597 VTR - mini review + pics.

BigBadBlair

BigBadBlair

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Remington 597 VTR

Just got this today after a long wait. I've only 'played' with it for about 30 minutes and 50 rounds or so. So this is very preliminary

Things I like:
  • Crowned muzzle
  • Nice thick 'target' barrel
  • Nice ergonomics
  • Stock has storage
  • Fun to shoot
  • Cool looking

Things I didn't like:
  • The feel of the trigger (plastic)
  • FTF on XPERT .22 ammo (not a biggie - feeds Dynapoints fine)
  • I'm not a big fan of the magazine - hard to load 10th round

I didn't really sight it in yet so no comments on it's shooting consistency yet. That being said I like it. Maybe even like it a lot.

Pics:

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Didn't even know we had these in Canada yet. Thanks for the review + pics! Let us know about accuracy and reliability when you can.
 
Picked mine up today from Epps. (It was the last one they had in stock.)
Played with it for a bit once I got it home but no chance to fire any rounds yet. I'll post some more info soon.
 
that actually looks better than I though it did. My 597 hates xperts with an unhealthy passion, anything eles it likes to feed although it loves cci blazers and mini mags tho. That 10th round will become easier as time passes trust me
 
Okay - I brought it to the range and sighted it in at 10 yards using the reddot. This rifle loves the Dynapoint GTs but hates XPERT22 and Federal Champion 36gn hollowpoint. It can sometimes get through a mag of Wildcats, but really doesn't love them like the Dynapoints. Not one FTF or stovepipe with the Dynapoints - unlike the other ammo mentioned.
I put about 300-400 rounds down range from between 10 and 25 yards. It really is a blast to shoot.

Groups about as well as I can shoot with a reddot so accuracy seems good (at least to my liking). I wasn't able to mount a scope as I'd need higher rings for the front of my 6-24x50 to clear the 'VTR Fore-end' - Remington's name for the aluminum hand guard front stock thingy.

I'd like to really try this with magnifying optics to get a better idea about accuracy - but I think that this could actually be a really decent shooting rifle.

I really like the magazine release location just forward and to the right of the trigger guard.

The fit and finish is decent. The bull barrel and aluminum 'VTR Fore-end' have a really good look, in my opinion a much better look than a quad rail and very comfortable in the hand. If there was an AR15 style mag well it might not be a big deal but a comportable fore grip is more important than being able to hang the boat loads of tactical accessories that a quad rail would provide. - Besides the Colt M4 Tactical Rimfire will fit that bill. :)

Overall I really like this rifle - despite it's fussiness in its taste for ammo. At less than $400 I think I got a really good deal for a fun, cheap to operate cool little rifle.
 
jbr87 said:
that actually looks better than I though it did. My 597 hates xperts with an unhealthy passion, anything eles it likes to feed although it loves cci blazers and mini mags tho. That 10th round will become easier as time passes trust me
Click to expand...

Thanks - I like the look too - it also doesn't feel too 'toy like' in the hands. I'll try some CCI blazers and minimags too. I have some here, but I really like to find the cheap stuff that my rifles like first (for obvious reasons :)) If the weather breaks I might head out to the back and try 'plinking' at 200 yards - I'll try the CCI stuff. Maybe some velocitors too. :)

Thanks for the heads up about the 10th round getting easier with use. I've been spoiled with Browning Buckmark mags which are just so easy to load.
 
Shot mine for the 1st time a few hours ago, mounted it with a 3.5-10x40 tactical scope.
Sighted it with Dynapoints (9 shots), then shot at 3 targets with 5-shots groups, then switched to Federal 510's: 5 shots to settle the barrel, then 2x 5-shots groups.
Finally Win 333's, 5 shots for barrel lubing, then 3x 5shots groups.
All groups were shot at 100feet with a bipod up front.

I was a bit disapointed, i knew it wouldn't hold with my bolt actions, but the best group I got was around 1 inch and the worst was around 3 inches. I hate to see the crosshair in the bullseye and a shot printing 1in. left and the next 1in. right/1in. high

I shot only about a hundred rounds as it was raining. Maybe the barrel will be better after breaking-in. I'll do more group tests with it after a box or two of 333's.

Edit: Oh yeah, not one FTF, FTE or stovepipe, all rounds worked perfectly.

Here's a pic:
597VTR.jpg
 
Looks great. Did the groups vary from 1" best to 3" worst depending on the ammo? Or did it shoot both best and poor group with the same ammo? Maybe it will shoot decently with the right ammo if your lucky. My 10/22 will consistently shoot poor groups with certain ammo. Here's hoping there is an ammo out there it shoot accurately with because it looks great.
 
OOOPSS, made a typo, it should read 2 inches instead of 3 (as I stated right after that: 1 bullet 1in left then the other 1in right).

Ok, I took out the rule, here it goes (rough measuring):

Dynapoints: 1.1 in., 1.1 in. and 1.9 in.
510's: 1.4 in., 1.0 in.
333's: 1.2 in., 1.6 in. and 1.4 in.
As stated seeing over inches groups at 100 feet disapointed me, I'm used to see half that at 150ft with my CZ's.

But this one is sure one hell of a fun rifle to shoot!!
 
cyclone said:
Room for a chocolate bar? ;)

Nice rifle, though! :)
Click to expand...

Thanks! Actually I think I can get 3 to 4 boxes of Smarties in there no problem. I'll just pour them in loose. :)

I tried CCI Minimags and Velocitors in it late this afternoon. Cycled great with both of them. I shot the first 10 Minimags off hand at 150 yards with the reddot. Steel target, about the size of a BBQ propane tank.

First shot hit and I hit with 6 more from those 10. I had calculated what my hold over would be and the first 'pop' .... ..... 'ting' brought a big smile to my face. The 4 misses were more me rushing the shots than anything else.

The Velocitors were a little trickier to find the target. I didn't run the numbers and I didn't realize how low I'd have to aim. Of well, once I found it ... it was one 'pop' .... ... 'ting' after another.

I really want to get some optics with magnification on it and see what I can do with it. But I'm really liking this little rifle so far. :D
 
I haven't had a chance to take mine out yet but hopefully will have the chance Thursday. I picked up some Federal Champion, Remington and Winchester ammo to try them all out. I'm planning on picking up some CCI's too when I can get to buying some. I'm hoping they all work though.
 
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