An honest rifle

[stickhunter]

Hey all,

A few years ago I saw a dealer ad for a second hand Remington 700 rifle in 308 Win, and I could tell from the shape of the safety that it was an earlier model. The pictures weren't great, but I decided to give it a chance; I have a few Remington 700s, but all 2000+ vintage, and I tend towards older rifles.

When it arrived, the best I could explain is that it looked "dry", like it had been out in a pine forest for a summer season. The metal was a bit dull and dusty, there were pine needles sticking out of the barrel channel, and the stock had the finish worn through in spots where it would have been carried. That being said, it was a very early 700, in the 25### range, which I think places it within the first couple of months of production (starting in 1962).

I took the action out of the stock and rinsed out the trigger with some lighter fluid (a couple more pine needles appeared!) before giving it all a good wipe down with oil. The bore and bolt face looked great, and the rifle looks to have been carried more than shot.

Although the stock finish is failing in some spots and worn through in others, I decided to just give it a wax and leave it be.

The rifle came with Weaver pivot mounts, an inexpensive Tasco 4x scope, and a light leather sling. I can't bear to change anything on it at the moment because it feels like a time capsulate of sorts. These early 700s a had a few unique features, which I'll leave for you to notice in the pictures.

I wish I had taken a picture of the rifle when it first came to me, but I've attached some photos of it as it stands now. There's something about the finish being worn on the stock that had me saying, "This is an honest rifle"... I'm not sure why, but the term has stuck with me... so if anyone wants to share pictures or stories of their "honest" rifles, I'd love to see them.

 

[roadglide1]

Thanks for sharing, that's a good looking rifle in my favourite chambering

 

[blazinbilly]

some things best left alone and this is one

 

[9.3mauser]

From the look of the bolt face it doesn't appear to have had many rounds through it. I would put a better scope and mounts on it if you're planning on hunting with it, otherwise nothing needs to be changed.

 

[dan belisle]

That's a nice early 700. I'm ashamed to say how many of these I tore down for builds, but they were my favorite 700 receiver. - dan

 

[Eagleye]

Early 700, for sure. Trigger group is first generation, Safety also first generation. Short bolt shroud is
from the first release as well. Very nice rifle, indeed.

 

[cosmic]

How's it shoot?

 

[ShrtRnd]

some things best left alone and this is one

+1

From the look of the bolt face it doesn't appear to have had many rounds through it. I would put a better scope and mounts on it if you're planning on hunting with it, otherwise nothing needs to be changed.

Agreed
A simple B&L or Bushy 32-4200 3-9x40mm or a Leup M8 6xor 4x would sit well on that.

 

[maple_leaf_eh]

That buttplate doesn't look very durable, but it is original.

There will be a time when an unmodified catalogue stock rifle will be collectable, even if it is "just" a Model 700 in .308.

 

[kamlooky]

Looks like someone knew what they were doing when they put that beauty together.
Nice score.

If it ain’t broke………..

 

[Slimbo]

If buckmastr was still here you’d be giving him a priapism right now

 

[9.3mauser]

My own "honest" Remington 700. First year production 7mm Rem Mag. Date code on the barrel places it in Oct. 1962, the same month/year I was born. All original from what I can tell, except obviously the scope and mounts.

 

[Jay]

Honest wear on a rifle gives it character. And as they say: "Oh if this rifle could talk, the stories it would tell..."

I have a 1974 vintage Marlin 336 in 35 Rem that took me over a year to locate and another 8 months to get. I'll always be thankful to the other cgn member for sending her my way!

Here's a picture from the first fall I hunted with it.

 

[Max-4]

While not as vintage as yours I bought this rifle to start my own "honest rifle" mojo. I just have to find a nice correct vintage low power scope to mount on there and I'll be all set.

Mid 80's Rem 700 BDL in .308 Win

 

[gordonlbyrne]

View attachment 1147962

 

[stickhunter]

My own "honest" Remington 700. First year production 7mm Rem Mag. Date code on the barrel places it in Oct. 1962, the same month/year I was born. All original from what I can tell, except obviously the scope and mounts.

View attachment 1147517

Definitely a sibling to my rifle! That's a great looking Remington you have!

 

[stickhunter]

Honest wear on a rifle gives it character. And as they say: "Oh if this rifle could talk, the stories it would tell..."

I have a 1974 vintage Marlin 336 in 35 Rem that took me over a year to locate and another 8 months to get. I'll always be thankful to the other cgn member for sending her my way!

Here's a picture from the first fall I hunted with it.

View attachment 1147525

I'm a big fan of the Marlin 336, and one of my favourite "honest" parts of older 336s is the worn bluing around the belly of the receiver, where you can see someone's hand cradled the rifle while walking around the woods.

 

[stickhunter]

The resounding comment is to replace the scope, which I will plan to do. I have a coupe of gloss 4x scopes from German makers, but just a matte 4x scope from Leupold. It seems fitting to go with a US scope for this rifle, so if I can find an older m8 or gloss FX-II 4x33, I think that would be a good pairing.

The first set of pictures didn't include the scope pivoted to use the iron sights, so correcting that omission, as well as a close up of the checkered aluminum buttplate.

I'm torn on the scope mount --- I recall (perhaps Johnn Peterson?) really liked those Weaver pivots, and they're period correct and seem quite functional to allow the iron sights to be used. The mount has low rings and fit the 32mm Tasco scope quite well. I usually run Leupold QR bases/rings, and I'm a little leery of the "strap" rings marring up the finish if I put a nicer scope on it.

 

[Slimbo]

The resounding comment is to replace the scope, which I will plan to do. I have a coupe of gloss 4x scopes from German makers, but just a matte 4x scope from Leupold. It seems fitting to go with a US scope for this rifle, so if I can find an older m8 or gloss FX-II 4x33, I think that would be a good pairing.

The first set of pictures didn't include the scope pivoted to use the iron sights, so correcting that omission, as well as a close up of the checkered aluminum buttplate.

I'm torn on the scope mount --- I recall (perhaps Johnn Peterson?) really liked those Weaver pivots, and they're period correct and seem quite functional to allow the iron sights to be used. The mount has low rings and fit the 32mm Tasco scope quite well. I usually run Leupold QR bases/rings, and I'm a little leery of the "strap" rings marring up the finish if I put a nicer scope on it.

I have a nice gloss m8 6x36 that would go well if you’re interested

 

[SuperCub]

That's a nice rifle. I'd leave the mounts as is and find an older quality gloss scope to complete the ensemble.

I just put a Leupold 1-4x20 on an older Remington Sportsman 78.