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Getting a threaded muzzle on a factory rifle saves a lot of time and trouble (and some money) for shooters who want to add a suppressor. Count me in. I like silencers on my handguns, and I’m considering selling a car to fund a silencer purchase for a long gun, so I’ve been shooting bolt-action rifles like the Remington Model 700 SPS-T in 300 AAC Blackout, whose muzzle is factory-cut to accept 5ā„8×24-threaded flash hiders, muzzle brakes, and suppressors.

Announced by Remington in 2012, three SPS-T (Special Purpose Synthetic-Tactical) models have 16.5-inch-long carbon-steel barrels, with the 85549 chambered in .223 Remington, the 84205 in 300 Blackout, and the third in .308 Winchester, No. 85538.

Two other SPS-Tactical models in the line, a 223 Rem. and a .308 Win., have 20-inch barrels (84206 and 84207, respectively) but aren’t threaded for a muzzle device. The shorter SPS-Ts list for $859 MSRP, while the 20-inch-barrel rifles list for $803. So the threads cost $56 in MSRP dollars. I bought my rifle for $680.

The Remington Model 700 SPS-T 84205 300 Blackout looks odd becaust of the short, stubby tactical barrel. But it shot some ammos pretty well. Photo by Woody for TTAG

Set Up

The Model 700 SPS-Tactical bolt gun has a cylindrical Model 700 receiver design machined from solid steel, with a heavy-contour barrel. The Remington precisionĀ rifle didnā€™t come with bases, so I used Weaver #35/36 bases and Weaver Six Hole Tactical Rings to mount a Nikon M-223 series 3-12x42mm scope.

Installing Weaver bases on the drilled-and-tapped receiver was easy, but I wish Remington had provided an installed 1913 rail with the rifle.

Ammo

My centerfire test ammunition included both supersonic and subsonic rounds, including Remington’s UMC 300 AAC 120-grain OTFB Supersonic L300AAC1, Sellier & Bellot’s 300 AAC 147-grain Full Metal Jacket SB300BLKB, and Remington’s UMC 300 AAC 220-grain Open-Tip Flat Base (OTFB) Subsonic 21422.

The Remington Model 700 SPS-T’s best performance came with Sellier & Bellot 147-grain 300 AAC Blackout rounds. This is an unsuppressed group.

 

This is a suppressed group with Sellier & Bellot 147-grain 300 AAC Blackout rounds in the Remington Model 700 SPS-T. All three-round groups were fired at 100 yards. Photo by Woody for TTAG

Silencer

I fired all the rounds for velocity and accuracy with a Rugged Suppressors Surge 7.62 from SilencerShop.com in Austin ($945). The Surge 7.62 is a modular 30-caliber rifle silencer, which enables the shooter to change the size and configuration of the silencer. It has a removable section of the tube that allows the shooter to go from a full-size 9-inch silencer to a shorter 7.5-inch unit. Depending on configuration, it weighs 17.5 to 21.5 ounces and is made of Stellite with a high-temp Cerakote finish. It comes with a spanner tool to remove the endcap and a user manual.

The Rugged Suppressors Surge 7.62 from SilencerShop.com is a modular 30-caliber rifle silencer, which enables the shooter to change the size and configuration of the silencer from a full-size 9-inch silencer to a shorter 7.5-inch unit. Photo by Woody for TTAG

Also, by adding an interchangeable 5.56 endcap or 7.62 endcap and respective muzzle devices for both calibers, the Surge 7.62 can be assembled as a 9-inch or 7.5-inch 30-caliber silencer rated up to 300 Remington Ultra Mag or as a 9-inch or 7.5-inch 5.56 silencer.

Here’s the Rugged Suppressors Surge 7.62 from SilencerShop.com in its major pieces, an endcap, an extension, and the main silencer body. Endcaps can also be had in 5.56 caliber for an extra charge. Photo by Woody for TTAG

I shot the Surge only in the 9-inch mode and was impressed with the 300 BLK suppression. When paired with 220-grain subsonic rounds, the report is barely noticeable with plugs and muffs on. According to Silencer Shopā€™s testing, the 9-inch configuration creates 122 dB with subsonic 300 BLK while the 7.5-inch format comes in at 128 dB.

Accuracy Results

The results for the 300 AAC in the Remington was substantially better with one of the rounds. Shooting the Remington 120-grain load, the SPS-T fired 1.4-inch unsuppressed average groups and 1.2-inch suppressed average groups.

Shooting the Sellier & Bellot 300 AAC 147-grain FMJs unsuppressed, the SPS-T shot 1.0-inch groups and a best-of-test 0.75-inch average group size suppressed, with one group as small as 0.4 inches in diameter. I felt I could shoot sub-MOA with it all day.

