When did Remington still make good 700's?

[butchlambert]

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.

40X receivers were not accurized at Remington. They were SA 700 receivers.

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

The Remington 700's,.. "Claim to Fame" started around, the Mid 1960's IIRC, when Shooters, really noticed, the Rem's, Short, FAST, Firing Pin, "Lock Time" and, their, pretty good, Barrels and Triggers !
Remington Kicked, the Snarl out of, the post 1964, Win. M-70's, "accuracy wise" ONCE they were Bedded properly and sales PROVED that, they were, THE BEST Value, in that, Mid 1960's to, 1990's, time, Frame.
I agree that, the New CNC machined 700 Receivers are, very nice and, Precision, made ( I just can't stand, the High Bolt Lift and, the Thumb "Busting",.. anymore ). Weatherby MK-V's and Tikka's have, Spoiled Me !
I WILL Be, Keeping my 2, very accurate, Rem 700's and, will suffer thru, the thumb busting,.. chit

 

[distinguished]

40X receivers were not accurized at Remington. They were SA 700 receivers.

Hand selected, the face trued and lugs lapped at the custom shop. If you look at certain 700 receivers, they look like they were simply cut off, looking at the machine marks. The newer 700 receivers look to be CNC machined and faced based on the tooling marks.

 

[nakneker]

I like a lot of the older Remington 700s, pre 1990s, I’ve had pretty good luck with them. That being said a lot of those rifles are going for premium prices. I’ll echo what has already been said and suggest a Tikka. You can get a T3 at reasonable prices, blue or stainless, fluted or non fluted. My 223 is T3 stainless fluted, 1-8 twist and is very accurate. I have a few Tikka rifles and they all shoot. Plus, more and more aftermarket parts are being offered for Tikka with as popular as they have become.

Those old 700s are good rifles though If you can find one reasonably priced.

 

[Rampsey]

don't be a remington hater 700s are great rifles shot them all my life everyone I've owned shot great the only rem I ever had that shot bad was a model 7 I shot tikas wasn't impressed with them just my opinion if rems were junk why is everyone cloning them just my 2 cents.

You brought it up.
Just like a dodge 426 hemi, or 350 chevy.
They didn't come famous until Everyone Else starting making aftermarket and ",clone" parts.
A 700 rem has always been the same.
If you want to achieve they're potential
Throw everything away that ses Remington. And temachine and correct (if possible) the factory work.
Then, youcan have a great 700.
Buy,
Is it still a "Remington " at that point?

 

[Rampsey]

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.

Just so there's no confusion.
Anything machined useing CNC equipment has absolutely no gaurentee its finished qaukity will be any better, or as good. As a machinist useing manual equipment.
CNC is faster set up n run time.
Not by any means better for one off builds

 

[mattt]

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.

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.

720 shortest run of any of them. When ww2 started the navy wanted remington to start making 1903 again for war effort Remington we just tooled up for the new 720 model and have made a couple thousand .Navy replied we will buy every one. So the 720 was done and the navy gave these rifles out for many decades for winners of yearly championships

 

[distinguished]

Just so there's no confusion.
Anything machined useing CNC equipment has absolutely no gaurentee its finished qaukity will be any better, or as good. As a machinist useing manual equipment.
CNC is faster set up n run time.
Not by any means better for one off builds

Faster run times and more consistency are of benefit. The person setting up the cnc is still part of the equation. Bad set-up=bad run, good set-up=good run. Both turn out more quantity, good or bad. The operator should be doing measurements and quality checks either way. Used to be a machinist way back when they still used punch tapes.

 

[wright brothers]

I have one with so much milage, so many bucks and hogs taken, they could use it in advertising and then overhaul it for me lol.

In that time, it has had.
New mag spring.
A new factory plastic stock that I hated for one season and sold.
Lost elevator clip from rear sight and replaced with a dime.
Broken front site blade replaced with scope.
Broken crosshair in scope replaced by them.
The sling stud was touching the barrel, filed by me.
Trigger tuned by a smith.
Probably couple others I forgot.
It "might" be ready for a barrel.

Show me a rifle this old with nothing done to it, and I'll show you one that has sat around a lot.

I might be thrilled with the newer clones, but never handled them.

I too was fond of some of the M70s.
Far as that goes I like many rifles.

