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The Remington Model 700. There are hundreds of variants, but the core has remained consistent for more than half a century.
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Buy one on GunsAmerica: https://www.gunsamerica.com/Search.aspx?T=remington%20700
Check out more at Remington: https://www.remington.com/rifles/bolt-action/model-700
Sometimes I stand back and look at my guns and realize I’m missing something. You might think that’s odd for a gun writer–but most of the guns I shoot tend to stay in the safe a couple of months and then go back to their manufacturers. It hit me recently that I didn’t have a serious long range rifle. So I started looking around. After considering my options, I decided I would have to build my own to get exactly what I wanted. So I went for the old stand-by–the Remington Model 700.
What is the Remington 700?
I know…. Very few of you have to ask this question. If you know guns, you know Remington. If you know Remington, then it is without-a-doubt you know and have probably even lusted after the Model 700 in one form or another. If there had to be one gun that represented all bolt action rifles, it would be the 700. It is praised as the most accurate affordable sniper rifle in existence. The 700 has built a legacy on being rugged, reliable, and with the 700’s reputation for sub-MOA accuracy right out of the box, these guns set the bar high for the competition.
A Remington 700 ad from 1963.
The Model 700 has been chosen by countries all over the world as either the sniper rifle of choice or the base that such rifles are created from. Beyond its honorable military career, the Model 700 has proven to be equally, if not even more popular, in the civilian world. Used by hunters, hobbyists, and competitive shooters, the 700 serves as both a benchmark and a base. We will get into more of that later in the review.
A Bit of Reductive History
Created by Mike Walker of Remington, the Model 700 came to market in 1962. Walker took much his inspiration from a competition rifle Remington was fielding at the time called the 40-X. Remington wanted a rifle that was easy to produce, reliable in the field, and accurate, and the Model 700 design fit the bill.
Though the origins are clear enough, tracking the way forward for the 700 is tricky. There are numerous branches on the family tree. With a walnut stock, the gun becomes the iconic symbol of the American whitetail hunter. Dressed up in tactical black, the 700 becomes the benchmark for law enforcement sharpshooters. And there’s every variation between. Like Remington’s other cornerstone workhorse, the 870, the 700 has proven to be both timeless and limitless.
With more than 50 years of production, the guts of these rifles have more or less stayed the same and are still just as popular as they were in 1962. All in all, more than 5,000,000 Model 700s have been built and of those 5 million, more than 70 different variants of the old faithful 700 have been released in over 35 calibers.
So what makes your grandfather’s hunting rifle the best choice for your needs now?
Suppliers like Brownells sell actions for those who want to truly start from scratch.
The Action
At the heart of every Model 700 is the rifle’s action. Generally constructed of either carbon steel or stainless steel (and in some cases titanium), these actions are the reason the 700 has been so successful. The action is accurate, reliable, and yet easy to produce. A properly cared for 700 action will out-live you and possibly your next of kin.
The bolt is a simple two-lug design. Part of what makes the 700 inexpensive is the push-feed that usurped the old Mauser style controlled-feed. The bolt rides out over the round, which is then pushed up in its return path. When you slam the bolt home, the round is pushed into the chamber. While critics of this system deride the lack of direct control over the round, the system works. It is easy to produce, operate, maintain, and repair. If those selling points aren’t enough, the fans of the push feed note that the bolt face completely surrounds the case head of the cartridge which adds an element of safety in the event of a case rupture.
As there are numerous calibers out there, it is futile to break out a list–but there are two main variants to the action. The .308 and smaller cartridges are typically short actions, and the .30-06 and most magnum calibers require long actions. The guns can run from magazines housed within the stock, or from detachable box magazines.
From the factory, these rifles are well built and very accurate. However, if you are craving extreme accuracy there are many gunsmiths around the country that specialize in tuning the action of the Model 700–and there is an entire subculture dedicated to aftermarket upgrades.
If you want something more from the trigger, aftermarket drop-ins are available. This is a Timney.
The Trigger (and the controversy)
https://www.gunsamerica.com/blog/remington-fix-triggers-model-700-rifles/
While Mike Walker did create the ultimate bolt action rifle, he did make one debatable design flaw when with the Model 700. There’s a defect that can occur in Model 700 rifles. If the trigger is adjusted incorrectly or is not properly maintained, it can result in accidental and unintentional discharges. Though the instances have been rare, Remington did issue a voluntary recall of every Model 700 on their dime.
