Old Remington 760 Gamemaster pump

[Deaf Smith]

Found one at a pawnshop. Lots of blueing gone, no scope, not even rear sight, but it functions very slick and no plastic anywhere. 30-06.

So, are these guns reliable? Do they break often? They want $300 but I'm sure I can talk them down.

I want to make it a project gun.

Thanks,

Deaf

 

[mjones 59]

They are very popular back east. In Pennsylvania they call them Amish
Assault rifles

 

[243winxb]

In that condition, it very over priced. They have not gone up in value for many years. Here in Pa. a mint condition one , with scope is about $375. See photos and prices from current auctions here. http://www.horstauction.com/guns.html Having test fired many 760 and 7600, look for the newer models 7600. The barrel can not be replace easily like a Rem 700, if at all.

 

[X-Rap]

Probably high for the condition you describe, $200 is probably high if it's missing parts.
They are very reliable and accurate in my experience and are at their best with a chopped barrel IMO. Quick, compact, powerful, if you can get it bought right and it's mechanically sound it could be a fun project.

 

[bannockburn]

Deaf Smith

Pretty popular years ago on deer back east in Pennsylvania. Liked the shorter 18 1/2" carbine version for hunting in the brush. Reliable and well made I remember reading somewhere that Remington built more than a million of both the rifle and carbine versions of the Model 760. Price seems a little high given it's overall condition.

 

[X-Rap]

It would be fun to take one with the blueing gone a try ceracoat

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

They're excellent rifles but yours...

Doesn't sound anywhere near 300 dollars.

Lots of bluing gone may be nothing but years of once or twice fired hunting but may also indicate excessive wear too.

Too slick of an action on these is definitely a sign of significant wear depending upon one's interpretation of slick.

Might be, it should be down around "project" money like 100 bucks or so.


Todd.

 

[e rex]

Deaf, I've shoot a 760, '06 for years out here in the flats of Nebraska. Wouldn't sell it for the world. I've put a lot of meat in the freezer with it without a bit of trouble. Mine wears an old Weaver K6W. I do have the rear sight in a bag along with an extra clip. As for $300.00 being too high, what are we buying that is cheaper? Low quality entry levels with plastic stocks?
I'd probably go for it if it is drilled and taped for scope bases.

 

[Deaf Smith]

Well rex, it does have a scope base on it.

And yes, we seem to have so much plastic guns selling to even more.

I did research and yes $300, strangely, is right to a NICE one!

I see 30-06 was as powerful as they got. Pity a 35 Whelen wasn't made (but the 7600 is now and then made in 35 Whelen.)

They were made in 35 Remington but no Whelen.

Deaf

 

[e rex]

The 760, '06 can be bored and chambered to the Whelen. I don't remember the price but it was more than I wanted to pay and the old '06 will do all I need. Many high quality bullets in various weights make it really versatile.

 

[243winxb]

Remington 760 Deluxe 30-06

So, are these guns reliable? Do they break often?

My old deluxe model in 30-06 has been reliable. Nothing has broken. The action is "slick" , opening on its own, when fired. It did not come with a recoil pad.

 

[Deaf Smith]

Yes, the one for sale has the aluminum one that came with it.

Deaf

 

[entropy]

Good solid guns, as long as the receiver rails are in good shape. $300 is high for the condition described, try for around 200.

The 760, '06 can be bored and chambered to the Whelen.

You should be able to just pop a .35 Whelen barrel from a 7600 on it. Check the headspace, of course.

 

[nutherboomer]

Yes, these were popular here in West PA especially in the '60s - early '80s. Most around here now shoot bolts (me) and levers.

Smith, I would check Gunbroker for someone from PA selling their 760/7600. Guys getting out of the sport, or selling daddy's gun may offer you the deal you're looking for.

And, yes, they are indeed "Amish assault weapons."


New to this site. I enjoy it already.

