Remington 700 PCR Review

garryj · #1 10-05-2018, 04:22 AM

Last week I bought a Remington 700 PCR (precision chassis rifle) which is Remington’s late entry (February 2018) into the affordable precision rifle market. I was going to get the Savage Ashbury, but the Remington was about $100 less, which meant I could use the savings to reload more ammo. The included test target was a very respectable .53” at 100 yards with 168gr match ammo. This was from their C.A.T.S. (Computer Aided Targeting System), not an actual holes-in-paper target. I won’t go into details about this system, but if you are interested, go to Remington’s website and look it up.

My first thought when I took it out of the box was, “Man, this thing is heavy.” According to the specs on the rifle, it weighs a hefty 10.5 lbs empty and even more now that I’ve added a scope, bipod, and muzzle brake. After fondling it for a while, I realized that the weak links on this gun were going to be the trigger and the magazine. The trigger pull out of the box measured 4.5lbs, but I was able to adjust it (using the instructions in the manual) to a satisfactory 2.8lbs. The magazine turned out to be a non-issue, much to my relief. Feeding wasn’t super slick, but it did its job.

From Remington:

Remington Model 700 PCR Features

Remington Chassis
24” barrel with 5R rifling
Threaded muzzle with protector
Tactical bolt knob, for swift, positive cycling
X-Mark Pro externally adjustable trigger
Aluminum handguard with SquareDrop
Picatinny rail
5-round Magpul detachable magazine
Adjustable Magpul PRS Gen 3 stock
Magpul pistol grip
3-shot sub-MOA assurance

Remington Model 700 PCR Specs

Mag. Capacity: 5
Barrel Length: 24″
Twist (Right Hand): 8 (10 for .308 Win)
Overall Length: 44″
Length of Pull: 13.25-15.25″
Drop (Comb): .25 – 1″
Drop (Heel):*.25 – 1.75″
Barrel Material: Carbon Steel
Barrel Finish: Matte Blue
Stock Material: Polymer
Stock Finish: Matte Black
Average Weight: 10.5 lbs
MSRP: $1,199

Big Green is offering 3 calibers: .308 Winchester (which is what I got); 6.5 Creedmoor; and 260 Remington. Note that the 3-shot sub-MOA is NOT a guarantee, but an assurance – big difference. Also, the going price for these on the web is $900 to $1099.

Range report to follow.

Garry

vonn · #2 10-05-2018, 08:13 AM

Looking forward to the range report. Hope it shoots as good as it looks.

mauser9 · #3 10-05-2018, 09:15 AM

Looks awesome! Love to know how it shoots myself. Times sure have changed in the 700 world since I bought my 700 ADL way back when. Thanks for showing and a range report would be great.

Ivan the Butcher · #4 10-05-2018, 10:20 AM

About 10 years ago, I bought a Savage 10 BAS in 308. It cost $1500+tax! That was $2000 cheaper than the only other chassis production rifle at the time, by Sinclair International!

The 10 BA and 110 BA series is now discontinued, probably because of Ruger's Precision Rifle and others being more affordable. But out of the box it came with a very effective muzzle break, a strange 20 MOA Base, and uses Accuracy International magazines (came with 1 five rounder).

With a Nightforce 8-32x56 BR scope, and using Hornady's TAP 165 A-Max Law Enforcement ammo The first group after zeroing was at 100 yards: 20 rounds that could be covered with a penny!

Best 500 yard group is 1.75" for 5 shots.

Best 1000 yard group is 4.83" for 5 shots.

I can't get that ammo any more! But I use hand loads with Sierras 155 Palma Match bullet with 47.0 gr of Varget and a 210M primer in Hornady's Match brass (left over from the TAP ammo) this is also sub-1/2 MOA at distance! I load the ammo as long as the magazine will permit and have 1/16" of clearance.

Get some big glass on the rifle and go for distance!

Ivan

loc n load · #5 10-05-2018, 05:20 PM

Nice rifle. It should be a shooter. I have a long history with heavy barrel Remington precision rifles. Shot two today at 1000 yds, a 30-06 LR and a 300 RUM. Look forward to seeing sub moa groups from way out there.

Texas Star · #6 10-05-2018, 09:12 PM

Seems as if you're all set if a riot happens and violent people reach rooftops in your neighborhood, or Russian or Chinese troops invade.

You can shoot woodchucks or long range coyotes, too, of course. Or sparrows or grackles, I guess. A .308 is too much gun for the last, but good for the former.

If that's the sort of rifle you want, you probably got a good one, although I suspect that Savage's metallurgy is better, a little less susceptible to easy rusting. I base this on the number of rusted Remington bolts I've seen on rifles sitting around in gun shops. And I've seen some M-700 bolt handles that turned a reddish purple, too, more than in any other brand. In fairness, that happened to the receiver of my Sako Finnbear, too. It's been replaced with a Winchester M-70 Fwt. Classic .270. That, or Mannlicher-Schoenauer carbines are more my style.

This item may be too heavy for most deer hunting, but you can always win some bets by shooting apples with it at extended yardages!