Remington 700 or Ruger 77

Old Stony

New member
I need a little advice on what is shooting better. I have a TC encore in 7mm-08 that I have just given up on as far as accuracy. I carry a rifle in my truck daily and would love a stainless rifle that would give me the accuracy I need. The stainless is a good factor as it will be in and out of the truck daily in all kinds of weather and will not be treated kindly.
Basically, I have settled into the idea of either a Ruger 77, or a Remington 700 with composite stock and chambered again in 7mm-08. After a lot of experimentation I got the TC to finally shoot 1 1/2 inch groups, but only with 120 grain bullets, and I want something that will shoot into at least an inch with a 140 grain.
Anybody getting better performance from either the Ruger or Remington?
 
If you were to test 10 rifles of each there would be some overlap. Some Rugers more accurate than some Remingtons, but if accuracy is the only criteria I'd say the odds are in favor of the Remingtons shooting slightly better.

If I were buying a target rifle I'd probably start with Remington. If I were buying a hunting rifle I'd buy Winchester or Kimber (tie), with Ruger as a close 2nd place finisher. Accuracy is going to be close enough, and there are other features more important to me. Either should be capable of 1" groups.
 
well....

Most TC barrels are not manufactured to the highest standards. I cannot say enough about the TC work done by Mike Bellm.
He can "accurize" any TC chamber. Head spacing in TCs are also not the best. Mike can handle this as well. Look at his web site.
I have many rifle and handgun barrels worked on by Mike and they all shoot MOA at 100 yards. The 7-30 Waters he made up will put bullet thru bullet at 100 yards, all day.

As far as a bolt action, I love those Remingtons...my first was and is a model 600.
 
I've shot both in 308, for a hunting rifle I think I would have to go with the m77, still prefer my 700 for target shooting.

I agree with jmr40, about the overlap, if you shot 10 m77s and 10 700s probably be a toss up.
 
If your buying a used rifle, I recommend an older Remington. If you're shopping new stuff, I recommend the Ruger over the Remmy, but I'd rather have a Savage, Tikka, or Weatherby Vanguard over the Ruger. Remington ain't what it used to be unless you want to do some work such as new stock, bedding job, trigger, etc.
 
Weatherby Vanguard Series 2. Comes in stainless, synthetic stock and 7mm-08. Also guaraneed to shoot 3 shot group <1 MOA @ 100 yards, using premium ammunition, right out of the box.

I have two of them, in .308 and .223. Yesterday I shot two groups +/- 3/4" at 200 yards with the .223.
 
Remington 700 all the way. I owned 2 Rugers good rifles old model a lot better gun than the new Hawkeye. I had to send it back to factory twice. Action was rough as a cob and even when they finished second time it was rough. I have felt others on gun racks same way some smooth most are rough. They will tell you that doesn't matter but when you need to make quick follow up shot like I did on a deer with a 7-08 and it hangs a little not the best feeling all came out well but was not happy. Rugers first guy told me I needed to learn to push bolt with the palm of my hand instead of having hold of bolt and closing it. I finally emailed president and did get results. I have always liked Rugers and still do and have had great luck with CS dept.That one time was not good. I still have several handguns from Ruger. I owned the new model 70 Winchester as well great rifle but hardest kicking gun I ever owned it was 30-06. I have always had good luck with Remington and Savage both are tops in accuracy dept. have new and old Remington rifles only had one that needed to go back and Remington fixed it. CZ makes great rifles have that shoots great big fan of them as well.
Hope this helps a little
Roc1
 
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I have two Remington 7-08's. One is a Model 7 blue with the premium walnut stock. The other is a 700 stainless with composite stock. They both shoot 1/2" at 100.
The Encore should shoot much more accurate than what yours is doing. There are literally about 15 little things that any one of them can make an Encore be a tack driver or a scatter gun. It takes time, but they can usually be made to shoot. I am guessing you need an over sized hinge pin. Bedding the fore end works wonders on some of them.
I just personally dont like Ruger. I could elaborate, but since I dont have a 77 7-08 I will reserve my opinion.
 
You should choose the brand that you like best, that fits you better and feels good in your hands. We can all say Remington is more accurate than Ruger or that Ruger is more accurate but in the end it is a crap shoot. I've heard and seen horror stories from both brands, and I've seen some really good shooters from both.
 
I have both Ruger and Remington rifles that work well, I was just curious about someone's experiences with the newer ones in the 7mm08 caliber. I think I'll take a shot at the Remington this time again and hope. I sent the TC in to S&W and they replaced the barrel on it...but it still won't shoot like I would want it to. I shoot a lot of pigs and whatever on a regular basis and carry a rifle in the woods pretty much daily. I've shot hogs with the TC, but I'm limited to the 120 grain bullets to get accuracy out of it. Deer season is right around the corner again and I'd love to get a 7mm-08 up and in good working order by then.
 
The Remington will probably drive tacks with the Winchester factory loaded 140 gr. ballistic silvertip. I have yet to handload anything that will beat them.
 
Mosin accuracy is poor compared to even budget rifles of today. However you can knock it around and not feel bad at $140ish. You want a scope on the gun or no? I am guessing yes based on your 700 and 77 options.
 
Remington 700 all the way. I owned 2 Rugers good rifles old model a lot better gun than the new Hawkeye. I had to send it back to factory twice. Action was rough as a cob and even when they finished second time it was rough. I have felt others on gun racks same way some smooth most are rough.
I don't agree with the current Remington 700s being decent rifles, but I do agree with the Hawkeye being a rather disappointing step down from the 77 Mk II. The Ruger American is a better rifle than the Hawkeye. :rolleyes:

If you told me I only had two choices: Rem 700 or Ruger Hawkeye, and I had to choose one...
I would ask if there were any on the used rack. -That's how pitiful I think the current production of those models is, from both companies.
 
Remington 700 sub moa? Maybe! They are hit or miss on accuracy. I have not owned many 700's that were sub-moa until I did extensive work on them. I own 28-30 700's and other than the Sendaro's I dont recall any of them except the 7ultra being sub-moa out of the box.
 
Remy 700!!!!
Sub moa right out the box

Not nearly as many have been in the last 7 years or so. Bedding seems to help most of the newer ones that aren't shooting well. Triggers aren't as smooth as they used to be either
 
Duno what the quality is like on the newer Remingtons and Rugers but from comments I've seen it'd give whichever one I was inyereted a very thorough going over. If controlled feed is a must then it's the Ruger. If it makes no difference whether controlled feed of push feed, then which ever one appeals to you the most. I'd probably like a 7MM-08 if I had one but I already have its grampa, the 7x57 do I'll stick with that.
Paul B.
 
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