Buying a .223 - 700 VLS vs 700 LTR

[YodaVader]

Heading out to my favorite gunshop this weekend to choose between 2 Remington 700s in .223.

I have narrowed it down to the VLS


or the LTR


The VLS has a 26" barrel with a 12" twist , the LTR has a 20" barrel with a 9" twist. I used to own a .223 VLS and it shot really well with 52-53 grain match bullets. Not sure how the 9" twist barrel would shoot the 52-53 grain bullets compared to the 12" twist of the .LTR. But the LTR could be a good match for the 69 grain match bullets.

Ended up trading the VLS for a .308. Now I miss the .223! Just trying to make this decsion!

 

[1911 guy]

If it helps,

I have a Remington VLS and really like it. Sub MOA is the norm with my handloads and about MOA with a certain factory 45gr HP. (WWB!)

 

[Gunrunner]

Yoda, I have the 700P 223 with 26" barrel and 1/9 twist. It's shot great with 55gr bullets. I haven't tried any 52-53gr or lighter bullets.

 

[P0832177]

I had good accuracy with 50gr NBT, 50gr Rem PLHP, 55gr NBT, 60gr Vmax, 69gr OTM, 75gr Hornady, and 80gr OTM. Varget and Rem 7.5 primer worked well in Win cases for the light wt. bullets, and TAC and N540 with heavy wts!

 

[dakotasin]

i think the vls is the best value at the present time for target guns.
i have never had such an easy time getting a gun to shoot, as i did w/ my 308 vls... i liked it so much i went ahead and did the same thing w/ a 22-250 - and wouldn't ya just know it... it shot lights out from the start, too. excellent guns, and neither will be leaving here.

 

[Essex County]

My 700VLS gave me fits for a while, but now is shooting well. For looks it can't be beat...........Essex

 

[YodaVader]

I had good accuracy with 50gr NBT, 50gr Rem PLHP, 55gr NBT, 60gr Vmax, 69gr OTM, 75gr Hornady, and 80gr OTM. Varget and Rem 7.5 primer worked well in Win cases for the light wt. bullets, and TAC and N540 with heavy wts!

What kind of .223 do you have? I would assume you have a 1 in 9" twist barrel? Thanks.

At the moment I am kind of leaning towards the LTR. Tomorrow I am off to the gun shop!

 

[P0832177]

What kind of .223 do you have? I would assume you have a 1 in 9" twist barrel? Thanks.

At the moment I am kind of leaning towards the LTR. Tomorrow I am off to the gun shop!

A 700P with 1 in 9 twist bbl. The VLS is 1 in 12 twist bbl.
Either will be accurate! I have had VLS and VS both were shooters! Scary accurate! The VLS was boring! It would shoot 27.5gr of Varget in Win case with 40gr NBT, 50gr VMax, and 55gr NBT into one hole groups with no real effort!

 

[Rockstar]

A better comparison with the "P" model would be a VS in .223, if they're still available. Both the "P" and the VS have H-S Precision stocks of comparable quality.

The VLS, while "purdy," sports a barrel that's not free-floated, and there is neither pillar or block bedding of the action.

 

[dakotasin]

so float the barrel. its a 10 minute job from start to sealed.
put pillars in, and then glass bed, as long as you got it apart. 30 more minutes and $15...

 

[sako_75]

I have a VLS in 22-250. It gave me fits until I floated the barrell and bedded the action. Now it is one of the sweetest shooters I own.

 

[RavenVT100]

I'm a 700 newb with experience with ARs. What do these acronyms (VLS? LTR?) mean? I am thinking of getting a 700 instead of an AR for my next gun but don't really know where to start.

 

[dakotasin]

the letters just designate particular rifles.
vls = varmint laminated stock
ltr = light tactical rifle
lvsf = light varmint stainless fluted
bdl = b-grade deluxe (hunting rifle, hinged floor plate)
cdl = c-grade deluxe (same as bdl w/ a nicer stock)
adl = blind mag, matte finish, blind mag (economy hunting rifle - discontinued)
sps = replacement for the adl
sendero = mid-weight, fluted barrel...

this list can get long - there are a ton more 700's out there. what 'zactly do you want the gun to do, and designating a 700 model from there will be easy.

 

[YodaVader]

Today at the shop I decided to go with the 700 LTR - unfortunately he did not have any in stock. But I still decided to give the fast twist barreled LTR a try since I owned the VLS in the past. He will call me on Monday after checking with his distributor - he says if they are in stock I'll have it on Wendesday!

Thanks to all those who replied!

 

[dakotasin]

good choice. best of luck w/ it!

 

[P0832177]

A VLS and VS are fair comparison as they are both 1-12 twist barrels, whereas the P and LTR are 1-9 twist barrels. They over lap in some respects, but they are different animals. You can drive 80 gr bullets fast enough in the P so they are stable even out of the 1-9 twist barrel!