Thoughts on My Rifle Choice - Rem 700 SPS Stainless - .300 WM

[jasonprox700]

I've been wanting to get a .300 WM for quite some time.  I've decided on a Remington, and I'm thinking about the SPS stainless.  I plan on swapping the stock out for one of the H-S stocks, similar to the Sendero stock, only with the sporter barrel channel.  Down the road, I may have the barrel cut back to 24" (I'll see how I like 26" first) and have it fluted, if the gun turns out to be accurate.  If not, then I'll maybe have it rebarreled with a high quality aftermarket barrel.  Lots of ideas, shallow pockets!

Has anybody had any experience with this model, or one similar? 

http://www.remington.com/products/firearms/centerfire/model-700/model-700-sps-stainless.aspx

BTW, I know what kind of recoil I am getting into for those of you that will comment on that.  I have a friend with a Sendero in the .300 WM that I have shot quite a bit, so I know what to expect.  This is a want, not a need as I have a .280 that will basically handle what the .300 would.  I will be hunting black bear in Idaho this fall, and within the next few years, I will hopefully be doing some elk and moose hunting.

[john keyes]

for a syn stocked rifle I really like the camo XCR, fluted barrel, very sharp IMO

[Empty Quiver]

I have one observation and take for what it is. Wait a little longer, save the money till you can get what you want. By the time you get done making the rifle you want from the rifle you have, you coulda bought exactly what you wanted in the first place. You are carrying a rifle that is adequitely chambered for about anything walking. Be patient, is six months really that much longer than four months of saving?

With any luck you'll find a gently used model, built by someone who always has that itch that can't be scratched. I never really find a smokin' hot deal, but a couple hundred saved per gun means a free scope, or reloading supplies, or tags for the out of state hunt are now pretty reasonable.

By the way, 300wm is a great cartridge. If it were all that "too much" it would have slipped into oblivion decades ago. The same folks poo pooing it probably have a V8 in the pick-up too. Everyone knows a six will do all the chores they need to do... if they drive sensibly and don't ask the truck to do too much.

[Dustyvance]

I absolutely love the 300WM! just couldn't afford to feed it cuz I don't relaod yet and it's a "non-common caliber" for Miss. , WHEN I can start relaoding I will be in the market for a rifle in 300 Win.Mag. Great rifle in my opinion and one heck of a "game getter".

[jasonprox700]

I have one observation and take for what it is. Wait a little longer, save the money till you can get what you want. By the time you get done making the rifle you want from the rifle you have, you coulda bought exactly what you wanted in the first place. You are carrying a rifle that is adequitely chambered for about anything walking. Be patient, is six months really that much longer than four months of saving?

With any luck you'll find a gently used model, built by someone who always has that itch that can't be scratched. I never really find a smokin' hot deal, but a couple hundred saved per gun means a free scope, or reloading supplies, or tags for the out of state hunt are now pretty reasonable.

By the way, 300wm is a great cartridge. If it were all that "too much" it would have slipped into oblivion decades ago. The same folks poo pooing it probably have a V8 in the pick-up too. Everyone knows a six will do all the chores they need to do... if they drive sensibly and don't ask the truck to do too much.

I have to say, this is probably the best reply to a post I have ever had!  It seems like anytime anybody post about a magnum cartridge on this board, they get flamed.  Too much recoil, blah blah '06 can do everything, etc, etc...  The .300 does have more recoil than the '06, but most who shoot this aren't punching paper.  To be perfectly honest, I don't think I have ever noticed recoil when shooting at an animal, even when shooting my 3 1/2" turkey loads.  Plus, the .300 can handle any animal that walks this continent, and it will handle bullets heavier than 180 grains.

You're absolutely right about spending the money and getting exactly what I want from the start.  I think I am kind of leaning towards finding an action, and building a gun from there.  That way, I'll have the action I want, a match barrel that "should" shoot well, and the stock that I want.  In the long run, I probably would be spending about the same either way to get the rifle I want.

[Wyo. Coyote Hunter]

700, I am with you, it costs more to put a barrel on an action than to buy factory..BUT there are advantages also..One you can get exactly the length, wt. and twist of barrel you want...For me I like a heavier than normal barrel and a bit longer, so when I order I usually get a #5  or #5a from Douglas..It is easier to get speed from a longer barrel..One can get good speed with out max loads. As far as handling it, it may take a bit of pratice...At present I have a 28.5 in barreled rifle I use for long rang coyote shooting..It is no more difficult to handle than a 24 inc job..Now it is not a brush gun, but for what I want it for it is perfect..That is the beauty of a custom barrel..Two I find custom barrels easier to develop good loads for than a Factory job ONTHE AVERAGE... I have had some factory jobs that were excellent...But consider it takes a 'smith up to an hour or more to chamber a blank, the fact. does one every 45 seconds... third, I also find custom barrels smoother and easier to clean than factory rifles...But if you are like some and never clean you rifle it is not a consideration....You will have more $$$$ in you rifle  going this way, but it will be exactly what you want...When I ask my grandfather if he were buying anew rifle what kind would he buy,,,he said one like I've got....he was the only one in maybe 50 folks I ask that answered that way...I feel the same my favorite rifle is perfect for me.....I had it made that way....

