My 2nd question is which barrel length and twist would be best for shooting 600-1000yds? A 26" barrel with a 1/12 twist or a 24" barrel with a 1/10 twist?
The 1/12 twist is adequate for bullets up to 180 grains at .308 Win velocities, and is probably ideal in those longer barrel lengths. The 1/10 twist is fine too, but not needed and may have a tiny negative affect on accuracy. Either barrel length is fine, more length = more velocity but you are starting to get diminishing returns past 24" in a .308, even for target use. (Though some competitive shooters use 30" barrels in F-class or Palma.)
Rifle 1. Remington 700 police 308 with HS precision stock.
Rifle 2 Savage 10FCP LE with HS precision stock.
Of those two, the Remington 700. Plan to replace the trigger though, and you may or may not find that the HSP stock fits you well. And there's a chance the bolt handle will break off. And Remington barrels vary from good to awful. It's a roll of the dice. I'd still take that roll over the Savage however, and I've owned and shot both brands in competition.
If the budget allows for a FN SPR, it is, IMHO, a far better rifle than either of those, but their typical price is closer to $2k.
I have two others to recommend:
1) If on a budget, get a Howa stainless varminter 24" action from Bud's Gun Shop for $509, link below (you may have to wait but probably not too long):
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/...led+Action+HWB23113+308+Varmint+Stainless+24"
and buy a Bell & Carlson stock to put it in, best price I've seen is here:
http://www.redhawkrifles.com/produc...therby-vghowa-1500-tactical-sa-a2-stock-black
Add a decent scope rail (I'd splurge on a Ken Farrell for $120, but you could also get an EGW for half that) and for somewhere around $900 depending on FFL transfer cost you will have a very nice rifle that compares very well to the 700P but has nothing that's likely to break, a pretty good factory trigger, and a nice forged action with forged one-piece bolt.
Another option would be a Sig SSG-3000 Patrol. These are really, really nice, and I've seen them at or below $1300 - supposedly even some Walmarts carry them. For that money you get a made-in-Germany action and barrel, a US-made stock (not the McMillan you get on the $3k version of this rifle, but a very serviceable molded stock), an integral scope rail, and possibly the smoothest and highest quality-feeling action I've used. Also, if you ever wear out the barrel you can replace it by loosening three bolts, though you can only replace it with a Sig factory barrel because the bolt locks into a barrel extension. This isn't a problem because the factory barrel is a very well made, German-made, CHF barrel. So far it's the most accurate rifle I've shot, and I've shot mine out to 600 yards using factory (FGMM) ammo.
I've played this game in the last couple years and for me, I never got to like Savage much, and like Remington only a little better. I shot a 26" Savage 10 .308 in F-class out to 600 yards; it was reasonably accurate, but I never liked the accu-trigger or the feel of the action. I've shot the Remington 700, the action is much smoother, the factory trigger is OK (and recalled!), but you can easily put in a Timney which is a really nice trigger - for another $120 or so! You always have questions about the bolt handle falling off, unless you pay to get it welded, and if you ever want to rebarrel most smiths will require the action be blueprinted for several hundred dollars, then you're paying $300-500 for a barrel and installation. Not a great choice if you're going to shoot a whole lot.
Compare the Howa - you get good everything out of the box, and the action doesn't need blueprinting for a rebarreling. Nothing really needs to upgraded nor is likely to break.
Compare the SSG-3000 - you get great everything out of the box. Nothing to change. When the barrel is shot out, you mail order a new one from Sig USA and install it yourself in 5 minutes.
Compare the FN SPR - you get a great stock and barrel out of the box, with a good action and a fair trigger. You are not likely to shoot out the CHF chrome-lined barrel in the SPR. It comes with a nice scope rail.
Here is my recommendation:
1) You are on a budget. Get the Howa and B&C stock and never look back.
2) You have funds to spare. Choose between the SPR and SSG-3000 depending on personal preference. You will not regret either one.
3) You are only willing to choose between Remington and Savage. Get the Remington, I guess...
