Rem 798

andygumpers

andygumpers

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Hello all, there is a new gun out for this year that I would like some info on. Remington has a new gun out the Rem Model 798 Mauser. Has anyone tried one of them yet and if so how do they compare to the tried and tested 700. Thanks Andrew
 
Not new for this year and nothing like the 700. It's built by Zastava and I had one under the Interarms name years ago. It was of excellent quality, was very accurate and was a good value. The new Remington model has a laminated stock, but I think you can get walnut now, too. I'm thinking of picking one up in .270 like I used to have just because I miss it sometimes.
 
Finally Remington has a CRF option in the 798, even if they don't make it. The classic Mauser design predates the "tried and tested" enclosed head push feed Remington 700 by about 4 generations. I haven't had the opportunity to handle one yet, but from the pics the bolt handle appears to be a bit on the small side. This is might not prove true upon handling the rifle. Given my luck with unaltered M-700 stock failures, the laminated option might prove to be the better choice in the 798.
 
The Rem 798 is, as per said above made by Zastava, in Serbia (http://www.zastava-arms.co.yu/english/zastava.htm). The laminated stock Remington are using are from Boyds'.

Zastava have a long history of making firearms and worked together with Brno and other European armories in the past.
Their domestic civilian Mauser (they also make sporting Mannlicher and Kalashnikov) production consist of the Model 70 (and a variant, the M85), wich is what is called a "modified M98", the receiver went through some modifications (just like the Brno and Cz) from the original.
Zastava are known for roughly finished stocks (but the walnut wood they use usually is of pretty good quality, though) - (the stocks usually are easy to fix with a 200 grit sanding paper and some patience). This is said to be the reason why Remington decided to import the unstocked barreled actions from Zastava.
The bedding might also profit of a little bit of work.
The metal parts are not as shiny as the older Mausers, but the finishing is usually good. The metal is of modern alloys and have nothing to worry about.
They also make good quality sporting firearms, including shotguns, rimfires, air rifles, revolvers and pistols. They also make sniper rifles and many military weapons.
Their barrels are known for good accuracy.

The previous well known user of these actions was Charles Daly, who imported these actions for years.

It's sad that Remington decided not to import and offer the bare actions.
 
blargon said:
Any thoughts why they discontinued the Stainless/Laminate that was offered last year??

Also, the 798 this year is only offered in Walnut/Blued, or in Synthetic/Blued. No more laminates being made.

http://www.remington.com/products/firearms/centerfire_rifles/model_798/
Click to expand...

Don't know why they would kill a stainless/laminate, but I have a theory. The way I see it, if a guy wants a white rifle, he would probably opt for a modern design by a different manufacturer. Most people who would look at a classic rifle like a Mauser are probably going to be your classic kind of people. Blued steel and Walnut stocks will always be the classic rifle. I'm not saying stainless is bad, not at all. But I just don't see new shooters buying a Mauser because of it's liniage. And I don't see old hunters buying stainless. The true nutz in the middle will probably prefer a lighter stainless/synthetic offering and the Zastava is anything but light, it weighs a ton. And that's also probably why they don't offer the laminate anymore. On a rifle like that, in my eye's it looks like an abortion. The new walnut stock looks great, now if they could only offer different checkering it would look fantastic. :)
 
Well, I guees, you're right, pharao2,

The whole fit looked like futuristic-traditional mix, while Mauser fanatics usually are looking for more classic style.
The new stock is hot, but I personally prefer something more "European", in the Bavarian, British (Safari) or Continental style. They revamped the look, making it more "classic" (I would say "American" classic) with a touch of modernity, the checkering being it that class, too. While CNC-made checkering is not really my bag (and that's what I really dislike on Sako and Tikka), I prefer it to stamping.
As for Stainless, Zastava still makes them (but with a synthetic stock), I think Remington wants to palp the market before deciding on what they will import.
There is also the comeback of the Winchester M70 wich may hurt. Remington took advantage of importing the CRF rifle when they saw that Winchester was making good money when they returned to the manufacturing of the pre-64 CRF design, just before they stopped fabricating the M70.
Now, they will be both proposing similar products (in different calibers, though).
 
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i havent had a chance to actually handle one of these. i wonder how much different the actual rifles look like in your hands than the typical remington catalogue photos:
798_sps_ban.jpg

798_ban.jpg


every recent production remington that i have handled - shotguns and rifles, domestic or imported - have been a massive disappointment in fit/finish.

that said im still a Remington fan and like the guns, its just that i wish their were represented more honestly in the photos. i dont really care about the finish on something like a utility shotgun or rifle but if i purchased a modern walnut-stocked M98 then fit/finish would definitely be a huge factor for me.
 
played with a bunch while in a cabelas down south. some of the roughest actions of any make or model firearm I have ever handled. was very disapointed.
 
I owned a couple of Zastava M70, and they usually are average M98 Mauser fit. Of course, it's not a Tikka nor is it a FN made 98 action.
The steel parts usually have a good fit (again, it's no high-end rifle).
The mating surfaces usually can be improved by a bit of lapping...
 
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