Ruger Precision Rifle vs. Remington 700 for Beginner .308?

[diver160651]

The 700 SPS he linked to was a sporter barrel model without a free floated barrel.
There would be a huge difference between it and an RPR after about 2-3 rounds fired per hour as the RPR has a heavy barrel which is free floated.
The heavy barrel helps handle the heat MUCH better so the barrel is not deflecting as much when it heats up.
The free floated barrel is generally more accurate as it it reduces the deflection from the front rest.

This plus:

The adjustable comb and LOP on the RPR can make a HUGE difference in recoil management and use of scope (reducing parallax error with changing cheek weld), the weight of the RPR will tame the recoil further and if the Remington SPS is used on a bipod or resting on a fence the plastic Remington stock can effect the barrel harmonics.

So yes, the RPR for long range shooting should be easier for most shooters over the the super light SPS with sportier barrel. However if you caring the rifle for three days up and down steep hills the weight of the RPR would become old very fast.

[ar15barrels]

The adjustable comb and LOP on the RPR can make a HUGE difference in recoil management and use of scope (reducing parallax error with changing cheek weld)

New shooters usually don't even know how to properly set any of that up or why it's important though so it's of little benefit until they actually learn...
How many new shooters have you seen that got behind a gun properly without someone showing them what proper form was?

[rawfuls]

I'm gonna go ahead and jump in here and offer nothing but some opinions.

I was kind of in the same situation as you; I wanted to get into long range shooting to see if it was going to be fun/interesting, and worst case it'll be a safe queen.

As a person who has the closest range of ~100 yards/meters/feet, it's really not that great.
You're shooting at targets, MAYBE, 100 meters away.

I personally, picked up a Remington 783, which is the budget 700; not a terrible shooter.

Unless you have some SERIOUS long ranges near you, I'd say try it before you commit to a serious rifle.
Maybe pick up a cheaper .308, like a Savage American and grow out of it into a RPR, then hand the American to new shooters and keep shooting the RPR if you get big into it.

I'd really encourage you to research until you get tired of researching then do a bit more. After you feel like you have a solid grasp on all the technical information, then start looking into which rifle is really good for you.
Pay a visit or two to a couple of rifle ranges near you, ask politely for some advice from some of the LR shooters and they'll usually let you try their own rifle.

If you STILL think you're into LR/precision shooting, then you should have enough knowledge/research to choose or at least narrow down your rifle.

I hope I'm not coming off as rude.
I made my impulse buy on the Remington 783 a little too quick, with very few ranges nearby (or at least ranges that I regulate), I just don't find the need to explore larger ranges just to do some LR shooting when I can satisfy my clay/AR shooting nearby; if that makes sense.

Do some research, try some out, and make an informed decision before you let the gun bug take over.

[milotrain]

Rawfuls, All good points. But you have a number of good big distance ranges as close to you as is reasonable for LR shooting.

One thing that many people don't realize maybe is that unlike pistol or clay shooting LR shooting is such that you will be driving long distances to play. You need to be ok with a two hour trip radius to shoot LR. Some are lucky and are closer to such ranges, the vast majority are not. Additionally you need to spend time at different ranges, LR shooting is about wind reading and that is about experience. You only get that going to different ranges.

[diver160651]

Ruger Precision Rifle vs. Remington 700 for Beginner .308?

Shoot a Rugar American or similar weight Remington vers a 11lbs RPR.. And you immediately see the difference new or seasoned shooter..




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[ar15barrels]

Shoot a Rugar American or similar weight Remington vers a 11lbs RPR.. And you immediately see the difference new or seasoned shooter..

[diver160651]

Ouch --- lightweight hunting rifle?


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[ar15barrels]

Ouch --- lightweight hunting rifle?

"you gotta have a super duper ultramagnum to hunt <insert game here> these days..."

[killshot44]

Lemme guess: 300WM and a cheap scope w/no eye relief.
First shot.

[Scout1520]

I don't understand the hard on for remington 700s anymore. They used to be the only reasonable option because they were the only bolt actions with after market support. Now you buy the brand new rifle to replace everything by the action- its like buying a complete AR then "customizing it."

Just buy a bolt action savage. They are cheap and have great out of the box accuracy plus the awesome accutrigger. If you decide you want a different stock you still have all the same options as the Remington.

[TMB 1]

I don't understand the hard on for remington 700s anymore. They used to be the only reasonable option because they were the only bolt actions with after market support. Now you buy the brand new rifle to replace everything by the action- its like buying a complete AR then "customizing it."

Just buy a bolt action savage. They are cheap and have great out of the box accuracy plus the awesome accutrigger. If you decide you want a different stock you still have all the same options as the Remington.

[diver160651]

Ruger Precision Rifle vs. Remington 700 for Beginner .308?

Scout1520 -- that's not exactly true.. Your still going to find more stocks, triggers and smiths selection for the 700's.. For instance, I prefer Huber 2 stage triggers, and while some companies like AI offer Savage chassis your most like not going to find the AX or newest offerings..

Don't forget that the 700 footprint is the form factor that the lions share of readily available custom actions -- sans some BR and larger than 338.

Some of the long actions a very limited in after market offerings like the 110BA ....

Anyway, all the brands can be very good... But first and foremost the user should choose the "type" of gun best suited to their planned use.




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[Sky_DiveR]

Why does everybody keep saying the RPR is $1k when the MSRP is $1.4k? I haven't run across one to even see if I want one. Did Ruger ship out just one batch?

[bsumoba]

Why does everybody keep saying the RPR is $1k when the MSRP is $1.4k? I haven't run across one to even see if I want one. Did Ruger ship out just one batch?

supply and demand drives the prices up.

[rawfuls]

Rawfuls, All good points. But you have a number of good big distance ranges as close to you as is reasonable for LR shooting.

One thing that many people don't realize maybe is that unlike pistol or clay shooting LR shooting is such that you will be driving long distances to play. You need to be ok with a two hour trip radius to shoot LR. Some are lucky and are closer to such ranges, the vast majority are not. Additionally you need to spend time at different ranges, LR shooting is about wind reading and that is about experience. You only get that going to different ranges.

Yep!
That's the thing that I didn't realize, LR shooting requires lots of patience, driving & consistency.

Some things that the OP needs to experience before he dives knee first, I think.