Beyond the drama of the recall, the trigger is more or less a crowd-pleaser. From the factory, it is a light 4-pound pull with a crisp break. Trigger snobs may criticize it as being on the heavy side for a bolt gun but, in reality, it works just fine. The triggers are adjustable but–in my humble opinion–if you want a better trigger pull, go ahead and pick up an aftermarket trigger. Adjusting the trigger on these rifles should really be done by a competent gunsmith. Most of the cases of accidental discharges have been linked to the over-adjustment of the triggers, so beware.
The SPS Tactical and why I chose it
https://www.remington.com/rifles/bolt-action/model-700/model-700-sps-tacticalEnough about the generic qualities common to most of the 5 million Model 700s. Let’s talk about this one. I wanted something affordable. This is a primary concern for almost everyone–and even more so when you start adding optics and making modifications. So the rifle had to be functional in its original form, and have the potential to grow. There’s no better starting point with those objectives than the 700.
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The SPS Tactical, as it came to me. It is a decent package gun for $650.
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For this review, I found myself a nice used Remington 700 Special Purpose Synthetic Tactical on GunsAmerica. I paid $650.
This SPS Tactical has a 20 inch heavy barrel and is chambered in .308. With its 1/12 twist rate, the barrel will stabilize most bullets. This is a multi-purpose gun able to shoot loads ranging from 147 – 180 grains with extreme accuracy. As long range rifles go, it offers a wide range of options and isn’t going to be as finicky about the perfect load as some rifles.
Beyond the barrel, this rifle is what you could call average. Mechanically, the rifle is great. And that was the most important thing for me. But that’s where the buck stops. I’m not so sold on the rest of the design.
The Oculus scope is a fine place to begin, though I’m looking for something with more consistent long range potential.
The rifle uses a Hogue over-molded stock and came wearing a direct thread scope mount. The Hogue stock is not actually free floated. If pressure is out on the front of the rifle, the stock starts to bend and makes contact with the barrel. The stock also has a rubberized coating that is nice, but once it is exposed to the elements and heat it can start to fall apart and become overly tacky. They stick to your hands and to the dirt, sand, dust–great for a good grip and effective camouflage, but not really what I’m looking for.
The bipod is a reproduction of a Harris sling mount type. It does fairly well, but doesn’t adjust gracefully and is easily knocked off to one direction. It’s also very short which makes shooting from prone harder in high vegetation.
The scope is made by Oculus. It is a 3-9×50 and sits up on direct-thread scope rings.
The rifle is more or less a plain canvas to work with and that is the exact reason I chose to buy it. Why pay for extras if they’re not the extras you really want to live with long-term?
Baseline Performance
Looking at how my rifle performed, I’ve got to say it: the hype surrounding the Remington 700 is real. This rifle was able to produce 1-1.5 inch groups at 100 meters with ZQI M80 ball 147gr ammunition and just under ¾ inch groups at 100 meters with IMI 175 grain match ammo. 1 MOA with ball? Sub MOA with the first box of match ammo I ran through it? That’s not bad for a used rifle. Think of what it could do with the perfect ammo pairing.
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This is my first group with the ZQI match grade .308. This is off of the bipod from 100 yards using the Oculus 3-9×50. Not bad.
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Fans of the Model 700 know that 100 meters isn’t much of a challenge for these rifles, but for the initial testing of the gun in its stock configuration, it’s more than adequate. In part two of this series, we will stretch this rifle’s legs and see what type of accuracy we can produce out to 600 meters, and beyond.
As I mentioned earlier, Remington’s Model 700 sets the bar high. Point of aim accuracy. Tight groups. No wonder why this gun is so popular. And consider that I’m shooting off of a bipod, and not from a vice. And I’m shooting with the scope that came on the gun. This is a very casual data set–more typical of the type of shooting I do when I’m just getting the feel for a gun and I’m already getting knockout results.
So what will happen when I take the barreled action and put it in a stock that fits me better? While I’m pleased with the performance of the Oculus scope out to 100 yards, I’ve got more in mind for the gun. How much will accuracy improve with better glass? And can I get more from the trigger?
