Frank - In your opinion, what years and serial number ranges were the best Remington receivers built?
Paul: No alphabet prefix serial numbers and those beginning with "A" and "B" seem to be the nicest: very high gloss blue, jeweled bolts, metal trigger guards and floor plates, (not plastic), milled followers, very high quality walnut stocks usable for a varmint rifle "as-is", and machining that shows more care. My newest is a "G" series that had the J-bolt, the first thing to be changed, and a side-by-side comparison with the older 700's make the quality difference very obvious. I believe the quality started to slide when Dupont sold the company, not sure what serial number range that happened. Have bought really nice ones, from private owners, for $250 to $325, leaves a lot "left-over" for a Neil Jones trigger ($70), and a Shilen,Hart,Krieger, etc. barrel.