SPS Tactical or FN SPR A1a

Tactical30

Tactical30

Gunny Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
May 5, 2009
1,098
3
45
Eastern Ohio
#1
Im looking for a new short barrel (20") .308 for mainly target shooting for around $1800 w/ scope purchase. (Im looking to blow my tax return on a new .308)

Im torn between the Rem700 SPS Tactical and FN SPR A1a.

Which would you choose and why.

If I ended up with the Rem700 SPS Tactical i would have to send it to GAP to have it bedded in a Mcmillan HTG/M40 stock with Badger M5 Bottom metal. Im leaning towards the SPS just because of the so many upgrades you could do to this rifle and are available and for $600 for a new one you cant beat the price. That leaves me with $1200 to purchase a new optic and rings for it.
 
#2
Re: SPS Tactical or FN SPR A1a

is this a joke? they don't hardly seem comparable to me. one has a mcmillan stock, super heavy barrel and cost twice as much as the other. your signature talks about nice glass, well if you buy the fn you won't have much leftover for glass.

my choice would be the fn spr all day, with just a simple fixed 10x optic of your choice.

sorry forgot the why, controlled round feed, fixed ejector, easily tuneable trigger, near 20 moa base, mcmillan stock, claw extractor, etc....
 
#3
Re: SPS Tactical or FN SPR A1a

IF you can still get a good scope, get the FN. It is a better rifle hands down for the reasons listed above, and others. In fairness, I have listed some of my Remington experience below.

I have owned 3 of the supposedly rare 700s that fire when the bolt closes or when the safety gets flicked off, and two of the 3 consistently failed to load new rounds from the magazine (easy to fix, but a stupid problem to have on a $900 rifle). A fourth 700 had the safety just fall off on the 24th round fired.

You will probably get a decent one, but for the price, it shouldn't be a gamble.

With the FN, it's a great rifle out of the box.
 
#6
Re: SPS Tactical or FN SPR A1a

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Team-Send-It</div><div class="ubbcode-body">is this a joke? they don't hardly seem comparable to me. one has a mcmillan stock, super heavy barrel and cost twice as much as the other. your signature talks about nice glass, well if you buy the fn you won't have much leftover for glass.

my choice would be the fn spr all day, with just a simple fixed 10x optic of your choice.

sorry forgot the why, controlled round feed, fixed ejector, easily tuneable trigger, near 20 moa base, mcmillan stock, claw extractor, etc.... </div></div>


I agree completely, and for the same reason. The fn's are a great out-of-the-box rifle. Good luck in whatever you purchase.
 
#7
Re: SPS Tactical or FN SPR A1a

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Team-Send-It!!!</div><div class="ubbcode-body">is this a joke? </div></div>

+1

FN, no questions.
 
#8
Re: SPS Tactical or FN SPR A1a

I owned a FN A5m SPR. It was a tac-driver. A little heavy, but a great gun out of the box. I only sold it to buy a GAP:)
 
#10
Re: SPS Tactical or FN SPR A1a

Guess I will throw in a little SPS love. Purchased it about 3 months ago, at the most, and auto ordered some rings, bases, and a bushnell elite tactical scope. I have also thrown on a bipod and some butler creek caps.

While I wont lie, the stock isnt the best, its not terrible. I also plan on upgrading the scope, but thats in the future, I have a lot of shooting to do before then.

I also plan on purchasing a adjustable cheek rest that was advertised on here and drilling through the HO.

I will take a pic tonight and add it, but I love my SPS.

I wont dog the FN because Ive personally never owned nor shot one, but I love my SPS-t..
 
#11
Re: SPS Tactical or FN SPR A1a

The FN is about 5 classes higher than the SPS. If you got the cash, buy the FN and enjoy!

If you want so save some monay to spend on glass, buy a Winchester Stealth .308. Same FN-SPR action w/26" Heavy Bbl and B&C stock w/alumimum bedding block. Should be able to get a NIB one for $800, and since Herstal owns Winchester, you get the same action. They actually are hurting their SPR sales by keeping the Winchester on the market at this low price level. I just took the action out of the stock and was surprised to see that it was bedded to the alumimum bedding block...nice touch. Adjusted the trigger to 3# with no creep or overtravel. Action is MUCH smoother than any of my 700's. Looks to be a shooter!

The last 6 Remington 700's I have received have all been sent back for problems/issues. UPS is getting a lot of my money lately, which is not good.
 
#12
Re: SPS Tactical or FN SPR A1a

I am glad I stumbled on this thread as I'm looking at these two plus the fn pbr-xp 308 with 20" barrel. any thoughts on the pbr?
 
