Remington 700

[Matt71]

Back in early march I ordered; for the fist time in 20 years, a Remington 700 SPS Varmint in .308. When I got it home I threw open the bolt and drew it back to have a look in the chamber. As I did this I noticed that there was quite a bit of rotational play and it felt as if I were dragging a piece of pipe across 80 grit sandpaper. When I removed the bolt to cleaned it and the guides I found that they had used the same finish on the bolt and lugs as was used on the barrel. I reinstated the bolt, with a little lube, but the result when operating the bolt was the same. With some 400 grit sandpaper I removed some of the finish on the lugs and it has helped tremendously. I then tipped the barrel end up to have a look at the crown and found that it too was covered with the matte finish. Again with the 400 grit I polished it off to reveal a crown that you might find on the bottom of a walking cane. The chamber looks like it could be used as a mold for a round bastard file. The last rifle I bought was a Savage 110 30-06 ($280 in 1998) and the day I got it the bolt slid like warm butter on velvet as it still does today. Well enough of my rant is it just me or has Remingtons' quality diminished?

Oh yeah, don't get me started on the plastic trigger guard.

 

[Oddball Six]

Re: Remington 700

Short version?

Yes it has diminished greatly.

Thats what happens when a hedge fund takes you over, trims through the bone in pursuit of absolutely every last cent of profit, no matter how much quality they have to sacrifice.

When revenues start to decline because the quality issue impacts purchasing reputation, then the hedge will sell off the asset.

Its a pump it dry and dump it strategy that makes sure wall street wins and screw the rest of us.

 

[BobC]

Re: Remington 700

I got a SPS Varmint this past December. The bolt operated as good as any 700 I've ever had. It it is very smooth.
No plastic trigger guard on mine it is aluminum probably not a whole lot better but not plastic.
The stock on the other hand looked and felt like it was made out of recycled milk jugs and was almost as sturdy as over cooked spaghetti.
The trigger decided to break after four shots and some dry firing.
Hopefully I have mine ironed out now.

 

[oneshot onekill]

Re: Remington 700

I'm not in the habit of buying "New" guns. My last was a 5R and it was fantastic. That said, I'm not too sure about the wisdom in removing ANYTHING from the 2 areas you messed with. The lugs and the crown are 2 of the most crucial parts of an accurate rifle and should ONLY be messed with by a competent Gunsmith. Chances are, you seriously altered the way that rifle shoots and Remington is not about to do anything for you (and rightfully so) if you have. I would take it to a competent Gunsmith right away and have it gone over.

 

[fastbs]

Re: Remington 700

interesting i just got the same gun a couple months ago. it does not look like these pics now but the crown was a much smoother finish than the outer barrel, the trigger gaurd i think is aluminum i know it's not plastic, and the bolt is pretty darn smooth. The bolt is not as smooth as my older model 7 260 but it's still pretty smooth.
sounds like you were the lucky drawer of the short straw. it is sad that stuff like your gun gets through QC now days.

 

[Snakum]

Re: Remington 700

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">is it just me or has Remingtons' quality diminished?</div></div>

The latter.

 

[long range dogr]

Re: Remington 700

Short story on my last three factory Remmi's

One was short chambered.One the throat was so fucking long that i couldn't seat a bullet to the lands.The last is a scatter gun that will hardly cycle.

So yes i would say that their QC has diminished!

 

[HOGGHEAD]

Re: Remington 700

Remington's have never been known for "smooth bolts". "smooth bolts" is a term with not much meaning. If you want to feel a smooth bolt then work a bolt on a Sauer 202 takedown rifle. Now that is a "smooth bolt". I have worked the bolt on hundreds of Savages. If not thousands. And the term "smooth bolt" would never ever apply to even one of them. So if you got one as smooth as butter then you got one out of a thousand.

The SPS is an inexpensive rifle that will shoot well out of the box, or will shoot well with a little work. These rifles cost less than a BDL cost 20 years ago. So you can not expect the same quality workmanship as 20 years ago and at a lower price?? Come on guys.

