Lowdown on Remington 600, 660, Mohawk 600?
- Thread starter Artie Fufkin
- Start date
It's too bad when the first post is somewhat negative in nature. The trigger "non-issue" is well known in the shooting community, and has elicited all sorts of comments, both pro & con. Bottom line is, keep your Remington trigger clean and dry of oils and greases, and it will work just fine, as long as someone who does not know much tries to adjust it out of specs.
The 600, 660, and the Mohawk 600 were a series of short action Remington bolt actions based on the tried and true 700 ADL action. The first models had the "rib" on the barrel. The bolt handle is shaped rather different, and has a bit of a dogleg in it. The bolt release [to remove the bolt] is inside the left locking lug raceway at the rear, and is a bit tricky to get at to push down and release the bolt. All came with rather short barrels, but were handy rifles. These were generally very accurate, and quite functional, and a lot of custom rifles were built on the actions. They came in quite a variety of short action chamberings, starting at the 222 Remington, and included the original Short action magnums, the 6.5mm Rem Mag and the 350 Rem Mag.
The 350, with full house loads, delivered recoil that could hardly be described as a maiden's caress. To a seasoned rifle shooter, it was manageable. All came with hardwood stocks, but the magnums had a laminated one. All in all, a decent rifle, but the 700's had some features that made it a bit more user friendly. As Rembo says, you'll probably like the M7 better. I've probably missed something, but it will be picked up by another poster, for sure. Regards, Eagleye.
The 600, 660, and the Mohawk 600 were a series of short action Remington bolt actions based on the tried and true 700 ADL action. The first models had the "rib" on the barrel. The bolt handle is shaped rather different, and has a bit of a dogleg in it. The bolt release [to remove the bolt] is inside the left locking lug raceway at the rear, and is a bit tricky to get at to push down and release the bolt. All came with rather short barrels, but were handy rifles. These were generally very accurate, and quite functional, and a lot of custom rifles were built on the actions. They came in quite a variety of short action chamberings, starting at the 222 Remington, and included the original Short action magnums, the 6.5mm Rem Mag and the 350 Rem Mag.
The 350, with full house loads, delivered recoil that could hardly be described as a maiden's caress. To a seasoned rifle shooter, it was manageable. All came with hardwood stocks, but the magnums had a laminated one. All in all, a decent rifle, but the 700's had some features that made it a bit more user friendly. As Rembo says, you'll probably like the M7 better. I've probably missed something, but it will be picked up by another poster, for sure. Regards, Eagleye.
Last edited:
Northman999
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Southern Yukon
I've got a 600 in .308, an earlier production one, and it's great. I've taken more game with it than any other centerfire I own. Real nice and light, very fast to cycle, smooth action, and in the 308 win, even with handloads, it's not a hard kicker. I've shot it extensively out to 350 yards and it is entirely accurate enough to harvest game to at least that far. Most guys I know who have tried one very quickly want to own one. The 350 rem mag 600 has a reputation as a painful kicker, but I'd buy one if I could.
I had a 600 in .222 Remington that was always better than 3/4moa and often ran about 1/2 moa accuracy. Unfortunately I sold when I needed cash more than that particular rifle.
For a few more details, the earlier production 600s had 18.5" barrels while the 600 Mohawks had 20" barrels of somewhat heavier contour. Personally I like them both and would really like to get my hands on one in .308 Winchester if one came along at a fair price.
For a few more details, the earlier production 600s had 18.5" barrels while the 600 Mohawks had 20" barrels of somewhat heavier contour. Personally I like them both and would really like to get my hands on one in .308 Winchester if one came along at a fair price.
Thank you all for the replies, positive and negative.
Have read of the safety issue. Know of the symbol Remington puts on left side of trigger if they have been factory modded, as well as the first letter "A" serial numbers not having the problem.
Bolt release does seem a little weird. Recall reading someone offered an upgrade but not sure if its still available.
