Remington 700 VTR 223 pros/cons

[Tracer]

Did a search and I didn't find much.  I'm looking for real world experience with the above rifle.  I have read several reviews online but there's not really much info out there.  The most common complaint was about the stock and to get better accuracy with this rifle was to free float the barrel or put on an aftermarket stock that would (e.g. varmint barrel profile).  Anybody?  Thanks ahead of time.  T

[chazp]

I've got that rifle and so far i've been happy with it. So far with my handloads it has been about a 3/4" gun (3 shots @ 100 yds).  The fore end is a little weak and i just recently had my gunsmith pillar bed the action and i removed the presure points up front to free float the barrel.  I havent shot it much since that was done because of the holiday and the wind lately. I dont expect it to get a lot better but i was interested to see if free floating would help at all.  I did notice that now with the bi-pod on the gun the fore end is real weak and i now do not plan on using the bi-pod anymore.

[Singleshotsam]

I've never been crazy about the triangle shaped barrel.  But all in all, improving accuracy in it will be the same as all other Remmy's.  Install an aftermarket stock.  Bed the aciton.  Tune the trigger.  VOLA!  A nice light rifle that will shoot tidy groups.

[Tracer]

Sounds right to me, I have a BC stock with the aluminum block for a heavy barrel short action that should work.  I'm not for sure why remington would put a brake on a 223 though, my experience with them is their usually a lot louder.  Any opinions on the muzzle blast.  Thanks for the replies.  T 

[Singleshotsam]

Even with the muzzle brake built into the bbl, it shouldn't be bad w/ a 20+ in. bbl.  That B&C stock should work nicely.  I would still bed the action even w/ the block.  My R700 has an HS Precision stock w/ the bedding block.  While better than the thin throw away stock that was on it originally, I still felt more comfortable knowing the action had zero change to move in the stock.  Plus HS Prec. is known for making less than straight stocks.

[Noyotes]

I love my VTR in 223

[poncaguy]

I have one in 22-250, no problems, excellent accuracy, would not change a thing about it..............

[JPShelton]

In my northeastern Oklahoma neighborhood, it seems that every kid on the block either has or wants a Remington 700 VTR "Desert Recon."  I have resisted this temptation myself with great success.  I don't own one yet, but I've shot at least a half-dozen of them since July and they've all been excellent shooters. 
 
I'm more of a blued steel and walnut guy and like old stuff, and if I wanted a smallbore centerfire, I'd be inclined to search for a clean old Remington 722 as a companion to my 721, but.........
 
On the other hand, I really like the feel of the VTR stock.  It works great off of bags, feels good to me shooting prone, standing, or kneeling.  The triangular barrel profile looks kind of wierd to my traditionalist's eyes, but it seems to do what Remington claims, giving old-school bull-barrel stiffness with sporter-weight portability.  The X-Mark Pro triggers on those I've shot haven't been as crisp feeling as my 721 trigger, for the most part, but that's really picking nits, as my trigger on my 721 is about the best feeling trigger I've ever shot.  And as I mentioned at the outset, all that I've shot have delivered the accuracy people expect from the 700 platform. 
 
I can't think of anything that I don't like about the VTR from a functionality standpoint.  I like it so much that this is one of the few synthetic stocked rifles that I can see myself buying and being totally happy with.
 
JP

[Graybeard]

I have an XHR 7-08 with the triangular barrel but no muzzle brake. I'd not have bought if with the brake personally as they just add to much muzzle blast to suit me.

I've never felt a need to swap out a Remington stock yet to get better accuracy. I also don't generally free float them and leave the pressure point on all mine. Now I have bedded a few and do always do some trigger tuning to lighten it. Other than that and finding the ammo it wants to be fed I've never needed to do anything else to make them accurate.

My many varmint M700s in .223 and .22-250 have all easily shot under an inch for five shots with most all ammo and well under that with their preferred ammo. I don't recall ever owning a heavy barrel varmint/target Remington that I couldn't get groups down to a half inch with loads it likes and when I do my part. Dunno bout you but I'm not always up to the task myself. On my good days I can but on my bad days I can't. Those good days are a lot fewer and further between these days than they used to be as well.