Remington 700 for beginner,recommendation?

[d2wing]

How much did they cost you?

Good catch. Big deer. My fat fingers do not have autocorrect, lol.

 

[Frostbite]

If you think you will buy only one rifle in your life (some people seem to believe it is possible), I agree with the suggestion of a quality .308 Winchester bolt action in synthetic and stainless with a good scope; don't go cheap on the scope.

Many good choices have already been mentioned for a rifle, just choose one you like. Going used for better quality is wise if you are patient. In general, but particularly with regard to firearms, better quality is... better.

This cartridge is not the best at anything, but it is very good at many things, including hunting big game and target shooting. That said, I don't own a .308, but I have more than one rifle.

Shooting is a small part, but essential skill in the hunt. Generally speaking, you don't want to empty your magazine when shooting at big game; you should always aim at one shot, one kill. If you go for a single shot, forget that part .

The suggestion of practicing with a .22 LR to build your shooting skill really is an excellent one, but remember it is not, and will never be the same as practice with your big game hunting weapon. That said, I still shoot .22 LR a lot more than my big game rifles. It is cost efficient, doesn't recoil and for these reasons can be shot a lot more. I recently acquired a CZ .22 LR and would strongly recommend one if you go down the .22 route. It looks good, but it shoots even better!

The more you practice, the better you should become. Don't be shy and ask for help if needed. Most folks at the range will be glad to teach you what they know. Be careful not to develop sloppy habits with the .22 though.

The .223, even if costlier, is preferable for practice in many ways if you tend to lack self discipline. This is why I bought one for target work.

 

[ACES&8S]

My experience with the Rem 700 is YES in the Remington 700 Tactical 20" Bull Barrel .308, but if you aren't a stout person
the heavy barrel will wear on you. I have owned 2 of them & they both are excellent in accuracy & simplicity &
with an adjustable trigger they are great, but I suggest with your limited education in rifles that you get the trigger
done by a competent person if it even needs it. Cost may be $650 or there about.
My first rem tactical was so accurate my friend had to have it & I sold it to him, I got a new one the next week.
Savage makes a good rifle in Model 11 as well.
On the AR 15 you will find them a money hole with all the options you can apply which suddenly seem to be
important after you own one. Believe me I know, I have owned AR 15s & Ar10s, about 6 of them & just like
Larry says, the nearly perfect rifle. The - just about - part means it never stops needing more parts & options
until it looks like one of those paintings you can't figure out. Then you start on another one.
The AR 15 & AR 10 are both super accurate & the AR 15 functions easily but the AR 10 always needs new magazines or
ammo feeding problems will run you over.
With all that being said, even after bashing the AR, if I had only one choice for hunting & shooting it would be an AR10
in .308, but I can make one run --- nearly perfect.
I will have to play rope a dope now for down playing the AR plat$orm.

 

[Reloadron]

I plan to go deer hunting with it. I am not sure in what range I am gonna to hunt yet, I would figure out in what distance I can guarantee a clean kill when I go and practice in shooting range.

That last part is sort of a must know to give you good advice or for that matter even a good opinion. Matching the gun to the game involves the distance between you and the game and how proficient you get with the rifle. My opinion and just my opinion I have never been a big fan of hunting with an AR and even less of a fan of using a 223 Remington cartridge for deer regardless of what you shoot it out of. I am not saying I don't do it because it won't work well, I am saying it because I have much better guns for hunting deer. More on that later.

I would be looking for an older slightly used Remington 700 VSSF (Varmint Stainless Synthetic Fluted) chambered in 308 Winchester, The difference between a 30-06 Springfield and the 308 Winchester is not that great unless you want to, for some unknown reason chase deer with a 220 grain bullet.On the lighter bullets ranging 150 grain to 180 grain using a 308 you are likely only giving up a few hundred feet per second. Take that same 308 and neck it down and you can get a 7mm-08 Remington cartridge which is likely a little flatter shooting at longer distance but let's just focus on the 308 Winchester which you mentioned. I like the Remington 700 VSSF guns because they incorporate an aluminum bedding block into the synthetic stock making for a real nice and accurate hunting rifle. Remington isn't alone as Savage has some very nice and accurate bolt guns right out of the box with some nice features also. I just like the older Remington 700 BDL guns better. Now if you want to shoot a deer at a range of something like 800 yards across a canyon then start thinking 300 Win Mag or any of the larger belted magnum cartridges. It's all about terrain and distance.