Floor-plate/trigger guard are not an issue, can still find metal replacements.
Dog-leg bolt handle doesn't bother me for some reason. Felt ok and look is fine.
Think if I purchased one would like to go .308 so I don't have to stock up on a different caliber.
Would like to put it in a light weight synthetic stock though. Any ideas what would fit this thing? That seems like it could be an issue.
Everyone who owns them seem to say they shoot really well. I can see why some recommend the Model 7, but there is just something about these 600's, can't explain it.
Artie Fufkin
Have read of the safety issue. Know of the symbol Remington puts on left side of trigger if they have been factory modded, as well as the first letter "A" serial numbers not having the problem.
Bolt release does seem a little weird. Recall reading someone offered an upgrade but not sure if its still available.
Floor-plate/trigger guard are not an issue, can still find metal replacements.
Dog-leg bolt handle doesn't bother me for some reason. Felt ok and look is fine.
Think if I purchased one would like to go .308 so I don't have to stock up on a different caliber.
Would like to put it in a light weight synthetic stock though. Any ideas what would fit this thing? That seems like it could be an issue.
Everyone who owns them seem to say they shoot really well. I can see why some recommend the Model 7, but there is just something about these 600's, can't explain it.
Artie Fufkin
A Weaver # 70 one piece mount works just fine....comes with a shim with a screw hole that fits under the rear of the mount. Mine is in .308 and now has the metal floor plate from Numrich Arms...not cheap but worth it.
Sold the wooden stock and purchased a RAMLINE drop in fit synthetic stock from WSS in Calgary. The rifle had the original 18.5 inch brl. and would shoot nearly all bullet weights 110 to 165 grains useing handloads one inch and some loads even much better.
As I have a few other short brl .308's... I got a new takeoff 26 inch heavy
SPS brl on it now and accuracy is even better.
For hunting... in its original carbine length its' accuracy accounted for a lot of game and was easy to carry afield all day long... and in the Timber/Brush the short overall length made it even handier. Now I take my 788 Rem in the 18.5 inch carbine to hunt...and starting to use the Mohawk for long range targets.
They rarely show up for sale where I live...as those that have them don't seem to want to part with them.
Sold the wooden stock and purchased a RAMLINE drop in fit synthetic stock from WSS in Calgary. The rifle had the original 18.5 inch brl. and would shoot nearly all bullet weights 110 to 165 grains useing handloads one inch and some loads even much better.
As I have a few other short brl .308's... I got a new takeoff 26 inch heavy
SPS brl on it now and accuracy is even better.
For hunting... in its original carbine length its' accuracy accounted for a lot of game and was easy to carry afield all day long... and in the Timber/Brush the short overall length made it even handier. Now I take my 788 Rem in the 18.5 inch carbine to hunt...and starting to use the Mohawk for long range targets.
They rarely show up for sale where I live...as those that have them don't seem to want to part with them.
When someone on here asks a question about a rifle, I think they are more interested in what fellow shooters say about it, than what Google says.
Accordingly, I will give my two cents worth. I was in the firearms business in the mid 1960s when they came out. The word soon got around that they seemed pretty rough in 308 and up. We liked to promote them in the 35 Remington calibre, as that seemed a perfect combination.
Also, at that time it was often said that one had a hard time when reloading the 308, to equal factory velocities. (Major reason why I much prefer the 30-06 to the 308.) It was also said at that time that H335 was the best powder for the 308.
Years later I bought an earlier model 6oo, in 308, with the 18½" barrel. Overall, it was not my favourite rifle. The short barrel makes that 308 really loud. I have said this before on here, and got taken to task for it. However, I stick to the claim. I was once shooting it at the range, walked to the clubhouse and two shooters who were there, asked me what kind of a magnum I was shooting!