The Remington muzzle thread protector can be removed and installed finger-tight. For this image, the bolt was taken out of the unloaded rifle. Photo by Woody for TTAG

Shooting unsuppressed, the 220-grain subsonic round from Remington was horrible, averaging 5.0 inches. Suppressed was another matter altogether, with the Remington firing the namesake 220-grain round into 0.8-inch average groups. Average velocities for this round were well below supersonic, with the SPS-T shooting 1075 fps and 1088 fps unsuppressed and suppressed, respectively.

Features

The SPS-T looks odd because it has a stubby 16.5-inch heavy-contour barrel, 0.883 inch diameter at the muzzle. That makes the Remingtonā€™s out-of-the-box weight 8.25 pounds but the OAL is just 36.25 inches. A steel thread protector comes installed, and it easily screws on and off with finger pressure.

Here’s the Remington Model 700 two-lug boltface with plunger ejector. Photo by Woody for TTAG

The rifling rate is marked midway down on the right side of the barrel as ā€œ5-R Tactical 1:7 Twist.ā€ The 5-R rifling on the SPS-T is the same type as found on the companyā€™s M24 SWS (Sniper Weapon System) rifle barrel. There are five lands instead of six, as on a traditional barrel. Also, traditional lands are squared off at a 90-degree angle to the groove, while the lands on 5-R rifling are tapered at 110 degrees, which results in less bullet deformation, according to Remington. Also, none of the lands sit directly across from one another. The barrel free-floated in the stock channel.

Rounds fed cleanly out of the hinged steel floorplate internal magazine, and I didnā€™t experience any binding during reloading. Unloading the magazine took the push of a button, located inside the front of the trigger guard.

Left arrow, the bolt handle was a one-piece oblong shape. Center, trigger adjustments could be made by adjusting the Allen screw in the top of the trigger. Right, the internal magazine could be dumped by pushing the button at the front of the magazine. Photo by Woody for TTAG

Installing the bolt assembly is simple. With the safety mechanism in the “S” position and with an empty rifle, align the lugs on the bolt assembly with the receiver, then slide the bolt assembly into the receiver and push it all the way in.

Removing the bolt is easy on the SPS-T. Raise the bolt handle, pull the bolt handle all the way back, push the bolt stop release in the top of the trigger guard, and slide the bolt assembly out of the firearm.

Trigger

The gun is fitted with Remingtonā€™s X-Mark Pro externally adjustable trigger. I liked the trigger, the adjustment screw for which can be reached with the short end of a provided wrench, rather than poking it through a hole in the trigger guard. Remington warns shooters not to adjust the trigger pull force below 3 pounds unless itā€™s being fired from a secure stationary rest in a controlled environment.

To adjust the trigger, I placed the provided wrenchā€™s hex key in the socket of the adjustment screw located at the top of the trigger. A standard 1ā„16-inch hex key can also be used to make this adjustment. Turning the trigger-pull-adjustment screw counterclockwise lightens the trigger-pull force. Turning the trigger-pull-adjusting screw clockwise increased the trigger pull force by approximately 1 pound for each full turn of the adjustment screw.

After making an adjustment, I used an empty casing to dry-fire the rifle several times to ensure the trigger-pull force spring was re-seated. It is unusual for me to like a factory trigger, but this one was all right. I liked the flat face of the Remington trigger as well.

To check if the trigger would break inadvertently, I inserted a dummy Snap Cap, closed the action, and holding on to the barrel, dropped the gun (no scope) 20 times on the butt from hip height. The gun didn’t release the firing pin with the safety on Safe or Fire.

To engage the thumb safety on the right rear of the action, pull the safety lever fully to the rear towards the ā€˜Sā€™ position, for Safe. When you are ready to shoot, push the safety mechanism forward toward the ā€˜Fā€™ position to disengage the safety mechanism, making it ready to Fire.

Stock

The barreled action sits in a Hogue OverMolded Ghillie GreenĀ pillar-bedded, synthetic stock with a semi-beavertail fore-end. I found it to be very well mannered on the shooting bench. The pebbled grip on the the soft-touch textured stock was comfortable, and it offered a positive grip, even in inclement weather.

The lightly pebbled stock wrist offered a sure grip, even when wet. The green coloring is very subtle. Photo by Woody for TTAG

The stock doesnā€™t have much drop at the comb or at the heel, and thereā€™s not much pitch either. The gun comes up to the face mid-cheek for most shooters. The rifleā€™s soft Supercell recoil pad reduced what little push the 300 BLK makes, which is even less with the silencer on. It is no 300 Win Mag, so I immediately became of fan of the 300 Blackout.

The Remington Model 700’s barreled action sits in a Hogue OverMolded Ghillie Green pillar-bedded, synthetic stock with a semi-beavertail fore-end. Photo by Woody for TTAG

The dual-point pillar bedding produces a stable relationship between the action and stock, and as a result, I didnā€™t see stringing when shooting up to five rounds at a time, and the first-shot cold-barrel zero was good for following rounds, showing no point-of-impact shifts.