You need to look at where you plan to hunt, local and state laws. Some states will not allow deer hunting using a 223 Remington be it fired from a bolt gun or a semi-automatic. PA requires a bolt or lever gun, no semi-automatic. Different states have different laws and especially states with flat terrain and high population density.

Get to know the limitations of different guns and cartridges and get to know your own limitations, Know what will or will not work over certain distance and terrain.Somewhere I have an old buried book about matching the gun to the game with considerations for distance. Choose the best rifle, at your price point for what you want to do.

Just My Take
Ron

 

[mustanger98]

You know who says you gotta have AR's, and multiples at that, with all the bells and whistles? The manufacturers and advertising people. It's like playing with Lego sets. If you believe everything you see on the Internet, you'll have to put wheels under your AR after mounting the coffee pot, microwave, big screen tv, kitchen sink...

KISS... Keep It Simple, Stupid!

 

[mustanger98]

I would be looking for an older slightly used Remington 700 VSSF (Varmint Stainless Synthetic Fluted) chambered in 308 Winchester, The difference between a 30-06 Springfield and the 308 Winchester is not that great unless you want to, for some unknown reason chase deer with a 220 grain bullet.On the lighter bullets ranging 150 grain to 180 grain using a 308 you are likely only giving up a few hundred feet per second. Take that same 308 and neck it down and you can get a 7mm-08 Remington cartridge which is likely a little flatter shooting at longer distance but let's just focus on the 308 Winchester which you mentioned. I like the Remington 700 VSSF guns because they incorporate an aluminum bedding block into the synthetic stock making for a real nice and accurate hunting rifle. Remington isn't alone as Savage has some very nice and accurate bolt guns right out of the box with some nice features also. I just like the older Remington 700 BDL guns better. Now if you want to shoot a deer at a range of something like 800 yards across a canyon then start thinking 300 Win Mag or any of the larger belted magnum cartridges. It's all about terrain and distance.

My understanding comparing .30-06 and .308, assuming both are running a 150grSP, is they're ballistic twins to 800yds. Most of us will never attempt that shot at a deer for a variety of good reasons. If you can get closer and/or steadier, it's generally proven good advice to do it. In "The Hunting Rifle", Jack O'Connor talked about the different weights of .30caliber bullets then available. The way he told it, the 220grRN was sold as necessary for tigers, but IIRC not actually used much by professional tiger hunters. In my opinion, unless you're handloading a 220gr, cast lead or jacketed, for accuracy in a particular rifle... another thing not necessarily deer-legal everywhere... there's no need to go that heavy for the average deer.

Savage... don't have to be latest greatest... even older ones shoot real good.

 

[LunaRain]

My understanding comparing .30-06 and .308, assuming both are running a 150grSP, is they're ballistic twins to 800yds. Most of us will never attempt that shot at a deer for a variety of good reasons. If you can get closer and/or steadier, it's generally proven good advice to do it. In "The Hunting Rifle", Jack O'Connor talked about the different weights of .30caliber bullets then available. The way he told it, the 220grRN was sold as necessary for tigers, but IIRC not actually used much by professional tiger hunters. In my opinion, unless you're handloading a 220gr, cast lead or jacketed, for accuracy in a particular rifle... another thing not necessarily deer-legal everywhere... there's no need to go that heavy for the average deer.

Savage... don't have to be latest greatest... even older ones shoot real good.

I like ar. It definitely is one of my favorite rifle I have already decided that my first rifle would be a bolt action chambered .308win,but I will definitely get an AR15 in the future.

 

[LunaRain]

As noted, there is a difference between hunting and shooting.

We know the OP is living in the Tacoma, WA area. But, where is he from? The way the posts read suggests Eastern Europe. Some of those countries have apprenticeships to go from bird hunter to big game hunter. That's not so much about ability to shoot, although that helps, as it is about field craft and knowing the animals and the ecosystem. Over there, when you're known as a hunter, you're known as a thinking man.

Okay, now for rifles... why not get a CZ452 in .22LR? The version I'm thinking of has a rear tangent sight and Bavarian style stock. It's a nice adult-size rifle. A good .22LR can get you some good range time without your big game rifle's recoil.

The crankbolt big game rifle... .308 and .30-06 are both known to be excellent choices for deer and elk. I know the talk about using .243's and different 6.5's on elk, but seriously, why not use a .30cal? The .30-06 is a versatile classic. I'd recommend learning to shoot it with a good set of iron sights before doing anything with a scope.