I didn't have a longer barreled 308 to compare with, but I chronographed the Canadian military ammo and they averaged 2715. I could only barely come almost to that figure with handloading 150 grain bullets, with several different powders. I am now looking at the notes I made 25 years ago. A healthy charge of H335 averaged 2696. I went up .5 grain, and have a notation that the load was too heavy! The other powders were either too slow burning to get enough in the case, or raised too much pressure before I reached 2700.
As a point of interest, 51 grains of Herters #100 gave me 2598. (Now don't you all go and try Herters #100 in your 308s!)
I wish I would have bought one in 35 Remington when we were selling them!!!!
Accordingly, I will give my two cents worth. I was in the firearms business in the mid 1960s when they came out. The word soon got around that they seemed pretty rough in 308 and up. We liked to promote them in the 35 Remington calibre, as that seemed a perfect combination.
Also, at that time it was often said that one had a hard time when reloading the 308, to equal factory velocities. (Major reason why I much prefer the 30-06 to the 308.) It was also said at that time that H335 was the best powder for the 308.
Years later I bought an earlier model 6oo, in 308, with the 18½" barrel. Overall, it was not my favourite rifle. The short barrel makes that 308 really loud. I have said this before on here, and got taken to task for it. However, I stick to the claim. I was once shooting it at the range, walked to the clubhouse and two shooters who were there, asked me what kind of a magnum I was shooting!
I didn't have a longer barreled 308 to compare with, but I chronographed the Canadian military ammo and they averaged 2715. I could only barely come almost to that figure with handloading 150 grain bullets, with several different powders. I am now looking at the notes I made 25 years ago. A healthy charge of H335 averaged 2696. I went up .5 grain, and have a notation that the load was too heavy! The other powders were either too slow burning to get enough in the case, or raised too much pressure before I reached 2700.
As a point of interest, 51 grains of Herters #100 gave me 2598. (Now don't you all go and try Herters #100 in your 308s!)
I wish I would have bought one in 35 Remington when we were selling them!!!!
You are correct Sir, and that is exactly what I appreciate about the CGN community. Thank you for the detailed insight!!
Artie Fufkin
Bruce..... you are correct in your opinion. They don't weigh much..they are short barrelled..and they are loud and for those that are recoil sensitive yes.. they kick and back then it was hard to get factory velocities... not that I had a chrony in those days...............but they are accurate as a rule.
I owned my first 600 .308 in 1978 when I first started reloading....fortunately my previous employer provided us...those that shot and /or hunted ...with copious quantities of 1974 IVI Mil Hardball and we merely swapped out 150 gr Hornady spitzers for the 147 FMJ and most .308 s' with the ukn. type of powder would shoot 1-1.25 inch with this swap. This was as accurate as anything Rem. / Win. loaded from the factory back then.
Years later when chronys became affordable your premise of velocity with this hardball load is quite accurate with both of my different Rems. in 18.5 inch brl. and yes they are noisy at the range and accurate...however if noise was an issue in a rifle purchase...no one would buy a firearm....rifles are all noisey..even in .35 Rem.......in the real world hunting no one ever bagged game and then complained about the loud shot.
If a person wants a hi-performance 150 gr. load in a short brl... 49.0 gr Reloder 15 will get you 2790 fps in 18.5 " ..and 2970 fps in a 24" brl. My ears can't tell the difference....pretty close to 30/06 handloads too..... those that don't own them...the triggers are well over 6 lbs. pull..once the laquer is taken of the adjustment screw on the trigger you can reduce it to about 3 lbs and is quite crisp.
Would love to have had them make one in .358 Win. noisey or not...
I owned my first 600 .308 in 1978 when I first started reloading....fortunately my previous employer provided us...those that shot and /or hunted ...with copious quantities of 1974 IVI Mil Hardball and we merely swapped out 150 gr Hornady spitzers for the 147 FMJ and most .308 s' with the ukn. type of powder would shoot 1-1.25 inch with this swap. This was as accurate as anything Rem. / Win. loaded from the factory back then.
