Remington 78 Sportsman or New RR Prefix 700 ? opinions please...

[dolek]

A buddy of mine came to me with this question... Which should I get, a nice older Remington 78 Sportsman or a new (big box store) RR Prefix Remington 700 in 30-06 . I am not familiar with the 78,I have seen plenty of the new RRs .

Price is the same for both rifles,which would you buy of the two ? I understand the 78 was a budget model in it's time ,wondering if the difference was mostly the cheaper stock or if it was also the barreled actions fit and finish .

Thanks for any info you can share .these are the only two rifles he is considering so hoping their is a clear winner.

Also,is the footprint the same for the 78 as the 700 ? I have a spare 700 stock to donate to the cause if the 78 turns out to be the wise choice.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

They had a real cheap pine lookin stock but the rough finish is probably better than current cdl/adl models

 

[drover]

The 78 had a birchwood stock, they are an ADL configuration (no floorplate) and the finish was not a high-polish gloss like the 700 used at that time. The finish on a 78 is heads and shoulders above the finish on the SPS, the 78's finish is more of a "dull" gloss since the metal was not as highly polished.
They are identical to the 700 except for the receiver stamping of Sportsmans.

drover

 

[bpd459]

Greetings,
I have 2 Rem 78’s I bought in 87/88. Both ended up as varmint rifles, trued, rebarrelled (many times over) and restocked. Other than the factory markings, the are a 700. They were cheap too.
Best of luck,
John

 

[alleycat]

I used a couple for builds.As others said they are a unpolished 700.

 

[dolek]

Thanks gentlemen,sounds like the 78 will be just fine...just what he was hoping . I think I will go to the shop and check it out tomorrow for him.

 

[snert]

If I recall correctly, the 78 is only a long action. If memory serves

 

[bpd459]

Greetings,
They were both long and short action. Mine are both shorts.
John

 

[1bamashooter]

I bought a used 78 in 243 just for the action but it shoots so good I can't bring myself to mess with it

 

[grovey]

I remember reading a thread a few yrs back where multiple guys with a 78 in .223 saying they were scary accurate.

 

[nicholst55]

I remember reading a thread a few yrs back where multiple guys with a 78 in .223 saying they were scary accurate.

I have one of those. Once I glassed it and installed a Timney trigger, it shoots amazingly well.

 

[dolek]

I picked up the 78 today,looks to be a nice rig . I tore it down and started the cleaning . Looks like the previous owner gave it a flood with heavy oil that varnished...trigger/bolt release were so gummed up they would not wiggle . Thanks for the info folks,this 78 is surely better than any of the new 700s I have witnessed in recent years. With your we were led in the right direction.