[jasonprox700]

Now here's a question concerning a custom build.  How do you think a blued action would look with a fluted stainless barrel?  Right now I have a .30-06 (I think it's an '80's model) sitting in the basement waiting for a build.  That's the reason I purchased it ($250 with a VariX I 3-9x40 Leupold). 

Does anybody have any pics?  Also, besides opening up the bolt, is this the same length as a magnum action?

[Wyo. Coyote Hunter]

  700. I have several stainless barrels on blued actions..Personly I like them, but it is a matter of taste...As far as the06 action, I would forget trying to switch to a mag... use it for a heavy .25- 06, or trade for a mag. of some type..It is too much trouble to change the bolt face, plus screw with the rails..I would just keep it and get the mag. action somewhere ....they are usually pretty common in used gunshops..

[charles p]

Nothing wrong with putting a stainless barrel on a blued receiver.  My 280AI looks great to me and that is how it was built.  Think about the upper grade OU shotguns that have stainless looking receivers and blued barrels.  OK to mix.  Same for rings and scopes.

[JW307]

A friend of mine has a Rem 700 7mm mag that is built on an old blued action with a stainless barrel.  Looks fine, shoots very well, which is what really matters anyway.  That being said, don't write off that SPS yet.  I bought one a few years ago for my wife in .270 Win.  It shot Rem corelokts into about 1.5" at 100 yds right out of the box.  It shoots my handloads (Barnes TSX or Hornady SP) MOA all day.  Her rifle has the old style trigger, not the X-Mark which I adjusted down to around 3.5 lbs.  Other than that it is factory original.  I also think you will want to keep the 26" barrel length to maximize the potential of the magnum cartridge.  My 7mm mag has a 24" barrel and I wish it had that extra 2".

Jake

[RKPulliam]

You'll love the rifle.   I have 4 Remington 700's of different shades.   You'll love the 300 Win Mag as well -- perfect rifle, and perfect caliber --- nothing to apologize for, and nothing to feel buyers remorse for. It shoots absolutely great.  If it is what you are dreaming of -- buy it, or put it on layaway.  In a couple of months, when you have more funds, maybe get a Timney or Jewel trigger for it and the groups will shrink even more.  I pulled several guns together the same way -- bought the gun --- then later a Timney trigger, then had it pillar bedded, and then camo'd -- and then it is your gun tricked out the way you want it, and a real shooter. You probably don't need a custom barrel -- it will probably shoot 1 MOA or better tricked out a bit.   
If I had to save the money and buy the "Dream Rifle", my wife would find the money first, and I'd still be dreaming.  I sold a nice rifle last month -- and the wife got to Nordstrom's before I could get to the gunshop to buy the rifle.  You snooze -- you loose.  Good Luck

[RKPulliam]

BTW --- I love the picture of the Remington 700 XCR with the Fluted barrel that John posted on Jan 10th.   Beautiful rifle.  I wish I'd seen that one before my wife made it to Nordstrom's.  I've been having trouble finding that one via the internet.   
Is that a 2010, or one from a few years ago?    That one looks nice, and I have an empty space in the gun cabinet.   Rich

[jasonprox700]

I sold a nice rifle last month -- and the wife got to Nordstrom's before I could get to the gunshop to buy the rifle.  You snooze -- you loose.  Good Luck

I hear ya.  I always said that if I were to sell one of my "toys" (sleds, quads, bikes, guns, etc...), it would be to fund another one.  Before we got married, I sold my sled because we just weren't getting the snowfalls that we used to.  The money ended up going to her wedding dress, her daughter's matching dress, and my ring...  Oh well, I guess you could say it went to a good cause!

[Empty Quiver]

You better say it went to a good cause. At least if you know what's good for you.

[jasonprox700]

It was well worth it!    I think I'm pretty lucky to have the wife that I do.  She doesn't really say much about my hunting and shooting (OBSESSION!).  She understands that there is no cure for me and that I am the way I am.  Plus, when I take my daughter shooting with me, she has the house to herself and our 6 month old daughter (maybe the next Annie Oakley judging by the way her mother shoots!).