It will not be the same time as thanksgiving. Probably the first to mid of the month.
From what I have seen and read the LTR is more accurate than the 700P. The LTR with the right ammo should give 1/2" groups where the 700P will yield around a 3/4" group, your results may vary. The last time I checked www.kyimports.com had the best prices on the Remington LTR and 700P.
I had a Remington M700 5R and it shot like crap, BUT I have shot quite a few that were VERY nice. If you can get your hands on a good shooting 5R..... GET IT! If I remember correctly it has a 1:12.? (something odd like 12.2 or 12.4..12.8??) twist and folks are getting VERY VERY good results with the 155 palma match and 150-155 gn spitzer bullets (handloads).
If you have a little more money you can go with a custom rifle from www.snipercentral.com They start around $1400 and go to about $1750, BUT you get a 1/2 MOA guaranty with FACTORY AMMO! Than means with good hand loads you sould be getting 0.25 MOA groups! It comes in a McMillan stock too! These are the best rifles on the market for the money.......(I got one comming!) The other smiths are selling about the same rifle for nearly twice as much.
As for the best deal on a scope...check out midwayusa.com....they are having a sale on the 3.5-10x40 M3 with the duplex reticle then send it off to premire and have the Generation 2 Mildot installed.
Now do not discount the AR with a GOOD varment upper..... with proper optics and a good heavy match round like the Hornady 75gn Match or Fed GMM 69gn it would be a nice lite package out to 5-600 yds. (OH and you need a good trigger too.)
Now if anyone wants to try their hand at some longer distances there is an upcomming shoot in W.V.. The match is called the Allegeny Sniper Challenge. It is a two day match and you will fire somewhere between 100-140 rnds from 100 to 1000 yds at unknown distance targets. This will be my first attempt at such a match, I will let you know how it goes
. (Sept 9th-10th)