Remy 700 SPS, 223

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BoogieMan

New member
Local guy has one up for sale. Listed at $500 and says it has 30 or less rounds down the tube. I was planning a build of a 700 ADL but for what it would cost me to get to the point that the SPS is already at it seems like a bargain.
Is that a fair price for a used 700sps? What do they run new?
 
Thank you Rmart30. $500 seems a bit high for used when a new one is $520 after rebate. It is the SPS Tactical Heavy Barrel, not the plain SPS. I will offer him less after I tell him about the rebate and see if he accepts it. If not I may order a new one and have choice of cartridge.
 
The only thing I can add is that the SPS Varmint (heavy barrel) rifle has a really lousy stock. If you didn't know that already. Most folks I know swap theirs out first chance they get. The SPS Varmint / Tactical is however an outstanding choice to use as a base rifle for further customization.

Here is one of my SPS' tricked out as much as possible without replacing the original barrel.
 

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I bought the R700 SPS varmint in .308 . Fantastic potential for a very accurate shooter. OEM SPS Composite "flexi-stock" is a total cheap POS and will affect accuracy consistency if shooting off a bipod or benchrest , but that's how they keep the cost to "cheap" relative to other models. If you will definitely be upgrading the stock then go SPS , if your looking for a quality overall platform step up to something with a more rigid stock. I got mine from my LGS new for $600 (net was $550 after the rebate). The Varmint's also have a relatively slow twist barrel that will generally favor lighter weight bullets.
 
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I purchased a Rem 700 LTR 308 20" brl. nine years ago new for $900. Great rifle. The Tactical is the same rifle, I think the stock on the Tactical is better then the Varmint. The LTR comes with a HS Precision stock. Your deal seems OK as long as it has very little use. You have to be lucky even with a new rifle, not all rifles are accurate, there can be a lemon every once an a wile. that could be the reason it's up for sale.
 
Don't forget you order a brand new rifle you'll have to pay at a minimum a transfer fee. You might have to tack on shipping and tax as well depending on who you order it from. You can eat up a rebate quickly and you may have to wait several weeks to get it back. So $500 out the door maybe isn't a bad deal if the rifle is as lightly used as the seller states. However, it never hurts to ask for a better deal.
 
I bought a Rem 700 SPS Varmint in .22-250 for $436 at Dick's Sporting Goods about 3 years ago on a clearance sale for the last year's stock.
After shooting it awhile, I changed out the gritty factory trigger that had almost a 6 lb. pull for an adjustable Timney that was on sale and also changed the factory stock that was too flexible to a pillar bedded Bell & Carlson Medalist.
I then had a total of $760 invested and had improved the accuracy from the mid .6 MOA to an average of just under .5 MOA for all the loads ever shot. The best 25 hand loads now average 0.260. I like the final result and love the rifle I have now, but the factory rifle was not up to my standards for accuracy. It is a great prairie dog rifle.

I also have a CZ 527 Varmint .223 with a 1:9 twist that I paid $637 for that came with a set trigger with a trigger pull under 2 lbs. and the unset trigger with a pull of under 4 lbs. The stock is also factory and no mods have ever been made to my CZ. Out of the box, it is more accurate than the upgraded Remington 700 was from the factory and better than the final modified rifle too.

1) I don't think the $500 price for a used SPS in .223 is particularly competitive'
2) I believe that it will probably have a 1:12 twist that will restrict you to lighter bullets that are not appropriate for longer range shooting.
3) I doubt you will find the accuracy you seem to want without modifying the stock and probably the trigger. You're probably looking at another $ 300 if you are lucky with finding sales.
4) There are off the shelf rifles that might cost a bit more initially but will perform better and will be cheaper in the long run when you consider the cost of modifications needed to get the Remington SPS to perform as well as the barrel/action is capable of performing.
 
I was planning a build of a 700 ADL but for what it would cost me to get to the point that the SPS is already at it seems like a bargain.
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The only difference is a blind magazine vs cheap floorplate. I'd consider an ADL an improvement.
 
IMO, mag fed bolt action rifles are unnecessary, expensive tatci-cool wallet bait gimmicks for the typical recreational non competitive shooter. If your into multiple target engagement type shooting now that's a different discipline and obviously mag feed is mandatory..
 
An SPS Tactical Heavy Barrel is exactly the same rifle as a plain SPS. Both of 'em are entry level hunting rifles. Since you only want the action, the stock makes no difference.
 
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