Tasco, Simmons, BSA, and I even have a Blazer. I will probably try to find a used higher quaility one, but I dont have alot to spend on one, so I might have to settle for something a little less right now.

Try a Weaver. Lots of scope for the money, you'll be happy with it. Look at www.bearbasin.com , www.dnrsports.com , www.swfa.com , www.riflescopes.com .

How should I go about breaking her in?

"My" routine is... one shot and clean for the first 20 shots, then three shots and clean for the next 30 (up to 50 total now), then five shots and clean for the next 50 (100 total rounds downrange). Everyone has their own variation, but that's mine.

One last thing, Can any one recomend some good loads for this gun?
Im just getting into reloading, so I dont have alot of components yet, but heres my list of bullets and powders so far-

40gr v-max
40gr nosler bt
50gr v-max
50gr TNT
52gr matchkings

H335
Varget
AA 2520

Primers
lots of WSR's
a few CCI 450M

I will be getting some different powders soon.

You've already got what it takes. I use Sierra 53 gr Matchkings (just use your 52's) in fron of 24.5 grains of Varget, and lit by WSR primers (or CCI Benchrest if you can get them). Adjust seating depth for your rifle.

Have fun, and let us know how it works once you get some rounds through it!

Wheelin: I have a great bullet idea for you (for when you are "out in the woods with it") and your new 223. Its not on your list but it has worked so well in my 223's and I have recommended it to many Varminters with great success for them also.
Be sure and try the wonderful Sierra 50 grain Blitz bullet! They are very accurate, very cheap and very lethal! I have killed all manner of Varmints with these bullets out of my 223's.
Maybe you are aware of how highly ricochet prone the wonderfully accurate Sierra MatchKing 52 and 53 grain bullets are! They are wonderfully accurate as I have shot them a lot in the past but for Varminting or "out in the woods" extreme caution should be used with them or I myself just chose to use other bullets. You are right though they are a great performer from the bench at the range. Good luck with your new Remington VLS!
The specifics of my favorite 223 load are as follows: Federal 223 brass, Federal 205M primers, 50 gr. Sierra Blitz and 26.5 grs of H4895.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

50 gr v-max and 335,if that wont shoot you got problems.

Thanks for the help guys.

Ill be sure to try those loads. A friend of mine have a few more kinds of powder than I do, so Im going to borrow a few "samples" from him to try out.

Lightened up the trigger last night, she should be ready for break in by the weekend.

Thanks again for the help