A cushy Supercell buttpad reduces the already-low recoil from the 300 BLK round. Photo by Woody for TTAG

The Truth About This Gun

The Remington 700 SPS TacticalĀ 300 Blackout is a fine-shooting firearm suited for medium- to long-range use. If you already have an AR-15 semi-auto lower with a 300 BLK upper on it, this bolt gun would be a solid battery mateĀ to easily shoot 300Ā Blackout suppressed with no concern for gas settings.

Specifications: Remington Model 700 SPS-TĀ 

Caliber: 300 Blackout
Action:Ā Bolt; machined solidĀ steel cylindrical, Model 700 receiver
Bolt: 2 lug; blued steel plunger ejector; 90-degree throw
Overall Length:Ā 36.25 in.
Empty Weight:Ā 8.25 lbs.
Barrel Length/Twist Rate:Ā 16.5 in.; 5-R 1:7 RH
Barrel Finish/Material:Ā Matte-blue tactical-style carbon steel; hammer forged, free floated. Heavy-contour clean barrel without sights.
Barrel Muzzle Diameter:Ā 0.883 in.
Barrel Muzzle Style/Device:Ā 5ā„8ā€-24 thread; Ā steel thread protector
Stock:Ā Hogue OverMolded, Ghillie GreenĀ pillar bedded, front swivel stud accepts bipods
Stock Length of Pull:Ā 13.38 in.
Stock Sling Swivel Attachments: 1 butt, 1 forend
Trigger-Pull Weight:Ā 3 lbs.; X-Mark Pro externally adjustable
Safety:Ā 2-position action-mounted lever
Magazine:Ā 5-round internal; hinged floorplate
Sights:Ā None
Optics Mounting Hardware:Ā Drilled and tapped
Made In: Ilion, NY
MSRP: $803 (about $680 retail)

 

Ratings (out of five stars):

Aesthetics: * * * *
Good bluing, fit, and finish. Cosmetics aren’t this rifle’sĀ raison d’ĆŖtre, so it’s hard to knock it for its looks.

Reliability: * * * * *
Perfect, as expected from a bolt action rifle.

Customization: * * * *
Go pffft with your can, or bang, your choice. Easy to remove/install the suppressor. My wish list would have preferred that a top Picatinny rail came with it, but there’s no rifle platform with more options than the Remington 700.

Ergonomics: * * * *
The stock had adequate grip surface at the wrist, and it slid straight and true on a front rest. It’s very nose heavy, with or without a can. It does not have perfect balance between the hands. This would be fine to hump about 100 yards to a box blind and then poke it out a window. I wouldn’t want to carry it up and down the draws around Marathon.

Overall: * * * *
This is a heavy rifle, even before adding a can. However, that weight makes shooting the 300 Blackout a treat. Ruger also makes a Ranch Rifle in this chambering, so there are lighter options out there.

 

 

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32 COMMENTS

  1. Luv 300 Blackout but not in a Remlin,not a Remlin anything even if the Navaho nation purchases them, not for at lease a decade from now.

    • LMAO @ Remlin

      Remlins pour salt water in your barrels and remove loctite from fasteners in your firearms when you’re sleeping.

    • The first time I picked up a Remington 700 sps, I embarrassed myself. I pressed the little button in the trigger guard thinking it opened the floorplate. (Wrong button) To my horror, the bolt fell out and smashed into the concrete floor.

  2. I’ve found it curious how some (gun and/or ammo) manufacturers call the round “.300 AAC”, while others use “.300 BLK”. We all know they mean the same thing (.300 Blackout, Advanced Armament Corp.), but I’m not coming up with any other cartridge examples off the top of my head that get this split-naming treatment.

    Just an observation. Doesn’t really mean anything hither or thither, but I thought I’d write it down while thinking of it.

  3. Why the built in box magazine for a cartridge having many removable magazine options? Remington could have offered the rifle with a low capacity removable magazine and left the option open to buyers to go larger if they want to.

    • Remington and their evil overlords could do many things differently for the customer’s benefit but they refuse. Whatever drugs they’re on, they’re the best money can buy and they come with free hookers.

      I don’t see how anyone could entrust their life to them but if you can suspend rational thought that much what’s a magazine configuration?

  4. If someone wants to shoot 300 BO out of a bolt gun, the Ruger American Ranch Rifle is the right answer.

    Cheaper price and you get to avoid doing business with Remington.

  5. 8 pounds! Kinda defeats the stubby-rifle platform for me.

    But I’m not an operator operating in operations with a muffler.

    I’ll stick with Ruger Scout at 6.25 pounds – nekkid.

