Are Remington 700s really that bad?

czfan499

czfan499

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Hi ya'll,

I've been looking at getting a target rifle for range use in .223 and been looking at the Tikkas and Savages but like that Remington has a ton of customization options and a lot of different chassis systems and stocks available at all price ranges. However, the consensus I usually get from forums and review sites is that Remington QX has gone downhill since Freedom Group tookover a few years back and that they also tend to rust quite easy.

Is this overblown or has some truth to it? Seems like Remington is quite popular in terms of volume and so I guess if there are some defective models, the # will be higher than Tikkas or Bergaras etc.

I like the idea of Remington as barrelled actions are easier to find in Canada and then I acn always drop it in a budget chassis all for the same cost of a stock Tikka.
 
Remington is a great option for aftermarket goodies and I haven't had one that doesn't shoot good with a little tuning and load development.

That being said, I've noticed that their Bolt Timing seems to be very random and quite often there is NO initial extraction at all with complete bolt lift...YMMV, but I'd what to handle one before buying it.

Tikka's are built very square and true...more and more goodies are available in aftermarket stuff all the time so a good choice.

Savages have to many variables in build...hole spacing, bolt release, bottom metals, etc etc....my older top bolt releases all seem to shoot good though and IMHO, they use to be good value for the money.

:)
 
They are an ok action from factory, they are not nearly as good as they used to be but are a great place to start. All the ones I have had which vary from the old design to the new design have app shot sub MOA with some tuning.

The new trigger are crap and should all be replaced but replacements arnt that much money and the price of Remington rifles has come down more then enough to accommodate a trigger change.
 
I found on the NEW rifles, their quality control is a little hit or miss. On the older rifles (early 2000s and before) they seem to be way better. Every new Remington I've owned needed some tuning or fixing but every used Remington I bought was pretty decent.

That being said, Tikka right out of the box are perfect shooting guns. They don't have the accessories like the Remingtons though like you said. I had to go to Mcmillan for a stock for mine.

Savage are decent out of the box as well but I am NOT a fan of their new line of rifles and the stupid feeling magazines they are sharing.
 
I would not buy a long action Tikka for 223, kinda pointless.
Never had any issues getting 700's to shoot, not sure where these lemons are but I never had one.
My current 1000m rig is a factory 7mm long range, it's the most accurate rifle I ever owned and it's newer production.
Also have 2 16.5" SPS I restocked (Hogue stocks are not the best) and they are also extremely consistent and accurate rifles.
 
Remington 700 are great rifles.

I've had a few 223s and a 6.5 Creedmoor. They have a lot of accessories and upgrades available.

No complaints from me about them. Mine havent rusted or acted weird in any way.
 
Hitzy said:
I would not buy a long action Tikka for 223, kinda pointless.
Never had any issues getting 700's to shoot, not sure where these lemons are but I never had one.
My current 1000m rig is a factory 7mm long range, it's the most accurate rifle I ever owned and it's newer production.
Also have 2 16.5" SPS I restocked (Hogue stocks are not the best) and they are also extremely consistent and accurate rifles.
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Hows the bolt timing on your newer 700?

My older ones will recock the rifle by just lifting and closing the bolt, my newer ones I have to physically cycle the bolt slightly rearward to re #### the firing pin.
 
Remington make a good barrel, a decent trigger and have a ton of aftermarket add ons. They have been more accurate than the Tikka, Sako and Winchester rifles I've owned. Another accurate rifle is the Browning bolt actions.
 
hawk-i said:
Hows the bolt timing on your newer 700?

My older ones will recock the rifle by just lifting and closing the bolt, my newer ones I have to physically cycle the bolt slightly rearward to re #### the firing pin.
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No issues, you could be seeing the difference in trigger designs between the Walker and new triggers, not sure, haven't experienced what you describe.
 
Hitzy said:
I would not buy a long action Tikka for 223, kinda pointless.
Never had any issues getting 700's to shoot, not sure where these lemons are but I never had one.
My current 1000m rig is a factory 7mm long range, it's the most accurate rifle I ever owned and it's newer production.
Also have 2 16.5" SPS I restocked (Hogue stocks are not the best) and they are also extremely consistent and accurate rifles.
Click to expand...

You're right for the Tikka !

Take a look at the CZ-527, The BEST rifle out of the box !!! They are amazing !!
 
Hitzy said:
I would not buy a long action Tikka for 223, kinda pointless.
Never had any issues getting 700's to shoot, not sure where these lemons are but I never had one.
My current 1000m rig is a factory 7mm long range, it's the most accurate rifle I ever owned and it's newer production.
Also have 2 16.5" SPS I restocked (Hogue stocks are not the best) and they are also extremely consistent and accurate rifles.
Click to expand...

I am new to bolt guns but what would you say makes the Tikka's pointless in .223? I choose .223 since my range is only 100m deep and so the extra cost of 6.5 or .308 would not have additional benefit at that distance for target shooting imo.
 
Rod B said:
I have owned five Remington 700's & all were accurate. Other than a problem with an extractor on one which was promptly repaired under warranty I have not encountered any problems.
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Would do you think of the SPS lineup? Been looking at the SPS tac in .223.
 
czfan499 said:
I am new to bolt guns but what would you say makes the Tikka's pointless in .223? I choose .223 since my range is only 100m deep and so the extra cost of 6.5 or .308 would not have additional benefit at that distance for target shooting imo.
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Tikka are amazing rifle for the price, actually Sako kind of quality !

The reason Tikka is cheaper than Sako : Tikka use just one action length and they use a bolt stop, and one magazine length with a spacer bloc !

a tikka in .223 is a long action with a bolt travel stop and a full size mag with a spacer bloc in it !!!! Kind of weird...

A Tikka in 6'5x55 is a real beauty.

In both case you have a nice cold hammered forged barrel that will perform and outlast any Remington !

If you want Tikka kind of quality in .223 buy a Cz-527, the micro-Mauser action is amazing !!!
 
Hitzy said:
No issues, you could be seeing the difference in trigger designs between the Walker and new triggers, not sure, haven't experienced what you describe.
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On my lastest 700 SS SPS 30-06 I swapped the stock for a B&C Ti and the trigger to a TriggerTech, sent the first trigger back and they said bolt timing issue.

The angled ramp on the bolt only contacts about 1/2 of the ramp on the back of the action...gun still shoots .75 MOA or slightly less with 165 GMX's...Its really a NON issue but it is there compared with my 80's R 700's

At the local range I was shooting with a fellow that had a brand new 700 SS CDL 30-06 and his bolt timing was off the same or maybe even slightly more.
 
Hitzy said:
Never had any issues getting 700's to shoot, not sure where these lemons are but I never had one.
Click to expand...

They were all accurate except for one that needed a new crown straight out of the box, some nasty burs. Mostly though they either needed some trigger work or a really bad chamber polishing.
 
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