MINI PROJECT RIFLE
REMINGTON 700 SPS TACTICAL by Laurie Holland
MINI PROJECT RIFLE -
REMINGTON 700 SPS TACTICAL by Laurie Holland
Laurie is in the process of a ‘silk purse from a sow’s ear’ rifle build which started off as an ‘out of the box’ 223 SPS Remington. The idea is to see just what we can do with a budget factory rifle without spending the earth...
Previously, the rifle had a ‘Stage 1’ tune-up job involving a smoothed action, trigger job and muzzle recrowning followed by a Third Eye Tactical bolt-knob being fitted, all this work done by Valkyrie Rifles. Then, the not particularly rigid factory stock and its internal magazine were ditched to be replaced by a Manners Tactical thumbhole model from South Yorkshire Shooting Supplies. It came with a moulded-in Badger Ordnance mini-chassis that takes an A.I. 10-round detachable box magazine.
Later still, Armalon Limited, the London based gunsmith and barrel manufacturer, fitted one of their new hammer-forged fluted barrels towards the end of last year - remaining in the 223 Rem. chambering but 26 inches long with a 1 in 7.874 rifling twist-rate compared to the Remington’s original 20 incher and 1-9 twist.
With the longer heavy profile tube on, the rifle now really looks the part, more important feels absolutely right when added to the substantial and ergonomically superb Manners stock. Although heavier than it was in factory guise, the all-up weight isn’t too great to stop it being used as a dual-purpose target and tactical rifle. Finally, to top it all off, literally and figuratively, there was the most single expensive purchase - one of Aim Field Sport’s newly arrived Sightron Series III 8-32X56 long-range riflescopes with tactical knobs and the LR-MOA reticle (long Range, Minute of Angle), the example Vince Bottomley reviewed in the November 2011 issue of TS Online.
‘Musical Scopes’ Let’s look briefly at the optical equipment up top and I’ve got to admit it’s changed again! The rifle is now on its fourth ‘scope – well I think it’s the fourth, as I’m in danger of losing count there having been so many! This isn’t a result of dissatisfaction with the Sightron, actually one of the brightest and nicest riflescopes I’ve ever used.
As I said in the last report on the project, it was much too good a bit of glass to stay on a rifle that I’d only rarely shoot beyond 300 yards and, sure enough it’s now on my .308 Barnard/Eliseo F/TR tubegun for long- range competition. Buying an equivalent specification replacement was out of the question, so it was a case of either procuring a budget varmint or tactical model, or the no cost option of seeing what I could rob off another rifle. Well, no monetary cost but one that invariably produces work and disruption. Each time I do this, the resulting game of ‘musical scopes’ seems to see five rifles end up with different examples and all that this entails in re-sighting and getting new range- settings!
Anyway, my very first ‘quality’ 30mm target scope, a Burris 6-24X50 Black Diamond, now looking a little
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