Possible paths for upgrades
Now, getting to the part of the article I hinted at earlier. The Model 700 may have been just fine in its stock form in 1962. Hell, it was still fine in 2002, but the times change and so do the needs of shooters. Modern riflemen not only want, but need amenities such as bedded stocks, 20 moa rails, removable magazines, adjustable stocks, rail space for accessories and overall just more customizable ergonomics. All this can be tackled piece by piece; by the end of it all, you can easily spend thousands building the perfect rifle.
One option that I’m considering is the light-weight Magpul stock. For under $300, I could revamp the feel of the gun pretty easily and come away with an option that will allow for a reasonable amount of customization.
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The Magpul Hunter.
Another way you can optimize and update the faithful Model 700 is buying into a chassis system, such as the A*B Arms MOD-X chassis. For a rifle with a heavy barrel, this may be the way to go. The 20″ SPS weighs in at 7.7 pounds naked. I’m not going for an easy-to-carry mountain rifle, so weight is less of a consideration. I’m hoping to keep the whole build under 10 pounds, but I’m flexible.
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The A*B Arms Mod-X chassis.
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Wrapping things up
For my rifle and this series on optimizing the Remington Model 700, I chose to go with a tested platform for building a modern precision rifle. The SPS Tactical truly does bring a strong foundation to the table. However, in my opinion, it just seems to lack the ergonomics I want. The good news is that this is a gun that can grow with you–yet it is still fully functional in the meantime. There’s no sitting around with a box of parts, waiting for the money to come in. As you pick up the pieces, you can upgrade. Until then, keep shooting.
Stay tuned for part two of this series where we will take an in-depth look at the A*B Arms MOD-X chassis system and how it brings the Remington Model 700 into the 21st century.
ZQI Ammo: https://zqiammo.com/
Read More about the 870: https://www.gunsamerica.com/blog/why-does-everyone-love-the-remington-870/
Perfect the 870: https://www.gunsamerica.com/blog/the-870-perfected-nighthawks-shotguns/
Buy one on GunsAmerica: https://www.gunsamerica.com/Search.aspx?T=remington%20700
Check out more at Remington: https://www.remington.com/rifles/bolt-action/model-700
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The bolt on this SPS has been enhanced with a big fat knob on the handle.
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The two variants of .308 I used for the initial function testing both proved themselves nicely.
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This short bipod isn’t as stable as I’d like, but it is light and functional. It will work until I find a replacement.
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I couldn’t be happier with a used gun purchase.
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How do I know what caliber my Remington 700 shoots. I got this gun passed down from family and have no paperwork. What marks distinguish the caliber?
Please don’t take this personally, but if you don’t know how to determine that, seek out someone to teach you how to properly own, care for and operate the rifle. The caliber with rare exception is stamped on the barrel. Welcome to the sport!
So is there any hope for my 700 vtr .260 remington? It can’t shoot alongside my savage Axis rifles at the moment, but do you think the magpul stock and some ammo tuning could get it there?
Would any 700 do? Cabela’s has a ADL varmint special I’m thinking about. Cheap…
I took an ADL Varmit with a 26″ barrel, put a Timney trigger on it and dropped it into a Magpul stock. Since I’ve had a shoulder replacement, I also installed a Limbsaver recoil pad on it and threaded the barrel for a muzzle brake. It shoots sub-moa, and doesn’t abuse my shoulder in the process.
So… when’s part 2? I’m looking forward to it!
I have the same weapon with the same thought process. My very first part I swapped out was the trigger, I purchased the Timney 517 model you can adjust the pull from 1.5 to 4lbs I have mine set @ 2lbs. The second part was the stock I replaced the Hogue mold over for the Manners MCS-T2. Like you I have the harris bi-pod notched. And my last change to my Rem 700 SPS Tactical was a Leupold VX-3 4.5-14X50mm scope and rings. This weapon does only look good it sends rounds down range sub MOA everytime I take it to my Gun Club!
