Hi, new here.
I am actively searching to acquire a Remington pump action rifle, either a model 760 or a model 7600. To that end I have searched earlier threads and it seems an "older" 760 is less desirable due to the existence of a hanger and also because the drop in its stock is less scope friendly.
Unfortunately I have not been able to determine what years of manufacture is considered "older" or "newer" and am hoping someone here can help me.
Alternatively, are there similar issues with a model 7600 I should pay attention to?
Thank you.

The 760 is more desirable not less. Only the very earliest ones had the comb dropped for iron sight use. The 760 had the interrupted locking lugs like Weatherby Mark V's and that makes for a smoother action. I've found the 760's to be more accurate on average than the 7600's. I live in the middle of the Gamemaster universe here in PA Dutch country and I don't know anybody that likes the 7600 better than the 760. I know plenty of guys who are quick to say the 760 was the better rifle. They quit making 760's in 1980 and started making the model 6. The model 7600 came out a year later for Kmart shoppers only. Shortly thereafter the model 6 was canned and the 7600 took over as the pump offering.

I don't know what "hanger" you are talking about and I've disassembled and reassembled model 760's to replace the rubber o-ring in the slide? And as far as issues to watch with the 7600's goes, watch the new ones. They are using more and more plastic on them and they are becoming junky.

I see now where the wording of my first post is confusing. I did not mean the entire 760 model run was less desirable. As you point out, "Only the very earliest ones had the comb dropped for iron sight use." What years of manufacture are considered the very earliest?

The hanger I am referring to is aka guide and while it is not supposed to touch the barrel, sometimes they do?
Was this hanger or guide discontinued later in 760 production run? If so, what year?

No argument between the 760 and 7600, just asking questions. Sorry I was not clear.

OK. You are talking about the early model 760's with the slide tube. They were made in the fifties. The slide slid on a tube (like a 870 shotgun) instead of the telescoping, freefloated action most commonly seen on 760's made in the 1960's and 70's.

+1 on what Mike says. I too have no idea what hanger you are talking about either. I believe the 760 is the better built gun. Given a choice, I'd search for a pristine used 760 over a new 7600.

It's my understanding that they changed the bolt design/lugs on the 7600 to actually improve the way a 740/7400 semi auto feeds, as both are built on the same action and are of the same design, but I don't feel the change improved the 7600 over the 760 at all.

As far as not being scope friendly, the 760 Carbine at the bottom of this pic with a Leupold Vari X III 1.5X5 mounted in low rings has been killing whitetails without issue since 1979.

Beautiful rifles Wink man!

This is great information. I wish ALL the manufactures had this info on their websites.

http://www.remington.com/en/product-families/firearms-history/centerfire/pump-action-centerfire.aspx

NICE Wink man!

Thanks guys. Yes, Remingtons history of their products is great information, I have searched it many times.

The only problem in a case like this with it is that there's no way Remington is going to say that the 760 is the better rifle after 'improving' it as the model 7600, LOL. That is something that is strictly the opinion of the users of the guns.

Agreed Wink man. My link does not answer the OP's question.

Here's my 2 cents as I am always looking for a clean 760.

Find both and hold them. Work the action. Caliber might be your answer too, as the 7600 does not come in the calibers offered at one time or another in the 760. I am a fan of the .300 savage, so I lean heavy on the 760 for that reason alone. I also like the carbine, but not the .30-06, so again I lean heavy on the 760. I also like the wood of the 760 better than the current 7600. A look at Wink man's great example of a classic and beautiful 760 gamemaster in a scroll up. There is no comparison in beauty with today's 7600.

Looks and caliber's aside, both are accurate. I introduced a friend to hunting and he picked up a Very Clean 7600 in .308. I took him to the range to show him his rifle and I was easily getting 1/2" groups of 3 at 50 yards. Some snowmen, but mostly 1 1/4-1 1/2 groups at 100 yards with whatever cheap ammo his friend gave him to shoot with. It was a mixed bag. I honestly believe the rifle was a 1" moa with decent ammo.

Good luck in your decision.

Thanks the pics and links. Nice looking guns Wink man.

