Time to change Rifles?

By all means I get the tikka! Then you have the best of both worlds. I love mine.

Buy what you want and shoot what you like. But I have to ask what does the state of the defunct Remington have to do with whether you keep using a 47 year old Remington rifle? If your 700 is still shooting sub 1-MOA groups why waste the money on a nearly identical rifle?

I basically retired my 1974 Rem 700 in 30-06 some years ago. I still have it, take it to the range occasionally, but haven't hunted with it in years.

If your 700 is still shooting sub 1-MOA groups why waste the money on a nearly identical rifle?

Click to expand...

The Tikka is a better, more reliable design all around. Better trigger, better extractor, better bedding system, stiffer action, better bolt handle attachment, and better stocks.

I wouldn't use a 700 of that vintage until the trigger is replaced. That is a $150 job if you do it yourself. Even though mine is retired I replaced the trigger years ago. It has dropped the firing pin a few times over the years with no trigger pull. Fortunately on an empty chamber each time, but I didn't want to risk my grand kids getting it with the factory trigger.

Counting a T1x in 22 LR I have 4 Tikka's. I think they are the best bang for the buck made today. I wouldn't have gone 30-06 though. I have a couple of T3x's in 308 and 6.5 CM as well as a CTR in 308. A 308 does 99% of what you can do with a 30-06, but with about 25% less recoil and usually better accuracy. Unless you want to shoot 200+ gr bullets 308 will do the same thing. Plus as light as the Tikka's are 30-06 recoil starts to become a problem.

Replacing the Rem trigger with a Canjar or other trigger is very easy, and they come with instructions. Usually, they don't need adjustments. If you lived around here, I'd do it for you, or with you.

Apparently, the barrel is good and the rifle is easy to bed, using available kits. I prefer Rem, barrels to be free-floated and actions bedded, with free space under and ahead of recoil plates. A couple of inches of bedding at the rear of the barrel helps accuracy, as does pillar-bedding front and rear, along with around the action. But, that's probably way more than you wanted to know. I apologize. JP

Sounds like your old 700 is working just fine. Why switch to anything else if what you have is working good? Especially for a different rifle in the same caliber? It would make more sense to me to get another brand of rifle (I'm partial to the Ruger American) in a different cartridge. Like if you wanted to get something milder that still has great performance- like a 6.5 CM.

Thomasss said:

The Tikka is also in 30.06. Both guns have the same Leupold scope on them.
Any thoughts?

Click to expand...

If your rifle works great, keep using it . Now if you want a new one than by all means get it. A Tikka is an excellent choice. I bought my first hunting rifle in 1982 a Savage with a Bushnell banner scope for under 200 dollars the model 110C in 30-06. Had to retire it 40 years later because the action would come lose and could not fine a stock that would fit it as I am a lefty. I bought the Tikka in 30-06 and it shoots sub-moa at 200 yards with 165 grainers.

FL-NC said:

Sounds like your old 700 is working just fine. Why switch to anything else if what you have is working good? Especially for a different rifle in the same caliber? It would make more sense to me to get another brand of rifle (I'm partial to the Ruger American) in a different cartridge. Like if you wanted to get something milder that still has great performance- like a 6.5 CM.

Click to expand...

A vintage 700 is still saddled with the Walker trigger, which doesnt get better (or safer) wth age....

Haven't heard if the new Remarms is still performing the free Xmark conversions.....

NIGHTLORD40K said:

A vintage 700 is still saddled with the Walker trigger, which doesnt get better (or safer) wth age....

Haven't heard if Ruger is still performing the free Xmark conversions.....

Click to expand...

Why would Ruger touch a Remington 700? Ruger bought/owns Marlin and has nothing to do with Remington. The new RemArms LLC (Remington) will also not likely touch an old 700, nor would I give them a chance to touch my 700.

Walker triggers are fine if not messed with. Until Remington went belly up they were still making a version of the Walker (adjustable) for the Marines and some other select customers and rifles.

Personally I wouldn't worry about the trigger but if it does worry you its a quick and easy replacement and there is a huge variety of triggers out there that would drop right in to that old Remington. Timney and Trigger Tech are two great examples.

Never try to talk a man out of purchasing another rifle on a gun blog!

Picher said:

Replacing the Rem trigger with a Canjar or other trigger is very easy

Click to expand...

You’re showing your age, my friend! Canjar died over 30yrs ago, and largely, his business with him. The only Canjar triggers on the market now are used. But there are oodles of phenomenal triggers from other makers on the market for the 700.

mcb said:

Why would Ruger touch a Remington 700? Ruger bought/owns Marlin and has nothing to do with Remington. The new RemArms LLC (Remington) will also not likely touch an old 700, nor would I give them a chance to touch my 700.

