Remington 700 "issues"

[Oldhandloader]

I love the Rem. 700. Have owned several; the older ones are extraordinarily accurate; a joy to shoot. Bought another one two months ago in 25-06 ---brand spanking new--never fired--- and it shoots like an AK47. Very erratic--hundred yards 3 and 4 inch groups. These are meticulous hand loads, very expensive scopes, jewell trigger....the whole nine yards.

Been hearing that Remington has major quality control issues from numerous sources. Anyone else hearing bad stuff? Remington: Are you listening ???

 

[matrem]

Been a Rem 700 fan for forty-some years, and their overall quality has slipped badly.
The bluing, wood, and attention to detail have fallen dramatically, but, have to admit their accuracy has probably only gotten better since the 60s & 70s models, at least through the mid 90s ones.

There is enough bad about them now to have deterred me from buying one in the last 20 years.
Yea, Remington. Listen to this guy.

 

[Wreck-n-Crew]

I'm doing better than that with a crap bottom junk scope and factory ammo with my model 70 shadow...something ain't right for sure!

Sent from my LGLS991 using Tapatalk

 

[stringnut]

How about a bit more info? What caliber, bullet , powder etc. Are the groups just large, or, do they string horizontally or vertically? Bedding , crown , and some other things can drive you nuts in a hurry. Every company builds a turkey now and then and maybe you ended up with one, but, maybe it is something easy.

 

[FL-NC]

I have 4- a tactical, a 5R, a M24- all are sub MOA guns, and a wally world special in 243 that prints about 1.5 MOA. The newest one is about 7 years ols though.

 

[Bfh_auto]

My vtr took about six boxes of ammo before it started shooting decently. After about 200 rounds it will occasionally shoot a 5 shots that look like 3.

 

[ontarget]

Did you check your stock screws? Had the same problem with a new savage and turned out the front stock screw was cross threaded and not fully seated from the factory.

 

[Sun Tzu warrior]

The one I have, (.270 win) shot worse than an AK when I got it. 8 inch groups @ 50 yards. Took the stock off at the range/dealer, and saw that the barrel was beating a "lump" on the forestock.
The dealer said that Remington made it that way intentionally. I called BS, and when I free floated the barrel, everything fell into place. I would give it the dollar bill test.If the barrel is not free floated, make it so, than check for accuracy.
STW

 

[jmr40]

Remington does leave a pressure point at the tip of the stock creating upward pressure on the barrel. At least on some models, I can't say for sure about all of them. In some cases it does improve accuracy. Many gunsmith's create the same pressure point when trying to improve accuracy. Sometimes it works, sometimes they shoot better free floated.

Remington has had their issues over the years. One would no longer be in my list of favorites to recommend, but accuracy usually isn't the issue. I'd be sending this one back to Remington for them to diagnose.

 

[joed]

He has a 700 Long Range with the B&C model 24 stock. That barrel should be free floated already. Something is amiss and my guess is bedding or scope related.

 

[Llama Bob]

Up until not too long ago they seemed to be producing a decent rifle. Now, not so much.

That said, I would definitely switch to factory match ammo (if available) and a known-good scope and check all screw torques before laying this particular problem at Remington's feet.

 

[Sniper66]

Don't give up on the 700. I bought 4 in the last few years, 3 new and one used, and they all shoot very well. And I did not go to all the trouble of accurizing..just adjusted the trigger on one and changed the trigger on another. My brother bought a new 700 VLS .223 and shoots the lights out on prairie dogs. We both have a VLS (mine is .243) and I couldn't be happier with the fit and finish, especially when comparing it to the new Savage Model 25 I bought (and returned) recently. Had the opportunity to buy and older 700 target .223 and must say the fit and finish was excellent. Picked up an older 700 .270 at the Tulsa Gun Show last year and it too is beautiful and very accurate. So you may be right about the slippage in quality. And yet, I am happy with the new ones recently acquired; recent means in the last 10 years.

 

[Oldhandloader]

Stringnut:

Loads are a from a half a dozen bullets of various weights. Four of five different powders. Factory loads---5 or 6. Everything points to something not right in the chamber department.
Thanks,

 

[Oldhandloader]

Ontargrt:

Screws set at 68 inch pounds; right on the money. Gun is DEFECTIVE.

 

[Oldhandloader]

Bob:

Done all that and more in a very methodical, scientific way. One thing at a time. All the gun shops are telling me it needs a new barrel or rechambering.

 

[db_tanker]

hey oldhandloader,

not sure if this would help but have you taken a chamber casting? doing that would possibly show an issue with the chamber (or lack of issue?)

also instead of going through a rebarrel/rechamber could possibly cutting a new crown help? wouldn't take as long I reckon and it might help?

TBH I figured that if it WERE chamber issues then there might be something possibly noticeable when you do close to max handloads and the brass might come out not looking too good. This might also be the case with factory loads since they are near max pressure generally speaking.

hope you figure it out though. never been much of a Remington fan but sucks that you drew the long straw there.

