Remington 700 vs. 700 Sendero. What's the diff?

2

2ndchance

New member
I found a rifle builder that has a rifle that I was interested in, until he told me the price. I don't mind paying $$$ for an excellent rifle, but I thought the value may not be there. The reason is this. He started with a Remington 700 Sendero in 300 WM. Retails for around $1,300.

Then, the replaces the barrel, replaces the bolt, and replaces the stock. The only thing original is the receiver and trigger group.

Isn't the receiver and trigger the same as any standard Remington 700 long action for around $600?

He's wanting $2,500 for it. These are the upgrades he did to it:

  • Receiver face, threads, and lug abutments trued
  • Sight base holes trued and opened to 8-40 screws
  • 24" Shilen match 1-10 c/m, Remington varmint contour barrel with 6 flutes
  • Muzzle threaded 5/8-24 and stainless muzzle brake installed
  • Pacific Tool & Gauge (PT&G) one piece bar stock bolt with m16 style extractor and oversized knob
  • PT&G .250 ss recoil lug
  • PT&G tactical steel bottom metal
  • Tuned old style remington trigger
  • EGW picatinny rail
  • Bedded HS Precision stock with custom Duracoat camo job
 
Pretty sure the Sendero uses a HS Precision stock already. The main difference between it and a regular M700 is the stock and barrel length and contour. There isn't any differences in 5 he action except it might be a little more polished vs. an SPS action.

Is it worth $2500? Maybe not but price out a build like that with a $600 action and I'll bet you come close.
 
The Sendero comes with a heavier, longer barrel than standard along with the HS-Precision stock. There isn't any reason he could not have built off a standard 700 and accomplished the same thing.

If the work is done well. And if it has the features you want $2500 is probably a fair price. If I were paying that much, I'd probably want it built exactly to my specs., with the features I want.

That is the problem with custom guns, or cars, or anything else. It is hard to get your money back on the upgrades unless you find someone who wants the exact same features.
 
So, why not just start with a bare action and trigger for $350? Why start with $1300 Sendero and toss out everything?
 
First thing is you're not going to get a M700 action for $350 very often most of the time you'll be into it for $400+.

Receiver face, threads, and lug abutments trued = $250
Sight base holes trued and opened to 8-40 screws = $75
24" Shilen match 1-10 c/m, Remington varmint contour barrel with 6 flutes = $800
Muzzle threaded 5/8-24 and stainless muzzle brake installed = $200
Pacific Tool & Gauge (PT&G) one piece bar stock bolt with m16 style extractor and oversized knob =$200
PT&G .250 ss recoil lug = $28
PT&G tactical steel bottom metal = $100
Tuned old style remington trigger = $50
EGW picatinny rail = $40
Bedded HS Precision stock with custom Duracoat camo job = $250
Click to expand...

So your roughly looking at $1750 in what it would cost if you had the action and stock already to have a gunsmith build the rifle. Add in the cost of the action of $350 (your price) and now you're at $2100. That leaves you with $400 to buy a stock with, roghly the cost of a HS Precision.

I'm pretty sure this gunsmith didn't toss out everything, I'm pretty sure he kept the action, trigger and stock. Why start with a Sendero? He might of had a bad barrel on it to begin with, bought it used for a reasonable price, could of built it for a customer who couldn't pay the bill.
 
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You should ask who keeps the unused Sendero parts. Perhaps horse trade some of those (new) parts back to the G/Smith for a reduction in your rifles price. If the G/Smith keeps all the leftovers and all you get is the completed rifle for 2500.00 $. Than maybe it's time to reconsider your project Sir. As the gun-smith's build price is somewhat too high in price under the above (I keep everything) circumstance.
 
You might consider buying a Sendero and using it as-is. You may be surprised at the accuracy and adequacy. Later, you could modify it to make it more customized, but unless you intend to compete with it, you're probably wasting your money to get an extra 1/4 minute (or less) of accuracy.

I put some bedding over the aluminum bedding block in my Sendero stock and the .270 Win averages 1/2 minute groups with hunting loads. Every Remington 700 I've owned has been able to do that, with only a bedding job and trigger work.
 
It also very much depends on the skill of the gunsmith.
It could be a great shooter, lots better than what it started out as - or not.
Do you know and trust this fellow and his work?
 
Couple things that bother me about that rifle first is Shilen has two grades of barrel, Match and Select Match which is better barrel. Next Shilen doesn't flute barrels and void their warranty.

Factory Rem 300mag Sendero has 26" barrel and is fluted.

I'm not much into 24" barrels on mag rifle but that's a choice one makes and with the Kreiger,Bartlein,Lilja,Hart,Broughton and others making fluted barrels, I'd past on that rifle for that reason.
 
Couple things that bother me about that rifle first is Shilen has two grades of barrel, Match and Select Match which is better barrel. Next Shilen doesn't flute barrels and void their warranty.
Click to expand...

I would assume it is of the lesser quality if the gunsmith only used the word "match" in the description. As far as the flutes go you bring up a good point, so if there was a barrel issue I'd make sure you got it in writing the smith would guarantee the barrel and his work. Especially since the smith was probably doing the flu ting himself.
 
A gunsmith, asked about why he flutes barrels said that it's a good moneymaker for him. He didn't have any other reason.

I have a recent purchase of a factory Rem 700 with a fluted barrel and it shoots very well, but doesn't seem to cool any faster then the non-fluted ones. Bead blasted barrels cool faster.

The rifle I bought weighs less than a rifle with an un-fluted barrel of the same diameter. Since I bought it as a walkabout rifle, it works great for me.
 
Weight seems to be the biggest benefit of flutes. The increased surface area is suppose to help with cooling but there is not a drastic increase. Bead blasting? I never thought of that. I see how it can help.
I'm any case, I passed on the rifle. It was just not making me comfortable. Thanks everyone.
 
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