#13
Re: SPS Tactical or FN SPR A1a

I own a FN SPR A5 300WSM and a few Remmy 700's. If you really want to compare the two you are going to need to true the action of the 700, rebarrel it and put a bottom metal in the 700 as the new 308 spr's come with a 5 rd mag as well and a picatinny rail. Add all that up and you are going to have a lot more in the 700. I love my FN short mag and my next 308 will be a FN as well. I will add that I have not done a thing to my FN other than adjust the trigger down and its a consistent sub .5 MOA rifle shooting 190 Bergers. I have actually seen a few .41 and .43 groups out of it when I do my part. You will not be disapointed with an FN, I really cant say enough about them.
Bottom line is buy what you are going to be confident in. Only you have to love what you have and the mental game is a big part of it. Just my .02
 
#17
Re: SPS Tactical or FN SPR A1a

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Hitman308</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Remington has unlimited options on the aftermarket. </div></div>

The FN/Winny is not slouch in the aftermarket department either. That point is relatively moot.

Josh
 
#18
Re: SPS Tactical or FN SPR A1a

+1 for the FN hands down for all the reasons already stated.

Team-Send-It hooked me up with a pristine FN action a few months back. I just got it back from bughole's shop with a fresh Rock barrel. My reason for an FN build....no need to worry about the extractor, controlled round feed and uber reliable.

A close friend runs an SPR & it is an absolute hammer. Outta the box, no comparison between the two. My advice, buy once, cry once.
 
#19
Re: SPS Tactical or FN SPR A1a

If you are looking at a budget minded build try a savage. Get a stevens, go for around $400 new. By the time you put the stock and barrel you want on it, you will still have around $1k left for glass. A lkttle less if you also do a trigger. Just a thought for you. They are good shooters for the money.
 
#21
Re: SPS Tactical or FN SPR A1a

The after market parts thing doesn't hold water. For example I am having two rifles built by Mark@SAC on FN SPR actions. I could have just as easily had the same rifles build on R700 actions. These rifles will both be in Manner's stocks and have CDI DBMs. One in .260 and the other in 7mm-08.
 
#25
Re: SPS Tactical or FN SPR A1a

isn't this a bit like compairing a Burris to a nightforce?

i'm new to the bolt action game but i chose the SPS with nightforce 3.5-15X50 glass, it gives me everything i need now and plenty of upgrade range in the future.
 
#26
Re: SPS Tactical or FN SPR A1a

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Hitman308</div><div class="ubbcode-body">That is true, but generally the Remington is more popular </div></div>

Ahh never mind...

I think sometimes we should get more credit for not posting than for posting.
 
#28
Re: SPS Tactical or FN SPR A1a

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Shooter McGavin</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The after market parts thing doesn't hold water. For example I am having two rifles built by Mark@SAC on FN SPR actions. I could have just as easily had the same rifles build on R700 actions. These rifles will both be in Manner's stocks and have CDI DBMs. One in .260 and the other in 7mm-08. </div></div>

Couldn't agree more. Right now mine sits in a McM A5 and have a Manners T5A on the way. Lots of the "upgrades" people want you dont even need with the SPR action. Side bolt release? already there. safety that actually blocks the firing pin? there. You wont have any extractor issues, thats for sure. Actually if your not careful and you rip back on the bolt too hard and you'll send brass sailing 5 or 6 feet away. And if you have ever fired a properly tuned Win trigger, they are about as nice as it gets. Not to mention pretty damn dependable with only two beefy moving parts, you can fill that thing full of dirt, it might feel like s**t, but it will go bang. Want a 2 stage? CG makes them, and thats about as good as it gets. Plus I personally like the bolt handle on it just fine, no need to upgrade. The CDI bottom metal for the FN is well made and reasonably priced.

And as a side note, I have had some factory incorrectly loaded ammo in a SPR from a local loader here who mixed 50BMG and some other faster burning powder and blew the rifle up pretty damn well. but the action held together and after examining the extractor it became very obvious that had it not been there I would have had more that one little metal fragment in my face and a few in my arm. That little experience has made me fairly partial to them.

This is not hating on the Rem, like I said, I own an SPS. Its actually currently off getting the treatment (true, rebarrel, side bolt release, knob) and I have a Manners T5 currently en route that will be waiting on its homecoming. But when I use, feel and inspect the action, I'm sorry, the SPR seems superior in a great many ways. When I add up the things I didnt have to upgrade on the SPR to make it exactly what I wanted, I find that it has actually saved me quite a bit of money and waiting for smith work.

For my next build I will be playing hide and seek for a pre 64 Win LA. If only FN or someone else produced them currently.
 