Like one of the other gentleman, i will admit that i am a pre 64 Winchester man. However i have always respected the out of box accuracy of the Remington 700. The truth is the safety/trigger is not safe. If Remington had been responsible in the beginning, the liberals would not have had anything to have a field day with. Shame on them. I am a hunter with many enjoyable years in the field. I shoot targets only to assure my guns are sighted in. Reading what a couple of gunsmiths have said is sad to me that they throw other gunsmiths under the bus over a trigger than is literally “an accident waiting to happen’. The triggers were not properly adjusted, or were dirty. My hunting guns get dirty all the time. For many years all 700’s were sold as hunting guns and therefore should be safe to use in hunting conditions. The guy that knocked the M70 safety just needs to understand how it works. People that understand swear by it, not at it. Its nice to be able to cycle the bolt to remove ammo “with the safety on” in the mid position. In the rear position your bolt will never open just a bit, that will prevent it from firing, etc.. My brother and a close friend have both had there 700 go off without touching the trigger. It happens, just accept it.
Mr. Eason,
As to your comment on the Remington 700 trigger being truly un-safe. Yes there have been incidents where triggers have stuck. That being said as a full-time gunsmith I have replaced quite a few per the recall but I believe in 14 years of full-time gunsmithing I have replaced one because of it actually having an issue and not just because. You being a Winchester man have you or anyone you know ever personally had one to accidentally discharge? The one I replaced because it discharged had so much grit in crap in it that any trigger would’ve stuck if you clean and maintain them the way they should be I’m not saying that it does not happen but I have never seen it happen. And I do personally have two with that trigger and I’ve never had a problem. Had I not done trigger jobs on them already I would probably install the “upgrade” just because. My my PSS as the factory Remington trigger that I have polished and tuned to 18 ounces you can bounce my gun, you can hit it, you can do whatever you want to it and it will not go off. People who do not know what they’re doing try to “adjust” their triggers and cause issues as they would with any gun not just a Remington. That being said if you have a stock Remington trigger that’s on the recall by all means have it replaced, mine is just personal experience. Although Remington does put red sealer on the head of those screws to keep them from being adjusted, just saying.
Mr Eason,
Im sorry I did not see where you said that your brother n law had one go off, but had anything been done to the trigger? Was it crusted up? there are other factors to take into consideration. thanks James
Improvements I have made to my Remington 700 rifles:
– Good aftermarket stock that has full length aluminum bedding block
– Timney Trigger
– David Tubbs CS Duo Firing Pin Spring(s) … http://www.davidtubb.com/tubb-remington-parts/duospring-rem700-long
– CDI Precision Gunworks bottom metal and ACIS magazines … http://www.cdiprecisiongunworks.com/remington-700-long-action.html
Rich, nice list of upgrades. I like Timney triggers too.
If you are going to improve a Rem 700, why not start with the superior Remington 5R for $1,000? That SPS “tacti-cool” will fall short in a F-class match. A 3/4 MOA at 100 yards equals 3.75″ group at 500 yards. The X-Ring is only 2.50″ at 500 yards. You are starting off on the losing end of that equation. I mated my 5R to a McRee chassis with a jewel trigger and it shoots sub 1/3 MOA all day long. The 5R will hang with custom blueprinted bolt guns costing up to $4,000.
I struggle to see the end goal with this article. If you bought a used SPS for $600, and if you add $300 for a new chassis, you’ll be at $900. For a few bucks more, you could get the 5R, which has better accuracy, stainless steel action and barrel, plus it is already mated to H-S precision chassis. At the end of the day, that SPS tactical will look good enough to be in the next SWAT movie, however your scorecard won’t look as pretty.
I think a good portion of it is the shooter I shoot 1000 yard matches off sling with my 700 sps tactical. Yeah I got a lot of laughs when I brought it out. I did go sub sonic before it hit but a load of 175 grn with 44.3 grains powder kept it stable enough to survive the transition. I was not the best out there but I did way better than one would think, no misses and less than 10 out of the black. Dont even wanna talk about what scope I used.
I too have the 700 in a stock .223 Varmint version.While that 100 yard group out of the rifle looks fine to me (I would take it in a heartbeat) I am very interested in the rest of the build especially the drop in trigger improvements.Does anyone know if there is a way to convert my top loader to a box magazine?Reloading it all the time shooting squirrels is a pain. John
John,
Give Ken Lin a shout @ Georgia Precision/GAP: http://www.gaprecision.net/
1141 Swift St., N. Kansas City, MO 64116 +1 816 221 1844
Thanks stymie!
