Thaugts on Remington 700 all models

The Remington 700 is a decent agglomeration of manufacturing shortcuts. Its principle design philosophy was being cheap to manufacture, while still lasting in use. It achieved those both and a couple other points of interest like a quick lock time. For the same money there are much better rifles however, at least in the principles of manufacturing. Ie. no soldered on bolt handle, or sandwiched separate recoil lug, or that safety. They certainly work however.
 
My Remmy LR has the B/C stock which is good, I replaced the trigger with a Jewell, my other SPS got a full work over.

The only thing factory is the action. Bob Jury Barrel, MRC stock, Pacific Tool and Gauge bolt, target Jewel trigger.

My 3rd Remmy is a all factory SPS, the factory plastic stock is {Solo},,, the trigger is garbage,,, another Jewel trigger and Compassionate Stock to make it better.

I could leave it factory as a harvest game rifle if I planed on shooting critters at 100 to 200 yards,,, I've shoot it out to 800 and the 1 km many times,,, about 9 long distance shoots.

Over all spread of 11" at 800 m
17" ish spread at the 1 km.

I know it can perform better than this with a work over, I won't be turning that 1 into a F Class rig since 1 is enough.

Don from Western Canada
 
I’ve held a couple newer 700’s as they were on my list of left hand bolt actions I was considering, the run of the mill SPS action was pretty crappy feeling. Very gritty bolt, wasn’t impressed with the fit and finish of it. The second was the 700P LTR, huge improvement. The fit and finish was great, the bolt was smooth. Price was double but your def getting a nicer rifle, plus it checked off all the boxes I was looking for.
 
Ardent said:
The Remington 700 is a decent agglomeration of manufacturing shortcuts. Its principle design philosophy was being cheap to manufacture, while still lasting in use. It achieved those both and a couple other points of interest like a quick lock time. For the same money there are much better rifles however, at least in the principles of manufacturing. Ie. no soldered on bolt handle, or sandwiched separate recoil lug, or that safety. They certainly work however.
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Other then the Howa/Vanguards (1 piece bolt, integral recoil lug, 3 position safety) I can't think of anything in that price range that doesn't have a soldered (or worse separate dovetail bolt handle) bolt handle, washer (or worse, floating lug) recoil lug, and 2 position safety?
 
as a left handed shooter i liked the 700s. up to the time i went guiding in northern quebec frop few seasons. it may be just the users but i had few incidents on double strokes (all with SA model) and a few frozen safety, up to that day i sold the last one i had. i ve seen some beautiful models from the 60s but my bell is till on the issues i had in the past.
 
Hitzy said:
Other then the Howa/Vanguards (1 piece bolt, integral recoil lug, 3 position safety) I can't think of anything in that price range that doesn't have a soldered (or worse separate dovetail bolt handle) bolt handle, washer (or worse, floating lug) recoil lug, and 2 position safety?
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Keep your eyes open for the products of a small, little known company called Ruger.
 
jiffx2781 said:
Only issue I've had with the 700 was a couple of 223 rifles and both of them the bolt would ride over the rounds without picking one up to chamber it. Sold them both.

Anything in a 308 based cartridge has worked perfectly fine for me.
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That's a very interesting observation.
I wonder if the older 700s in 17 Rem or 222 sometimes
suffer from this? Or the newer 204??

Curious.
 
Ardent said:
Keep your eyes open for the products of a small, little known company called Ruger.
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Not really the same price range there...plus cast everything is not overly appealing to me on the quality/price scale. I'd put the Howa/Vanguards well above the Rugers, but hey, that's just one man's opinion.
Sabatti would be the same price range with the same features as the Ruger you mentioned, they also cast everything, but the few I've owned are not on par even with an SPS.
Old world used there are lots that fit the category.
 
Brutus said:
That's a very interesting observation.
I wonder if the older 700s in 17 Rem or 222 sometimes
suffer from this? Or the newer 204??

Curious.
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Not an issue, I have a newer AAC in 223, no feed issues. This problem mentioned is usually from incorrect assembly of the mag box/trigger housing.
 
Agree with all points here.

