At a recent TTAG writers meeting Nick reckoned Remington should freshen up the venerable 700. Done! A new version is due to hit the shelves sometime in 2018. The new 700 PCR (Precision Chassis Rifle) has a 700 action in a Teflon-coated anodized aluminum chassis. The 700 PCR clearly takes aim at . . .

the Ruger Precision Rifle. To take on their Arizona antagonists, the updated 700 went full Magpul, including a Gen3 PRS stock, Magpul grip and one five-round . . . you guessed it . . .Magpul mag.

The 5R rifled threaded free floating barrel is covered by a removable aluminum handguard with key mod attachment points. I guess by the time the engineers worked their way to the front of the rifle they had forgotten about Magpul’s Mlok system.

The three rings of steel are still present as always — the action hasn’t been changed.

Big Green claims the PCR will shoot a three-round sub-MoA group right out of the box. All Remington 700s are live fire tested, but these (like the military contract versions) are tested using a system called CATS which electronically detects the impact location for the rounds and only those which pass the test are accepted. It eliminates any fudge factor so you can be sure there’s as little human error as possible. The target is included in the box, too.

The PCR will be available in 308, 6.5 Creedmoor and of course 260 Remington (Magpul doesn’t make a round). The gun MSRP’s at $1,199 ($968 street but not available yet).

Should the folks at Ruger be worried? Yes. Yes they should.