Remington 700 SS 5-R Milspec

Don't forget to check out the Shooting Results page, for my new records. Three groups under .2 MOA at 200 yards - and my latest record group: 3 shots measuring .5 inches from edge to edge (.192 center to center) - .091 MOA!Also, Remington just released 5R versions in .223 and .300 Win Mag! This is VERY cool news. So far, I know the rifles are similar in looks to the .308 model 5R, both 24" long, the .223 has a 1:9 twist rate, and I think the .300 is 1:10.
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The mysterious "Remington 700 5R" .308 rifle that (for good reason) generates so many questions within the .308 bolt rifle community.

I first came across the Remington 5R two years ago, when a co-worker mentioned witnessing an unfathomable single hole 5 shot group at 200 yards. To be fair, it had been shot by an active duty SEAL sniper, but regardless I had to learn more.

I was hooked when I read the following review: http://www.snipercountry.com/InReviews/Rem_M700_StainlessSpecial5RMilspec.asp. I put my name on hold for the once-a-year allotment at snipercountrypx. In the meantime, I researched as much as I could about the rifle online. Here is what I learned:
First, the details were vague, many of them were opinions from discussion group forums, most with disagreements to the specifics. Second, you won't find the rifle on Remington's website. It is a special yearly production in the neighborhood of 500 per year, that Remington produces for a few resellers. I spoke with representatives at Remington, as well as a few of the resellers. I was able to confirm that the rifles exist (a start I guess...) but no one could tell me the history or the exact specifics of the rifle itself.
Scott does a great job of explaining the specifics of the barrel in his article (see above link), but again, speculations remained about this rifle vs. the Army's M24, also made by Remington (see http://aspiringtech.net/nobull/M24SWS.html). As near as I can figure out, the 5R is not the M24, nor is it made from discarded M24 barrels that may not have met tolerances. That said, the "Milspec" designation is there for a reason; the barrel is 24" long, and (importantly) it has a faster twist rate of 1:11.25 not often seen in .308 rifles (the 700 Police models all have a 1:12 twist). Given the faster twist rate, this rifle does a better job shooting heavier bullets, like the 175 grain Sierra, where the standard 700's prefer 168 grains.
At the time, I owned a 6 month old 700 Police model with a 26" barrel and (as above) 1:12 twist. It was a nice rifle, and was capable of half inch groups, but I felt like I had to "force it", and one inch groups were more typical. I was sucked in by the hype and mystery surrounding the 5R and knew I would not be content until I "traded up".
Two things were holding me back though. The 5R comes only in stainless (I'm a fan of flat black), and the stock is a slightly smaller, less "overmoulded" version than the Police stock. The stock is also black, but with a slight green spiderweb pattern that looks cool with the stainless, but was not my favorite look overall. I had to decide if I was brave enough to swap stocks, and paint a brand new rifle (more precisely, to take sandpaper to a brand new rifle...). I guess I was.
The official name for the rifle (from the packaging) is; "700 Stainless Special 5-R Milspec Barrel". The label then says "Model 700 Stainless, 24" Barrel .308 Win", "Order # 29662" Here is what it looks like out of the box:
Continue to Part 2. Part 3 (shooting results) or go to Pictures, or Resources