 

[dragon813gt]

I swear PA is the reason Remington made them as long as they did. Hard to find a family that doesn't own one or two. I'm personally not a fan of them. I'd rather carry a lever action. But they are surprisingly accurate for what they are. They used to be common on the used racks but they are starting to dwindle.

 

[27hand]

760

I still use mine regularly and do quite well with it.
This past year however, I used the old other western Pa mainstay, the Marlin 30-30 and got a deer with it. 170 gr Speer Deep curl over 4350. (35 yds)

I just put new glass on the 760 and have yet to sight it in.
I download the .06 by a grain and a half of 4350 to get the groups just about 1 1/4" from 2+ inches (150gr Nosler BT) although in 40 years, I have never taken a shot at a deer beyond 100 so even a 2 1/2" gun would do me OK.

As others have stated, 300 seems a bit high but if its what you want, so what?

 

[Deaf Smith]

So gang, are you saying the 760 was not drilled and tapped for a scope as it comes from the factory? Can a peep sight be put on one.

And yes, I will shop around and see if I can get one in better cons.

Deaf

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

Williams and Skinner both made top mount rear peeps for the 760.

Mine had an old Lyman side mount. It required awkward drilling and tapping to mount it but worked well though it was a little "snaggy" on what is otherwise a very smooth pull gun. My 760 was my original "truck gun" and dragging it out from behind the seat could knock-hell outa that Lyman.

Todd.

 

[eastbank]

you ain,t getten any of my rem 760-7600,s for no 300.00. and i have a few wierd calibers, 257robert, 2506, 260, 280, 300savage, 35rem and 35 whelen. eastbank.

 

[243winxb]

I seem to remember the 1952 first early 760's were not drilled or tapped for side or top base mount?? But may be wrong?? Mine was tapped for a scope base mount.

 

[4v50 Gary]

760s are not as durable as the 700 but they weren't meant to be. The receiver is a soft steel and it has a steel insert for the wear areas.

Trigger mechanism is a lot like the Rem 870 shotgun and that makes sense when one considers that the 760 was meant to appeal to those who wanted a deer rifle during hunting season and then went back to duck and geese for the winter.

They can be very accurate and the US Army's Marksmanship Unit used to compete with them (rebarreled with a heavier barrel).

 

[eastbank]

my rem 760 rifle in 3006 was made in feb 1952(YY-L) and is not tapped for a scope or recviever. they were used in the running boar matches, in .222 or 223. eastbank.

 

[stiab]

So gang, are you saying the 760 was not drilled and tapped for a scope as it comes from the factory? Can a peep sight be put on one.

The very early ones (corn cob forearm like in post #22) were not, but the vast majority you find are factory D&T for scope bases. I used the back set of holes for a aperture sight on mine.

As to the question about how well they hold up to use, I think very well, except for the magazines. They are stamped metal held together with a couple small welds, and tend to get out of shape with use. When that happens they often will not stay locked in after the first shot, dropping slightly so that the next round does not get picked up. Lots of info on this that you can Google. Extra mags are available at all the gun shows up in PA, and probably on line as well.

I have found them to be extremely accurate, because of the free floating barrel. The FBI used them as their first sniper rifles (.308) according to an article in American Rifleman. And we all know what happened to Martin Luther King (.30-06).

 

[rbernie]

760s are not as durable as the 700 but they weren't meant to be. The receiver is a soft steel and it has a steel insert for the wear areas.

Trigger mechanism is a lot like the Rem 870 shotgun and that makes sense when one considers that the 760 was meant to appeal to those who wanted a deer rifle during hunting season and then went back to duck and geese for the winter.

I've been led to believe that the 760/7600 are literally built on the 20ga 870 Wingmaster/Express receiver.

 

[eastbank]

if you lose a case head for what ever the reason or a grossly over loaded shell the 760-7600 may be the best rifle to be useing at that time. i saw a 760 rem in .243 that had to be grossly over loaded with a fast powder and tho the trigger group was blown clear out of the rifle and the reciever was bowed out so much the pins that held the trigger group were missing, the shooter only recieved a broken trigger finger. no gas to the face at all. eastbank.