Savage Precision Carbine, 700 SPS Tactical

[turkish]

I've been wanting a bolt-action .308 lately and find myself drawn to the compact, tactical styles of the Savage Precision Carbine and Rem 700 SPS Tactical. Both have 20" heavy barrels. I really like idea of the shorter barrel. I think both guns come with pillar bedding of some sort in the stock.

Any first hand feedback on these guns? Would be used for deer hunting and fun at the range (less than 300 yards). All things equal, I like the Savage a bit better, but it is $100+ higher priced.

 

[dtd80]

No experience with either but I have shot similar rifles. Both will serve you well. I find if you like to tinker and change out stocks/triggers, go with remington. If you plan on just slapping on a scope and going with it, go savage. With a bedded stock and accutrigger, it's hard to change for the better in the savage. I'm partial to remington because i'm a tinkerer so good luck. And update us!

 

[sandman7925]

I agree with dtd80, however aftermarket parts are becomeing more available for Savage.
MY vote is the Savage

 

[turkish]

No experience with either but I have shot similar rifles. Both will serve you well. I find if you like to tinker and change out stocks/triggers, go with remington. If you plan on just slapping on a scope and going with it, go savage. With a bedded stock and accutrigger, it's hard to change for the better in the savage. I'm partial to remington because i'm a tinkerer so good luck. And update us!

Good points with the aftermarket comparison. I am NOT a tinkerer when it comes to guns (little confidence in my ability to not make things worse). +1 for the Savage. Thx.

 

[cajun 22]

I have the 700 SPS tac AAC SD. I bought it knowing I was going to change the stock and run a can on it. So it made better sense to get that one. The gun shoots lights out with the changes I have made. But a friend bought the Savage and out of the box it is a better shooter with a better trigger. If you do not plan to do anything like change the stock or make any other mods, I would vote the Savage.

Good Luck

 

[kengel2]

I think the savage is easier to tinker with. You can do a barrel/caliber swap in your garage with some headspace guages. More parts are becoming available for the savage rifles and they shoot good out of the box.

I still like my remington though, and with all the aftermarket parts available for them it makes it an obvious choice.

That being said, Remington has a 20" 5R available with a threaded barrel from one of their distributors, I would buy that if I was right handed.

 

[dtd80]

You are correct with the barrel swap. I was just referring to aftermarket parts like stock options, triggers, receivers, etc. The barrel swap for a savage is easy peasy but as for options as the ones I've listed, there are a LOT more options for the remington.

But either one would definitely serve the purpose. I think the more difficult choice would be scope options. Hehe.

 

[Ritten]

Yup

 

[turkish]

I think the more difficult choice would be scope options. Hehe.

For sure! Conquest 4.5-14x44 is on my list for now. I am still reluctant to venture to a reticle other than the trusty duplex, so that eliminates some interesting candidates.

 

[Barney88PDC]

Duplex is garbage. You cannot do anything but hold crosshairs. Buy a reticle that you can actually use. All reticles have a center like a duplex but if it has graduations then you can use those graduations for hold overs or knowing how much adjustment you need to make based on the graduations.

See the stickie in the lights and optics section for further explanations of how to USE the reticle. http://www.bayoushooter.com/forums/...ing-and-understanding-Tactical-Style-Reticles

And what ever you do DO NOT get a Mil based reticle with MOA turrets.