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Old October 16, 2012, 08:33 AM   #1
cw308
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Remington 700 Varmint

Looking at the Varment in 308 Cal. DICKS Sporting goods has a sale. With Scope & Rings, after rebate $ 442. Will dump the stock, 26" barrel seems kind of long, twist is 12. What are your feelings about a 26" barrel. I will use it only for benchrest shooting. Have the 700 LTR with a 20" brl. and it shoots great, never shot a 26".
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Old October 16, 2012, 01:17 PM   #2
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That is a good deal, even if the scope is garbage (which based on the price is assumed).

And from the bench, the stock is probably fine.
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Old October 16, 2012, 06:30 PM   #3
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I paid $550 for mine. It regularly shoots 1/2" groups at 200 yards with the standard stock and a Millett TRS-1 scope (I haven't had a chance to upgrade yet); with it's best group being under .25" at 200 yards (all with Federal Gold Medal Match 168 gr). I intend to upgrade the stock and trigger at a later date, as well as cut the barrel back to 24"; or possibly 22" and have it threaded.


....I would pick another one up for the price that you are looking at...
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Old October 16, 2012, 06:41 PM   #4
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It's a good deal if you consider you're paying for the barrel and action. The stock and scope are junk. I got the same deal 2 years ago and added a good 40X varmint scope and laminated stock. It's shooting sub MOA now with handloads and will only get better with bedding. I also recommend getting an aluminum trigger guard so you can get the action screws good and tight.

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Old October 16, 2012, 07:39 PM   #5
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I wouldn't look at the 26" barrel as an impediment. What kink of varmints need a 308? Unless you have other targets in mind, it sounds like too much gun for varmint shooting.
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Old October 17, 2012, 08:32 AM   #6
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Thanks for the input. I thought the trigger was the same as my LTR, thanks for the heads up, will check it out. I'm would only use the rifle for target shooting,I would try 155 gr. Sierra HPBT pulma round with a 26" barrel. Need some pros & cons on the barrel length. Never shot a 26. Have a Bem. 700 LTR 20" brl 308 Cal. with a jewell trigger One piece Iron brigade scope mount, Bushnell 6x24 scope. The rifle is nuts on at 200 yards. Its my one gun for the last 5 years.The 26" varmint is the same action, the 26" barrel has me thinking of what would shoot better, 26 or 20. Thanks Chris

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Old October 17, 2012, 08:38 AM   #7
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You might like the concept of a shorter barrel, but you might compromise the accuracy by cutting it off. I like the lower muzzle blast with the extra couple of inches.
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Old October 17, 2012, 10:23 AM   #8
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Is the longer 26" barrel more accurate then the 20".
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Old October 17, 2012, 10:26 AM   #9
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Depending if you reload better ballistic and it may ride the bags better extra weight.

I put a 26" barrel on my 30-06 so I like long barrels.
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Old October 17, 2012, 10:27 AM   #10
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Quote:
Is the longer 26" barrel more accurate then the 20".
No, it is not. Longer barrels reduce accuracy *slightly*, but they increase muzzle velocity. The lighter Palma rounds need a longer barrel length (typically 30") to consistently remain supersonic out to 1,000 yards.

My 700 Varmint likes the 168 gr SMKs a lot, and once I start handloading I will keep it between those, and 175 gr SMKs and A-Max.
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Old October 17, 2012, 10:51 AM   #11
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Went on Remingtons web sight. looks to me the 700 Varmint & the 700 Long Range is the same rifle & stock.I Like the 308 Cal. also have the same sale in 223.
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Old October 19, 2012, 09:39 PM   #12
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As said, barrel length is not relevant to accuracy.
It is to velocity, with some calibers being more sensitive to "fps loss (or gain) per inch" than others; the .308 is relatively insensitive and most say about 20 fps per inch, or so...

There are a lot of long range shooters running 20" (and shorter) barrels on .308's, but if it's a bench gun (like mine is), the extra length isn't an impediment, it's an advantage- as is the extra weight of the barrel.

Natch, if you're shooting long range, why not get all you can...my new barrel is 26" on my 7-08, and I'll get a chance to chrono the same loads I was getting 2600 out of my 20" barrel next week. Still trying to get used to the feel of the rifle with a 5-1/2 pound barrel on it...