I am strongly leaning towards a 760 but unfortunately there are no 760's in my area. I'll trust my memory of the one I handled a few years ago.
I have my eye on a couple of 760 carbines in 30-06. One is a 1955 and the other somewhere between 1951 and 1967 based upon the its serial number and according to the info below.

1951-1967 1,000-541,000
1968-1975 6,900,000-7,499,999
1975-1978 A6,900,000-A7,499,999
1978-1981 B6,900,000-B7,499,999

Referring to the info above, a 760 with serial number higher than the 1955/1967 group would have the telescoping, free floated action and less drop in the comb?

It that is true, neither of the two carbines I am looking meet my criteria.

OK.

First, I think the "hanger" you are talking about is actually the spacer at the end of the slide bar. It keeps the bar from bending and keeps brush out from between the barrel and slide bar. Just forget about it! That spacer is easy enough to ht with a file if it ever does give you a problem.

Second the early 760s had a seven diamond checkering patterns or the corn cob forearm. Nice either way. The next group had pressed checkering. Thee were small action changes (like metal dust covers to plastic dust covers) some good some less so. None were all that important.

Third, 7600s can be just as functional and just as accurate. Pick what you like and go kill stuff. None of them are bad guns. Ive been through 6-8 of them and they all shot without a lot of trouble.

I've had 7600's in 35 Rem, 300 Savage, and 260 Remington. Wouldn't hesitate to buy another! Awesome accurate, fun rifles.

DMc

Remington didn't begin making carbines until 1960. Any carbines of earlier manufacture are rifles that the owners had the barrels chopped on. 760 Carbines say "760 CARBINE" right on the barrel. If it doesn't say that, it's a chopped rifle. The guns with the dropped combs and slide bars are pre carbine era.

I like the interrupted thread locking lugs of the model 760 versus the opposed dual locking lugs of the model 7600. If you ever climbed up into your treestand and tried to load your pump Remington you know why. The model 760 slides closes and locks up quieter than the 7600.


As far as this "hanger" you guys keep talking about no such thing exists on the model 760. The model 14 and 141 had a brush guard but not the 76,760,6,7600 series.

Is the hanger being referred to as maybe what is on the early ones when the barrels weren't free floated, if I am thinking correctly?

I have a had a few 7600's and still have them in 257 Roberts, 35 Remington, and 300 Savage. I also had a bunch in 35 Whelen. Everyone shot more than accurate enough. I don't think you'll go wrong with either one. I like the 7600's because they aren't fussy about the clips, such as a 760 in 300 Savage.

Dale

Mike, I'm not stating this as gospel but from what I understand, the barrel "hanger" on the really old 760's functioned much like today's 870 so the barrel wasn't free-floated.

Hah! What a timely post. I was beginning to think that was exactly the case.
I went to look at a 1955 760 today. It was advertized as a carbine. The owner had sent me several pictures, none of the "760 CARBINE" on the barrel however. When I quizzed the owner he said "Well it is a 18 1/2" inch barrel. It had been chopped. I walked away and found your post on my phone as I was driving away. Thanks!
Thanks also for clearing up the time frame frame for the dropped comb.

I am still looking.

Moosemike is correct. I have a 1952 M760 from the first year of production and there is nothing 'hanging' from the barrel. It is completely free floating. I have even removed the brush guard from the action tube to insure that there is no possible interference of the brush guard with the barrel. The brush guard is part #24 in the exploded view below.

What's wrong with a chopped rifle?

Especially if you are not a collector and the price is right.

For me, nothing.I have been giving some thought to getting a non carbine and having it cut down. I walked because of the stock. Too much comb drop and I had a deep down feeling something else could be wrong. After all he had advertised it as something it wasn't.

The following is a good read on this subject: CP.

http://www.remingtonsociety.com/rsa/journals/M760N

I grew up in upstate NY, 45 mins from Rem factory. I was a diehard Ithica deerslayer mod #37 user for many years. When my WMU went Rifle legal I bought a 7600 .308. I had modest success with the gun, but was never 100% satisfied. The gun is a fine firearm but not the Remington quality I'm used to. A few of my older hunting partners have/do use the older 760 and love it. In my limited exposure to the Rem pump gun I'd have to vote for the "old" version over the "new". Just my 2 cents.

