remington 700 5r milspec vs sako a7 long range
- Thread starter lonnie gibson
- Start date
Bought a 700 5r SS almost a year ago as new for around $800. At that price point I knew I could resell easily and it would be worth a test drive. Finally got around to taking it out a few days ago and am impressed by the accuracy. First group was .805" at 200 yds followed by .520" at 100. Federal Gold Medal 168 Match.
The trigger adjusted down as far as 2.5 pounds and would go no farther. Breaks crisp though, but not as good as I'd like. Ergonomics of the stock are so/so, but it is solid. Recoil pad is a thin, glue on version that doesn't do much. Have a riflesmith in our area who will replace it with a Decelerator. Check the web as there is some info on how this is done. I'll also be adding some lead or a C&H mercury recoil reducer to the butt as well.
Overall, I'm pleased with the rifle and and at that price point can afford to do a few things to get it where I want it.
Mike
The trigger adjusted down as far as 2.5 pounds and would go no farther. Breaks crisp though, but not as good as I'd like. Ergonomics of the stock are so/so, but it is solid. Recoil pad is a thin, glue on version that doesn't do much. Have a riflesmith in our area who will replace it with a Decelerator. Check the web as there is some info on how this is done. I'll also be adding some lead or a C&H mercury recoil reducer to the butt as well.
Overall, I'm pleased with the rifle and and at that price point can afford to do a few things to get it where I want it.
Mike
Think I would look for an FN-H Special Police or Patrol rifle rather than either the Rem or Sako. A used SPR would be a great opportunity, but then again; I'm no longer interested in .308win bolt guns. More partial to AR-10 rifles in that chambering these days. If OP is a 1/2" group shooter, and talking 5rd grps on regularly delivered basis then a well-tuned AR may be a performer for him/her.
Might want to re-think the whole .308win thing if longrange target is your intended game. .260rem is a better choice at distance. The Tikka master sporter in T3 reincarnation with laminated stock is a real match rifle on par with the Sako TRG-22 that costs twice as much. Master Sporter in .260rem is a factory option. The FN-H rifles were also produced in .300wsm which is a real 1000yd option.
The last decent quality actions I have seen from Remington were the F serial # series. What're they on nowadays? M?? N?? If sold on the rem 700 action, much better to go Stiller or another custom action that won't need any work and will hold its value. Just because you can throw lots of $$$ at a Remington doesn't mean that you will retain any value from it. A 700 action with serial # matched barrel by Shilen is one thing; an action job and custom barrel done by an "accuracy gunsmith" is something else. You may value the "accuracy job" by some guy recommended on a forum, but unless you sell your rifle to another forum-buddy, chances are the extra hundreds in work won't bring any of that money back to you. So you buy a custom action that won't need any work and a quality barrel and get ahead of the curve....
Have had some fine shooting 700 varmint specials including a BDL, before there were H-S Precision stocked guns. Gave up on 700s due to the safety, or lack thereof and the non-integral recoil lug. Almost forgot how the junk factory triggerguard assy will break on impact and deform when torqued. Williams will fix that, but add $200 for a quality solution. The guns do nickel and dime you, and then you're left holding the bag if ever sell.
The best value, turnkey solution is/was the FN-H SPR with mickey stock and match chrome-lined barrel. The Patrol offers many of the SPR features, but no mickey stock. The Hogue stocks are actually pretty good, maybe needing a skim bedding job. Nice thing about the FN-H rifles is they'll accept Win 70SA stocks and there were many match quality stocks made for the USRAC produced short-action rifles. Have seen a few Win 70 Heavy Varmint rifles listed for sale here at great prices. Would prefer one of them anyday over a Rem or a7 Sako. Nice H-S Precision Marksman stock, Wilson match stainless barrel and SA pushfeed action. Great shooters when can find one.
Might want to re-think the whole .308win thing if longrange target is your intended game. .260rem is a better choice at distance. The Tikka master sporter in T3 reincarnation with laminated stock is a real match rifle on par with the Sako TRG-22 that costs twice as much. Master Sporter in .260rem is a factory option. The FN-H rifles were also produced in .300wsm which is a real 1000yd option.
The last decent quality actions I have seen from Remington were the F serial # series. What're they on nowadays? M?? N?? If sold on the rem 700 action, much better to go Stiller or another custom action that won't need any work and will hold its value. Just because you can throw lots of $$$ at a Remington doesn't mean that you will retain any value from it. A 700 action with serial # matched barrel by Shilen is one thing; an action job and custom barrel done by an "accuracy gunsmith" is something else. You may value the "accuracy job" by some guy recommended on a forum, but unless you sell your rifle to another forum-buddy, chances are the extra hundreds in work won't bring any of that money back to you. So you buy a custom action that won't need any work and a quality barrel and get ahead of the curve....
Have had some fine shooting 700 varmint specials including a BDL, before there were H-S Precision stocked guns. Gave up on 700s due to the safety, or lack thereof and the non-integral recoil lug. Almost forgot how the junk factory triggerguard assy will break on impact and deform when torqued. Williams will fix that, but add $200 for a quality solution. The guns do nickel and dime you, and then you're left holding the bag if ever sell.
The best value, turnkey solution is/was the FN-H SPR with mickey stock and match chrome-lined barrel. The Patrol offers many of the SPR features, but no mickey stock. The Hogue stocks are actually pretty good, maybe needing a skim bedding job. Nice thing about the FN-H rifles is they'll accept Win 70SA stocks and there were many match quality stocks made for the USRAC produced short-action rifles. Have seen a few Win 70 Heavy Varmint rifles listed for sale here at great prices. Would prefer one of them anyday over a Rem or a7 Sako. Nice H-S Precision Marksman stock, Wilson match stainless barrel and SA pushfeed action. Great shooters when can find one.