Years later when chronys became affordable your premise of velocity with this hardball load is quite accurate with both of my different Rems. in 18.5 inch brl. and yes they are noisy at the range and accurate...however if noise was an issue in a rifle purchase...no one would buy a firearm....rifles are all noisey..even in .35 Rem.......in the real world hunting no one ever bagged game and then complained about the loud shot.
If a person wants a hi-performance 150 gr. load in a short brl... 49.0 gr Reloder 15 will get you 2790 fps in 18.5 " ..and 2970 fps in a 24" brl. My ears can't tell the difference....pretty close to 30/06 handloads too..... those that don't own them...the triggers are well over 6 lbs. pull..once the laquer is taken of the adjustment screw on the trigger you can reduce it to about 3 lbs and is quite crisp.
Would love to have had them make one in .358 Win. noisey or not...
"Bolt release does seem a little weird. Recall reading someone offered an upgrade but not sure if its still available. "
NULA (New Ultra Light Arms) still makes a release for these.
"Would like to put it in a light weight synthetic stock though. Any ideas what would fit this thing? That seems like it could be an issue."
High Tech Specialties makes one (as does Brown Precision, MPI, and I believe Wildcat used to). RPI sells HTS locally.
They are great guns actually, make excellent hunting rifles. I have a couple of 308s, a 284 Win, a 222 Rem, and an action for another project (7mm-08AI). And a XP100 action (600/660 action with a solid bottom built as a bolt action pistol) that is the base of a switch barrel rifle for some oddball wildcats I shoot. Had a 6mm Rem I should have kept, and a 350 Rem that went to Alaska (great bush/bear gun) that I also should have kept. Oh well, c'est la vie. FWIW - dan.
NULA (New Ultra Light Arms) still makes a release for these.
"Would like to put it in a light weight synthetic stock though. Any ideas what would fit this thing? That seems like it could be an issue."
High Tech Specialties makes one (as does Brown Precision, MPI, and I believe Wildcat used to). RPI sells HTS locally.
They are great guns actually, make excellent hunting rifles. I have a couple of 308s, a 284 Win, a 222 Rem, and an action for another project (7mm-08AI). And a XP100 action (600/660 action with a solid bottom built as a bolt action pistol) that is the base of a switch barrel rifle for some oddball wildcats I shoot. Had a 6mm Rem I should have kept, and a 350 Rem that went to Alaska (great bush/bear gun) that I also should have kept. Oh well, c'est la vie. FWIW - dan.
I have a 660 in .308.
Me loooves it! It's killed a LOT of game. It's a nice, light carbine. (18.5"barrel)
Carry's great in the bush, especially the thick stuff.
I can't buy another rifle, for fear I'd never use it....just love my remmy sooo much.
Me loooves it! It's killed a LOT of game. It's a nice, light carbine. (18.5"barrel)
Carry's great in the bush, especially the thick stuff.
I can't buy another rifle, for fear I'd never use it....just love my remmy sooo much.
I've read through these reponses and will now give mine.
The Remington 600 was originally conceived as a bolt action saddle gun. The action was based on the 700 but modified in several ways to make the rifle as short as possible.
The tang and the receiver bridge were shortened. The rear screw location was moved as far forward as possible. The trigger finger lever was located at the front of the trigger housing. These changes allowed the entire barreled action to be moved brearward in the stock by nearly an inch. Because of this rearward location, the bolt handle was dog legged forward to keep the knob from hitting the shooter's trigger finger on recoil. At the same time, the handle was flattened and kept close to the stock. The point of this was to allow the rifle to fit well into a scabbard. The bolt stop, disliked by some, was made the way it was so the bolt stop would not be depressed by accident during rough use. It's not a problem to use and does it's job.
The 600's stock was, in a word, homely. The rear end was ok with a decently shaped Monte Carlo comb but the squared and too long forend wasn't that great. Nonetheless, it made an acceptable handle.
