Remington 700

N

Nine the Ranger

New member
After much thinking I'ce decided that the next gun I purchase will be a bolt action in either .243 or .308.

When one thinks of Bolt Actions it's hard not to see the R700 on the list. I've looked around and am giving the model much consideration, but I have some questions about it.

I see many different versions of it, all with a three letter abbreviation. What I ask is beyond these letters (whatever they mean), stock options, finishes, sights, ect. Is it really all the same gun? Is one type if 700 inherently better than another?
 
For the most part the letters describe the type of magazine.

ADL= blind magazine. Traditionally they had the same walnut stocks as the BDL, just with slightly different features and sold for a little less. Current ADL's all have cheaper plastic stocks.

BDL= floorplate. In most cases, but not all the BDL's have bright shiny finish on the wood, but have been made with every type of stock from cheap plastic to extra fancy walnut.

The only real diference between the 2 is floorplate and blind magazine. They have made many different versions of both. The only consistent fact is that ADL is blind mag, BDL is floorplate

CDL is also a floorplate gun, but with an older "Classic" style stock instead of the very modernistic BDL that was developed during the 60's when cars were being made with tail fins :o. The CDL is patterned after the classic styles of the 1920's-30's.

DBM= Detachable box magazine

Remington initially dropped ADL, and BDL and replaced them with the CDL and SPS. The SPS is really just a budget gun, but with a floorplate instead of a blind magazine. Both have been brought back and are sold in limited chamberings, usually only at big box stores such as Walmart.

All are based on the same acions. The level of attention and final finish are the only difference. Well, other than price.

They also offer several varmit, tactical, Mt Rifle, and other versions. These can be based on the ADL, BDL or DBM, but with different stocks, barrels, etc. made for specific pruposes.
 
Great explanation jmr40

If you're looking to buy new, there are many versions of the 700 chambered for the two cartridges you mentioned, but in my opinion the fit and finish, and consistent accuracy of those rifles doesn't seem to be as good as it used to be even ten or fifteen years ago.

If you plan on looking in the used market for a Remington 700 I'd like to make one suggestion for a particular model that is my personal favorite incarnation of the 700.

A Remington 700 Varmint Special. These guns were built to very high QC standards and every one I've ever seen was a tack driver. They are a high gloss walnut BDL floorplate stock design with a heavy barrel, and they came in .243 and .308 as well as several other chamberings. I own one in 6mm rem, I wish I had some pictures to upload but don't at the moment.

Here's a random pic I found on a Google search

img1217ar8.jpg


Not saying this is the only 700 worth having, just my personal fave. The 700 is a great rifle, its much easier to find a good one than a bad one.
 
The 700 is a tried and true rifle. The actions in the models are functionally the same. Some come with heavy barrels others with lightweight barrels. You can also improve any 700. Here are two photos first is a stock SPSTactical AAC-SD ( with only a lightened trigger. The second is a trued and blueprinted 700 action built in 300WM. It has a Krieger SS 1-10 twist barrel,manners chassis and numerous other add ons... The SPS shoots under 1 MOA, the 300WM shoot exceptionally better( but had a lot bigger price tag ).

My point is they are great stock, but are even better customized...
SPS Tactical
IMG_2280.jpg


Custom 300WM
IMG_3176.jpg
 
The SPS model is a step above a ADL, has a much nicer synthetic stock (hogue type grip inserts and not the cheap slick plasticy feel of the ADL's) and has a ammo dump floorplate.

You can catch the ADL's with camo stocks at wally world for $399 on sale. regularly like $479. Add $75 to that for the SPS model and another $75 to make it a stainless.

I have 5 700's now. One ADL, the rest SPS.

Dont overlook a 7mm-08. its right in between the 2 calibers you mentioned. hardly more recoil than the 243 and packs a good punch.
 
As far as performance from the 700's, the sporter sized barreled rifles all perform very similar to each other (ADL, BDL, CDL). Until you get one of the special rifles that are fitted with a bull barrel, which are good for lots of rounds being shot in a session, you will see very little difference between the models. I've got a mid-90's ADL and my dad has a mid-70's BDL, both in .270win, and both are clover leaf guns if the shooter does there part.
 
Here's another to answer the question, "Now, what can I have done to a Remington rifle?"



