compare/contrast these rifles

H

howardaw

Inactive
Well, I have a little IRS money coming back and would
finally like to learn to shoot a scoped, bolt-action.
I think I want something tactical-ish. I would
appreciate a compare and contrast of the following
rifles (all in .308):

remington VS
remington PSS
remington PSS LTR
steyr SBS HBC (heavy-barrel carbine)

Also, I would like to know what I should expect to pay
for these rifles in the olympia/tacoma/south-seattle
washington area (and suggestions on good places to
buy them are much appreciated as well). Finally, if
I were to want the 26" barrel on the VS cut down to
somewhere between 20"-24", is that an easy thing to
do for a gunsmith, and what does that normally cost?

Thanks...

Howard Wilcox
 
Your homework starts with going to the manufacturer's websites to learn the retail prices. Then, the yellow pages of your friendly local phone book for gunstores and gunsmithing services. Buy a copy of Shotgun News or The Gun List from a gunstore or newstand to see the range of discounting of prices. One of the stores with gunsmithing services can give you the cost of shortening a barrel (which is no big deal).

Hanging around BSing with folks at the stores is helpful, along with feeling and fondling to see which rifle fits you the best. Browsing through a gunshow helps, as well.

My main "advice"? "Don't be in a hurry".

:), Art
 
You won't find any info about the 700PSS on Remington's site, but http://www.snipercountry.com is a good source of info on a couple of the rifles you've listed (including the PSS). If you do a search here on TFL on the 700PSS, you'll get some hits too. I paid $750 for a NIB 700PSS two years ago (in Ohio). I topped it with a Nikon Monarch scope, $365. I took my rig to the range, boresighted it, and took my first two shots at a target I had placed at 50 yds. Both shots were about 6 inches high/right, but they were touching one another! I couldn't believe it. I cleaned the barrel, adjusted the scope accordingly and let another two fly. Still off a bit, but the spread between the second two shots was less than a 1/4 inch.
Last fall a local gas station was giving away some cheap metal tokens with a certain political figure stamped on them. The token was a bit smaller than a silver dollar. Long story short, one hundred yards, three shots, two through the token! All my shooting has been from a Harris bipod and a rear bag. My expierence, FWIW.
 
I have the VS.

Here is my understanding of t he Remingtons.

1st, you have the VS. This is a 26" barrel with a synthetic HS Precision hunting stock. It come in matte with a silverish polished bolt.

2nd, the PSS. This also has a 26" barrel and is identical to the VS except that it has a HS Precision tactical type stock with wider forend and a second QD stud for a bipod and a matte black bolt.

3rd, the LTR. This is a 20" version of the PSS. Its advantage is that it is much lighter than the VS and PSS. My understanding is that there is little to no difference at all with the accuracy of the LTR vs. the PSS and VS out to 600 yards. Beyond 600 yards the VS and PSS are going to be able to outpeform the LTR due to the longer barrel. So it is a tradeoff, weight vs. long range accuracy.

I personally bought the VS. I did not want to pay the extra money for the PSS' stock and black bolt. My VS shoots 1/2" to 3/4" groups consistantly at all ranges. I have shot it at Palma matches with very good success. I have only altered the rifle by adjusting the trigger. I mounted a Leupold 6.5-20x50 Long Range Target scope on it and it works great. I recently shimmed the rear base so I could dead on at 1000 yards instead of holding over. This has created a "goosenecking" problem and so I just recently ordered a new HS Precision tactical stock with adjustable cheek piece. I am looking forward to receiving that in a month or two!

I would suggest this. If you want to go as cheap as possible, go with the VS. I bought by VS down here in the PRK for $710 out the door. That included the dealers take, tax, and fees. I think the dealer go the rifle for $570. The PSS and LTRs are going to run about $100-200 more. If you are going to use this rifle for lots of hunting and humping it along in the boonies and not so much for long range, get the LTR. If you want the more tactical looking rifle and money is not such high consideration, get the PSS.

The one thing I didn't really like about the VS is that the stock is black with whitish designs in it. Since I am a varminter, I took care of that with a custom paint job. Check it out.

http://home.bak.rr.com/elrojo/pictures/700camo1.jpg

I don't know anything about the Styer, but I know you are probably not going to be disappointed in any of the Remingtons. They are great rifles, the triggers are easily adjustable, and I have never had a problem with mine. Good luck with this agonizing decision!
 
News thus far: I have found the VS for $600, and the
steyr HBC for $900. I have yet to find the PSS and
LTR in western washington thus far...but still
looking. Since I won't be shooting past 600yds, I
think I want a 20" barrel. The problem is that the
steyr is the only one with that length that I've
found as yet. My only hesitation on the steyr (other
than the extra money) is that I've read/heard that it
takes different-than-normal bases/rings...and that
they might be less stable than the ones typically used
on remingtons. Any knowledge on that would be
appreciated, not to mention base/ring advice in
general. Finally, I might just get the VS and have
the barrel cut down, which is probably not too expensive,
and if that isn't satisfactory, I can have the LTR
stock put on it from HS precision...which leads me to
believe the LTR would be perfect, if only I could find
it. Does anyone know of a place in western washington
that sells either the PSS or LTR (if they have the PSS,
they can likely get the LTR), or an online place that
will sell it to me and ship it to my FFL?

Thanks...

Howard Wilcox
 
I have seen the Steyr for around $600. I have the tactical in .308 with a 20 inch barrel. It's at Gemtech now getting a bi-lock installed for my suppressor. I memory serves me right I paid around $700 drive out for this rifle. As far as scope mounts go the Steyr SBS uses the same base as the Browning A-bolts. As for what you read about the different bases and rings you may be thinking about the earlier models. My SSG uses special Steyr rings. My Model M professional has conetrol bases and rings. I prefer the Steyr over the Remington but you should be happy with either.
 
700 PSS

Have a 700 PSS in .243 shortened to 20" tube. A much handier option if you are going to carry it any distance.
 
M16, how smooth is the bolt action on the steyr? I've
felt remingtons, so I have a good idea what to expect,
but I haven't worked the bolt on an SBS yet. I know
this is trivial, but that sucker must be smoooooth.

tictac, did you have your PSS cut down? If so, how
much did that cost and did it affect accuracy any?

Thanks to both...

Howard Wilcox
 
Had 6" taken off of it. Its no different to 400 yd`s and barely noticable at 600. Far enough for me! It`s the same as the LTR. I have had a fair amount of additional work though, bedding, trigger, bolt lugs lapped and of course re-crown following shortening. Removing 6" and re-crown was around $100. Rifle supplied and customised by Riflecraft, England.
 
Thanks for the information tictac. I called my
closest gunsmith (ironically it is olympic arms, one
exit down I5) and he quoted me $45 (approximation of
course) for a cut-and-recrown (recessed). If I
can't find the LTR soon (and don't run into a live
copy of the steyr that wins me over), I'll likely
get the VS. The extra money can go towards optics
and ammo. Based on my other thread concerning
scopes, the IOR scopes are highly recommended (well,
one so far anyway).

BTW, do any of these rifles come with a hardcase or
just a cardboard box?

Howard
 
cardboard box.

Unless the dealer throws a hardcase in, which is probably unlikely. I bought a nice hard case, but never use it anymore. My car isn't big enough! I just stick it in the soft case for carrying it back and forth to matches.
 
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