First Centrefire .223 - R700?

[Viper]

You don't say why you don't fancy Tikka/Sako - were I in your shoes I'd go for a Tikka T3 with a 1:8 barrel thus allowing you to shoot heavier bullets. You won't get better value for your money, plus you'll get a much better barrel and build quality than Remington.

Two other rifles more than worthy of Consideration are the Haenel Jäger 10 and Sauer 100, both are high quality German-made rifles which will kick Remington into touch at affordable prices.

It's mainly down to aesthetics more than anything. I appreciate the quality and how well respected they are as a system but I'm not as much of a fan of their stocks as I am of the Steyr or Remingtons.

[Chapuis]

Buy a Tikka T3, better quality all round, job done :)

+1 Personal opinion though the same opinion as many others, forget about Remingtons unless you simply want to pay a lot of money for a basic receiver and then intend to spend a lot more making it into something equivalent to what you can buy off the shelf with other makes. I've only ever owned one Remington, never again.

[ovenpaa]

A couple of years ago we had three customers ring over a few days, all had been to Bisley and all had shot 1" groups at 200 yards with Remington 700's which I would say was very reasonable. I shoot a variety of rifles from Accuracy International through S&L to Sako with a variety of cartridges from .22 Short to 8mm and some of them are 100+ years old and they all have their pros and cons. The AI is heavy, (6,5x37) the Sako is ridiculously accurate (22-250) Some of the most accurate are the oldest and cheapest rimfire rifles. My view is do not let perfect get in the way of good, get out and enjoy a Remington now instead of waiting until you can afford a Tikka or a Sako or similar. Accuracy wise I would suggest attention to your technique, a reasonable trigger and good glass with some decent ammunition us going ot make more of a difference than spending several hundred more pounds on your first rifle and skimping on the details.

[Viper]

I was given some advice by a local gun shop who said that these days i shouldn't be buying a gun purely on the belief the quality is higher or it is more accurate. He said the same as you, Ovenpaa, that technique and glass will make more of a difference.

He said fair enough if I spend more on a gun because of its looks more than anything.

Affording the gun isn't a problem, i could get an AI, but I can't justify it yet.

The guy at the gun shop also suggested to be wary of bench rest 2nd hand guns as they could look perfect but had a long life. I've messaged the guy with the Remington and it's 4 years old with about 1600 rounds through. How does that stack up, is it fairly light use?

[DW58]

If the Remington .223 has had 1600 rounds through it that could be a significant portion of its barrel life already expended.

Depending on the velocity of projectiles shot through it and the type of powder used, the barrel could be close on knackered or only 50% gone, but rest assured it's a well-used barrel - I wouldn't buy it other than as a project rifle, and then I wouldn't buy a Remington in any case.

Please bear in mind that you're never going to get an easy answer to a question such as this - I stick by my original post. You seem to have already discounted several of the best makes purely on the basis of aesthetics - this is a decision you have to make on your own.

Remember - how a stock performs is far more imortant than how it looks, likewise how a rifle shoots... ... ... that's why so many shooters buy Tikka T3s.

[ovenpaa]

For something a bit different take a look at the Sako Varmint in .223, they are well built rifles. I shoot a mildly tweaked Sako 75 Varmint chambered in 22-250 and it hits whatever I point it at out to reasonable distances.

[Viper]

Hi,

I completely understand your point and thank you for the advice with regards to barrel condition. That particular rifle had sold but still vital to know.

Interesting also about the stock comment. I read that the remington stock is moulded around an aluminium block and not even the Steyr has the alu strength through it.

[ovenpaa]

Not all Rem 700 stocks have an aluminium bedding block, you need to look for the H-S Precision stock for such a feature.

[saddler]

Not all Rem 700 stocks have an aluminium bedding block, you need to look for the H-S Precision stock ...

...as well as several other brands

[ovenpaa]

Other brands that come with a Rem 700 as standard?