Hitzy said:
Not really the same price range there...plus cast everything is not overly appealing to me on the quality/price scale. I'd put the Howa/Vanguards well above the Rugers, but hey, that's just one man's opinion.
Sabatti would be the same price range with the same features as the Ruger you mentioned, they also cast everything, but the few I've owned are not on par even with an SPS.
Old world used there are lots that fit the category.
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Ardent said:
Folks calling Ruger’s “cast everything” need to understand what investmentment casting is, and show me pics of a broken Ruger bolt or receiver. They’re the toughest actions on the market, and probably the best featured, while receiving little credit.
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Not questioning the strength or durability, just the manufacturing process vs price point doesn't cut it for me. Just like soldered handles and washer recoil lugs are your sticking point in being cheap to manufacture, I feel the same about Rugers retail prices and that they investment cast everything. Also not that impressed that they don't do much to the casting below the wood line, and leave it pretty much as is. For the price of them I would expect the entire metal surface to be cleaned up at minimum.
If they were priced accordingly to the manufacturing process I might own one too.
 
Hitzy said:
Not questioning the strength or durability, just the manufacturing process vs price point doesn't cut it for me. Just like soldered handles and washer recoil lugs are your sticking point in being cheap to manufacture, I feel the same about Rugers retail prices and that they investment cast everything. Also not that impressed that they don't do much to the casting below the wood line, and leave it pretty much as is. For the price of them I would expect the entire metal surface to be cleaned up at minimum.
If they were priced accordingly to the manufacturing process I might own one too.
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Sounds like you want a Rigby for the price of an SPS. I’d never once considered “below the wood” on any rifle as a factor in its quality admittedly, and if each rifle was offered with a “polished bottom” for an extra $50 I think I’d opt out. I’ve owned and worked with a lot of Rugers over the years and never once noted crude nether regions. I’ll have to pull one out of the stock later and see if I can understand your point. As for investment casting a big part of Ruger’s business is aerospace and tooling from such “castings”. They’re functionally superior to the pipe receivers Remington’s using if that’s the concern.
 
Ardent said:
Sounds like you want a Rigby for the price of an SPS. I’d never once considered “below the wood” on any rifle as a factor in its quality admittedly, and if each rifle was offered with a “polished bottom” for an extra $50 I think I’d opt out. I’ve owned and worked with a lot of Rugers over the years and never once noted crude nether regions. I’ll have to pull one out of the stock later and see if I can understand your point. As for investment casting a big part of Ruger’s business is aerospace and tooling from such “castings”. They’re functionally superior to the pipe receivers Remington’s using if that’s the concern.
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Here's a few pics from the net, like I said, for $1000-$2000 depending on model, not seeing the quality vs price. I'd opt for a gently used forged and clean milled HVA 1600 for $500-$700 depending on model over this.
trigger.jpg

DSC09495.JPG

DSC09494.JPG

Again, not saying they don't work or last, just the lack of final finish work is not something that says "here, take my money" to me. Porous cast surfaces are not esthetically pleasing to me, above or below the woodline.
 
The horror! :d What am I looking for that needs to be fixed?

Looks great to this gun guy. Ever looked under a Remington 700? It’s literally a piece of pipe with soldered and sandwiched parts, afterthought safety. What I see above looks like a properly constructed action with everything fixed to its own bosses integral to the receiver.
 
Ardent seems some did not like the middle angled screw on the ruger 77, hawkeye ...

i agree with you one of the best action for the price it was, unfortunetaly no more made in left handed except in 375 ruger ...
 
Ardent said:
The horror! :d What am I looking for that needs to be fixed?
.
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The retail price to reflect the manufacturing cost lol. It looks like a budget offering to my eyes at a premium price, huge mark-up vs manufacturing costs.
Anyway, I do like the "features", I'll just gladly take them made in Sweden out of forged and milled steel (1600) that's been fully finished by skilled craftsmen with pride.
Everyone has sticking points, I really really get ticked at unfinished cast surfaces, it's just laziness, or pure profit inspired. Is it unreasonable to expect a $1500 rifle to be better finished then a $700 rifle? Comparing Vanguards to M77's for instance.
 
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