Some long range shooters love to hate on the SPS tactical. It does have it's downsides. Hogue makes two versions of the stock, the pillar bedded version thar Remington uses and an aluminum bedding block version.
The pillar bedded version is a bit flexible in the fore end and that's a problem if you use a shooting sling, or bipod with any pre-loading, otherwise it's just fine. The aluminum bedding block version has an aluminum T that extends to almost the end of the fore end and they are quite stiff.
I have the aluminum bedding block version on my Ruger M77 Mk II VT:
Below (top to bottom) is the bedding block version of the Hogue stock, I now have on my Ruger, a Ram Line stock I used for several years after adding a stiffener in the forend, and the pillar bedded version of the Hogue stock that came off my Rem 700:
Since I'm inclined to use a sling or a bipod at times, I replaced the Hogue stock on my Rem 700 SPS tactical with a Bell and Carlson Medalist for under $300.
I also swapped the X Mark Pro trigger for a Timney, and added a tactical bolt handle. The barrel itself was fine, with decent accuracy and excellent stability. It will print 5 shot groups that are sub half MOA, but more importantly it will place 10 rounds inside an inch at 100 yards in under 2 minutes. It's the most consistent rifle I own with no change in point of impact as the barrel heats up or cools off.
The rifle cost me less than $500 new, and I have $900 total in it with the stock and trigger - still less than one of the more upscale Remingtons or a Bergara.
I also have Bergara BMP-14. It'll produce 5 shot groups that are sub half MOA, but it's heavy, and I still prefer my Rem 700.
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My Ruger M77 is my go to long range hunting rifle.
I have my Rem 700 set up for long range plate shooting at 700 yards or less, shooting 168 gr SMKs. It gets most of my range time.
The BMP-14 is set up for longer range shooting out to 1000 yards using 175 gr RDFs.
