Time to change Rifles?

As others have said, I don't see what Remington's bankruptcy has to do with retiring a rifle. My 700 is from '83 and still shoots just as good as it ever did. Were something to ever happen to it, I'll either fix it myself or take it to a gunsmith friend who is more capable than I. Should she ever loose her accuracy, I'll stick a new barrel on it and keep going. What I won't do is retire it. Too good a rifle to end it's days gathering dust in the cabinet.

If you want a new rifle, just get one and don't try to justify it. This year I decided I wanted a new deer rifle that didn't kick like an army mule. So I built one using a Savage 110 (30-06) action, Savage 11 .243 Win barrel, and new take-off wood stock. Total cost in that rifle is about half of a new Tikka, and it shoots 60gr Sierras and 85gr Speers into little bug-holes. You could do something similar, or take a look at a Ruger American, etc. I wouldn't want to get another '06 though; maybe a 7mm-08 or similar. Guess I just like variety in my collection!

Mac

NIGHTLORD40K said:

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.

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I got the trigger on my 700 30-06 replaced last summer. Factory replacement but the place that actually did it was a gun shop in Minnesota. They went dark on me with my Model 7 shortly thereafter so I swapped in a Timney myself which was a very easy job. Both replacement triggers seem very nice.

As far as the original question goes, your Remington is performing just fine so I'd swap in a new trigger (if it hasn't already been done) and keep it. Tikka's are nice but so is an older 700, imo. Then if you want another rifle like a Tikka get something in a different caliber, either more or less powerful depending on what type of game and what type of terrain you typically hunt. Something midsize like a 6.5 Creedmoor or 7mm-08 (my preference) would be great for a soft shooting deer rifle in a lighter and smaller package, or go the other way and move up into a magnum for larger game and/or longer shots. Nothing wrong with getting another 30-06 of course, but some more variety might be nice.

I run a stainless jewel trigger in my 700 and never wanted anything different. Get the gun you want. If you need a 30 06 get one. Prefer a 7-08 get one of those. That's the fun of shooting sports there is something for everyone, including the 458 magnum for those that really like recoil.

Thomasss said:

The Remington can still shoot .75 MOA at 100 yds with handloads.

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If your Remington shoots that well keep it and don't touch anything.

There is absolutely no rational reason for you to buy the Tikka.


Please make sure to post pictures and a range report after you get it

I bought a Remington 141 not long ago. Way out of production and produced by a defunct company.

mcb said:

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.

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Not yet.
Im not a fan of two stage triggers, but the only ones ive used are military bolt guns.....oh and the hact on my Howa 1500....i should try a better one.....

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.

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I have Jewell and Timney on a few of my 700s , mostly set at 4-8 ounces . I just put my first Trigger Tech on, set at 1 pound it feels comparable to the Timney set at half that . Could just be me . Jewell is by far my favorite, but I have not tried the others like Flavio Fare, etc . .

I don’t mean to pry but how often is that Remington not gathering dust? 47 years old and still shoots like day 1 says to me it’s not well loved and doesn’t deserve a new anything, especially a $700 replacement in the same caliber.

I confess to having one as well, a white elephant given by my father such that selling it would be sacrilege. Still, it’s used enough in 30 years to have nearly doubled the original group size. Why not simply find a more suitable caliber first then track down a rifle that suits you?

I love my vintage Remingtons, hunt with them , and couldn't care less what others say. I'll be taking my old 700BDL in 25-06 on an Antelope hunt next week. Do whatever makes you feel "safe". Life wasn't designed that way...

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.

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I know a guy..
Send me a reminder pm next week.

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.

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Sorry. Thinking Timney and wrote Canjar. I have several Timneys and they're really great triggers. The last couple came with a Tootsie Pop in the box, but that's no cause to buy a brand.

Thomasss said:

I shoot a 1974 Remington 700 in 30.06 for deer and with the state of Remington right now I'm thinking of buying a slightly used Tikka T-3. The Remington can still shoot .75 MOA at 100 yds with handloads. But the Tikka is a sweet honey with it's suburb action, syn. stock, and soft recoil pad. The Tikka is also in 30.06. Both guns have the same Leupold scope on them.
Any thoughts?

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I bought a slightly-used Tikka T-3 in .243 and it's been a great rifle! I bedded it, not because it didn't shoot well, but because I do that to all my rifles. Now it shoots sub-1/2" groups at 100 yards with handloads. I've shot deer, coyotes, and other varmints with it and it's one of the finest rifles I've ever had.

I replaced my beloved Remington 700 in 7 MM mag wit a Tikka in 7-08. I am extremely happy with the Tikka. Less recoil, handier size and weight. More than enough power. My son has the 7 MM. I visit it often.

I've got a 700BDL Custom Deluxe in .270 Winchester with a Weaver 3X9 scope on it purchased in 1974, that rifle would shoot sub moa using my hand loads whether it was a 130 grain or a 150/165 grain round. Shot many a mule deer, as well as whitetail deer and a desert Couse deer, not to mention a couple of antelope, and an elk.. Never did nothing to the trigger, and have tried dry firing and intentionally attempting to get it to go off with no avail. I've probably shot over 100 rounds at the range to get it sighted in and still no misfires or accidental discharges. Perhaps I've just been lucky. Anyway, just recently I purchased a Ruger American Predator in 6.5mm Creedmoor just because I wanted to, and getting quite a bit older, I'm sure I'm going to enjoy the less felt recoil, plan on taking it out this next weekend with a couple of my reloads as well as some factory loadings.

loose noose said:

I've got a 700BDL Custom Deluxe in .270 Winchester with a Weaver 3X9 scope on it purchased in 1974, that rifle would shoot sub moa using my hand loads whether it was a 130 grain or a 150/165 grain round. Shot many a mule deer, as well as whitetail deer and a desert Couse deer, not to mention a couple of antelope, and an elk.. Never did nothing to the trigger, and have tried dry firing and intentionally attempting to get it to go off with no avail. I've probably shot over 100 rounds at the range to get it sighted in and still no misfires or accidental discharges. Perhaps I've just been lucky. Anyway, just recently I purchased a Ruger American Predator in 6.5mm Creedmoor just because I wanted to, and getting quite a bit older, I'm sure I'm going to enjoy the less felt recoil, plan on taking it out this next weekend with a couple of my reloads as well as some factory loadings.

