Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Question re longevity of the Remington 7600 action

I have a 7600 in .30-06 that went 18,000 + rds of LC Match and M2 ball before rebarrelling. I bought it new from the FT Bragg PX for $115.00. At the time I was assigned special duty to train 82nd Abn unit/company snipers with M1 Garands and Weaver K-4 scopes. We had literally a tractor-trailer full of ammo for training. Every afternoon, after issued weapons were cleaned and turned in, we (instructors) shot our own guns with free ammo. I liked shooting 5-shot strings a lot at 200 meters for fun. I rarely cleaned my rifle more than bi-weekly. I kept an accurate journal of rounds fired. Accuracy started falling off dramatically after 10,000 rds, to the point of my rifle shooting 4" (or worse) groups at 100 meters. The stock started cracking in the pistol grip area and the hammer didn't want to stay cocked about 50% of the time at just over 17,000 rds. I wrote Remington, told them about my rifle and asked how much a re-barrel would be. Remington told me to send it in; they wanted to see it. They completely rebuilt it, tuned the trigger, checked the lugs, rebarreled it, re-stocked it and reversed the safety for me (I'm a lefty) for free. At the time Remington said that I held the record for number of rounds fired in a Remington pump rifle. Since rebarrelling I've put less than 500 rds down the tube; Remington probably wouldn't go for another free rebuild. It's a GOOD rifle.
Bob

I have a 7600 in .30-06 that went 18,000 + rds of LC Match and M2 ball before rebarrelling. I bought it new from the FT Bragg PX for $115.00. At the time I was assigned special duty to train 82nd Abn unit/company snipers with M1 Garands and Weaver K-4 scopes. We had literally a tractor-trailer full of ammo for training. Every afternoon, after issued weapons were cleaned and turned in, we (instructors) shot our own guns with free ammo. I liked shooting 5-shot strings a lot at 200 meters for fun. I rarely cleaned my rifle more than bi-weekly. I kept an accurate journal of rounds fired. Accuracy started falling off dramatically after 10,000 rds, to the point of my rifle shooting 4" (or worse) groups at 100 meters. The stock started cracking in the pistol grip area and the hammer didn't want to stay cocked about 50% of the time at just over 17,000 rds. I wrote Remington, told them about my rifle and asked how much a re-barrel would be. Remington told me to send it in; they wanted to see it. They completely rebuilt it, tuned the trigger, checked the lugs, rebarreled it, re-stocked it and reversed the safety for me (I'm a lefty) for free. At the time Remington said that I held the record for number of rounds fired in a Remington pump rifle. Since rebarrelling I've put less than 500 rds down the tube; Remington probably wouldn't go for another free rebuild. It's a GOOD rifle.
Bob

Probably good for 200 rounds.

Go ahead and send it this way, I will pay shipping.

Your gunsmith is a complete idiot

I’ve got a question regarding the lifespan of the 7600 action. I’ve got a 1990 vintage 30-06 that I bought as new old stock around 2003. I haven’t shot all that many rounds through it, as my handloading has been for only my bolt rifles, but it is more often than not the rifle I reach for during deer season.

My gunsmith told me that these rifles are good for “maybe 300 rounds” before the action is shot as they were really designed as a “throwaway” gun for the few rounds a year shooter. So, just how durable is the action on these? I ask because I am looking at developing some handloads for it, as I have plenty of components and factory ammo availability is spotty at best.

Yeah, I thought it was a pretty ridiculous statement, but not knowing enough about the design of the action, had no way of countering him. RGK really gave me the “mic dropping” response to him. As I said, he’s done a very fine job on the firearms I’ve brought to him and I just wanted to educate him, not fire him.

Yeah, I thought it was a pretty ridiculous statement, but not knowing enough about the design of the action, had no way of countering him. RGK really gave me the “mic dropping” response to him. As I said, he’s done a very fine job on the firearms I’ve brought to him and I just wanted to educate him, not fire him.

Gunsmith is an idiot...even the 742's had a lifespan greater than 300 rds.

Yeah, I thought it was a pretty ridiculous statement, but not knowing enough about the design of the action, had no way of countering him. RGK really gave me the “mic dropping” response to him. As I said, he’s done a very fine job on the firearms I’ve brought to him and I just wanted to educate him, not fire him.