Upgrade...or new rifle?

[bookworm]

I currently have a stock Rem 700 SPS Stainless .300 win mag I purchased 2 years ago. Overall good gun but I want to get geared up for long range and need better accuracy.

My initial direction is to get a new stock and have it properly bedded and barrel floated...in addition to trigger adjustment. My hope is that this would get enough accuracy for my long range hunting needs. The next step would be to get a new barrel. I would do this if the accuracy wasn't quite there after doing the above.

On the other hand I wonder if I would be better off just selling the current rifle and putting the added dollars into a new Sendero SF II. I've heard that the Sendero is reliably sub-moa out of the box (is that true?).

I have about $550 into my current rifle and that will go up to about $900 if I put an HS Precision stock on it. The Sendero looks like it goes about $1000 right now, so it seems I might end up with a better overall rifle for not a lot of extra money (depending on what I can sell my current rifle for).

Any advice you all have for me on this would be greatly appreciated!

 

[ICANHITHIMMAN]

JMO but you will not get out what you allready have invested. I would go the route you allready stated. New stock bead, float and tune the trigger.

If you handload thouse changes you made combined with a good handload will get you there.

You allready have a good rifle in a great longrange hunting round. I would just shoot out the barrel and then have a smith true the action and put a new tube on.

 

[britz]

not sure but I don't think the SPS triggers are the same as the standard 700 triggers. However, I am pretty sure the only difference between the Senderro and the heavy barrel SPS is the trigger, stock and possibly the blueing. There are many stocks out there that will be cheaper than HS precison and preform reasonably well too.

 

[trueblue]

Bookworm,
If you want to keep your cost down,buy a Hogue full bedding block stock( $200 ),drop in your chambered barrel action and start shooting. Might have to take a dremel tool to free float the barrel, only 5 minutes of work. Have a gunsmith tune the existing trigger( should not cost much). The most improvement in accuracy however will come from a custom barrel, and you will need to decide if it is worth it after you shoot the rifle after the previous improvements are made. Like ICANHITHIMMAN stated, you will not get out what you have in your existing rifle, so just build on what you have. There is no guarantee that if you buy the Sendero for more money that it will shoot any better than what you have now, and you would have to make improvements on the Sendero also. Once you go thru this process,I see a custom build in your future.

 

[Magnumpeanut]

26" barrel and a 10" twist 300 win is great.

Handload some 250 g bergers and piller bed your stock, get better optics if needed and pick up a timney trigger and get a smith to tune it up for you to 1-2 lbs and your off.

IMO you don't need to be rich to shoot well.

You could upgrade your stock if you want. Manners, HS, Houge, McMillian, Boyds, Richards. The list goes on and on.

Long story short, Don't buy a new rifle.

 

[bookworm]

Thanks everyone - good consistent message!

I'll keep going on my current route. Which looks something like:

- New stock (looking at B&C Medalist ~$200 or so)
- Bed action
- Float barrel
- Tune trigger (X-mark Pro trigger can be easily reduced down to around 2.5# - 3.0# safely as I understand it)
- New glass (looking at Sightron Big Sky or SIII)

I'm hoping this gets me sub-moa and a good field rifle I can take big game out to 600-800yds (after lots of practice of course).

Thanks again for all the input.

 

[4xforfun]

Handload some 250 g bergers

???????????????????

 

[Magnumpeanut]

???????????????????

DOh, had 338 on the brain!

 

[3006savage]

Book you may want to try Tubb Final Finish system. It is a fire lapping process that I tried and it took my rifle from 1 1/2" groups to 3/4" groups. It makes cleaning the barrel a breeze and only costs around $35. I only used 1/2 the recommended bullets and it did the job. Clean and cool the barrel after every 3 shots. The polishing compound on the bullets really creates heat quickly. I was very nervous about trying this system but it exceeded my expectations.

 

[4xforfun]

DOh, had 338 on the brain!

I figured that, but even so, Berger does not yet make a .338 bullet. They are fixen to make a 300 grain VLD offering some time in '09. My guess is that the .338 world can't wait. I load for a guy who has two Lapua's, and I am sure going to try them!!!

 

[bookworm]

Hey 3006savage:

Thanks for the tip. I recall reading about that product (or something similar) a few weeks ago but couldn't find the article again to do more research.

I wonder if there is widespread knowledge of this type of product, or if there are concerns about using it?? Given your testimony and other positive comments I've seen online (I just spent 5 minutes looking) I'm surprised that it doesn't get talked about more frequently in these parts.

I'm going to do more poking around, but these certainly sound very promising to squeeze more accuracy out of a rifle.

Thanks again.