springfield vs remington 700

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Nanook of the north

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I own a sporterized 1903 Springfield it has a synthetic ramline stock on it and the brand "High Standard " barrel. I was thinking about buying a Remington 700 in 7mm mag i was just wondering if it would be better to hold on to the Springfield or get the 700.
 
BOTH
While the 03 was a great rifle in it's time, the Rem 700 is made of better material and stronger. I own both of these models and would hate to part with any of the ones I have. The 7mag has slightly greater range while the 06 offered the possibilty of heavier bullets having a larger frontal area. The 7mag ammo costs more in most places but both have a wide variety of factory ammo to choose from. Six of one and 1/2 dozen of the other. If I could only have one I'd have to flip a coin.
 
The Springfield is one of the all time great firearms. These were virtually hand built by master machinists. Made from billets of steel. No pot metal, investment casting, stamped tin parts, or plastic. These were over built to survive war conditions and have the ability to be completely disassembled in the field. These were also what is known as a controlled round feed, meaning that as soon as the cartridge starts to leave the magazine it become trapped under the extractor. This feature is highly desireable feature. So many modern guns are built cheap and fast since they actually only get used a few times a year and in ideal conditions, unlike guns built for war.
 
Get the 700 if you want one, but know the 03 Springfield is in another realm of solidity of construction altogether.

I have owned a 700 in the past, in 7mag, and it was quite serviceable, but has a fused bolt, not solid machined steel, like the Springfield, and washered recoil lug. The 700 isn't alone in this feature, the Savage, Brownings, and Tikka all have fused or hollow bolts and iffy recoil lugs IMO. They are all known for their accuracy, but I won't own one in a magnum rifle. I own Weatherby's, Cooper, and Ruger bolts, all solid and integral. This I insist on, because I reload for 300WBY, 340WBY amoung others. I demand solid everything, and since I'm the one paying for it, I get what I want.
 
Never known a 700 to be built with "Pot Metel" let's not exaggerate to make one seem better than the other. If the 03 were in original condition I would say keep it, but since you are going to be hunting with it and not storming the beaches at Normady, I say 700.
 
Always nice to see the sum total of some internet misinformation. First the '03 really is a magnifgicent piece, no doubt. Second, for the folks that think they know about 700's, a couple facts. There's a reason most modern benchrest actions are derived from the 700 action, it's based on strenght and inherint accuracy. There is no mass produced action in the known galaxy proven stronger. Anybody know where they pressure test for failure? Well it's a guess from the factory because the known equipment does'nt go that high but the range for full size cartridges is thought to be between 200,000-250,000 psi. Try that with an 03 or any other for that matter.
 
In each design departure from M98 Mauser features, the 03 Springfield is inferior. Shooter safety features are virtually non existent, I believe in one of PO Ackley’s blow up tests the firing pin shot out and would have killed a shooter. The two piece firing pin design is just awful. I have had firing pin tips break, collars, and cocking piece shafts break. I am using the broken cocking piece shaft as a punch. I have had ejectors break, extractors break, probably some other parts but cannot remember.

The action has the cone breech and the case head is just hanging unsupported out of the barrel. Any breeches in the case head will result in massive gas escape into the shooter’s face. You can go to the Springfield Armory web page and look at blow up pictures of 03’s. When these things come unglued, stock fragments, metal fragments just go every where.

The single heat treat and double heat treat receivers were made out of plain carbon steels that today are used for rebar. No one today would make such a safety critical part from inferior materials with such low ultimate and yeild strengths. The nickel steel receivers are better, the best 03 receivers would be the Remington early ones.

The design committee that came up with the Springfield should have just copied the M98 Mauser, instead they went their own way and missed the mark completely.

In every aspect the Remington is a better design and a safer design.

At a local match the Gunsmith Match director told me of idiots who load such hot loads in their Remingtons that they can't get the bolts open. These fools then use a hammer on the bolt handle and it snaps off. The bolt handle is brazed on. The gunsmith preferred forged bolt handles, but I told him maybe that was a good thing the handles are brazed on as the fools don't need to replace the entire bolt, only need to have the handle welded back on.

