Need Some Input On New Rifle Project

[JW74]

So I am planning on putting a riffle together as a winter project. Basically I want to get a lower cost starter rifle in .308 and add a custom stock, detachable magazine, muzzle break ect.

I have it narrowed down to two candidates.

The first is a Remington 700 ADL Varmint (internal magazine/no external base plate). It has a plastic molded stock with 26" heavy barrel and is going for about $445 right now at Cabella's. I would have to add the detachable mag assembly from Wyatt's for about another $250. Then was thinking of adding a B&C Tatical Medalist stock.

The second choice is a Savage Model 11VT (exclusive to Dick's). It is a 24" heavy barrel, accutrigger and is going for $419 with an additional $75 dollar rebate. Great price ($345). I would have to spend another $150 to add new bottom metal so that it will fit the Choate Tactical stock with a compatible detachable mag.

Not including the cost of aftermarket stock the Savage is coming in at about $200 cheaper than the Rem 700. What I am wondering; is the Rem 700 worth the extra $200 dollars right off the bat?

Whatever rifle I choose I will paint the stock myself and have a gunsmith cut the barrel down to 22-23" and add a muzzle break.

Thanks for any input!

 

[riflemen]

If you can stretch your budget a little, I would go witht the remington 700 mil spec rifle, comes with an awesome HS stock, 5r barrel, and action...

Then add jewel trigger..

Add the HS precision matched detachable mag

heres mine I also added a graco adjustable butt and adjustable cheek. I had my smith cut the brl down to 17", 11 degree target crown it, and install the bolt knob...

This gun shoots better than my complete custom built 700 that cost me $6K, I also have a sako trg, and this 5r 700 is my go to longish range gun...

 

[JW74]

Riflemen thanks for the response. Those are two great looking rifles! How much (ballpark) would a mil spec remington 700 cost? I can stretch my budget a little but wanted to start on the cheaper side as I will be junking the stock on either rifle right off the bat as well as ditching the Bushnell 4x12 power scope that comes with the Savage 11VT.

Earlier this year I did get a Savage Model 12 LRP in 6.5 Creedmoor and that thing is an absolute tack driver!!

 

[JW74]

I just finished my first rifle build along with the help of my gunsmith friend Pete. I wanted to share the experience and pictures with the folks here as I did the majority of my research for the build by reading post on this forum. Tons of great info!

I started off with an off the shelf Remington 700 VS from Cabela's in .308 that I picked up for $375 new. It had a cheap plastic stock and 26" varmint barrel.

The first thing I did was replace the stock with a "Bell & Carlson Tactical Medalist Style 3 stock with hook" and also replaced the bottom metal with the "M5 Stealth DM M24 Detachable Magazine System". I also had the gunsmith cut the barrel back to 24" and add an OPS Inc muzzle break as well as a tactical bolt knob from Badger Ordinance. While that work was being done we also trashed the stock trigger and added a Timney 517 straight trigger.

This was my first time texturing a rifle stock and I did it with PC-7 epoxy. It turned out well but I would definitely use Marine-tex next time as it is easier to work with from what I can tell. I also painted the stock for the first time and wanted to do a GAP camo pattern in dessert colors. All in all I'm pleased with it. The last thing done was I had the barrel, action, bolt, base and rings Cerakoted in Flat dark earth. Finally I added a Vortex Viper HS 4-16x50 LR FFP with Horus reticle that I got a screaming cyber monday deal on. I had the scope mounted before I had any work done just to see how it shot straight out of the box. With Hornady Match 168 gr A-Max the riffle grouped 3 shots @ approx 3/4" at 100 yards. My first time shooting the rifle after having all the work done, it shot fantastic. Same ammo as before but had one group go sub 1/4" and had several 1/2" groups as well. All 3 shot groups @ 100 yards. All in all it took me about 8 weeks to put everything together and do all of the work. I really enjoyed the process, learned a lot and definitely have a lot of pride in this rifle.

List of parts for the Build:
- BC Tactical Medalist 3 stock
- M5 Stealth DM M24 Detachable Magazine System
- Tactical bolt know from Badger Ordinance
- Timney 517 trigger
- Ops Inc Muzzle Break
- BlackHawk tactical rings and 20 MOA scope base
- Vortex Viper HS 4-16x50 LR FFP w/ XLR reticle
- Bradley adjustable tactical cheek rest
- Harris 6-9" Bipod

 

[RC20]

Lets go for 5 shot groups and see how it does.

I get some amazing 3 shot groups out of my WWII 1903 Remington A3 receiver with a SC barrel, but when you go out to 5 it can range from very good 6/10 MOA to 1.5 inches.

As Bart B keeps telling us, run em up to 10 shot groups and then let me know!

I agree with him, I do like to shoot the 5s and feel good though I know its the4 larger average that counts.

I am curious the total you have into it and if there is a viable option that offered most of the mods as a package.

Still its got to be fun to build it as well

 

[JW74]

Here are 5 shots @ 1/2". Also stretched it out to 1020 yards two weeks ago with multiple hits on my 16" x 27" silhouette. I just like shooting for fun, it's a nice break from other hobbies.

 

[AllenJ]

Very nice JW74. It looks like you did good work to the rifle and ended up with a real shooter, congratulations.

 

[JW74]

Thanks AllenJ! I'm really happy with how it turned out. I plan to start reloading for it soon. Thus far I have been shooting factory ammo only.

 

[hooligan1]

Far out dude, nice rifle, nice shooting..

 

[tobnpr]

IMO, the odds on favorite for "out of the box" accuracy is going to go to the Savage over the 700.

But here's the thing... you're basically trashing the factory rifle anyway- so why not just start out with a Savage action, and an aftermarket precision barrel and build from there?

Recently completed a .260 that way with a SS Varmint action and Criterion barrel, precision ground recoil lug (those from Northland Shooters Supply), into an Accuracy International Chassis System with DBM.

The stock choices for Savages with a DBM are limited to more on the high end with Manners and McMillan- so by the time you add the bottom metal to the action you end up in the same ballpark as the AICS.

Did you check to see if the Choate is available inletted for the bottom metal you're proposing? This is one of the hurdles as well...

 

[JW74]

tobnpr, I ended up going with a B&C stock. It needed a little in-letting work to get the new bottom metal to fit.

I agree with the accuracy of the savages. I have a model 11 LRP in 6.5 Creedmoor that is a great shooter.

 

[handlerer2]

I agree with you JW.

I have owned MDL 700's in the past, and sold them all. Not there there was anything bad about them, but as I learned more about rifles in general, I realized that The Savage modular design was really quite ingenious.

When I first handled one I was sceptical about them, they just felt different than what I was used to. I owned then two Weatherbys and a Cooper varmint rifle.

My boss, invited me to shoot at his club, the Billings Rod and Gun club, one weekend and among others he brought a Savage, can't remember the model number, but it was chambered in Lazaroni Patriot. I was amazed by it's accuracy and consistency. I left really impressed with the concept of these rifles design and performance.

I'm pleased to see you came to appreciate the brilliance of the design. The ability to easily change barrels makes Savage #1 on next rifle list. Good luck and good shooting!