Project 7mm08 Shorty

S

Saltydog235

New member
A little background. Last season I bought a Savage 10 Precision Carbine and loved the feele and handling of the gun from the moment I put my hands on it. My only problem is that it was in .308 which there is nothing wrong with, just not my favorite deer cartridge. That sparked a quest for a heavy barrelled 7mm08, which consequently no one offered in a factory chambered rifle or did they. I priced Savage making the PC for me in 7mm08, custom builds and other options, none made great sense to me.

Then I stumbled onto a Remington SPS Vamint chambered in 7mm08 at Buds and snatched it up. Well, it arrived on Friday last week. Now I realized it was likely to need some work and modifications to be ideal but I wasn't prepared when I opened the box. I initially thought I'll put a scope on it and shoot it as a baseline then document the improvements. When I pulled that gun out of the box I was severely disappointed, what a complete peice of crap. I've seen nicer stocks on Red Ryders and children's toys that that thing has. The 3lb factory X Pro was more like 6lbs and the adjustment screw is out of the shoe to the point where I'm sure I'll be missing meat after the first recoil in order to get it to the 2.5lbs I like.

Well, I wanted a project and I got one. I'd already ordered a B & C Medalist to drop in and the Badger Knob to replace the factory one. Looks like I'll be in the market for some Wyatt Bottom Metal too. Probably be replacing the factory trigger with a Timney, Jewell or Rifle Basix. And this 26" barrell is getting cut down to 20" and recrowned. Then all the metal will be Ceracoated in a earth brown color.

Yep it's going to be a project but from now on, I'm just going to buy a Savage over the Remington.
 
Nice choice.
I think the SPS stock is similar to the one the VTR we purchased last year.
It came off after a few weeks for a B&C Medalist and accuracy improved noticeably.

Good choice in the 7-.08. I just bought a Savage "shorty"- an older FM Sierra in that caliber, with a 20" factory barrel. It's not a varmint or bull contour, and since it's going to be a bench-and not a hunting gun, a re-barrel is planned. But, I'm gonna see how it shoots first with the factory barrel. I might be surprised...
 
To me, there's no better factory standard and readily available cartridge for southern whitetails than the 7mm08. It offers much more than the .243, a fine deer round in itself and a little less than the .308. While not as popular as the other two its a very good compromise of both. I've loved the chambering since I purchased a Sako in it but don't like dragging my Sako through the swamps and up into tree stands.

I've never been a Remington loyalist though do recognize them as a fine action with many upsides. I knew I was going to change this platform from the beginning but cannot express how disappointed I was when I first picked up the gun out of the packaging.

The gun will get to where I want it to be, its just going to take time and patience to get it exactly right for my tastes. And truth be told, it'll end up costing me about the same as if I had ordered the Savage PC chambered in 7mm08 to begin with. Oh well, projects are fun.

Now, I wonder if I can even sell the SPS stock and what's a fai price to ask for it?
 
I hate that you're not happy with your purchase.. and I am also a little confused.

You bought this knowing you would make the following changes:
1.Replace Stock
2.Cut Barrel/recrown
3.Badger Bolt knob
4.Presumably you already had planned to CeraKote it since you knew you would be cutting and recrowning the barrel.

You did not expect to/know you would be changing the:
1.Trigger
2.Bottom metal

Based on what you said, to me it seems like you were disappointed in a rifle that you knew would require a lot of work. The 2 surprises don't seem like it should be the overwhelming source of disappointment when you knew ahead of time there would be a laundry list of upgrades.. Am I missing something?

And I'm thinking if it shoots really well, it will suddenly be a lot more likable :)
 
My disappointment stems more from the total lack of quality in the original factory stock. I had heard they were cheap but wasn't ready for what it was even though I knew I'd be changing it. I would just expect more from Remington for the $600.00 I paid for it. Heck the factory Savage PC stock is worlds better not to mention the trigger and it didn't cost much more than that.

I also didn't expect the trigger adjustment screw to project into the trigger shoe area by 1/8th of an inch to get to 2.5lbs of pull. My fingers aren' huge but I can feel that screw when I caress it.

The bottom metal swap will allow me to use the 300+ rounds of handloads I have for my Sako without seating them deeper which will be required if I stay with the stock magazine well. Provided the gun likes them, which it very well might not. The gun chambers them fine, the factory mag well is too short by just a little to allow them to seat.

I'm sure you are right, if the gun shoots like I expect it to, then all of my disappointment will vanish and this will become my fun gun.

The knob replacement is more a function of like/dislike. To me, the Remington factory bolt knobs are about the ugliest one put on any bolt action ever made. The Badger is larger and more asthetically pleasing to me and it looks pretty cool when done right.

The Ceracoate will probably be the final step in the process after everything is finalized. Its really just a personalization than anything of function. I thought about having the gun dipped in an Old School Treebark but decided I'd get tired of that. So, I went with the Olive stock and black web and think all the metal coated in the Dark Earth will look quite nice. Before I do it though, I'll have to settle on a scope. For the time being its going to wear a Leupold VXIII 3.5X10X50 in Weaver Tactical 6 lug rings I have sitting in the safe.

I'm even kicking around the possibility of having the barrel threaded for a supressor but don't know if I would ever get one so that may not even be feasible but definitely more doable while they are cutting the barrel.
 
I just would never buy a gun sight unseen. I have to try the trigger, look at the stock etc etc before I dump my money. I did that when I bought my Remington and I am completely satisfied. Good luck on the project! :D
 
That definitely makes more sense.. I only ask because I'm a long time Remington fan, and think Remington generally is getting a worse wrap than they deserve. I like to understand what people have to say that aren't happy with Remington. Thanks for your time!