I have Rem 700, Tikka T3, Sako TRG 22 all in .308. The Sako is the nicest no doubt but as mentioned it does cost more and mags are ridiculous. But it shoots like a champ right out of the cheap cardboard box it comes in. The T3 is a very nice compromise, some adjustment in the trigger, plus aftermarket trigger-weight spring etc. Bolt shrouds, lugs all pretty easy to get. But if you want a 2-stage trigger for a T3 forget about it, not available for the most part and very expensive for the few available options. The Rem is my least favorite out of the box but if you want to modify it there is virtually no limit, aftermarket support second to none. As stated by someone, no mods go with Sako, mods go with Rem, no doubt. But the Tikka is a great compromise, smooth action, great accuracy with no mods.
nakneker
Gold $$ Contributor
Lots of good advice on this thread Lonnie. I own two .308s, a Winchester heavy Varmint and Sako A7. I've also owned 2 Remington 5r mil spec rifles. My favorite of the three is the Winchester heavy varmint, it's hard to believe it's a factory rifle the way it shoots. I also own a .222 and a swift heavy Varmint, they too shoot lights out. All three wear after market triggers, didn't care for the factory trigger.
I still own the Sako A7 roughtech range. It's all stock and I like the trigger, I tuned it to 2lbs. The rifle shoots 1/2 MOA, its magazine fed and has a decent stock. I have a fondness for Sakos and Tikkas, I believe them to be one of the best values out there in a factory rifle.
I sold the Remington's. I love the older Remington's and don't care for what they offer today. The quality has suffered as of late. That being said both the 5Rs shot really well. My cousin owns one of them now and it shoots Berger 155s 1/2 MOA at 200 yards, sometimes I regret selling that one but I really struggle with where Remington is today.
If it was me looking for a .308 I'd try and find a Sako heavy barrel or a Winchester Heavy Varmint. That's just me. I know a lot of guys who love their 5Rs, I'm just not one of them. The Winchesters come up now and again. Make sure you buy the Heavy Varmint series if you go Winchester, I don't care for their other push feed rifles, accuracy is and miss with them. The Heavy Varmint series will have a blues action, Stainless barrel and black HS stock. It will also be stamped "Heavy Varmint" on the barrel. I realize your question is between Remington and Sako, So a Heavy Varmint Winchester might be a no go.
The nice thing about 308s is all of components you have to choose from. Dies and bullets are limitless. Reloading info abounds, pet loads everywhere, easy to tune, lots of brass to choose from and on and on. Personally I don't shoot my 308s much anymore, I've come to enjoy the 6.5s more, but again that's just me.
Good luck in your search!
I still own the Sako A7 roughtech range. It's all stock and I like the trigger, I tuned it to 2lbs. The rifle shoots 1/2 MOA, its magazine fed and has a decent stock. I have a fondness for Sakos and Tikkas, I believe them to be one of the best values out there in a factory rifle.
I sold the Remington's. I love the older Remington's and don't care for what they offer today. The quality has suffered as of late. That being said both the 5Rs shot really well. My cousin owns one of them now and it shoots Berger 155s 1/2 MOA at 200 yards, sometimes I regret selling that one but I really struggle with where Remington is today.
If it was me looking for a .308 I'd try and find a Sako heavy barrel or a Winchester Heavy Varmint. That's just me. I know a lot of guys who love their 5Rs, I'm just not one of them. The Winchesters come up now and again. Make sure you buy the Heavy Varmint series if you go Winchester, I don't care for their other push feed rifles, accuracy is and miss with them. The Heavy Varmint series will have a blues action, Stainless barrel and black HS stock. It will also be stamped "Heavy Varmint" on the barrel. I realize your question is between Remington and Sako, So a Heavy Varmint Winchester might be a no go.
The nice thing about 308s is all of components you have to choose from. Dies and bullets are limitless. Reloading info abounds, pet loads everywhere, easy to tune, lots of brass to choose from and on and on. Personally I don't shoot my 308s much anymore, I've come to enjoy the 6.5s more, but again that's just me.
Good luck in your search!
butchlambert
Site $$ Sponsor
Something I don't understand. Why people prefer the older 700 receivers? The later ones are produced on CNC machines. They are straighter and much more square that the older ones. I just hate the crappy looking black finish on them.
I have no delusions about being an expert with bolt guns, I'm not. But even I can see that the extraction timing on every Remington I pick up is screwy. I bought another 870 fall before last and the thing is a rust bucket even though it is clean and I even bought and used the Remington brand oil cloths. It also has the sharpest edges on the metal I have ever come across on a firearm. I own an older model 870 that is a very different gun, much better! At this point I personally am steering clear of anything Remington.
Tikka T3's are nice guns, if the A7 is even slightly better I would go with that.
Just my two cents.
Tikka T3's are nice guns, if the A7 is even slightly better I would go with that.
Just my two cents.
Another thought is that with the price of a T3 you could get that and have a new match grade barrel screwed on for a total price of not much more than a mil spec. I hear some smiths won't work on the T3's because of metric threads so check with your local guys first, but that would be the way to go IMHO.
butchlambert
Site $$ Sponsor
You are correct about the bolt handles. I'm sayiny the receivers do not need squaring up.
Thats good to hear.
I remember a time when you could still order Sako actions...especially the L 579 Forester. I still own 2, and they still are hands above anything out there now. [ factory built ] Sweet triggers, and when you clean them up and do a satin chrome finish you have a lifetime shooter. I wish we could still get them...
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