Rem 760 / 7600 Pump question

U

Unlicensed Dremel

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Are these made in two different action lengths or just one (with the short action chamberings using the long action)?

Thinking of a lightweight, iron sighted, .243 win pump for a dual role rifle (Light, woods-covered hills, in-the-rain deer rifle (to avoid scope fog), and S.O./wifey homestead defense - defending self and furries from bears/cougars/wolves/coyotes).

It's light, quick on the follow up shots, packs a punch 95+ bullets. But what about capacity? Are the 10-rounders available as they are for the .30-'06 family of chamberings (for the homestead defense role)? That's why I ask about action length. Wouldn't a short action feed a .308-family case less reliably?

Thanks.
 
@UD: As far as I know it is a single action length, and I think(?) the 7600 and the 750 are built on the 20 gauge, rem 1100 receiver. The magazines are the same external length, but the shorter cartridges have an internal block in the back. The magazines within a family of cartridges are interchangeable between the pump and auto, but the follower for the auto-loader does not have a taper and will prevent the bolt from going forward after the last round is fired and ejected.

As for larger capacity magazines, triple K makes a 10 round magazine. I tried the larger capacity magazines years ago and they were totally unreliable. Maybe the newer ones are better. I did buy extra remington 4 round magazines and they feed flawlessly for the short cartridges.

I do have a rem 7600 chambered for .243. It is light, handy, and surprisingly accurate if you can get past the trigger. The remington pump and 7400/750 autoloaders define sponginess in a trigger, and I don't there's much you can do about it. I also own a .308, 7400 remington. Despite being named a "jam-o-matic" on the internet forums, my 7400 has been literally 100% reliable. A problem may be that some people try to make it into a battle rife, and it just isn't one.

A while back, remington chambered their pump in .223 with high capacity magazines (the 7615?). Regretfully I failed to get one, but that configuration might be just dandy for your purposes.
L. Hammon
 
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I once had a 742 series that successfully used the Triple K ten round mags.
The trick was to replace the mag release with the one that came with the mags.
It held the TK mags slightly differently and cured the hang ups.
Can't remember if the original factory mag still worked with the replaced release or not, though.
 
They are all long action. When it comes to fast, accurate repeat shots they are faster than anything but a semi and not that far behind them.

They are not especially light. Most will weigh 7 1/4 -7 1/2 lb compared to most lever actions weighing 6 3/4 -7 1/4 lbs. With optics they are downright heavy. You can get bolt actions selling for considerably less weighing 6-6 1/2 lbs.

A problem may be that some people try to make it into a battle rife, and it just isn't one.
Click to expand...

This is true, especially with the 7400 and to a degree with the 7600 too. Neither is designed for rapid fire for more than 4-5 shots. Also, while pump shotguns are known for reliability, it does not carry over to pump rifles. If you run into any ammo that is slightly out of spec, or if the chamber gets even a little dirty there they will jam up easily. Not enough leverage to get sticky cases out of the chamber. This is probably the heart of the 7400's reliabilty issues. As long as the gun is very clean, and quality ammo is used they do pretty good. Not traits I want in a survival gun. It needs to work, no excuses.

I prefer a short barreled bolt rifle. This is the role the Scout type rifles are designed for. Lighter and much more reliable and accurate. Rate of fire is a tad bit slower, but once someone learns how to run a bolt rifle right the difference is small. I can get off 3 aimed shots with my bolt rifles in under 4 seconds. A pump rifle is only 1 second faster with me pulling the trigger. I can get off 3 unaimed shots with a bolt gun in under 2 seconds.
 
@jmr40: I thought, "No, you're wrong about the weight."

I just weighed my 7600, .243. With Leupold VXIII, steel rings and bases, the scope/rifle combination weighs 8.6 pounds.

You were right. It is heavy. Still...it carries nice.
 
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Hmmmm, well if they're that heavy, and the high-cap mags are unreliable, then that JUST might give me a reason to forget that plan and justify instead the CZ 550 FS I want anyway in 6.5x55 with iron sights.... Although I suppose a blued/mannlicher stock setup isn't ideal for the rain... I'd foresee taking it apart after hunting in rain. But it would be a great all-purpose for hunting and/or the wifey and me to protect the dogs/homestead. Thanks.
 
@UD: Have you ever thought about a .357 chambered marlin 1894, or a winchester 92 or 92 copy? That rifle would be lightweight, fast handling, and have almost no recoil. They have a reasonable magazine capacity and you can top it up with one in the chamber. I'm not sure I would consider it as a big game hunting rifle, but it would do fine for coyotes, foxes, feral dogs, or human threats at the ranges you would normally encounter such things.

And of course, there's no reason you couldn't still buy the 6.5x55, too.
 
If I wanted to buy a lightweight .243 I'd focus upon the Browning BLR. That being said, I've owned my 760 since the 1970's and she still shoots amazing groups. But it's neither light nor heavy.

.243 is a truly great cartridge for deer sized animals. I've slain many deer & antelope with my rifle and none got away.

Jack
 
Well, the levergun is faster so more in line with the alternative / backup purpose of this rifle idea. I'm thinking I just need to go back and get another .45 colt levergun for this role which I sold like an unmitigated idiot (Rossi 92). But I want a 16" round barrel like I had. Don't think those are made any more, which makes me an even bigger idiot for selling, if that was possible. So I need to scour and scan for used Rossi 92s and Marlin 1894s for the config I want (16").
 
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