Rem 700 ADL package at Sportsman's Warehouse

[LocoPatrick]

I have been on the lookout for a hunting rifle; been on the fence between a Remington 700 and a Savage 116.

Today at Sportsman's Warehouse, I came across a 700 ADL (Brand new, apparently Remington still makes the ADL for certain retailers) with a Remington-marked scope (which the salesman said is probably a Simmons 3x9-40) for $399.95.

I am seriously thinking about this package. My thought process is this (and please tell me if I have made any incorrect assumptions):
1. For the price, you get a good rifle with a scope that will get you started
2. The magazine floorplate (BDL style) holds no interest for me.
3. I can sink money into a better scope later, should I find the included scope lacking
4. I'll have a 700 action that can serve as the basis for a highly accurized custom rifle, should I choose to get an aftermarket barrel or stock

Did I get anything wrong?

 

[Geckgo]

I have a 700 ADL and I love it. What calibre is the model that you are looking at? My -06 does everything that I need it to, and I couldn't care less for the magazine floorplate. I load my rounds one at a time. Drop a round in and close the bolt, that's it. Takes me half a second.

 

[LocoPatrick]

I'm looking at a .30-06. I have an M1 and an M1903A3, both of which I shoot in matches. I have everything I need for reloading .30-06. For deer, antelope, or elk I figure it will do it all.

 

[Whiskey11]

Here is my honest to god: Get the heaviest barreled 700 you can afford in your caliber. Why? If you plan on doing any long range bench rest or tactical shooting, or what have you, it pays to buy it NOW rather than later. My sporter barreled SPS does not group as well as I'd like it (roughly 1" @ 100 in an AICS aluminum bedded stock) and I really wish I would have bought a heavier barreled 700 FIRST and waited on the scope. I started with an SPS DM in .308 from Cabelas with the scope, case, yadi yadi yah for 560$ ish. Good value to jump feet first in, except that it is coming back to HAUNT me in grouping. If the gun has to SIT for a month before you can swing to mount an optic, it will pay off in the long run when you can shoot an entire day and not worry as much about heat soak during target shooting.

 

[cal74]

Here is my honest to god: Get the heaviest barreled 700 you can afford in your caliber. Why?

The original question is inquiring about a HUNTING RIFLE, a Varmint barrel isn't the best choice for a hunting rifle. Unless your getting out of your truck and just getting into a stand.

Sometimes 1" groups from a factory barrel might be all that you can expect, doesn't matter if you're shooting a pencil thin barrel or a heavy barrel.


As for the original question, nothing wrong with that package or caliber. I would seriously consider looking for a different scope and rings/bases though. What comes on there are just cheap.

Good Luck

 

[Geckgo]

I say give the factory scope a try. I have seen lots of leopald rings around these days on everything from cheepy scopes up, and it's the only brand that I seem to be able to find. If you notice that your zero keeps "drifting" then you might consider a better scope that is able to handle the recoil of a 30-06. That said, I don't have any experience with Simmons scopes, so others will probably know better.

When I bought my rifle, the only remingtons that came with scopes were the 770s. The 770 and the 700 are not the same so be careful.

 

[788Ham]

Loco,

I'd go with the Rem. pkg., the Simmon's scopes are okay, not a Unertl by any means, but will get you by. If you reload, you might expect better results in accuracy too, don't go by whatever the "crowd" always gets at the range, fine tuning at the reload bench solves many problems. I have an '06 in the ADL, shoots very good, has for many years now, best elk medicine out there.

 

[Whiskey11]

Cal74 - I'm fully aware he is looking for a hunting rifle now but:

4. I'll have a 700 action that can serve as the basis for a highly accurized custom rifle, should I choose to get an aftermarket barrel or stock

Leaves me to believe that he may wish to someday turn this into something other than a hunting rifle. You can hunt with a varmint barrel just as well as a sporter barrel in accuracy, the difference is one will group better at the range if you shoot all day, and one has "just good enough" accuracy for hunting and not much more. Maybe it's just my experience, but I've never had problems carrying around a 9-10 lb rifle and ammo and other gear for a day so I don't see the weight nearly as much as other people do.

Then again, I'm built a bit more sturdy that it doesn't bother me... I still stand by my statement. If you ever plan to go down the route of shooting for groups, the heavier barrel now is a better investment than one with a lighter barrel as when you are not shooting for game, you can shoot at paper and group and group a lot longer.

 

[readyme]

Whiskey11,
Thanks for the comments on the barrel. I personally am looking for my first rifle, and find it somewhat difficult to locate a rifle with a heavy barrel (in my area). It will serve as a "fun" paper puncher most of the time, but will find its way out into the field looking for deer.
Personally I feel the heavy barrel is better as it allows my to shoot more without heating the barrel, and its only downside for hunting is a couple pounds...and a better way to save weight is to lose a couple lbs....just my opinion.

 

[MtnCreek]

1. For the price, you get a good rifle with a scope that will get you started
2. The magazine floorplate (BDL style) holds no interest for me.
3. I can sink money into a better scope later, should I find the included scope lacking
4. I'll have a 700 action that can serve as the basis for a highly accurized custom rifle, should I choose to get an aftermarket barrel or stock

1) The scope, rings and bases that come with the rifle are probably crap. I would not put much value in them when shopping for the best deal; you will likely replace them.