McMillan A3 stock with Badger Ordnance bottom metal and AICS magazines; Harris swivel bipod, Bartlein 1-11.25 twist cut rifled barrel, pillar bedded; fully trued and blueprinted with a Nightforce 8-32x56 NXS. It's a short-action .308.
 
There are three types of 700 actions. Long, short, and magnum. Which one you get will be based on caliber. They are exactly the same, just a different size. Save for size and finish, they are all exactly the same and interchangeable.

The short answer to your question is yes. A 700 chambered in 243 has the exact same action as every other 700 out there chambered in 243.
 
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So my actual question is somewhat unanswered: Are all the 700s pretty much the same? Stripped down to the bare bones?
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All are based on the same actions. The level of attention and final finish are the only difference. Well, other than price.
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The actions and triggers are exactly the same, come off the same assembly line. Most standard barrels are the same. The difference is in the level of attention at final assembly, the finish and the stock they screw on. A cheap, budget SPS or ADL has the same components as the top of the line CDL and will likely be just as accurate. You are paying for good wood, polished metal and a little more attetion when assembled.

Certain models have specific barrels. The varmit/target versions have barrels of higher quality and in some cases a different twist rate. The Mountain rifle is a thinner contour to keep weight down.
 
From steveNChunter
A Remington 700 Varmint Special. These guns were built to very high QC standards and every one I've ever seen was a tack driver.
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I agree with Steve, the Remington 700 VS is a nice rig. I have the one below in .308 and it is a tack driver.

308web.jpg


I also have the Remington 700 SP in .243. I got rid of the crap stock and put a H.S. Precision stock similar to the one on my VS.

2432web.jpg


Jim
 
Used to be a Remington man, but the new ones are garbage, after three consecutive defects I will never waste another cent on a Remington again.
My Savages are head and shoulders better then my 700s and my dandy little Tikka blows them out the water.
 
While we're chiming in on semi-custom 700s i'll throw mine in there, though i haven't shot or been around in a while :rolleyes:

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The 700 is a fantastic action to shoot as you go so to speak. My meaning is that if per say you wanted a full blown custom like an APA genesis, Surgeon, Big Horn, etc. you can technically bring a 700 action up to those specs and shoot as you go essentially.
 
@CDJ - nice lookin' sticks...

I've had a 700P for many years now, shoots like a dream.

Below is after my first attempt at rattle-canning with Krylon. It's not as light in color as the pics reflect. I need to re-do it, this time keeping the bolt and bottom metal unpainted.

 
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Gdvan01, thanks brother. The SPS Tactical is all stock except lightening the trigger and using expiry in the lands of the stock to stiffen it.

The other though , is my baby. There is nothing stock about her.. From a side bolt release, to the Kreigel barrel. A good buddy of mine built it as a competition rifle, I finally talked him into selling it. All I did was put my glass on it.

The R700 is my favorite rifle. Not just because I have more experience with them, but they have so many after market parts and pieces that the sky's the limit on what you can do to one.

Oh gdvan01, don't knock your rattle can. It looks great and some of the best snipers in the service use rattle cans. I love the Punisher logo btw. The 700P is a tack driver and hard to beat..

All of the rifles on here are great looking. The R700, to me it just doesn't get much better....
 
Glad to see so much support for the R700. I have a sps varmint in .308 I'm building up right now (as my budget allows) One of my buddies has 3 700's (22-250, 25-06, 300rum), and my step father has taken plenty of elk and deer with his 30-06 BDL. Great rifles, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend.
 
Basically the best in the business!

There are other rifles, but no other rifle can show off it was selected to be the issue sniper rifle of both the United States Marine Corps *AND* United States Army for over 4 maybe 5 decades!

THE Remington 700!

And the best part is, you can start small and stay small or start upgrading! A "basic" 700 is still one of the finest off the shelf production rifles for the price and comparison there is. And if you want you can have plenty of work, upgrading, parts/gunsmith tender-loving-care etc. as much as your pocket can afford.


Here is my new pretty-much completed rig, or as I like to affectionately call it my Sniper Rifle System :)





Started life as a Remington 700 'SPS Tactical AAC-SD' and became a Manners T5A/AAC-SD ... the baddest .308 in the forest ;p
 
What are you going to use it for , if target shooting, look at the Remington LE sight. 700P & 700 LTR also has the Remington M24 Viet Nam sniper rifle. There up there in price but you don't have to do much to make it a tack driver. I have a Rem 700 LTR 308 Cal. 20" brl. it's my #1 rifle.
 
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