Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Why do we love our 700's

Discussion from a few years back.
I've included a post by Gale McMillan

http://yarchive.net/gun/rifle/remington700.html

If you think that the selection of the M40 or the M24 and Navy M86 was
based on what you say is goodies shows just how much you know about the
subject. All branches of the service conducted literally millions of
dollars making the selection. I was deeply involved with all three
branches in making that selection. The first, the USMC had an easier
time since they already had the actions in inventory. I designed the M40,
trained the armors, and manufactured the stocks for it. After a long
search for a sniper rifle the Army conducted numerous field tests on
sniper rifles provided by all the manufacturers including foreign. In the
end there were two left in the race, Remington and myself. When the
final requests were submitted there were a couple of requirements like
having a long range test facility and a few others that involved money
that had to be spent before the winner was selected. I did not think I
could build our rifle as cheaply as a company that makes inexpensive
rifles and would loose out in the end due to cost so I withdrew. I
continued to make the sniper rifles for the Navy Seals on our action
which is a refined version of the Rem.700.
As for buying an action just try to buy one from Rem. and just how many
mod 70s would you like to have? This debate has been going on for years
and will probably continue with those who refuse to open their eyes and
see the facts. If you have a real interest in finding out the answer
just look at the record books in the Metallic Silhoutte Nationals, the
NBRSA and IBS Nationals, the 1000 Benchrest and the 1000 matches at
Perry. If that doesn't covince you maybe we can arrange a little shoot
off for say $50,000 winner take all. As for the round action not taking
high recoil cart. don't tell the 50 cal shooters, all their world
records were shot with round actions. I will give the mod 70 one
thing. It is the smoothest fast operating of the two because it gets half
its cocking off the bolt and half off the cams in the receiver that
coupled with a weak firing pin spring makes it the choice for cross the
course matches where accuracy isn't as important as speed and ease.

Gale McMillan

I like 700's and didn't want your 250. If it was a 70 I wouldn't have wanted it. I've not hunted a factory rifle in years be it 70 or 700. Both get new barrels and stocks.

I couldn't care less what dudes on the net think. I've guns built on 70,700, and vanguard. Not very many factory rifles offer exactly what I want so I make them what I want.

Funny how when people brag about a certain brand the tools show up to pimp their brand and cut down another....lol

I love my 700's because I HATE the Model 70. And yeah, I've had a few 70's. mtmuley

I have been building rifles for 46 years.
I just bought another Rem700 6 days ago. It came with stock, barrel and scope I don't need.
More than a decade ago, there were smart men on the internet.
Gale McMillan was pro Rem700 and Bart Bobbitt was pro M70.

We don't get much technical content in the discussion any more.

Clark, I was referring to Don Geraci, but he was buddies with Gayle, pretty sure. I have only been building rifles for a couple years, like em both, like salvages as well. I prefer the 1.062 shank on a remington and the ease of finding bottom metal, and also I like round actions.

I always find it curious that the first thing hunters do to establish accuracy potential of a Rem 700 is point to bench rest rifles,sillouette, or other target or match specialty items..what that has to do with BG rifles is sort of obscure.

Number one,I dont want to know what a Remington (or anything else)does in some tricked out,custom,target oriented configuration....I want to know what it does in a hunting rifle....and they aren't the same thing.

Put a M70 and a Rem 700 hunting rifle in the hands of a skilled shot and I bet he will not be able to see any difference at all under field conditions.

Well said Bob, I can't believe this thread has spawned all the dissension, never meant it to but guess I haven't been around the Fire quite long enough to know when to tip toe through the tulips just yet!

Damn, another mother that should have swallowed.

FlyBoy don't even sweat it...I thought this was a really civil thread!

I tend to agree with what you are saying here Bob, however, my comments earlier only had to do with accuracy potential, so citing the above competition shooting results seems pretty relevant. Besides, if a guy doesn't hunt stuff that could potentially kill you, what's the point of of arguing PF vs CRF anyway ?