While Remington recalled all 700s, there were two trigger systems involved… one with a smooth trigger surface & one with a “ribbed for your pleasure” trigger surface. It has been published that the “ribbed” trigger was just fine & NOT an issue with regard to ADs. On the other hand, smooth trigger rifles needed to be recalled… for the “fix”.
On another issue: If you had purchased something like a Remington Model 700, .308 DM (detachable magazine) short-action LTRS (case candy: sling, Harris bipod, PELICAN CASE, Leupold 3.5-10x POLICE high turret scope/one piece mount), you might want to replace that dual-feed system with an AICS chassis that uses detachable & 100% reliable, AICS “single-stack magazines” (5 or 10rd). Feeding problems are common with the Remington OEM DM series & this is the cure. George Gardner’s crew @ GAP in NKC, MO reworked my action to perfection. They happen to do a sweet job threading the barrel for sound suppressors. Turn around time is PDQ & they are a pleasure to work with.
My rifle is capable of placing one projo on top of the other @100m with one in the chamber & 5/10 in the mag with FED .308m GMMBTHP 168gr. It’s a wonderful 20″ bbl’d sharp-shooter rifle for the vegetable pacification program when dealing with tango pumpkins @ 500m.
ive been wanting to build a long range model 700 for a long time now, I’m really looking forward to part 2.
interesting mods and ill guess expensive. when you weigh what the gun does out of the box and at a range that is available to the avg shooter how much REAL improvement do these make to justify their cost?
I meant to add that I have a 700 SPS varmint in .308 26″ barrel a real harris bipod and a 4×12 40 Nikon scope and the way this beast shoots you can keep all the pretty gingerbread I don’t believe the price can justify the adds you have shown today
I am looking at buying a 700 SPS varmint in .308 26″ barrel as well. Do you use it for hunting or just range fun? Some say the 26″ barrel is too much for hunting whitetail and bigger.
“There’s a defect that can occur in Model 700 rifles. If the trigger is adjusted incorrectly or is not properly maintained, it can result in accidental and unintentional discharges. Though the instances have been rare, Remington did issue a voluntary recall of every Model 700 on their dime.”
Sugar coating….
Even triggers that are maintained and cleaned regularly have miss fired. And that recall wasn’t voluntary and Remington should just bite bullet so to speak and recall every one of them things and either junk them or replace the triggers… How much money have they made off the 700? Surly they can replace them all for free! Do the research and read for yourself. Its a great rifle but its got that one deadly flaw. Imagine every time you click off the safety there’s a chance that thing is gonna shoot! Im sure someone makes an after market trigger that’s just as good or better but is actually safe. Shame on Remington for taking our money over our safety.
My 700P .308 discharged when I put the safety catch on! Remington replaced the trigger mechanism – I sold it and will never buy anything made by Remington ever again.
I am a long time gunsmith and have had a number of Rem 700’s brought in for an unexpected A.D. In every case, when I investigated the cause it was because someone (usually owner) monkeyed with the trigger. The other factor is letting it get filled with dirt. Some owners do not want to admit the fact but after a conversation the evidence becomes obvious. I have seen trigger systems so dirty that they barely move. I have never had a Rem 700 A.D. or fail to fire after adjustment and that is going all the way back to 1968.
There are at least 3 factors to the trigger involving adjustment. It is like a triangle; when you change one, others get changed. If you do not understand the dynamic stay out of the trigger. Keep it clean and DO NOT oil it. It is meant to run dry. Do use oil if you got it wet but then blow off the oil to be dry. Importantly; do not let your buddy or neighborhood wannabe gunsmith work on it. My personal Rem 700 triggers run at 2 # but for the public, I set at a minimum of 2 1/2 #.
All that said, I wish that Canjar triggers were still available. They were the Mazzaratti of triggers.
I, like you Larry, have seen a lot of 700 triggers that were monkeyed with. Most aspiring gunsmith type people might have a limited mechanical ability to change oil filters and spark plugs but when it comes to adjusting triggers, they need to do the second best thing: go to Brownell’s and buy a Timney or a Jewell trigger and be done with it! Sure, there are some great articles on the internet telling you how to adjust the 700 trigger but you have to study it, sleep with it, think about it, try it – and usually fail but it takes old hound dogs like us to figure it out and make it work!