I won't argue, though.. Savage is always a good choice ;)
 
I just would never buy a gun sight unseen. I have to try the trigger, look at the stock etc etc before I dump my money
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Normally I wouldn't either. However, Remington no longer chambers the SPS or any heavy barreled gun in the 7mm08 cartridge that I found, no one does without spending more than I wanted to initially. This gun was sitting at Buds in inventory so I purchased it. I own a few Remington's and have handled plenty over the years and just didn't remember the SPS stock being so poorly manufactured.

As I said, its a project gun and I like projects. I'm going to keep this thread up as I do the work and post up some Starting - Finish pics of the build up.
 
The B & C Medalist arrived last night and was switched out very easily even though I had an 18mo and 3yo for assistants. Better enjoy this one while I can, the 18mo old was already trying to lay claim to it.

Man what an upgrade over the factory stock.

Base and bolt knob should be here today or tommorrow.

Still kicking around biting the bullet and going ahead and getting the Wyatt Kit now.

I can't wait to mount the glass and touch off some powder in this one.
 
I had the same rifle but in 223.
You should try shooting it with that stock.
I didn't like the stock either but once I shot it I didn't mind too much.
My first group measured 1.25" from 200 yards.
 
I doubt my assessment would matter much to Remington as they are in the business of selling as many guns as possible and sometimes that means cutting corners.

If you're happy with that flimsy plastic peice of junk, that's your perogative. I prefer a certain degree of quality when I spend my money.
 
Then you should have purchased a barreled action and gone the "other way". If you knew you were going to change the stock why are you bitching about the factory stock????? As for the trigger, if you had done any research at all this wouldn't have been a surprise..... AND, if you paid 500.00 at Bud's you didn't get any bargins.......
 
Then you should have purchased a barreled action and gone the "other way". If you knew you were going to change the stock why are you bitching about the factory stock?????
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Where did he say he knew he was going to change the stock when he purchased the rifle- did you read his post?

When I pulled that gun out of the box I was severely disappointed, what a complete peice of crap. I've seen nicer stocks on Red Ryders and children's toys that that thing has.
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There are mixed reviews of the SPS stocks online. Most mimic the OP's opinion. Either way, he did not purchase the rifle knowing he was going to need to replace the stock.

While we're at it, post a link for a new 700 barreled action, and it's cost...

Just like Savage, usually the only way to build off these rifles is to buy the cheapest model you can find, ditch the crap stock, sometimes the factory barrel, and go from there. Bare actions cost almost as much as the finished rifles- if you can even find them.
 
In the future if you are considering a Savage rifle in an unusual caliber/barrel configuration you may want to check out ER Shaw's website. They are a barrel maker that also makes semi custom rifles based on Savage actions.
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ER Shaw was an option, but their 16-18 month lead time to assemble the parts and lack of options killed that for me. Savage would have made the PC in 8 weeks but the cost would have been $1200 for the same rifle I already have and purchased for $700 in .308.

I could have bought a barreled action, I could have taken a rifle I already owned and canibalized it or had a custom builder make me one on say a Stiller or some sort of action. The entire point of this is to build MY rifle, set up the way I want it to be from a FACTORY Standard caliber and components using as much off the shelf drop in type parts as I can while not spending $3000 on virtually the same thing as a custom make would cost.

If you're butt hurt because I called the SPS stock a peice of crap the get over it because it is. Its pathetic and sad that a company would put that on a gun carrying their best model number. Heck send me $50.00 and I'll let you have this one, its taking up closet space.
 
As for the trigger, if you had done any research at all this wouldn't have been a surprise..... AND, if you paid 500.00 at Bud's you didn't get any bargins.......
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Reviews for these triggers are mixed and I don't believe everything that I read on the internet. It may actually stay since the new stock sets my finger back and lower like I am accustomed to on my other guns.

No other rifles/actions on the market are chambered in a varmint barrel contour in the 7mm08, even the SPS varmint is no longer chambered in 7mm08, this is the most inexpensive way to start the build. Especially when you start looking at setting up a Shillen, Kreiger, Hart etc barrel on a bare action thats already cost as much as a finished rifle does. I explored most available options and it worked out this would get me out near the Savage Custom money but I get to do it myself as a project.
 
Where did he say he knew he was going to change the stock when he purchased the rifle- did you read his post?
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From the original post:

Well, I wanted a project and I got one. I'd already ordered a B & C Medalist to drop in and the Badger Knob to replace the factory one.
Click to expand...
 
Well, I finally got the base and dropped an old Leupold VXIII I had on it and hit the range. I also added the Badger Knob.

Yeah, I'm going to have a very hard time cutting the barrel off this one the way it shoots. The Ugly Duckling got a facelift and is a thoroughbred at the range. After bore sghting the old fashioned way, I had it cutting a BE at 100 in 3 shots. Then I shot it for group 5 groups, 5 rounds each. The only group to have a flier was the second one if .75" is a flier, all other groups all shots were touching in one ragged hole.

The Start
101_0055.jpg

The Facelift
101_0058.jpg

The Temp Solution
101_0073.jpg


Still got some things to do and wants plus deciding on the final glass it'll get but I'm pleased with the way this thing is shooting so far and I've only tried one load.
 
I know this thread may be dead, but I want to weigh in. I happened upon a used SPS in 7mm-08 and got to range test it before I bought it. It shot like a house afire bone stock with factory loads, but of course the stock and trigger weren't what I was going for. Barrel and action seemed solid, so I nabbed it.

I used the rifle for a long range shooting class and without even dialing, making hits from 200-500 on 16inch steel. I'm planning on swapping the glass it came with (older VXii-xc) out with VX-3 3.5-10x40 I have.

Salty, did you ever get around cerakoting? Chop the barrel? What about optics?

Love the stock you choose. I'm looking at B&C's today.

Thanks,
Jze
 
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