    A scope will bring it up but not to 8 pounds.

    • A Ruger Scout in 5.56 with a 2.5x Leopold Scout scope is a handy lightweight field rifle. The barrel pitch allows bullets up to the 80g range to be used.

      • Mine is 308. With the muzzle brake, recoil is pretty sedate with Winchester Q loads.

        In 223, it must pull away from your shoulder.šŸ˜

        I would love to have one in 762×39 with a slightly lighter barrel and a cut for stripper clips.

        The grail would be a 77/357 sized rifle with stripper clips in 30 carbine or 10mm or 9×23.

        That …. might replace my lever action carbines.

  6. You either have cheap cars to sell or like really pricey silencers. Or… Both. That was a funny quote either way.

    It may not matter since the gun is already decently heavy, having a heavy silencer like the Rugged Surge. I like the Surge, it performs well and it’s super strong, but it is also longer and heavier than some of the more recent options, and not particularly cheap either. If it will be doing double duty for mag dumps on a SBR AR or AK or getting beat up with 300 win mag, then it is a versatile option, but there are some lighter, less durable options that could work well on a bolt action. Even Rugged’s Radiant is close in price but lighter.

  7. Woody- I appreciated the inclusion of your testing regimen after adjusting the trigger. All in all, it’s a good review with no BS, so thank you!

  8. I purchased this gun from my LGS only to find out that remington had incorrectly marked the barrel 1:7 when really it was a 1:10. Shooting a 220+suppressor out of a 1:10 is a good way to lose your baffle stack. When I called remington and told them of this, their reply was “yeah a few had that issue back in 2013”. I bought this from a very high volume dealer in 2020. I seriously doubt that gun was manufactured in 2013. To say they were rude about it is an understatement. Ended up pulling the barrel off and getting a SHAW custom. Much happier now but I’ll never buy another remington rifle again.

    • Exchanging for the correct barrel wasn’t offered? LGS didn’t try to make it right either? Wtf? Two businesses would have lost a customer there. No excuse for not trying to make it right.

      • Remington’s actual response was “You can send in the entire rifle. Lead time for replacement is 6 months.” LGS offered refund but also offered to install new barrel for free if I went that route. Ended up getting a different stock so they basically built me a new gun for free and also cerakoted it. I was pretty happy with that.

  9. Thanks, great review. The Rem 700 SPS in .300 BO is a great gun.

    I shoot 125 TNT at 2350 fps custom loads out of mine and get sub-MOA accuracy. For subsonic ammo Im using the Hornady 190 Sub-X bullets. The 220 OTMs are a terrible choice. I tried them they are not accurate, no expansion, and drop like a rock. Using a Leupold 3×9 mil dot. With a suppressor the 190’s in my SPS are hollywood quiet. The 190s penetrate 5″ of oak and expand well, making it a viable game round. I wouldnt use them past 100 yards, and must range it every 10 yards past 50 yards if you want to be accurate.

  10. Could you please include with your reviews whether or not the firearm is available in a left-handed version, especially bolt action rifles. Even the manufacturers’ web sites don’t always make it easy to find out, including Remington for this SPS-T. Thanks!

    I’m not left-handed, but have poor vision in my right eye. I shoot handguns with my right hand, and long guns with my left. It does make life interesting.

    • Alan, instead of trying to find a left handed rifle consider this. I have this same rifle shown here (as well as the .308 version and 700 in .300 Win mag). Iā€™m right handed but left eye dominant. I simply shoot my right handed rifles (and shotguns) left handed. The advantage to me is never removing my shooting finger from the trigger or break my cheek weld. I stay on the trigger and run the bolt with my dominant hand. I hope this helps.

      • Steve, you make a good and reasonable suggestion. I’ve done just that: shot right-handed rifles left-handed. I can make it work but if I’m going to buy something new, I’d prefer a leftie gun. Plus, there’s a whole class of long guns that simply can’t be handled this way: semi-auto bullpups — I don’t care much for hot brass in my ear! (-:

  11. I have two 20″ SPS guns from at least 5 yrs ago. They are both more accurate than they probably should be for the price paid. I am surprised the author shot the groups shown with that gumby stock and the X marks the spot where you throw it away trigger. I replaced both my stocks with B&C’s 700 carbine stocks which are now no longer made. They are supplied with pillars already embedded in the stock. I also replaced the stock triggers with Jewell HVS units which can be “springed” down to 1.5oz’s. With these enhancements, the SPS guns in 223 and 308 will shoot sub 1/2″ grps at 100yds. I shot 1 perfect target last year in a UBR match with the 223 gun and 77gr FGMM ammo at 100yds. The little SPS carbines are Remington’s best kept rifle secret. Shades of the 788 which by some accounts was more accurate than the 700’s they were making at the time.

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