Remington knows bolt action rifles. I was quite taken with the new Remington Model 783 Varmint. For years, Remington Varmint rifles have been a mainstay of long-range shooters looking to get every bit of performance out of the rifle that they can. The 783 Varmint ups the ante though with features that most people spend extra money for.
The Model 783 has a cylindrical action but a reduced ejection port to keep the action stiff and help with accuracy. The Varmint is further topped off with a Picatinny-style rail so that you can easily mount your favorite long range optic. The enlarged bolt knob helps you grasp it a little more easily and really rack that bolt for a fast follow up shot.
The heavy, 26” barrel is perfect to tame the barrel harmonics and soak up the heat for those long days when going after prairie dogs or finding the perfect load for accuracy. Like other Model 783’s, the Varmint comes fitted with Remington’s Crossfire trigger, a user adjustable trigger that broke cleanly at what felt to be about 3-4 pounds.
The laminate wood stock felt great in the hand and the wide beavertail forend would provide plenty of support when shooting off a rest or sandbags. Three sling swivel studs are installed on the stock with two up front and one in the rear. This lets the shooter set the rifle up with a bipod and sling right from the get-go, something I’ve seen quite a few manufacturers neglect to think about.
At the back of the stock is Remington’s SuperCell recoil, which in my experience is a very effect recoil pad that is a nice touch on this kind of stock. The Model 783 Varmint also features a detachable box magazine that is flush with the bottom of the rifle, which carries some practical advantages when shooting in the field. The smooth bottom makes it easy to carry and place the rifle so that the center of gravity can be closer to the support for more stability. The detachable box magazine also makes switching out ammunition types or unloading the rifle safer and easier compared to a typical DBL set up.
The Model 783 Varmint is available in five calibers: .223, .22-.250, .243, 6.5 Creedmoor, and .308 Winchester. The .223, .243 and .22-250 have relatively slow twist rates, no doubt meant for lighter varmint weight bullets. However, the .308 and 6.5 CM feature faster twist rates that will easily support the heavier match bullets for those times you want to stretch it on out there. Remington is doing some really great things with the Model 783 to make it more appealing to those that are on a budget, the MSRP for this rifle is only $625.00.
For more information on the Model 783 Varmint please visit Remington by clicking HERE.
I’ll put in my .02 , I thought we had another cheap model 710 or 770 but boy was I wrong.
To start it has a threaded bolt handle if you dont like the one on the rifle. The savage style barrel nut is a great added feature so rebarreling isnt a nightmare, and the trigger isnt fantastic but it gets the job done.
Though its not something that sold me the brass magnum crosspins in the stock are an added insurance I liked but didnt really need. I havent had to deal with mag problems that others have had so cant speak to that. The only real fault Ive found is the plastic trigger guard, and I wish the twist in 22-250 was faster for my purposes. Every rifles different but im consistantly printing 5 shot groups well under an inch with mine, Im happy with mine and glad Remington didnt give another junk budget gun to waste money on in this one.
No it is a marlin xl7 u could bye 220 dollar . Rem bought them out and released 783
Um….. Is it just me, or does everything about that rifle look like Savage made it?
Yeah but Savage doesn’t (TMK) offer 26″ barrels. My question is what sets this newbie
apart from the 700 SPS? Other than wood stock & diff bolt shape? SPS’s had 26″ heavy
barrels. Maybe not same twist rate. Dunno. Remington is still trying. I’ll give ’em that.
I’m thinking that Remington is wanting to recreate the hit they had many decades ago with the 788. Things are not likely gonna go that way, but then stranger things have happened.
The 788 gets my vote. I have two: one in .223 and the other in .243. When I bought the .243, I was surprised to find it barely grouped in 3 inches, which was much different from my previous experience with this excellent though cheap rifle. I guessed that someone had probably been cleaning it from the barrel end with a stainless brush, and found that to be the case. I took it to a gunsmith and had him cut and recrown the barrel. It now shoots honest 1/4″ groups with ammo it likes.
Complete with barrel nut to cinch down the barrel and set perfect headspace………. Question – if you want a Savage, why not just buy a Savage? Probably more accurate, most likely better made………..