I just moved to Colorado and in anticipation of being able to learn long distance shooting I wanted to purchase a set-up for less than $1000. I went with .223 for two reasons, lower recoil (so I could shoot all day without getting beat up) and low cost ammo in a cartridge I already have in-house. I know this rifle is only good to ~300 yards, that's fine with me. Once I learn to group under 1 MOA at 300 yards I'll be ready for a 6.5mm Creedmoor 
Here it is:
I bought a Remington 700 SPS Varmint in .233 back in Illinois with a Nikon P233 scope for $500. I bargained the price down from $600 due to the recall (to help with the replacement Timney trigger). It came 100% factory original including the plastic stock, the previous owner shot ~100 rnds and decided he need an AR15 instead.
I ordered a few upgrades:
Timney 512 trigger set at 2lbs. Installing it was easy, I followed the instructions:
Boyds Tacticool stock with 13.75" pull. I should have paid the $10/month cost for the on-line training before I ordered the stock. Turns out I need 14.5" pull, no problem, I added in 3/4" by making a spacer out of scrap Birch wood:
I had to make a little space for the Timney trigger's adjustment screw, a little effort with a rat-tail file did the trick:
Once I made space for the trigger I was able to move the barrel relative to the stock even when everything was tightened down. I bedded the recoil lug with JB Weld following all the on-line videos available on youtube. My first effort worked just fine, I even have a piller of JB Weld in the front of the lug. The barrel/action is held tight now and the barrel is free-floating the entire length all the way to the lug:
Harris bipod with notched legs and swivel:
She's a little portly now:
Costs (including shipping):
Rifle with scope $500
Boyds Tacticool stock $120
Timney Trigger $152
Harris Bipod $106
JB Weld $9
Total Cost = ~$890
Here's my best group before the mods. I'm going through the on-line training so it'll be another week before I go back to the range:
Here it is:
I bought a Remington 700 SPS Varmint in .233 back in Illinois with a Nikon P233 scope for $500. I bargained the price down from $600 due to the recall (to help with the replacement Timney trigger). It came 100% factory original including the plastic stock, the previous owner shot ~100 rnds and decided he need an AR15 instead.
I ordered a few upgrades:
Timney 512 trigger set at 2lbs. Installing it was easy, I followed the instructions:
Boyds Tacticool stock with 13.75" pull. I should have paid the $10/month cost for the on-line training before I ordered the stock. Turns out I need 14.5" pull, no problem, I added in 3/4" by making a spacer out of scrap Birch wood:
I had to make a little space for the Timney trigger's adjustment screw, a little effort with a rat-tail file did the trick:
Once I made space for the trigger I was able to move the barrel relative to the stock even when everything was tightened down. I bedded the recoil lug with JB Weld following all the on-line videos available on youtube. My first effort worked just fine, I even have a piller of JB Weld in the front of the lug. The barrel/action is held tight now and the barrel is free-floating the entire length all the way to the lug:
Harris bipod with notched legs and swivel:
She's a little portly now:
Costs (including shipping):
Rifle with scope $500
Boyds Tacticool stock $120
Timney Trigger $152
Harris Bipod $106
JB Weld $9
Total Cost = ~$890
Here's my best group before the mods. I'm going through the on-line training so it'll be another week before I go back to the range:
