Remington 700 ADL question.

[jrdolall]

I have owned Rem 700s for years with my oldest being a 1968 30-06 and I am not up to date on the ADL, BDL, CDL and all the other nomenclature they use.
I considered buying a 25-06 that was an ADL but shied away because I don't know enough about this rifle. I know the caliber as I already own a 25-06 but I am a bit leery of Remington after having held a 770 that felt like crap. I never fired the gun and it may be a pea shooter but it "felt" cheap and seemed to be loose.
Not bashing Remington as the ones I have are awesome rifles but all of them are at least 20 years old and I know things have changed. Any ideas on the 700 ADL? Decent out of the box? I am not going to float, re-barrel, change triggers, stocks, etc. I like to buy a gun that has a reasonable chance to be a decent deer rifle straight out of the box with a moderate priced scope. I just happen to have a new Leupold in the safe that needs a home.

 

[floorit76]

My new 308 SPS adl just shot 3/4" at 100 yds out of the box with a decent scope. Feels fine.

 

[jmr40]

ADL means it has no floorplate and must be unloaded by cycling ammo through the top. BDL means it has a floorplate that can be opened to empty the magazine through the bottom. On older guns this was the only difference. The ADL sold for less and was considered the budget gun, but other than the floorplate, the accuracy and quality were the same.

In recent years more corners have been cut on the ADL. I think they are just as reliable and accurate, but while the BDL kept polished steel and walnut the ADL got matte finished metal and a cheap plastic stock.


Several years ago Remington dropped both the ADL and BDL and replaced them with the SPS and CDL. A SPS is still the budget gun just like the recent ADL's, except with a floorplate. The CDL is now the Remington flagship and the top end gun. The stock design is the only difference between BDL and CDL. The BDL stock design was an attempt at a modern space age looking design from the 1960's when cars had tailfins. The CDL is a more classic stock design that is a copy of the guns made during the 1920's -1950's.

I don't know exactly why, but Remington has recently brought back both the ADL and BDL, but in very limited numbers and chamberings. They tend to only show up at the big box stores like Walmart, Dicks, Academy, etc., and only in common calibers such as 30-06 and 270.

If the ADL you're looking at is one of the older walnut stocked guns the only difference is the floorplate. If a newer gun with a plastic stock and matte finish it is likely just as accurate and reliable as any other. Just with a less "pretty" finish.

 

[rhinoh]

I'm not pleased with my new 308 Dick's exclusive "ADL" Varmint. Lousy groups 2-3" at 100 yrds.
My new Ruger American out shoots the heck out of the 700, with holes touching at 100 yrds.
Considering the 700 has the heavy barrel and the American has a traditional slim, tapered and shorter barrel...
Tried a borrowed Choate Ultimate Sniper stock with free floated barrel...better but still not close to the Ruger.
In hindsight wish I had my $450+tax back and had never bought the 700

 

[dubbleA]

I'm not pleased with my new 308 Dick's exclusive "ADL" Varmint. Lousy groups 2-3" at 100 yrds.
My new Ruger American out shoots the heck out of the 700, with holes touching at 100 yrds.
Considering the 700 has the heavy barrel and the American has a traditional slim, tapered and shorter barrel...
Tried a borrowed Choate Ultimate Sniper stock with free floated barrel...better but still not close to the Ruger.
In hindsight wish I had my $450+tax back and had never bought the 700

Was that the black Friday special with the Remington $100 rebate? I will gladly take that poor shooting rifle off your hands for what say....$300?

 

[jrdolall]

The one I looked at was at Academy in Auburn AL. $359 I think. That is why I was pondering it. I may go up today and see if it is still there. I also saw a Thompson single shot that I liked but it was closer to $600.

 

[steve_dune]

rhinoh, What ammo were you using getting 2-3" groups?

 

[KAC1911]

Ive had a few 700's through the years and all have been good shooters if I did my part, but I haven't owned one in the last 14 yrs. I've heard alot of good stuff about Savage Arms though, but haven't actually shot of one. I think the new ones have a pillar bedded action is the one most talk about I think.

 

[jrdolall]

I own a bunch of deer rifles but my go to gun is a Savage 110 in 30-06. It has a Bushnell Banner scope on it so I probably have less than $600 in the package and I could not be happier. I grab it 80% of the time I go to the woods.

 

[rhinoh]

rhinoh, What ammo were you using getting 2-3" groups?

Tried several, generic mil spec, several different Remington varieties and Federal Match 168gr BTHP. None grouped well. The Ruger shot well with the Federal..didn't try the others in it, as I only bought them searching for something the 700 liked.
My DPMS LR308 groups tighter than my 700...I'm puzzled so far as to what the issue is with it. Next outing I am going to try wrapping large solid core solder on the barrel in different spots to see if I can change the harmonics.

 

[floorit76]

Rhinoh, Mine is the same rifle. Are you using the cheap Chinese scope? I put on a 6.5-20x44 Viper. Mine shot 4-5" with prvi and Winchester powerpoints, but went down to 3/4' with the gold medal match.

 

[steve_dune]

Rhinoh, My 700 didn't like the 168 gmm ammo. I found out that my gun really likes the 175gr smk bullets. My hand loads will easily put 5 shots under 1" if I do my part. I would look at trying more factory ammo and/or throwing on a different scope.

 

[floorit76]

Power Points 180gr


168 Gold medal match.

 

[rhinoh]

Rhinoh, Mine is the same rifle. Are you using the cheap Chinese scope? I put on a 6.5-20x44 Viper. Mine shot 4-5" with prvi and Winchester powerpoints, but went down to 3/4' with the gold medal match.

No- I have a Leupold Rifleman 3x9x40 on it that I took off my LR308 when I put a Weaver Kaspa tactical scope on it.
Funny part is- the Ruger that shoots so well has the cheap blurry scope that came with the 700!

 

[DM~]

I've looked at a couple new ADL's lately, at WW. They looked like the same old ADL to me, wood stock and all...

I've always liked the ADL's, i still do...

DM