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The issue is most common with trigger assemblies that are dirty or have too little return pressure on the trigger connector. Ive only seen one unadjusted factory trigger that could be made to do it with any kind of regularity, and im sure cleaning the assembly out, and replacing the spring would solve the issue.....still far easier to just punch two pins and drop in a new Xmark or aftermarket trigger.

As much as folks hate on the Xmark pro Ive had good results with mine. Simply removing the in housing spring and using only the in trigger adjustment spring, will usually give you a pretty nice 3lb trigger pull. It also give you back your hard stop overtravel adjustment.
If youve got a selection of springs available you can tinker with weights and adjustments. My only Xmark is set at 2lbs (cause thats where I like them).

If it’s not broke . . . Like others have said you can switch if you want, but with results like yours why temp fate with something new?

Keep the Remington and buy the T3, if 30.06 is your thing.

2 Rems, factory triggers, no plans on changing.
1 is 80s vintage, other is 2010.

I did put a Timney trigger in a surplus 03A3. Amazing trigger. But, I have no problems with the Rem.

You want a "new" rifle? Go for it. Good arguments, either way, for staying with .30-06 or another caliber. Your decision.

I have this OCD thing where I don't like having only one gun in a given caliber. So I have a 700 CDL SF in 30-06 that will probably never leave. But I also have a Howa 30-06. If I replace that Howa, it will probably be with a Tikka, or possibly an X-Bolt Pro.
My 2c: Keep the 700, BUY THE TIKKA and enjoy both!

Skylerbone said:

I don’t mean to pry but how often is that Remington not gathering dust? 47 years old and still shoots like day 1 says to me it’s not well loved and doesn’t deserve a new anything, especially a $700 replacement in the same caliber.

I confess to having one as well, a white elephant given by my father such that selling it would be sacrilege. Still, it’s used enough in 30 years to have nearly doubled the original group size. Why not simply find a more suitable caliber first then track down a rifle that suits you?

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Re-reading this thread today, I find this to be particularly astute. If a 47 year old rifle has not seen enough use to have worn out the barrel, then there really is no objective means to justify any upgrade. It’s been doing the job for almost 5 decades, and it has not often been asked to do the job - any job.

So the decision to buy a new rifle is wholly subjective, not based on any objective parameter of performance, function, liability, or reliability. And that’s fine. Just buy the rifle. Just don’t delude yourself the decision is based on anything but desire.

Varminterror said:

Re-reading this thread today, I find this to be particularly astute. If a 47 year old rifle has not seen enough use to have worn out the barrel, then there really is no objective means to justify any upgrade. It’s been doing the job for almost 5 decades, and it has not often been asked to do the job - any job.

So the decision to buy a new rifle is wholly subjective, not based on any objective parameter of performance, function, liability, or reliability. And that’s fine. Just buy the rifle. Just don’t delude yourself the decision is based on anything but desire.

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As presented by OP, yes, subjective.

I had a Ruger 7mmMag. Served me well for 40 years. Bought it used. Took MANY deer and it shot fantastic.

The place i hunted, a typical shot was 300 yards, and could be 400 yards. That 7mm was zeroed at 350 and every shot needed only to rest the crosshairs on target.

Then, I moved. Where I hunt now, 200 yards would be hard to see. Typical shots are 70-125 yards. No need for getting the crap kicked out of me, burning pounds of powder. Bought a .260 Rem. Load 42 gr of powder, instead of 69 gr. Very mild recoil and outstanding performance.
Why the new rifle? Because I wanted one.
Which rifle / caliber? Because that was the one I wanted.

Ok, subjective, but objective, too.

Who cares? Buy another rifle!

@Seedy Character - if you inferred that my message meant nobody ever has any objective reason to not buy a rifle, then you’ve imagined a false argument.

The OP has not expressed any change in application, such as your change in hunting environment, and the only considerations for his change are 1) the implied desire for a new rifle, and 2) the current state of Remington’s business, which is largely irrelevant to the viability of his old 700.

Varminterror said:

@Seedy Character - if you inferred that my message meant nobody ever has any objective reason to not buy a rifle, then you’ve imagined a false argument.

The OP has not expressed any change in application, such as your change in hunting environment, and the only considerations for his change are 1) the implied desire for a new rifle, and 2) the current state of Remington’s business, which is largely irrelevant to the viability of his old 700.

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When I want a new rifle I usually just try to find one I like at a price I like and never even consider what it may replace. If I like it all the better. If I don't I still have my old standby. One never leaves without fully vetting the other!!

I still shoot a Winchester M70 made when Win was Win. The parent company has been gone for decades. What difference does it make? If you like a gun, use it til you can't fix it and move on. Like, my wife isn't 18 anymore. Should I get a younger one? Mine is just as fine as my M70 after almost sixty years.