RD I wasn't refering to what you said....it was another post.Besides I deliberately side stepped the CRF/PF discussion...Uhh ...arguments....Umm...issue

Few weeks back we had a Rem 700 KS MR rechambered to Mashburn at the range.I rapid fired three from it to check function, operated from the shoulder...not a hitch.

I have my own reasons for building my own hunting rifles on CRF actions but they might not make any sense to others so no point in discussing it.

One of these days I'm going to grab one of those SS M70 EW in 7 WSM and dump it into an Edge stock and have someone who knows what their doing smooth up the action. I actually like the classic lines of the M70 action much more than a M700. The design "team" guys did hit the nail on the head with the M700 though.......make it cheap to produce and accurate.

Growing up we were a Winchester family to the bone. Noticed and handled the original 700s and they were not much lighter than the 70s of that time. Never did and still don't like the 700 safety.

However no doubt Remington reinvented the 700 more than once and adapted it to the changing desires of hunters while Winchester with the exception of the FWT back in the 50s, for the most didn't and they slowly lost more than one generation of hunters. The post 64s came and they lost even many of the faithful.

Put a 70 style safety on a 700 and I could use one and not think all that much about it. They will never have the same solid feel, but to the bone runs deep.

Addition: Remington beat Wincheter at the marketing game with offering dozens of variants. Winchester essentially gave you two choices for 50 plus years. I have always said Winchester missed the boat when the the SC rifles came out.They should have had a real FWT instead of Great Grandads FWT. Heck, Kimber figured it out and gave them the template.

Battue

That can be done
http://www.brownells.com/rifle-part...ree-position-safety-shroud-prod6668.aspx

Blocking the firing pin is better than blocking the trigger.

And I'm still waiting for a definition of acceptable accuracy I asked about two pages ago and nobody addressed the nine FACTUAL issues either, then again that's what happens when emotions get in the way of facts.

Oh no, you guys let Bob thru the cracks and he ended up on a rem 700 thread OOPS.... ....I've had them and like the looks of the rem 700, don't like the cheap azz stamped steel parts or flaky little extractor, but do like the lighter weight of the 700 and the feel of one when shouldered. I really like the Rem 700 mountain rifle configuration but have had the extractors fail just out on the range and after that happens a few (well maybe more than a few) times (with different rifles) you seriously loose faith and when your out in the woods, you don't need the extra headache. I've been looking at a left handed 270 win rem 700 for the last few weeks and I'd love to buy it if I knew it wouldn't let me down in the woods. Therefore, it still isn't in my safe...

Yes, and look at the simplicity of that beautiful trigger mechanism....Oooolala....

I find it quite amusing that so many are hung up on acceptable out of box accuracy. I've enjoyed shooting lots of rifles Rugers,Remmies,Winchesters,Sakos Mausers and Marlins with many chamberings over the years and always have had good shooters. IMO 3/4 to 1 MOA has always been OK by me however I'm primarily a hunter and don't lose sleep or spend lots of cash over half minutes like many here do. Not criticizing just telling it like it is from my POV.

I think accuracy comes up because the thread is "Why love a 700"?
Rem 700 accuracy is competitive with other bolt action rifles.
That is one of the few things about a Rem700 to love.

What else is to love?
Light weight, lots of parts available, easy to rebarrel, and it is common.

What is not to love?
Trigger, safety, round bottom receiver, bolt handle attachment, tiny extractor, plunge ejector, push feed, failed case gas path, washer for a recoil lug, and glue in barrel threads.
In other words, all the things done to cut costs.

I have hunted with Rem700, Pre 64 M70, 98 Mauser, Sav 110, Ruger #1, 1885 Win, Sav99, and others.
I thought the Ruger #1 was the nicest to hunt with, but as an amateur gunsmith, I would rather rebarrel a 98 Mauser or a Rem 700.