Lets say I have 2k to spend. But I want it on a 700 SPS tactical 20" platform. What needs to be done next, include optics in this.

Go................

Buy a new stock or stiffen and bed this one, Re-barrel the rifle with a custom barrel and blueprint the action. Tune the x mark trigger, Get the best scope you can. In your price range I would look at a leupold vx 3 with the target turrets or one of the CDS scopes with the side focus.

First of all consider the purpose of the rifle which will dictate caliber, twist rate, length and choice of applicable optics. Get it to a good gunsmith and listen to him when considering your choices. True the action. Get rid of the factory barrel and opt for a Krieger, Bartlein or Broughton barrel. Jewell trigger. Consider a McMillan stock or one of the aftermarkets that has an aluminum bedding block. That will give you a start.

Buy a gun with all the goodies and put some good glass atop it. Get out a shoot.

Gun $650
HS precision or BC stock $350-400
Timney 1.5 lb trigger
Optional bolt knob
Zeiss conquest 4x16x50 TT - redhawk rifles $600
Bases and rings

I had a similar set up and it shot tiny groups with anything 165-168 gr

For the money they are the most accurate out of box rifle I've seen

New stock for sure
Timney trigger is a must
And a nice scope

Add $600-$800 and by a SAKO TRG that will have more features than you can add on a SPS ( I own both) and will outshoot about anything you can build. Last month playing with 175 gr. SMK loads and IMR 4064 I shot a 5 shot group, 1 hole and a dime covered it all. Off a junk plastic forend rest. It's the most forgiving rifle I've ever shot in more than 50 yrs of shooting and reloading

A TRG and halfway decent scope would double his budget.
I have had 4 SPS Tacticals and their weakest element is the flimsy stock. Get a nice bedded stock and spend the rest of your budget on glass and rings.

First of all, I love OP's like this. You give some parameters and see what people think. If it were me in the situation u listed...

Disclaimer: I would consider the below as a long term project that will continue to morph over the years. So to me I want to get parts and mods that will be useful moving forward and really require upgrade. I also assume u want a tacticool

About $900 on a 6-24x50 FFP in either a Bushnell Tactical Elite or Vortex Viper PST
Rifle on 308 $650
One piece pic base talley for 55
About 100 on rings of choice
$130 timney trigger (IMHO no point in tuning factory)

Also I'm no rifle expert. This is how I would start knowing what I know now.

KR and BIL thats pretty much my thought process so far. It wont be all done at once just a project over time. It will primarily be used for hog hunting, I dont do much bench shooting.

I hear what you're saying about the hot hunting and not much of bench of guy and I wasn't either. But once I realized my rig can go out to 500+ yards, then I started being a "bench" guy because it honed my shooting skills enough that in the field I was a much more pro efficient shooter. My favorite trick is shooting 12oz come cans at 400+ yards.

I know it's sort of counter intuitive but the rifle is not as important as I thought it would be. I suppose the ore helpful info rather that exactly how much to spend on what piece, here is order in which I'd go with

Higher end glass
700 sps tactical 20" 308
One piece base
Nice tactical style rings
Trigger
Proper cleaning kit with one piece rod and bore guide (cheaper than u think and totally worth the cost)
Good ammo after about 100+ rounds of shooting cheap stuff

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Above is immediate just haves. I've learned there is no point in spending a ton on a rifle that is 1000+ yard capable with poor glass and ammo and then ruin the barrel with piss poor cleaning rods.

Stock, I'd go to a full aluminum bedded instead of bedding the sps stock
Barrel, this would be low on the priority list after 1200-1500 rounds and probably changing calipers by that point.
Gun smithing

Thanks KR thats the plan. In all the places I hunt as of now the longest shot I need to be taking is max 600 yards. I had an AR10 with the 24" bull on it that I was comfortable making those shots but sold it cause I think is weighed 93 lbs.

So basically I want to go with this to keep weight down and on top I wanna be able to swing it quick when in the woods in close quarters.

Check out snipers hide used rifles and gear section. There is always .308 rifle setups for sale and no reason to buy new as u will get a serious rifle that's already been depreciated in value.

Korean Redneck did a fine job.

One thing of note is the .308 Win does not forgive the man that can't read wind perfectly, heck I can't do it 100% of the time and I shoot a whole bunch. With a max BC of .495 and velocities of 2700 fps, on the high end, it just doesn't cheat the wind like a 6.5mm or 7mm bullet will. 6.5 Creedmoor, 260 Rem, and 7mm-08 all rank higher, in flight efficiency than the 308.

The guys I compete with all agree that the man shooting the 308 is at a disadvantage. Barrel life is awesome, but that's the best thing it has going for it. I'm not a 308 hater, I still have my 308 barrel, but it's just sitting in the safe. Take that as you will.

I second, a quality scope is paramount. There's plenty of off-the-shelf rifles I could hit steel at 1k if I put one of my scopes on top of it.

Tikka tacticals handle good in the store, I don't know how they shoot

My last build I bought a Remmy SPS 22-250 at Academy and took it straight to my smith. We put a SS match Shilen barrel (6mm) 12 twist and built a 6BR. I found a Remmy laminate stock and glass/pillar bedded the rig. Found a Burris 4-16 scope and had one heck of a varmit rig under 1500. This is one sweet calling rig that is super accurate.

If you can find one of the older 700-LTR they will come with the HS stock and a timney comparable trigger. Flutted so it's a bit lighter. And mine shot multiple 1/3" groups with federal gold match. Wish I would have held onto it.

If your not buying now I would do a tikka and a # 3 or 4 for handiness. My sps was a touch heavy

I already went down the Tikka road. One of the best guns I ever owned but I want the durability of the 700 barrel off the bench

But that 25-06 was slick, I regret selling that one big time

Does Tikka make a 20" model?

My SPS is one of the first, LH .308 with the old trigger. I couldn't get consistent groups when I first got it so I put my old syn BDL stock on it and lapped the bore plus did a trigger job and got it to 2 lbs.. It will shoot 3/4 in groups with Barnes 150 gr TTSX and 1/2 in with conventional projectiles. Mine is a 26 in Varmit wgt bbl. I only have really the cost of the weapon in it but it is no where near in a class with the SAKO TRG. It's easier to pack because of wgt but we hunt mostly from blinds so I think I can walk up the stairs with an additional 4 lbs.

They do or at least did. My tikka CTR (compact tactical rifle) has a 20" barrel. It will consistently shoot .5" five shot groups with most anybody behind the wheel. Better if the shooter does their part. The only Thing I don't like about it is that's it's right handed and I shoot left. Heavier barrel though. .875" at the muzzle.

A little info on the one I got.

Sps tactical $600. Used HS precision stock or new BC stock $250, no bedding needed as it just works both ways. NF base and rings $200-$250. Mk4 4-14x40 with covered turrets $750. Basix trigger $150ish.

I have owned, shot, modified a ton of sps tactical rifles with good success. Have also been down the tikka road with decent success. On the used market the tikka can be found at a bargain.

Wouldnt chng barrel right off.. have found a couple of these that could shhot lights out.. just a thought