 

[wboggs]

I have a 80s LA BDL the my gunsmith says has an action with almost zero runout. It was a 30-06 and has been converted to a magnum action 6.5 prc. A good shooter can get three shot groups in the mid 2s. Maybe an exception but they were out there.
Also have a 1950 722 in .222. It shoots 1/2 moa and is 100% factory stock.

 

[Liven The Dream]

I may just be Nuts.
I have shot Lots of NRA Match type Matches Palma etc. Winchester Pre 64 and Pre War 70 Actoins.
Barnard P Actions. A few Blue Printed 700 SA Rem. Still have a Couple.

I found No difference in my scores shooting any of these Actions.
Palma Made High Master with a Barnard
Match Rifle Made High Master with Pre-War 70
F/Class Open Long and Mid Range High Master 700 SA ( 450 Club Long Range).

I may be Nuts ?



Old Shooter told me: Boy it ant the Arrow it's the Indian , get a bolt Gun make HM and live up to it.
If you ever Shot at Red Wing in the 90's you may have ran across Rudy ?

 

[DNorton]

Is anyone building competition rifles on Tikka actions? I’m curious.

 

[North Fork]

I like the c z rife and price

 

[358WCF]

I have a few nice 700s from the 80s. Bought a 2016 made model & it's less than impressive... fit & finish is poor, & it just wont shoot well. A definite subject for a rebarrel. I hear RR actions are good. Just picked up a used 2001 or 02 & after replacing the J-lock assy it seems to be a pretty nice piece. Got a Tikka last year & am impressed. No more new Remingtons for me until they prove themselves worthy again... maybe.

 

[wildcatter]

Till Savage learned to make a trigger. Sorry guys but on every range I compete on, in factory class, you shoot a Savage, or you ain't taking 1st place. Been this way for a decade.

 

[butchlambert]

I have a 80s LA BDL the my gunsmith says has an action with almost zero runout. It was a 30-06 and has been converted to a magnum action 6.5 prc. A good shooter can get three shot groups in the mid 2s. Maybe an exception but they were out there.
Also have a 1950 722 in .222. It shoots 1/2 moa and is 100% factory stock.

And that is all day long!

 

[Bryan Austin]

There was a time when a Remington 700 was a pretty good rifle for an off the shelf product. About when did that change?

To put it another way, if I was looking to buy a Remington 700, what vintage should I look for?

A guy at work wants me to help him find a rifle, probably in 223, and teach him to reload.

Thanks!

I'll leave the 1/4" groups to the weekend warrior sharpshooter/sniper wannabes!

My 2005 Mountain DM is perfect for m y hunting needs!

 

[skywag]

I kinda like this 700, six years old.

 

[jackieschmidt]

Hand selected, the face trued and lugs lapped at the custom shop. If you look at certain 700 receivers, they look like they were simply cut off, looking at the machine marks. The newer 700 receivers look to be CNC machined and faced based on the tooling marks.

Through the years, I have worked on several 40x receivers.
If they attempted to “true the face“, they did a pretty crappy job.
The threads were no different.

The lingering myths surrounding the 40x proves that Remington did a great job in promoting their “Custom Shop” and the 40X.

 

[Rsadams]

After buying a new Tikka a month ago I will probably never buy anything but them.... Sooooo , another vote for Tikka here... The older Remington rifles were just awesome and shot awesome , unfortunately Remington won't even work on the old ones any more since it's not the same company or that's what I gave been told.... That's a real shame because they need to take back a few and see how they were put together and start doing it like that again...

I bought a new Ruger precision rimfire last week and have done nothing but work on it trying to get it to shoot right.... Doing the things Ruger should have done before they put their name and the word " precision " on it... It's the crap American rifle makers turn out anymore that's just sickening... It the fact if you want any kind of shoot ability and quality you have to throw away half the rifle ( if you're lucky ) and put decent aftermarket parts in it... Maybe and I mean maybe after that it will shoot correctly...

I just today told a guy at the gun club if you want a modern Remington rifle to shoot right , buy it and take it home , then pull the stock off , then the barrel and then the trigger and hurl them into a nearby trash can.... Then order decent new stuff and then you will have a nice shooting rifle... With any of the big three it's an absolute crap shoot if it will even function properly , much less anything else... It really both bothers and pains me to say that but do to my experience in rifles and pistols both over the last ten years or so I can say it and not feel bad about it...