#29
Re: SPS Tactical or FN SPR A1a

I had a long talk with my gunsmith before buying an action for my next build. He has built a lot of 700s (because everyone thinks they are the greatest) and says they are good actions, but they require a good bit of work to bring them into spec. I asked if it was harder to true up a 700 than a 70, and he told me "70s don't need to be trued." He said the 70 action is the best US-made action short of a true custom action. So I bought a CDNN SPR action. Between the complimentary 20 MOA picatinny rail and the trigger that won't need to be replaced with a $100 aftermarket, it was a complete steal.

The SPR also comes with a chrome-lined barrel, which I have read will hold good groups well past 10k rounds.

I agree that if you want a really good but inexpensive .308, you should look at the Savage line. Good barrels, second only to the 700 in aftermarket support, and a better trigger, too.
 
#30
Re: SPS Tactical or FN SPR A1a

Looks like ill be getting the FN A1a and a Vortex Viper PST 2.5-10x44 for just under $2000. Not to bad. Or I might try the SS HD Optic.

Spending $1250.00 on the FN A1a leaves me around $700-$800 for an optic to choose from. Still kinda deciding on the optic choice.

Thanks for all the comments!
 
#32
Re: SPS Tactical or FN SPR A1a

Fn spr a1a for 1250$... that sounds like a fantastic deal.
Where could I find one for that price? I've been shooting ar's for years,but after shooting a buddies precision rig I,m ready to get started.
Any info would be [url=appreciatedhttp://cdn.snipershide.com/snipershide.com/forum/images/icons/default/smile.gif][url=appreciatedhttp://cdn.snipershide.com/snipershide.com/forum/images/icons/default/smile.gif]appreciatedhttp://cdn.snipershide.com/snipershide.com/forum/images/icons/default/smile.gif[/url][/url]
 
#33
Re: SPS Tactical or FN SPR A1a

Sounds like you made the right choice. As others have said the FN is one of the best out of the box rifles I have shot.

The only downside might be that it is somewhat heavier than the Rem if weight is an issue.

Oh yeah, now exactly where can I find an FN for that price?....
 
#34
Re: SPS Tactical or FN SPR A1a

Tactical Coordination has A2/A4 models for $1495. That plus a SS 3-9x42 off the SWFA Sample List ($499) would be a great rig. I have one coming my way when I am home on leave that will be set up just like that.

My take on it is that you can always upgrade optics later, but the 3-9 will get you to 600 yards no problem and if/when you upgrade, it should do a great job on an AR. The stock on the A2/A4 has an adjustable cheek piece and the spacer system for length of pull, and Mike has his gunsmith bed all of the FN's before shipping them out. He also offers good deals on muzzle threading and bolt handle upgrades, if you are interested.
FN%20SPR.jpg
 
#35
Re: SPS Tactical or FN SPR A1a

I ordered my FN from Tac Coord the other day and Mike was an awesome guy to deal with. I'm still in the sandbox so contacting my FFL was an issue due to the time difference. I wrote him an email saying I would call them, it just might take a day or two. He replied quickly saying if I just gave him the business name he would call and take care of the rest for me. Great guy to deal with, snatch one up quick.
 
#36
Re: SPS Tactical or FN SPR A1a

DT310,

My experience was extremely similar to yours. Our MWR phones went down over a week ago and since we are a little COS, nobody has gotten out here to fix them. Mike needed an FFL copy and took the initiative to look them up. He called and had a faxed FFL copy before I could respond to his email. Great customer service. I am happy to plug a guy that responds to emails within half an hour and goes out of his way to make things easy on the customer.
 
#37
Re: SPS Tactical or FN SPR A1a

FYI, I have had an SPS .223 Tac for several years now and would recommand it as a starter rifle for someone with a limited budget. Lots of after market products available for future growth. So far on mine I changed out the stock for an HS Precision PSS, added a new bolt knob, and installed CDI Bottom Metal. Its a fun rifle to shoot (holds sub MOA most of the time) and I have no problem reaching out to 750 yards with 77 SMKs and Varget (tried both 69 and 77 SMKs but mine does better with the 77s).

Just this past Jan I got my hands on the FN SPR A1 shown in the picture below. The scope shown in the pic is a VXIII (its now on the SPS mentioned above), the SPR is now wearing a Mk 4 6.5X20X50 with a TMR. I've put around 300 round through it so far and am very very pleased with its performance. The only down side is the four round internal mag. FN is susposed to be working on a conversion kit to allow the A1 to use A5 10 round magazines. As I am a little impatient, I ordered two 10 round A5 mag and did a couple modifications to them, so they now fit my A1. When the kit is available I can remove the mods and use the mags as intended.

The FN SPR is going to be my primary rifle at the PRW Long Range Workshop in WY next week.

CDAT



003.jpg
 
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