REMINGTON 700 - One of the Best All Around Rifles?
- Thread starter Ranger77
- Start date
I am confused with the model 700 bashing
I bought about 1/2 a dozen BDL's in different calipers in the late 70's / early 80's and some I have shot the crap out of and never an issue
They are one of the few guns I have owned over the years that if taken care of will do me a lifetime. I did bed them but that is it
I will die with mine especially the 280 and 243 and don't want or need anything else
Cheers
I bought about 1/2 a dozen BDL's in different calipers in the late 70's / early 80's and some I have shot the crap out of and never an issue
They are one of the few guns I have owned over the years that if taken care of will do me a lifetime. I did bed them but that is it
I will die with mine especially the 280 and 243 and don't want or need anything else
Cheers
I have purchased 13 brand new 700's first one around 1990, every single one of them had an issue. From failure to extract, failure to eject, crooked iron sights, and scope mount holes drilled out of line. I had two that would go off when you closed the bolt if the triggers were adjusted to under 5 lbs. I even saw a brand new out of the box rifle that wasn't' crowned, looked like the barrel was cut with a chop saw then blued and put on the receiver. Also seen several 700 bolt handles break off. Many claim they are the best, I obviously don't agree, maybe I have bad luck.
Or maybe you bought them too late in 1990
I am a big remington shotgun fan and after 87 the issues started after the sell off in 86 to new investors. Maybe rifles seen the same
Cheers
I've owned two dozen M700's, maybe more. Majority manufactured during "the worst years of their production". They should of been terrible rifles that weren't fit for serious use. That wasn't the case, I can only think of one issue, a broken extractor on a M700 LTR 300SAUM. That was swiftly repaired by Gravel Agency at no charge to me
I would like to hear the answer to this also. One would think that after the first 3,4 or 5 that you would have learned and stopped buying Remingtons. I have never had a problem of any sort with a 700, can`t say that about the crap Rugers I tried .
maple_leaf_eh
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
My preference (which is no surprise to CGN) is a synthetic stock for hunting rifles. I had a .300 Win Mag with a plastic stock that worked just fine for me, and it cleaned up with a toothbrush and Windex.
thats not possible according to the EXPERTS ! 
RJ
RJ
blasted_saber
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- A blue part of Ontario
I prefer Ruger M77.
Ive owned Winchester Model 70, Ruger M77, and Rem 700
I really like 308
Ive owned Winchester Model 70, Ruger M77, and Rem 700
I really like 308
I’ve had probably 50 remingtons over the years , most have functioned great and very few had any issues . I would admit in a basic push feed action I prefer the howa though a bit heavier .So many semi custom makers use some form of Remington copy actions in there custom rifles as well. There are better choices then Rem for sure but they do work
Just to be contentious, I'm going to toss out one of my favourite slogans: .308, every other 30 cal did it better.
But seriously, to the original post, pick your price range and buy something you won't be afraid to use and abuse. I prefer stainless with wood. Yes it'll get nicked up, but that's character. If I had to recommend something, I know Tikka T3X has been mentioned and I'll second it. Always buy one step higher than you planned on and you'll usually never end up with that nagging feeling you wanted just a little something more. Usually one ends up spending more in the long run because you want an upgrade and have to take a loss on the original, or they just keep accumulating and breeding or something.
I am curious to explore the first line in your post...
With over 50 years of shooting quite a few Remington model 700 rifles, I never had any troubles. They all shot very well. My favorite was the original Mountain Rifle (walnut/blued with floorplate) in .270 which fired sub MOA groups for me with 90 grain, 100 grain, 130 grain and 140 grain bullets. It was the last one to leave my safe when I stopped hunting two years ago.It is now being enjoyed by another of our gunnutz members.
Couldn't have said it better myself.
Honestly if i was looking for a 308.. Ruger American Ranch AI mag (on the low end of the price range ) or a Ruger Scout rifle, with synthetic stock, XS rail. Mount a LPVO, like a 1-6 or a traditional 2-7x lightweight scope and you could hunt just about anything on this continent and most others except the really big bears (you could but.... just no) and a few of the big African species...
I wish I had a nickel for every time I have run into somebody at the range eagerly showing off their 700. These guys love bragging about how it’s the most accurate , super tactical, sniper rifle that will shoot better than everything else.
So I have a look: aftermarket barrel, glass bedded in an aftermarket stock, custom aftermarket trigger, bolt re machined to be trued, and aftermarket handle installed. The only thing left that’s original Remington is the receiver, that is just a piece of pipe, every other part has been upgraded! The 700 was designed for cheap and easy to manufacture. In my opinion , Ruger, CZ, Winchester, Tikka, Howa, and several others are far better out of the box rifles.
So I have a look: aftermarket barrel, glass bedded in an aftermarket stock, custom aftermarket trigger, bolt re machined to be trued, and aftermarket handle installed. The only thing left that’s original Remington is the receiver, that is just a piece of pipe, every other part has been upgraded! The 700 was designed for cheap and easy to manufacture. In my opinion , Ruger, CZ, Winchester, Tikka, Howa, and several others are far better out of the box rifles.