Walker triggers are fine if not messed with it. Until Remington went belly up they were still making a version of the Walker (adjustable) for the Marines and some other select customers and rifles.

Personally I wouldn't worry about the trigger but if it does worry you its a quick and easy replacement and there is a huge variety of triggers out there that would drop right in to that old Remington. Timney and Trigger Tech are two great examples.

Click to expand...

Sorry, your right, Remarms, not Ruger.

There was a huge class-action settlement against against the old Remington requiring them to replace the Walker triggers at no cost, IIRC. I dont know if Remarms is required to honor the terms or not.

I would not bother trying to send in a rifle under the recall at this point. A little searching will turn up new xmark pro triggers (gunsmith take-offs, warranty stock, etc.) for $25 to $35. They are not difficult to replace.

mcb said:

Buy what you want and shoot what you like

Click to expand...

That!

If you LIKE the Tikka, GRAB IT! They are excellent rifles.

If you still really LIKE your 700, and dont really want that Tikka, shoot that!.

If you LIKE your 700 but WANT the Tikka, well Id for sure grab it.

I happen to really LIKE the 700 platform rifles, but prefer the buy guns like Bergaras, or Christensens that have different extractors, and bolt stops. As well as having better triggers (by a mile when comparing stock to stock....ok Christensen cheats).
I still own, and use two factory 700 actions. One I rebuilt from a 1974 vintage rifle using mostly spare parts that can stack shots as for as long as you care to sit there and feed it ammo.
The other is a "new" production 700 police action rebuilt as custom, which while actually not as accurate as my parts gun, is still a .75moa rifle.

Your justifications for buying the Tikka are extraordinarily weak. Enjoy the new rifle!

Thomasss said:

with the state of Remington right now I'm thinking of buying a slightly used Tikka T-3

Click to expand...

You can lie to your heart , but your heart won't lie to you...or something like that . Just buy the Tikka and be done with it . Tikka makes a great rifle . I have many Remington 700s , I never worry about what is going on in Ilion NY while I enjoy them . I also have Tikkas , black plastic and very accurate well built rigs . I prefer my old Remingtons ,they have soul .

If the 'old' rifle works, what is a suitable reason for another to accomplish the same purpose?
One could be limited by distance considerations and prefer a rifle with the shorter range consistent with limited range.
One could desire a lighter rifle for easier carry.
One could desire a rifle that 'shoots better', although that seems to contradict the opening statement?
Lastly, one could desire a newer or different rifle and has to have an excuse to spend the money.

I suggest one not be swayed by advertising appealing to 'Modern Fashions'. The 7x57mm Mauser was introduced in 1892 and is still capable of most any hunting problem. Or defensive problem.

Varminterror said:

You’re showing your age, my friend! Canjar died over 30yrs ago, and largely, his business with him. The only Canjar triggers on the market now are used. But there are oodles of phenomenal triggers from other makers on the market for the 700.

Click to expand...

Jewel comes to mind as well as timney

I am in the "replace the trigger" camp but if you just want a new rifle go buy it. If I had any use for another '06 I would offer to buy yours and stick a Timney trigger in it.

You don't need an excuse to buy a new rifle! With several rifles in my gun cabinet that can kill deer, I can always find another one to try. I have 5 squirrel rifles and several 12 ga shotguns. Finding good ones is half the fun.

If I wanted a different rifle to hunt with, I wouldn’t let the state of the manufacturer be the prod to purchase a different rifle.

I also wouldn’t replace a rifle of one action type and cartridge with another rifle of the same unless it was something truly special. Like a custom or unless I really liked that Tikka.

My dilemma with firearm choice is, hmmmmm, should I take the bolt action 450 Bushmaster, the 350 Legend AR, the pump action 35 Rem, or the lever action 45 Colt?

I vote to replace the walker trigger in the 700, and buy the T3 just because.

South Prairie Jim said:

Jewel comes to mind as well as timney

Click to expand...

I need to still get my hands on a Jewel or one of the higher end Timneys.
I've been stuck on Triggertech lately.

You take to the woods the gun that you know you can take a deer with only one shot for a clean kill.

LoonWulf said:

I need to still get my hands on a Jewel or one of the higher end Timneys.
I've been stuck on Triggertech lately.

Click to expand...

Have you played with Triggertechs two stage 700 trigger yet? I played with their single stages and they were great, but I went with a Timney two stage on my 700.