I realize a lot of Savage rifles shoot well. But I guarantee you there are more bad shooting Savages out there than Remington's. I sold firearms for years for the largest distributor of firearms in the world. I sold every mfr. you can imagine. I promise you I sent back more Savages(probably 2or 3 to1 more) than all the other brands that I sold combined. And it was not because I sold more Savages. I definitely sold more Ruger and Remington rifles. Heck I probably sold more Ruger 10-22's than all the Savages combined.

I do not know why Remington has become such a whipping post on the forums. I guess the guy up front is always the guy you pick on. All I know is that Remington is selling 700's for less now than they did 10 or 15 years ago. And Savages are 2 to 3 or even 4 times more expensive then they were. So you can not expect the quality to go up?? The average price on a Savage CF rifle in the 80's and 90's was under $200. $188 to be exact. I have seen a bunch of nice custom rifles built on 700 actions. I haven't seen very many built on Savages. And just so you do not think I am blowing smoke I have a custom Savage(picture below).

I just saw an ad where Academy Sporting Goods was selling 700 ADL's for $349. Now that is a steal. There is not a Savage out there that will match that ADL and in that price range. We bought three for the actions. Buy the time I give away the stock and barrel for $100 I will only have $250 in a Remington 700 action. So go ahead and buy your Savage. I know what action I want. Tom.

 

[Snakum]

Re: Remington 700

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">But I guarantee you there are more bad shooting Savages out there than Remington's. </div></div>

I'll take that bet. That's just insane. I love my old Remington stuff but my old 700s will, on average, hold 1.5" groups with the best ammo I can find or load. While every Savage 10/110 I've ever shot topped that with Wally World Federals. You don't like Savage ... no biggie. But to say Savages won't shoot with Remington is nutty.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I do not know why Remington has become such a whipping post on the forums. I guess the guy up front is always the guy you pick on. All I know is that Remington is selling 700's for less now than they did 10 or 15 years ago.</div></div>

They're on the post because the quality has gone to hell. Period. And their customer service is slipping, too, which is, in my humble opinion, much much worse. And the fact that SPSs/700s are selling for less is no excuse. Savage made dirt cheap rifles that shot lights for many, many years. Marlin is doing it now with the XL/XS. Why can't the former number one gunmaker do so?

I'm not a Savage fan boi. Until about two months ago I'd never owned a Savage. Shot a bunch of em. But never owned one. Got a closet full of Remington products. And the stuff they make today is not the same level of quality they made ten or twenty years ago. That's just the God's honest truth. I bet I have heard Remington bashed in probably every single gun store I regularly visit (five or six) BY THE OWNERS. At one large shop in Vass, NC that is a big Remington dealer even told me "I can order anything you want from them but don't bring it to me when it won't shoot. They'll put anything out the door nowadays."

I used to defend them. But they bent me over four times last year on two shotguns, on rim fire, and one centerfire. Fact is fact. Every other American gunmaker seems to be making perfectly functional weapons that shoot lights out at very reasonable prices while Remington is going the other direction. Cerberus Capital is putting it to them and we're seeing the result. Hope Marlin doesn't go down the same path.

 

[HOGGHEAD]

Re: Remington 700

I wish we lived closer because I would definitely take that bet. Savage has been producing junk rifles for years. Now recently I will admit that they have made a considerably better rifle than they were making just ten years ago. And I said that in my post. But that new Savage rifle cost 3 or 4 times more than the one sold 10 years or so again. Shooters expect more from Remington. That is the basic problem.

If you take the average Savage that the average guy out there owns. I definitely believe the average Remington is a more reliable rifle. And will shoot just as well as most shooters can shoot. Tom.

 

[HOGGHEAD]

Re: Remington 700

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Snakum</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> But to say Savages won't shoot with Remington is nutty.
</div></div>

You need to reread my post. Nowhere did I say that Savage rifles would not shoot. I even showed you a picture of a Savage that I had built. You are making things up here. And please address the other facts I posted about smooth bolts and the fact that the Remington is probably at least 10 to 1 the favorite action for customs?? You may have had a bad experience with Remington and I believe you. But you are painting with a broader brush than I did.