Along comes the newer Remington 700’s and the infamous X-Mark Pro Rifle Trigger. Who in the hell ever dreamed this up was probably trying to “one up” the Ruger 77 Mark II trigger. Another Greek Disaster!
I will confess, I am an old Winchester Pre-64 Model 70 fan. I will admit, however, I have quite a collection of Rem. 700’s.
These are excellent rifles, actions and barrels normally a cut above the competition. You would not go wrong by investing in a Remington Model 700, VLS with 26″ barrel for example. It will wring out the best velocities from the .308 round. The stainless synthetic fluted version also has a 26″ bbl. Then you have the VTR’s, the Tactical’s and the XCR’s. Buy one and shoot it a lot (with proper break-in procedures) and if you don’t like the trigger, replace it with an aftermarket trigger. Top it off with the best optics you can afford (if you can see well, you can shoot well)!
I lean toward the .308 caliber. Several reasons for this include: availability of components, availability of match ammo, fairly good ballistics, fairly common police and tactical round and also a NATO round. I also like the .260, 7mm08 and the .243 calibers.
Remember: Rifle, Trigger, Optics
There was a lot of commentary about the trigger recall after the liberal press got wind of it, which resulted in additions, subtractions, and clarifications from Remington. The anti-gun bleeding-hearts cast their net so widely that at one point the recall covered “…the Remington Model 700, Seven, Sportsman 78, 673, 710, 715, 770, 600, 660, XP-100, 721, 722 and 725 rifles with either a Walker trigger mechanism, or a trigger mechanism which utilizes a ‘trigger connector’,” far beyond the 700’s (not all of them) that actually may have been defective. As stymie pointed out, Remington later specified that only the trigger units with a smooth-faced trigger needed to be repaired.
As for the “gold standard” Winchester M70 safety, I neither like nor trust it. On my first hunt using my rifle, I had chambered a round in anticipation of a shot but the deer moved and foliage blocked my line of sight. I engaged the safety as I moved a short distance through some light shrubs and recovered my view of the buck. When I shouldered the gun for a shot, I found that the safety had moved to “fire.” It was my first hunt and while I may not have been as safe and careful as I might have, I believe that a safety should be rather more secure. I later heard other similar accounts, but never a recall. Indeed, when I consulted a local gunsmith before contacting Winchester, he said “Oh, they’re all like that.”
the a.b arms set up on the 700 looks great bet it shoots quite well good luck with it. tom
I too had endevoured on this quest a couple of years back and choose the 700 sips. While my rifle was a mountain rifle, I wanted the action, did not really worry about the stock or barrel.
My choice was a .270 for several reasons; military 308 or commercial was difficult to get and expensive. The ballistics show that at 800 yds, long range-right, a 308 had a bullet drop (168) of 55inches. A 270 has a drop of 33 inches (150 gr.), Check for 270. 270 has many cartridges for use, many manufacturers of bullets and having a long action, vs short is a win.
Scope, on guns American, I found an incredible deal on a trijicon 6×24. I love the fact that in the center is the illuminated dot that in dark or shadowed last cations, the dot is center of the reticule, now my job to adjust hit the target. As to the barrel, I had intended to remove a had a shilen #7 installed.
Again going to guns America, I found a great deal on a hogue urban camouflaged stock that required some work but is great looking and holds the gun.
Now with this the action screws need to be torqued in, mine are set for 30 and using a 4mm socket bit (lowes home improvement) I know that it is set correctly each and every time.
Mike B. You should recheck your ballistic charts and I think you’ll find your full of hot air. The 308 will drop closer to 55-60 inches at only 500 yards and the 270 is about 50 inches at 500 yards. Both drop much more at 800 yards. I hope you don’t do your own trigger work.
Mike B. You should recheck your ballistic charts and I think you’ll find your full of hot air. The 308 will drop closer to 55-60 inches at only 500 yards and the 270 is about 50 inches at 500 yards. Both drop much more at 800 yards. I hope you don’t do your own trigger work.