I think the current RAR actions are very nice. Have not played with any current rifles. If I was goung to buy one, I would look at the higher end rifles, not the cheap ones made for the big boxes.
When did Remington still make good 700's?
- Thread starter SteveOak
- Start date
My G prefix 223 still is out and about shooting 1/2 moa groups all day. All factory besides stock and trigger.
Attachments
My 2019 vintage Remington 700 SPS in .223 shot very well for a factory gun. Under one inch at 100 with factory ammo and under 1/2 inch with its preferred reloads. I finally shot the barrel out, as I shoot it every week at the range. I found a Sendero barrel with 5R rifling at Northland a few weeks ago and it is being rebarreled by my smith as we speak. If you can afford spending a little more money, the Tikka or Bergara are viable options. However, the Remington is no slouch. I have a Remington 721 in 30.06 which is the same vintage as me (1950) and I have shot 2-inch groups at 400 yards with my reloads.
SteveOak, if you want a Remington 700, go get one. I really enjoy them, and have many. 721’s and 722’s are also some of my favorites. Are they perfect? No. Are they benchrest competition rifles? Absolutely not. But for field use, and hunting they perform acceptably. Lots of accessories and options.
You may wonder why opinions vary so much. That may be because the quality varied. However, every Rem 700 I owned shot much better than any of the three Ruger M-77’s that I owned, and I really hoped they shot accurately. Unfortunate…
Like others, I encourage you to stay away from the cheap polymer stocks, sometimes referred to as Tupperware stocks.
If you can find a 700BDL in .223 with a traditional wood stock, look at the bore and fit of the bolt carefully, extraction, etc, it will likely shoot quite well.
I have no experience with Tikka, but don’t doubt their value, and accuracy. But you are interested in an R700.
Whatever you choose, best of luck, Peter.
You may wonder why opinions vary so much. That may be because the quality varied. However, every Rem 700 I owned shot much better than any of the three Ruger M-77’s that I owned, and I really hoped they shot accurately. Unfortunate…
Like others, I encourage you to stay away from the cheap polymer stocks, sometimes referred to as Tupperware stocks.
If you can find a 700BDL in .223 with a traditional wood stock, look at the bore and fit of the bolt carefully, extraction, etc, it will likely shoot quite well.
I have no experience with Tikka, but don’t doubt their value, and accuracy. But you are interested in an R700.
Whatever you choose, best of luck, Peter.
720? You mean 722, 721, 725, 700? Never heard of 720. There's a lot I never heard of for sure. I picked up a 700 carbine some years back that I never heard of in 6mm Remington. It's was made in the first year of the 700. The new version carbine was the model 7 after that. I believe the last good Remington made was the XR100. Made for two years 2005-2007. I believe Mike Walker was still there. When Cerebus took over everything went downhill. That's the three headed dog that guards the underworld by the way. My two centavos.
I cannot imagine how many more guns Tikka would sell if they made a short action to go with the t3x. I hear lots of guys buying a different gun in the short cartridges because of the long action. With all the short cartridges coming out now it seems like a no brainer. Heck I bet the could sell a ton of just actions.
Correct lug engagement is great but if you're retailing whole batches of guns with no primary extraction, you deserve to go under.
Exactly.
Infrequent Shooter
Gold $$ Contributor
720 was a very high end rifle made from 1917 actions??? some were given as trophy awards in the military. very unusual rifle.
butchlambert
Site $$ Sponsor
The 720 was an improved 30S or Enfield M17. I believe less than 2500 were produced.
I had much rather build a custom from a late model RR receiver than any other Remington receiver. They are straight and true. Yes, the primary extraction needs attention and needs a good trigger.
shot out the barrel in my heavy varmint 700 BDL, replaced it with a Sendero in the 90's. couldnt get it on paper at 100. holes for the bases were not in line front base to rear base, and not in line front screw to rear screw on the rear base. took a windage base all the way, plus .040 off set ring inserts to get the scope in line with the barrel. Called Rem, they said it was in tolerance. dont shoot as well as my old bdl did. that turned me cold on Rem. I agree with the late 80's early 90's.
jackieschmidt
Gold $$ Contributor
There is a myth that the 721 and 722 actions were machined more accurately than later years.