The nylon trigger guard and floorplate saved weight and were quite durable. Durable or not, plastic is hard to like and not many really like the 600 guard. Another plastic touch was the plastic ventilated rib affixed to the 600's barrel. The only reason this was added was because some one felt it looked "cool". They were wrong! Later on The rib was eliminated and the barrel made a bit heavier for the Mohawk series.
Recoil in 308 was noticable as was muzzle blast but the rifles shot very well, as a rule, and worked as intended.
With a little different stock, a metal guard and floorplate, and a good recoil pad, the 600 would be good rifle today. If the 308 was renamed the Mini-Mag, it would be capable of killing today's big game animals and would sell pretty good!
Few people hunt from horseback anymore but a short, handy, accurate rifle fits on a Quad or carries on a backpack pretty well too. The 600 was the fore runner of the "scout" concept.
In later years the 600 went from being a special purpose rifle to being an econo=rifle and suffered a bit in the process. It was still a compact l;ittle rifle but finish was rougher and the birch stock didn't have many fans.
If I were to make a 600 today, I would make it in stainless with a laminated stock (black/green). I would want to try and make the bolt handle a bit more attractive but keep the forward slant and make the rifle even more of a bullpup design if possible. No ribs or plastic but a rugged set of open sights for emergency use. I think it would be a decent seller. I would NOT make it a short Mag! Regards, Bill.
The Remington 600 was originally conceived as a bolt action saddle gun. The action was based on the 700 but modified in several ways to make the rifle as short as possible.
The tang and the receiver bridge were shortened. The rear screw location was moved as far forward as possible. The trigger finger lever was located at the front of the trigger housing. These changes allowed the entire barreled action to be moved brearward in the stock by nearly an inch. Because of this rearward location, the bolt handle was dog legged forward to keep the knob from hitting the shooter's trigger finger on recoil. At the same time, the handle was flattened and kept close to the stock. The point of this was to allow the rifle to fit well into a scabbard. The bolt stop, disliked by some, was made the way it was so the bolt stop would not be depressed by accident during rough use. It's not a problem to use and does it's job.
The 600's stock was, in a word, homely. The rear end was ok with a decently shaped Monte Carlo comb but the squared and too long forend wasn't that great. Nonetheless, it made an acceptable handle.
The nylon trigger guard and floorplate saved weight and were quite durable. Durable or not, plastic is hard to like and not many really like the 600 guard. Another plastic touch was the plastic ventilated rib affixed to the 600's barrel. The only reason this was added was because some one felt it looked "cool". They were wrong! Later on The rib was eliminated and the barrel made a bit heavier for the Mohawk series.
Recoil in 308 was noticable as was muzzle blast but the rifles shot very well, as a rule, and worked as intended.
With a little different stock, a metal guard and floorplate, and a good recoil pad, the 600 would be good rifle today. If the 308 was renamed the Mini-Mag, it would be capable of killing today's big game animals and would sell pretty good!
Few people hunt from horseback anymore but a short, handy, accurate rifle fits on a Quad or carries on a backpack pretty well too. The 600 was the fore runner of the "scout" concept.
In later years the 600 went from being a special purpose rifle to being an econo=rifle and suffered a bit in the process. It was still a compact l;ittle rifle but finish was rougher and the birch stock didn't have many fans.
If I were to make a 600 today, I would make it in stainless with a laminated stock (black/green). I would want to try and make the bolt handle a bit more attractive but keep the forward slant and make the rifle even more of a bullpup design if possible. No ribs or plastic but a rugged set of open sights for emergency use. I think it would be a decent seller. I would NOT make it a short Mag! Regards, Bill.
Thank you for the information!
Could you please tell me, what shop is RPI (have never heard of them and didn't turn up in a search)? Do you have a link?
Also, is this the NULA part your referring to:
http://www.brownells.com/aspx/ns/store/productdetail.aspx?p=13788
Thanks again.
Artie Fufkin