Only possible downside on that barrel is the 12 twist, I prefer a 10 on the .308. But, unless you intended on playing with pills heavier than 190 or so it shouldn't be an issue.
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Old October 19, 2012, 10:10 PM   #13
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No, it is not. Longer barrels reduce accuracy *slightly

Not according to the Swat team that tested a 308 all the way down to a 18 inch barrel. Shorter barrel gain no more accuracy. The only benifit was easier manuverability. From a 22 to a 26 inch barrel there was a 32 fps gain in bullet speed. While they said there is no benifet of a longer barrel unless you want to propell a heavier bullet faster with a slow burning powder. Test by them indicated that a 22 inch barrel showed 100 % powder burn, But no gain in accuracy was seen an no lost in accuracy was seen by going to a 26 inch barrel
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Old October 19, 2012, 10:39 PM   #14
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Barrel length as the single variable has no affect on accuracy. The trouble comes in making a longer tube as perfectly as a short one.

All else being equal, length does not affect accuracy.
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Old October 19, 2012, 11:00 PM   #15
.300 Weatherby Mag
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I like my 26" Remington .308... I lose sleep at the thought of lost velocity

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Old October 20, 2012, 01:31 AM   #16
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I don't know if Remington does this but some barrels have a very slight constriction "choke" at towards the end of the barrel. I can look this up in my material to get more info on this. That's what would stop me from shortening a barrel until I knew how it was constructed.
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Old October 20, 2012, 10:10 AM   #17
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Quote:
I can look this up in my material to get more info on this.
Please, do...
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Old October 20, 2012, 10:40 AM   #18
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Alright, I have an 11 page article called: "The Making Of A Rifled Barrel" by Geoffey Kolbe that states on one of the paragraphs:

"Many think a slight choke at the muzzle end of a ten thousandth of so will improve accuracy". It goes on to say that "bench rest shooters have shown that parallel barrels seem to win more matches than choked ones. The exception is barrels which shoot lead bullets, like the .22 Rimfire barrels and air rifle barrels". Go figure. I was perplexed when I happened across this info myself. This is the only time I have ever heard of choking a rifle
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Old October 20, 2012, 10:40 AM   #19
Brian Pfleuger
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Quote:
Originally Posted by coyota1 View Post
I don't know if Remington does this but some barrels have a very slight constriction "choke" at towards the end of the barrel. I can look this up in my material to get more info on this. That's what would stop me from shortening a barrel until I knew how it was constructed.
No reputable gun maker does that on purpose. Good barrels are held to very tight tolerances, end to end. Down to .0001" end to end variance.

If anybody does, I've never heard of it. Most companies brag about the exact OPPOSITE.
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Old October 21, 2012, 03:45 AM   #20
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I don't agree that match rifle barrels don't often have slight constriction at the muzzle. It's not caused by manufacture as much as inspection and gunsmith lapping from the larger end.

Before cutting the barrel, you should slug it with a lead slug to determine if it's uniform, or whether there may be a loose or tight spot near the proposed cut location. If there's a tight spot, cut it there. If it's tighter at the muzzle, leave it alone unless it doesn't shoot well.
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Old October 21, 2012, 09:05 AM   #21
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Pitcher; have you heard of this "choking" near the muzzle?

The way it is stated in the article I quoted, there are "parallel" bores as well indicating terminology about barrels that are not chocked.
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Old October 21, 2012, 09:37 AM   #22
Brian Pfleuger
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Quote:
Originally Posted by coyota1 View Post
Pitcher; have you heard of this "choking" near the muzzle?

The way it is stated in the article I quoted, there are "parallel" bores as well indicating terminology about barrels that are not chocked.
It has been tried but, like I said, I don't know of anyone who does it anymore, on purpose.
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Old October 21, 2012, 09:43 AM   #23
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coyota1, they do make what's called tight bore barrels in selected calibers also on custom barrels that are hand lapped you may have to cut off 1" or so at end of muzzle as that may be oversized.

http://www.riflebarrels.com/faq_lilj...arrels.htm#saw
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Old October 21, 2012, 06:11 PM   #24
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I believe tight bores are less finicky than barrels with looser tolerances. This may not be the deliberate tight bore you are describing, but I know it's a positive for accuracy. I had a 700 VLS 223 that I could swear it had more constriction at the end of the barrel, although it may have been a flaw. I could feel it with a cleaning patch.
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Old October 24, 2012, 02:59 PM   #25
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Longer barrels are more accurate, they're closer to the target.

I doubt you'll really notice the longer barrel from the bench. My SPS Varmint has one and it's only a problem in tight stands. I solved that though, I don't hunt in the tight stands any more.
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