Ops I am from China. Where gun ownership is extremely restricted, and there are only few of city have shooting range for true firearms. I have never hunt anything or shooting a gun before I came to the US. I am interested in firearms, but my study was mainly about history, mechanical structure, general rules etc. That was purely theoretical. I had officially started to practice shooting, learning about hunting just yet. I am also interested in collecting firearms as well

 

[Skylerbone]

When I suggested starting with a .22lr I was thinking something along the lines of a Marlin XT-22 which I’ve seen locally for $180 new on sale. Pairing that with an inexpensive, clearance, or refurbished scope would keep the cost under $300.

That leaves $600 and 7 months to build up funds. Come August if things are progressing well, a 700 and a decent scope would easily be within reach with a month and a half or so to prepare.

In fact, purchasing a rimfire rifle and a single good scope that can be swapped over when the time comes would free up more money. Using Bud’s as an example, $195 and $340 takes care of the rifles with a ballpark $450 for mounts/rings/scope after transfer fees. And that’s discounting the idea of saving another 1/2 year toward the endeavor.

 

[Bfh_auto]

I am interested in big game hunting. Deer and Elk seems to be popular quarry in Washington State(where I am living in).So if I go bolt action gun, I may choose.308 or 30-06.

If you are including elk, 308 would be an excellent choice.
While I like Remington 700s, I like Howa, Savage, and Weatherby better.
You won't go wrong with any of them, so go to a store and try shouldering as many as possible. This is where one particular rifle will stand out.
I love a Nikon Prostaff. They are the best scope for the price in my opinion.

 

[Bfh_auto]

Not everyone is a shooter. In fact, I would strongly argue far and away the majority of hunters aren't dedicated shooters. Hunting is the important activity, shooting is just a couple seconds per season. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that. If anything, many of the consistently successful hunters I've known were absolute fudds who knew very little about their guns other than some basic form. They don't see the point of shooting a whole bunch of ammo when the gun is already sighted in and likely to hit close enough to where they aim. If that is the OP's desire, why knock it? Get a dependable rifle/scope combo, shoot enough to feel comfortable with it, and put your real time and effort into planning, scouting, and enjoying the outdoors.

But we can't recommend being a fudd.
A lot of people don't enjoy shooting because it was introduced incorrectly.
The OP would do well with a low cost, capable cartridge that recoils as little as possible. 308 is about where it meets.
About 600 will get that. Another 100-150 will get him a 22. He will still be under budget

 

[Reloadron]

My understanding comparing .30-06 and .308, assuming both are running a 150grSP, is they're ballistic twins to 800yds. Most of us will never attempt that shot at a deer for a variety of good reasons. If you can get closer and/or steadier, it's generally proven good advice to do it. In "The Hunting Rifle", Jack O'Connor talked about the different weights of .30caliber bullets then available. The way he told it, the 220grRN was sold as necessary for tigers, but IIRC not actually used much by professional tiger hunters. In my opinion, unless you're handloading a 220gr, cast lead or jacketed, for accuracy in a particular rifle... another thing not necessarily deer-legal everywhere... there's no need to go that heavy for the average deer.

Savage... don't have to be latest greatest... even older ones shoot real good.

I agree and my point was between a 308 Winchester and a 30-06 Springfield real simply put taking the 308 you aren't giving up much. Personally I have never seen any need for a 220 grain bullet in the 30-06. I do believe I once saw a 220 grain bullet on a 308 Win cartridge commercially marketed but I won't swear to it and again see no need for it. Interesting about the tiger origin as I have no clue.

Ron

 

[d2wing]

As an instructor, I suggest you by an air pistol and target trap and practice aiming and trigger squeeze before you by any rifle. Then start with a.22lr. I prefer a CZ 452 or newer version. But there are cheaper options as mention the Marlin XT and others. That way you learn to shoot a firearm without fear of recoil or muzzle blast. Taking courses from qualified instructors would be vary helpful. If possible look at NRA videos on basic shooting skills. I think a .308 bolt action is a great choice. If you are going to hunt with it I would avoid a real heavy target version. A standard weight rifle is best to carry hunting. Very light may recoil too much. If you lived closer I would mentor you but I am in Minnesota..

 

[Hookeye]

700 ADL in factory cheap plastic does .75" at 100 yards w reg WW SP ammo (.243 win).
I did however free float the bbl and stiffen the forend hollows w epoxy.
And the junk plastic trigger guard changed to steel.

Regular sporters can be shoot good enough to be varminters.
And they are better to carry.

Getting used to a sporter, when not of much experience..........once could wear some recoil reducing stuff.
PAST recoil shield or whatever is made comparable these days.