Given that he has to unscrew the barrels to remove the cartridges and bolts from these rifles, I suspect had these reloading fools fired their mini nukes in a 03, they would have ended up in the hospital, not at his door.
 
I would say both. the rem 700 is a fine weapon but the 1903 is one of the most iconic military rifles of all time. even if it is a sporterized model it will still be a family heirloom for years to come
 
do both. I have a springfield that has been sporterized, stock, drilled and tapped, new barrel in the 60's I think. The springfield I inherited and I used it a couple times on deer. It shoots about 1MOA but is heavy and i accidentally flipped the switch to make a single shot. I hit a deer and went to follow up and luckily I didnt need a second shot otherwise I would have been screwed. collector value has been wiped out with the tapped receiver but I still love the rifle. I dont think I am going to take her hunting much but I wouldnt get rid of her for anything. The values arent going down on them so hang on to it.
 
Nanook of the North:

I have a 1903A3 Springfield, four grove barrel, rechambered to 308 Norma Magnum with a fancy myrtle wood stock. It is glass bedded and has a muzzle break. The 1903A3 shoots 1 1/4 inch groups consistently. Occasionally, it will shoot one inch groups.

Semper Fi.

Gunnery sergeant
Clifford L. Hughes
USMC Retired
 
There's a reason most modern benchrest actions are derived from the 700 action, it's based on strenght and inherint accuracy.
Click to expand...

Always make me laugh when I see someone post something like this...

You might want to let all of those people who have a modern benchrest rifle using a 700 action with all the bells and wistles of top quality parts hand fitted by the world's best gunsmiths, that they all keep getting beat by a factory built rifle costing 5X less, that anyone can purchase.... Savage

Not saying the Savage Action is better or worse...

A lot of people will argue that the Winchester 70 actions are superior to the 700's in every aspect...

My point is, just because something is widely used, doesn't mean it's the best there is or ever will be...
 
I'd suggest the reading for understanding classes. I said BASED on the 700's meaning they follow the design features because of the points I made. I own Viper, Farley, and BAT action guns..... all based on 700 design, shoot IBS comp. matches and I guarantee you one thing, you will never see a Savage at the line let alone win anything.I got zero idea what happens at club matches in Texas but I can guarantee you what you stated does not happoen anywhere in NBRSA or IBS matches throughout the US. What is also the single most inherintly accurate, strongest factory produced rifle ever produced in the history of factory rifles? Why it's the venerable Remington 40X which is based on what???
What also is the single most copied action by the guys making modern CNC versions such as Kelbly's, Stiller, 10x, Borden, Nesika, etc, etc.

As too the "lot of people" model 70 opinions, essentially they extract better with large bore rounds...that's it. If they were better in every respect, don't you think we'd see somebody making modern clones?
 
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all based on 700 design, shoot IBS comp. matches and I guarantee you one thing, you will never see a Savage at the line let alone win anything.I got zero idea what happens at club matches in Texas but I can guarantee you what you stated does not happoen anywhere in NBRSA or IBS matches throughout the US
Click to expand...

Again, you are mis-informed and a short search would prove so...

http://www.savagearms.com/news/article/?id=3ij567qnL
"Team Savage and their Model 12 target rifles have won so many long-range competitions (many over shooters with custom rifles costing thousands of dollars more than theirs) that they have lost count … Seriously."

http://www.savagearms.com/news/article/?id=1DoKxAoZh
"Team Savage started its 2010 season in grand fashion, winning the F T/R National Championship team competition by besting all others in the 600 and 1,000 yard events, and establishing an new 1,000-yard record of 778-21X. That would seem hard to top. But that is exactly what they did at the last two major matches of their season."

Doesn't look like the lack of the 700 style action slowed them down any...
 
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BENCHREST there sport not F class, tactical, T/R, wannabe sniper BS, BENCHREST...the most precise rifle game in the galaxy, utilizing the most precise rifles. Get a copy of Precision Shooting magazine, study up, learn a bit.
 
Ive got both as well, and both are 30-06. I dont think I could part with either one. I just got the 03 A3. and shes a pretty thing to me. Whats bad is now I want a garand and a carbine. to go with the 03 A3
 
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