Thank the Good Lord & Remington for pumps:









DMc

Nice read. Thanks for posting.

Nice guns DMc. Let me add that I've got a older 870 wing master 12ga that I adore and a 742 in .280 that my grandad willed to me. The .280 is a little worn , but she's mine and I love her.

I guess that you could say I like Remington pumps also. In fact the amount of knowledge that I found here on them is the reason I joined.
Top is a early 80's 572 with Williams peep and skinner front post.
Bottom is my 1967 "chopped" carbine that I tweaked a little. Chambered 30-06

There are some really nice guns being shown here. Keep 'em coming!

That's what I thought was meant by the term "hangers".

That black laminate looks like something that Grice's would have sold. Is that where you got it?

The stock set was originally from a Grice gun - I bought the set in the classifieds here. Same rifle in both picts. (30.06)

Little more heft with the laminate but I'm not toting the thing around a mountain.

That is for sure!
Unfortunately none are for sale. I am still looking.

All nice looking guns. I like my bolt actions but they're boring, pumps are a lot more fun.

DMc, quick question for you, 2nd pic of yours, concerning the 760 with the straight stock and Uncle Mikes scope covers. I have never seen a 760 with a straight stock from the factory, did you add a 'Special Field' 20 gauge shotgun stock to that gun? I do like the look. How is it fit and function wise with the scope? Thanks.

A general question about recoil pads.
Were 760's ever produced with factory recoil pads? If so, was the recoil pad specific to a certain year or model?

If any 760s had a factory installed recoil pad it was a special run.

Guy on Ebay was selling SF stocks and I bought 2. They're a simple bolt on for a 7600. The fit is as if were factory! Perfect. I did lop off 2" on the 22" barrels. Balance is amazing, pointability is just like a shotgun. You wouldn't be disappointed.

Here's a picture from the other side:



...and another straight grip stocked rifle. I guess I like them:



DMc

Yeah I've never seen a 760 with a factory recoil pad.

OK, thanks guys. My searches were turning up some examples however they were being advertized as 13 1/2" LOP. Perhaps the stocks were being cut down. I donno, just wondering.

Lots of 760's have been cut down and had recoil pads installed through the years. I see almost as many like that as I do originals.

http://www.thefirearmsforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=37573&stc=1&d=1278009915

Yeah, that's what I was thinking. I am hoping to find an unmolested one.

There is a big gun show near me this weekend. Maybe something will turn up.

Ok, I used the incorrect terminology. But in my defense, I did read "hanger" in one of the zillion threads I read on this forum before I asked about it. Mega Cupa.

I've always been aware that a 20 gauge 870/1100 stock was a bolt on change to a 760/7600/740/7400 rifle but never put together the thought or idea of a straight stock on the rifle till I saw your pic. And I, like you, am liking it.

DAMN, I hate when somebody gives me ideas that start me thinking, they always wind up costing me a bundle, LMAO.

I have here a super pristine El Paso Weaver V4.5 scope 1.5X4.5 power with a duplex recticle right out of the late 70's, and a brand new obsolete Weaver pivot mount base and ring set for a 760/740/742. I am now envisioning this setup sitting atop of a straight stocked Remington 760 in 35 Remington, MMMM MMMM MMMM.

Go a step further and load some 158-160 grn 357 Hollowpoints at about 2K fps in that 35 Rem. Plink a few rounds and watch what happens.

DMc

...PS, now that I think about it, there are 2 screw lenths for an 870 & 760/7600. I can't remember which you'll need, but any gunsmith will have either.

Apology to the OP for stepping on his thread.

DMc

No problem here. I am learning stuff. Besides I load 35 rem for my lever gun. Maybe I'll look for 35 rem 760. Nah.

Anyway is the fleur-de-lis pattern pressed or cut on a 1972 760?

Pressed.

Ok, thanks.

How about the 5 diamond pattern? Cut or pressed?

Pressed. I used to have a 5 diamond carbine. Pretty nice gun. Wish I would have kept it.

Anyone near Imperial PA (west of Pittsburgh) and willing to look/buy a 760 for me?
I am open to finders fees/expenses.