This week on #SundayGunday, were discussing a new classic hunting rifle, the RL Bolt-Action from Spandau. Chambered in the classic and dependable .308 Winchester, the first thing you’ll notice is that this rig looks a lot like a wood-stocked Remington 700, and that’s because that’s basically what it is. We aren’t seeing much from the Big Green these days, and so companies like Spandau have been keeping this tried-and-true platform alive, with the addition of some modern upgrades that we absolutely love.
The Spandau’s classic walnut stock that is becoming harder to find on gunstore shelves. But there’s a nostalgia that comes along with the feeling of a solid wood-stocked rifle in your hands, and we’re glad Spandau is keeping it alive.
Of course, there’s some modern upgrades that we also love. The push-feed, two-lug, 700-type action, has been upgraded with a beefier external M-16 style extractor. And to feed this action, is a detachable AICS-style box magazine. The RL comes with two: a flush-fit three-rounder and an extended five rounder.
The bolt release has also been tweaked, and it now sits at the rear of the receiver, rather than inside the trigger guard, making it just a little easier to remove the bolt for cleaning.
Another nod to the modern hunter is the shorter 20-inch barrel. This makes the RL a rifle that can be carried through the timber with less snagging, and used in a box blind with less chance of bumping the walls.
Of course, the barrel is also threaded, meaning you can add a muzzle brake or, better yet, a suppressor onto the end to tame both recoil and report.
But perhaps one of the best features of the RL, is it’s compatibility with nearly all aftermarket parts built for the Remington 700—and there’s a ton of them out there. From the bolt handle to the trigger, to the magazine and optics bases, there’s no limit to compatible aftermarket parts available online for this rifle.
As for how it shoots? We were able to achieve some sub-MOA groups with Hornady’s 178-grain Precision Hunter loads. For an $800 wood-stocked rifle, that pretty impressive.
The RL-Bolt Action from Spandau is a modern-day classic worth taking a look at. For more information, visit sdsarms.com, but before you go, click the "Join" button in the upper lefthand corner to do your part to protect the Second Amendment by joining the NRA.
