Re: 700P or 5R
I struggled with this very question for a while and finally made the choice to buy the 5R.
FYI, the 700P is not bedded, it does, however, feature a very decent HS precision stock with the full length aluminum bedding block.
The stock on the 5R is nearly identical, though a couple of inches shorter and the palm swell is not quite as pronounced. It has an identical aluminum bedding block.
What is a 700P? Well, for starters it is about 870 bucks.
It is also nothing more than a stock, SPS varmint rifle in that HS precision stock.
26" 1 - 12" twist varmint weight barrel
X mark pro trigger
usually capable of very good accuracy
Parkerized finish
Many folks really like the stock, many don't care for it.
What is an SPS varmint?
26" 1 - 12" twist varmint weight barrel
x mark pro trigger
usually capable of very good accuracy
Matte Blue finish
No one likes the stock, but the rifle only costs 540 bucks.
You can replace it with one of the very good B&C stocks for about 225 for a total cost of about 765, a substantial savings.
What is a 5R?
24" stainless steel 1 - 11.25" twist barrel with 5R rifling
X mark pro trigger
usually capable of very good accuracy
bead blasted matte stainless finish
Stainless steel action
Basically the same HS precision stock.
Why did I buy the 5R instead of the varmint or 700P?
Since cost was only slightly higher, the benefit of the shorter barrel and the slightly fster twist rate, plus the excellent results that remington gets with their 5R barrels made the decision for me.
I considered the SPS tactical ( 1-12version) as they have a very good reputation for accuracy.
I WANTED an AAC-SD version, but I could find no seriously written, comprehensive reviews. In addition the SPS rifles have a less than stellar reputation of difficulty feeding from the magazine.
I will say this, I have an SPS tactical in .223, the relatively new 5R and a mid-90's sendero. The concave recessed crown on the sendero is very nicely done. The crowns on both the SPS and the 5R are are rather poorly done.
The 5R does shoot VERY wel though.
I doubt that you would go wrong with either choice, however, I thought that the fact the the 5R is a limited run, flagship type model with the benefits of the slightly faster twist, shorter barrel, stainless construction and 5R rifling were well worth the extra 130 bucks.
I did NOT feel that the addition of the HS stock and the different finish of the 700P warranted the significantly higher cost over the base model.