And it is completely obvious that you did not shoot the 110-E which was the Savage flagship rifle for many many years. I personally witnessed bunchs of them that would not even hit a taget at 100 yards. And certainly they qualify as the average Savage out there. And that rifle was a piece of JUNK. Tom.

 

[Snakum]

Re: Remington 700

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: HOGGHEAD</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Savage has been producing junk rifles for years.</div></div>

There's go your credibility. Right out the window. Look out beloooooooow!

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">But that new Savage rifle cost 3 or 4 times more than the one sold 10 years or so again.</div></div>

I'll give you that one. They are starting to get spendy, which ain't good.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Shooters expect more from Remington. That is the basic problem.</div></div>

Definitely part of the problem. (Hey ... you're getting some credibility back. Here's a cookie.)

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">If you take the average Savage that the average guy out there owns. I definitely believe the average Remington is a more reliable rifle. </div></div>

You went off the meds again. Damn. You were doing so well.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> And will shoot just as well as most shooters can shoot. Tom.</div></div>

Definitely. I read an abstract for a study somewhere once that concluded the average bolt action rifle buyer is a hunter who zeros his scope or sets his irons once a year before the season starts and can't shoot better than 3 MOA. Dunno if thsat's accurate or not.

 

[HOGGHEAD]

Re: Remington 700

You got me on that one. You are right about going off the meds.

But I will soon reconcile that!! Tom.

 

[Snakum]

Re: Remington 700

All in good fun, brother.

 

[NATE LUKAVSKY]

Re: Remington 700

Gonna butt in then out. The new Marlins are made by the same Group that owns Rem,Dakota, and to many others to list. Its hard to find Marlin X gun on the shelves...They are making a killing off the all the AR's they have. They need someone to step up and give them competition. Still a full Rem fan.

Remington, Bushmaster, DPMS/Panther Arms, Marlin, H&R, NEF, Dakota Arms, LC Smith, Parker, AAC, Barnes Bullets, EOTAC and INTC.

 

[clc33]

Re: Remington 700

i bought a new 700 xcr LTR in 300wm this year and it coppered so bad i had 2 shoot tubb ff in it plus sand the barrel channel out cause it was hitting in 3 places. so i think there qc needs worked on.

 

[Snakum]

Re: Remington 700

It is weird how the XL/XS is becoming hard to find. Mine is an amazingly accurate little weapon, as is every other one I've seen fired. One of the guys I shoot with has printed .5" five-shot groups right out of the box with two different .243s (he's the reason I bought my .308 XS). Once mine was stiffened, floated, and bedded it would shoot three-shot, no wind groups at MOA out to 500 yards with FGMM if I let the barrel cool sufficiently. For a 22" pencil barrel that was pretty impressive. Hope Cerberus Cap doesn't force corner-cutting after Marlin's move and screw that model up like they've done with the non LE/Mil Remmys.

 

[Snakum]

Re: Remington 700

"The military and custom gun makers still use there products."

If you think the 700SPS you bought at Ed's Gun Emporium got the same QA/QC as Mil/LE/Custom items you have definitely bumped your head.

Oh ... wait ... you're not a Marine are you?

 

[BobC]

Re: Remington 700

The SPS Varmint I just got is the fourth 700 I have owned since 1987. I have never owned one of Remington's top of the line rifles so I can't speak to that.
Except for the before mentioned trigger and the stock the SPS seems to be every bit as good as the others I have had. This rifle is more accurate than the others ever where. The action operates just as smoothly if not a bit better. The finish looks as good (I didn't really like the matt finish at first but it is growing on me)though I haven't had it long enough to know how it will hold up under use. I load to magazine length so I haven't measured the throat so I cant speak to that ether.
There are issues to be sure. The plastic stocks are junk plane and simple. I now in firmly hate the X-Mark Pro. trigger. but now that I have those two issues dely with I like my Remington.