There’s three lesson’s in this statement.
First, though not really related, it’s never good to bring an old person into the conversation who lived the times when the event discussed was actually happening. You should be saying to ole Dead Eye, Shut up and sit down
Second, don’t sell what you like or you think is best, sell what the customer wants. In 1962 the perfect storm (for Remington) occurred. It’s the early 1960’s. Roy Weatherby has taken the world of firearms by storm. People wanted glitz, pretty, fancy. And here comes Winchester, plain wood, plain finish, simple action, construction that whether it occurred or not excluded Cheapness. They abandoned their core customers and went inexpensive but it looked cheap. Remington, put high gloss finish, butter smooth actions, really decent wood for the cost of the rifle and coated that wood for a 1960’s appreciative crowd with a finish that shined so brightly it blinded game. People flocked to the new 7mm with the shinny finish that emphasized nicely grained wood and actions whether inexpensive to make or not, flowed like melted butter. (Don’t belive me, come try Brenda’s 1975, old style BDL in 243. And that rifle can’t even compare to the first year XP100 we once owned.).
Third. This is my question. Despite its ease of manufacture, why has the 700 style action become the standard of accurate rifles? Why people shun the Mauser/Winchester CRF action when wanting a very accurate rifle? Yet I know that a CRF action can be accurate. My Ruger Model 77MKII in .35 Whelen can put all three shots in a cloverleaf with every shot touching. It’s nothing more than a hunting rifle. But still, throw out a question about using any of the big three CRF actions, (Mauser 98, Pre 64 Winchester, or late model Ruger) for Precision rifle or F Class and one will be kindly guided to a more common (R700 footprint) action.
So, for better or worse, despite its faults, the customer base is built on round bottom R700 style actions. Easy to make and as we all found out in the late 1990’s early 2000’s easy for the core company (remington) to muck up.
Call it cherry picked but who really wants to spend all day behind a full house .35 Whelen shooting
ought-to-get-em powered loads trying to prove a point.
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So, it’s the easy button for R700 footprint. The Master, figures out how to make something really better that fits an established pattern. And at least one master has accomplished this, and I am proud to own one. (His initials MB)