I built a really nice custom 30/06 on a 1949 vintage 721. When I chucked the action up to true the threads and action face with the bolt way,
they were anything but truly straight and square. In fact, they were pretty bad.
But after my work, it made a great Custom Rifle.
I built a really nice custom 30/06 on a 1949 vintage 721. When I chucked the action up to true the threads and action face with the bolt way,
they were anything but truly straight and square. In fact, they were pretty bad.But after my work, it made a great Custom Rifle.
What is the goal? - IIRC most Varmint 700 223's are 1 in 12 twist so he would be limited on heavier bullets if that is what he he is wanting to do. What is his budget? Some here are advocating custom actions - don't know if he is willing to drop 2K+ on a starter rifle even before scoping it. Remington, Howa, Tikka, Bergara all would seem doable for less than 1K to get up a running.
Several years ago I bought 2 1999 vintage 700's that had gotten wet in the box for the price of their stocks. They cleaned up and are now in my regular prairie dog rotation. I did replace the triggers with a Shilen.
My New Rem 700, SS Lefty, Short Action RR IS, a "thing of Beauty" and Precision !
I Lapped the Lugs, a TINY Bit, installed, a Criterion "Rem-Age" barrel, Bedded it, in an H- S Precision stock, put in a Jewell Trigger and it shoots,.. better than, I can !
I also own, a 1981 Rem 700, in .22-250 that still, Drives Tacks !
But have Bought, 3 Tikka's to Hunt and shoot Steel with,.. SINCE.
Put a Hundred bucks, in a Tikka,.. DONE as, Sub 3/4 MOA or, Better with, Tuned Hand loads,..
Almost,.. Guaranteed !
AND, you DON'T hit, the Scope or, mounts, when shucking the Bolt with, your Thumb !
Yup it's,.. Tikka's for, Me,.. anymore !!!
I've owned a lot Rem 700s over the years and my opinion is anything over and beginning around the 2000 era with the jlock is junk.
That said, I've got 2 wonderful shooting custom rifles based off the 700 action that I'd never get rid of. One is an early 70s ADL in a 222, that I just had rebarreled and stocked, made into a 223 wylde long range 1K trainer. The other is a 90s stainless BDL 300 Win Mag that I had rebarreled and stocked into a 7-300 Win Mag. Both have 28" heavy Bartlein barrels, 223 has a Greyboe Renegade A5 clone, while the 7-300 has a McMillan A5.
That said, I've got 2 wonderful shooting custom rifles based off the 700 action that I'd never get rid of. One is an early 70s ADL in a 222, that I just had rebarreled and stocked, made into a 223 wylde long range 1K trainer. The other is a 90s stainless BDL 300 Win Mag that I had rebarreled and stocked into a 7-300 Win Mag. Both have 28" heavy Bartlein barrels, 223 has a Greyboe Renegade A5 clone, while the 7-300 has a McMillan A5.
1lessdog
Silver $$ Contributor
I purchased a lot of RR actions for custom build. And would not hesitate to buy another one. I own many of them from the late 60's to 2023 actions. And if you were blind folded and handed a rifle from the late 60's and one from 2022 you would not feel the difference.
With just a little work you will have a great rifle.
With just a little work you will have a great rifle.
Considering that they were made to be a low cost hunting rifle that the average working man could afford, the 700 was not bad. If you wanted an accurized version, there was the 40X series. Remember, there was no CNC machinery back then. As far as quality declining, from what I noticed, it started sometime around when the "C" prefix rifles came out. As an aside, it's really too bad that Remington did not keep records of the serial number/production year and used barrel codes instead.
Larry Koch
Silver $$ Contributor
The new Remington 700 on the shelf are new and improved. And so is the price.
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