2) I have no interest in the floor plate either. I have duct tap on one of my 700's so I don't have to worry about dumping my ammo.

3) Yep. Don't forget the rings and bases they make a big difference too.

4) Can't go wrong with a 700.

 

[cal74]

Rifle weight is certainly subjective to the individual and terrain. I've never hunted the N/W, so who knows?

My deer hunting in Eastern, SD usually involves hiking a few miles. I wouldn't dream of carrying my varmint rig but don't mind huffing around an 8-9lb all set-up rifle.

Usually grab something a little lighter when I'm West River and really might put on the miles.

Than change that up when I'm in the Black Hills.

My lightest to heaviest big game rigs (scope, rifle, sling) vary from 6.9 lbs to just shy of 9 lbs. Not a whole lot on paper, but a world of difference when you're walking miles vs yards.



Anyways... Long story longer, whatever you do at least you have an excuse to buy something different down the road. I have two 700 ADL .270's NIB right now I bought with the sole intention of doing custom builds on one of these days/years. Really have no use for another medium game rifle, but what's the fun in that?

 

[LocoPatrick]

I'm mainly looking for a hunting rifle for deer and elk; something I can scope so I can see the target better than I can through an apeture sight.

Maybe down the road I'll tinker with it, maybe not.

 

[Geckgo]

LocoPatrick, a remington 700 is NEVER a bad choice, and in 30-06, with proper ammunition, you can hunt elk and moose if you get the lucky chance to go. 150 gr remington core-locts should do the trick on deer, and they are about .90 cents/round at any sporting goods store. 180 grain premium loads for the bigger stuff and never look back. My 30-06 (Rem 700) was my first rifle bought with my own money and I have never looked back. I love it, even if it doesn't get the range time of my other guns.

 

[gamestalker]

I bought a 700 ADL back in the 1980s when they didn't come with a recoil pad, just a plastic butt plate. I would grab that deal and go get a decent Leupold like the 3x9x40 for around $250. and your on your way to some good times. My first was a 270 win. and it was a nail driver. I have a Sportsmans in my town and I just I'll just go pick me one of them up.

 

[Lloyd Smale]

walmart had the same package gun with a cammo stock for 440.

 

[451 Detonics]

At that price I would buy a couple just for the actions, sadly our Sportsman's warehouse was closed a couple years ago.

 

[Yo Mama]

GREAT GUN! Lousy scope mounting from factory. Rings not strong enough on mine, they replaced with steel rings.

 

[cal74]

Just sent Detonics a pm, but if he's not interested and anyone else is interested I'll sell one of mine (NIB .270 ADL Synthetic stocks, no sights) for 400.00 shipped.

Found another gun I want and since I have two I can part with one.


450.00 with a 30.00 scope and throw away mounts plus tax =

480-490.00 vs 400.00 ??


Shoot me a pm if interested

 

[roc1]

The ADL is a great rifle I owned one in 308 that would shot sold it to get the heavy barrel.The only thing wrong with them is without a floorplate if you get ammo in a bind it is harder to clear than you just dumping them. That could be a problem in the field. They are great rifles you could always put a much better stock on it later.
roc1

 

[Lazerbeans]

I just brought a 700ADL 30-.06 syn stock, stainless from a local Dick's for under $500. After shot/cleaning the first 17 rounds I shot the last three of the box for a group. At a 100yrds I had one flyer two inches to the right(due to the dead clean barrel I assume) and the next two grouped right next to each other. So if that group is a indicator of this gun's accuracy, then I would say you cannot go wrong, go for it. Never underestimate a 700, regardless of price.

 

[Judo]

Kind of off the subject, but I really miss Sportsmans Warehouse. We had one here in Pittsburgh, PA but it went out of business two years ago when they filed for bankruptcy. Oh well, maybe they will re-open a store again someday around here.

 

[Lazerbeans]

I second that. Here in Wichita the one they had here was a block from my house. We also have a Gander Mountain here also, but Sportman's got more business and had the more knowledgeable people in it. But Wichita is getting a Cabela's next spring so I guess it all works out in the end.

 

[Storm]

There's nothing wrong with an ADL and that price makes it a no-brainer. The local Dicks here in north metro Atlanta had them on sale around Christmas that with rebate brought the gun down to about $360, or something like that. I should have bought two of them. I have no issues with the blind mag.

 

[Picher]

I've had at least one short-action ADL in the house for over 40 years and I like them. The barrel length is usually 22 inches, except for the varmint calibers, but that's fine for a deer rifle.

Hunting accuracy, i.e. not shooting long strings of shots, is relatively the same regardless of barrel weight. The only thing two things that barrel weight does in a hunting rifle are: 1. provides a steadier hold; 2. after carrying it a bit, makes you wish you'd gotten the sporter barrel. :banghead:

 

[Omaha-BeenGlockin]

Take your $400 and get a TC Venture---then save up a couple hundred more for a decent scope and mounts.

You'll be light years ahead of any Remington or Savage out there.

Just my opinion.

Deer season isn't till next fall---so you'll have plenty of time to get your rig put together.