Can't decide on a rifle

Which gun

  • Police LTR

    Votes: 4 13.3%
  • 5r Gen 2

    Votes: 26 86.7%

  • Total voters
    30

Memberberries

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 6, 2018
Messages
200
Location
Oklahoma
Hi everyone, I'm in the market for a new rifle and I can never seem to make up my mind. I'm replacing my trusty old. 308. It's a 700 bdl with a synthetic stock and 22 inch sporter barrel. Topped with a leupold 3-9x40 it has been my go-to for years and has many thousands of rounds down the pipe. 100yd groups used to be around an inch with factory loads and well under 3/4 with handloads. I've had the gun since I was a kid and no matter how many range toys I get it's always been my go-to rig.

Over the last few years I've seen groups open up quite a bit (a lot of mil surplus ammo at steel), It's time to replace the extractor and barrel while upgrading the stock. I graduated college and got a real job so my budgets have increased a little. I'm having a hard time justifying building my action when I know that it costs about the same as buying a turnkey new rifle that will shoot similar groups, the two guns I'm between are both remington 700's in 308 with 20" fluted, threaded, heavy barrels and hs precision stocks.

police ltr (1/12 or 1/10 regular rifled carbon barrel and 40x trigger)

5r gen2 (5r 1/11.25 stainless barrel and a xmark pro)

The ltr is about $150 cheaper(both nib) and I know the 40x trigger is better so I'm not sure if the 5r is really worth it. I can't find anything bad on the police ltr so I'm not sure if the price difference should go to more ammo or the barrel?

TL/DR: is the 700 with 5r barrel with an x-mark pro worth $150 more than one with a regular rifled barrel and a 40x trigger?
 
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Why not just rebarrel your current .308 with a high quality custom barrel? You won't ever shoot it again, and the chances of a custom barrel shooting better than even a good factory barrel are better. Plus you keep your favorite rifle you have owned for a long time.
Bartlein, Brux, Rock Creek, Muellerworks, Kreiger, etc. They all make great barrels.

But if you are set on a new gun, 5R would be the route I would take.
 
Definitely the 5R.
I have one from the custom shop with the Sendero II stock.
Switched out the factory trigger for a Jewel, then a Timney Calvin Elite.
Like the Timney far better.
Added PT&G Stainless bottom metal, which I do to all of my Rems.
Have only fired 8 rounds through it for fit & function testing so far.
I also have a couple Sendero II's, a couple VSSF II's and a LR.
All have either Jewel or Timney triggers.
The LR had a trigger different to the xmark pro on my previous rifles, the adjustment screw is accessible without removing the stock. Unsure what it Is.

Cheers.
 
In a factory Remington I'd go with the 5R but they're both some of Remingtons better offerings.

I think there's also equal or better offerings in that price range or less. A few come to mind; bergara, browning, tikka and savage.

As said above, for the price of a new rifle or less than a 5R, you could true your action and add a new custom barrel. The beauty of this is that those two items are the foundation of a good shooting rifle. From there as your budget allows you can upgrade the trigger, stock, rings and bases even add cerekote or flute the bolt if desired.

The added beauty of this is that you can pick virtually any clambering you wish in the 308 family, barrel twist and length.
 
Why not just rebarrel your current .308 with a high quality custom barrel? You won't ever shoot it again, and the chances of a custom barrel shooting better than even a good factory barrel are better. Plus you keep your favorite rifle you have owned for a long time.
Bartlein, Brux, Rock Creek, Muellerworks, Kreiger, etc. They all make great barrels.

But if you are set on a new gun, 5R would be the route I would take.

Exactly!!!
 
I agree with Lance on this one. I would personally just rebarrel your old rifle, have the action trued, new stock, and new trigger. You'll have about the same price in doing that than you would a new 5R. Don't get me wrong, the Remington 5R is an excellent factory rifle. The new 700s in general are showing to be better and higher quality here recently than they were in the past. Even at that, a 700 action with a Bartlein, Krieger, Hart, etc. barrel fitted and chambered by a good smith is hard to beat. There's always a gamble when buying any factory rifle.
 
I plan to build my current action eventually but that's gonna take a while and I'm really looking for something to take it's place in the mean time. I've been wanting a heavier barreled rifle for use at the range with and this could be my excuse. My build idea for this action is to true it and put a featherweight Douglas barrel on it and a b&c ultralight stock with the same vx3i on top, chambered for either 7mm Mauser or keep it 308.

That being said, I know that with a heavy 308 I can shoot my local ranges (500 yd steel, 600yd paper) because I've done it with my current rifle and I ust spent a lot od time waiting or chasing stringing with a hot sporter barrel. I would build mine as a target gun but it's always been my primary hunting rifle and I want to keep it that way for some unknown reason.

I've shot my father in laws factory 700's quite a bit (varmint barrels, hs stocks, mk4 glass, 22-250, 308, 300 win mag) and really when it comes down to it they are 1/2 moa or better for all of them and I like shooting them. I'm not looking to break any records just have something I can use to better my shooting and maybe make it to a class or steel shoot here and there. this is why I want to pick up a factory gun that will fill my short term needs and give me more options in the long term.

that asid, it looks like the 5R is getting a lot of love, I've still never shot one and I guess I'm just skeptical that they are really that much better than all the other 1/2 moa factory guns.
 
But if you are set on a new gun, 5R would be the route I would take.[/QUOTE
Why not just rebarrel your current .308 with a high quality custom barrel? You won't ever shoot it again, and the chances of a custom barrel shooting better than even a good factory barrel are better. Plus you keep your favorite rifle you have owned for a long time.
Bartlein, Brux, Rock Creek, Muellerworks, Kreiger, etc. They all make great barrels.

But if you are set on a new gun, 5R would be the route I would take.

I would also just rebarrel your rifle. I'd throw in considering a Remage style barrel.
 
I'm having a hard time justifying building my action when I know that it costs about the same as buying a turnkey new rifle that will shoot similar groups,
The justification IMO would be a better quality barrel. But I've seen stock barrels shoot well too. But I think you'll have a higher probability of accuracy with an aftermarket barrel.
 
I guess I'm just skeptical that they are really that much better than all the other 1/2 moa factory guns.

I am not sure they are any better than other 1/2 MOA rifles. Unless it has a 1/2 moa guarantee (which comes with a price) Your chances of getting a 1/2 moa rifle with the 5r seem to be higher than other factory rifles.
 
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