Had a smallish bud that shot only varmint rifles (low recoil).
He got a .300 magnum for elk, proclaimed it a thumper.
It was a heavy sporter type.
After shooting it over the summer, developing/testing loads.............his big bad rifle wasn't so big and bad.
And he got his elk later in the yr w a well placed shot.

Read: you can get used to stuff, if you go about it sensibly.

 

[Varminterror]

I suggest you by an air pistol and target trap and practice aiming and trigger squeeze before you by any rifle.

As an instructor myself, this is the first I’ve ever heard an instructor suggest a pistol as practice for a rifle. Far, far easier to learn how to shoot a rifle than a handgun, especially if your ultimate objective is to shoot a rifle.

 

[d2wing]

I suppose it is a little unusual but this is very effective for teaching sight alignment and trigger control. This training program was taught to me in the both NRA certified and University of Minnesota 4-H training programs for instructors. I am also certified by the DNR. and have taught lots of kids and adults to shoot well and safely. Beginners usually do better in marksmanship in my classes than folks that already know how to shoot because lots of folks don't really know how to shoot very well and won't unlearn bad form. This shows up on the range pretty often.

 

[Varminterror]

This training program was taught to me in the [...] NRA certified

What year did your TC include an air pistol recommendation in the BoRS course? I’ve been certified since the 90’s and sit in on Instructor courses whenever we’ve refreshed the books, I have never seen that in any NRA rifle course literature.

 

[Hookeye]

Since most folks use optics to hunt, why even mess w iron sights?

I took an NRA class when I was a kid. Aced it and was top shooter from the get go.
Only thing I learned was that Instructors often know less than their students.

But by golly, they're "certified".

I know several Hunter's Ed and NRA instructors...........some are decent. Some are Fudds. And a few are downright worthless.
So..............certified doesn't mean diddly to me.

BTW I esp liked it when one shot himself in the hand.

 

[Varminterror]

I took an NRA class when I was a kid. Aced it and was top shooter from the get go.
Only thing I learned was that Instructors often know less than their students.

But by golly, they're "certified".

Want a cookie?

The premise and purpose of the NRA Education and Training Division is to reach the Everyman, most often by intent who does not own a firearm, and propagate basic skills, knowledge, and attitude to safetly own and operate firearms. There’s no delusion these classes are offered to create elite marksmen, (save the highly specialized competition Coaches system, which aren’t offered as courses), nor do they require elite marksmen as instructors. When you see a “Defensive Carbine” class beside an NRA Basics of Rifle Shooting course, you’re not looking at competing courses, and as such, you can’t expect the same elite level of instructor, and can’t expect the same level of training. One is an elementary school, one is a University. Far more folks go to Kindergarten than to College.

 

[d2wing]

What year did your TC include an air pistol recommendation in the BoRS course? I’ve been certified since the 90’s and sit in on Instructor courses whenever we’ve refreshed the books, I have never seen that in any NRA rifle course literature.

About 1989. The courses had representatives from NRA, NSSF, and University extension service. and all of them certified the courses. I do not know or remember who designed the content of that program. I am guessing from your response that it was not part of the NRA program although I do have manuals from the NRA. Since the U of M sponsored the course as a 4-H shooting sports program it may have come from them. Since it was so long ago and I have moved 5 times since then I may not have the literature anymore. I did attend advanced NRA courses another time as well NSSF courses.
Easier is not the object. solid basics are the objective. Sight alignment and trigger control are fundamental at all levels. I can't think of a better way and I stand by my recommendation. I also taught pistol shotgun or whatever students wanted to learn after the basics.

 

[d2wing]

Want a cookie?

The premise and purpose of the NRA Education and Training Division is to reach the Everyman, most often by intent who does not own a firearm, and propagate basic skills, knowledge, and attitude to safetly own and operate firearms. There’s no delusion these classes are offered to create elite marksmen, (save the highly specialized competition Coaches system, which aren’t offered as courses), nor do they require elite marksmen as instructors. When you see a “Defensive Carbine” class beside an NRA Basics of Rifle Shooting course, you’re not looking at competing courses, and as such, you can’t expect the same elite level of instructor, and can’t expect the same level of training. One is an elementary school, one is a University. Far more folks go to Kindergarten than to College.

I agree completely with this. Also I cannot account for every instructor out there. I do know that I took it very seriously. I taught DNR gun safety certification which was separate in training and purpose. I also was the instructor for the county 4-H which in addition to basic skills was competitive for a few. We also held classes for adults. So the great majority were beginners and kids. I taught shotgun as well as rifle shooting. We had courses in archery and black powder but those were more to demonstrate than instruction.