 

[Gtscotty]

It sounds like you've made a good effort at getting it to shoot. If it were me, I'd sell it and buy a Winchester, Tikka, Howa or maybe a Savage. I suppose you could rebarrel it, but short of that, I'd be out of patience and ready to move on.

 

[Bobson]

Been hearing that Remington has major quality control issues from numerous sources. Anyone else hearing bad stuff?

Only for the last 12 years or so. Where ya been?

If it were me, I'd sell it and buy a Winchester, Tikka, Howa or maybe a Savage.

Pretty much this. Remington may have once been America's favorite bolt rifle, but these days they're America's most infamous manufacturer of consistent lemons. I personally haven't heard of a single other company that consistently has as many problems. I think you'd have to work hard to find someone with a worse reputation in the last decade. These days, there's almost no reason to waste your time with Remington.

For the money, you can't beat a Tikka or Savage. Both companies' rifles have excellent reputations for quality and accuracy, and a continually-growing line of aftermarket support that closely rivals Remington's.

 

[FL-NC]

If you are sure everything is right with the ammo and scope, I'd be sending back to Remington,

 

[DaisyCutter]

Double-check the scope mount is rigid and the scope is good. If it doesn't shoot accurately, then trade for one that does.

 

[RecoilRob]

Please be absolutely sure that the barrel is clean of all copper fouling as that'll play hell with it shooting accurately. It was quite a while ago, but I had a 700 in .308 that didn't impress at first and seemed to horribly foul the barrel with just a few shots. Even when clean it wasn't shiny and smooth and just looked rough.

Spent a couple evenings with JB bore paste and polished it up...which then allowed it to shoot many rounds with minimal fouling. This tightened up the groups a lot and then it went into a Choate Ultimate Sniper stock and was quite a decent shooter. Didn't even try adjusting the stock trigger and went with a Timney which was most excellent.

Do you have a Foul-Out (or similar) cleaner to be sure you get all the copper out? I swear that after just 30 shots or so mine had layers of copper over carbon that needed to be dug and dissolved down through to the base metal. If you don't have an electronic means to chemically dissolve the fouling, then repeated Sweets then Hoppes #9 will get the carbon and copper out and then you can see what the barrel looks like. Don't throw in the towel just as yet!

 

[illinoisburt]

My money would be on scope and mounts first, then the stock fit. From you description, it sounds like you have modified the rifle (jewel trigger). Did you fire the rifle prior to making changes to it?

If it was my rifle, I would go back to basics before making any further modifications. Start put by disassembling the rifle action from the stock then remove the scope and mounts. Carefully check action bedding to ensure recoil lid is in full contact then torque stock screws to spec. Next reattach the scope bases using blue locktite on the screws. Level the scope and torque to spec.

Simple steps that seems to fix most new "lemons"

 

[Oldhandloader]

Only for the last 12 years or so. Where ya been?


Pretty much this. Remington may have once been America's favorite bolt rifle, but these days they're America's most infamous manufacturer of consistent lemons. I personally haven't heard of a single other company that consistently has as many problems. I think you'd have to work hard to find someone with a worse reputation in the last decade. These days, there's almost no reason to waste your time with Remington.

For the money, you can't beat a Tikka or Savage. Both companies' rifles have excellent reputations for quality and accuracy, and a continually-growing line of aftermarket support that closely rivals Remington's.

Bobson,
The only comparrison I can make are the first two 700 guns. They go back well before the past ten years. The comparrison of the older two to the new one is something like ice cream compared to poop. (REMINGTON: ARE YOU LISTENING ????)

 

[Oldhandloader]

Please be absolutely sure that the barrel is clean of all copper fouling as that'll play hell with it shooting accurately. It was quite a while ago, but I had a 700 in .308 that didn't impress at first and seemed to horribly foul the barrel with just a few shots. Even when clean it wasn't shiny and smooth and just looked rough.

Spent a couple evenings with JB bore paste and polished it up...which then allowed it to shoot many rounds with minimal fouling. This tightened up the groups a lot and then it went into a Choate Ultimate Sniper stock and was quite a decent shooter. Didn't even try adjusting the stock trigger and went with a Timney which was most excellent.

Do you have a Foul-Out (or similar) cleaner to be sure you get all the copper out? I swear that after just 30 shots or so mine had layers of copper over carbon that needed to be dug and dissolved down through to the base metal. If you don't have an electronic means to chemically dissolve the fouling, then repeated Sweets then Hoppes #9 will get the carbon and copper out and then you can see what the barrel looks like. Don't throw in the towel just as yet!

Rob,
Thanks for your suggestions. I made contact with a guy whose name I won't mention but he is a national bench rest champion. Knows more about accuracy and tuning guns than anyone I've ever met. He told me to bring it to him. This guy still builds rifles and he is the best shot I have.
Thanks again.

 

[Oldhandloader]

My money would be on scope and mounts first, then the stock fit. From you description, it sounds like you have modified the rifle (jewel trigger). Did you fire the rifle prior to making changes to it?

If it was my rifle, I would go back to basics before making any further modifications. Start put by disassembling the rifle action from the stock then remove the scope and mounts. Carefully check action bedding to ensure recoil lid is in full contact then torque stock screws to spec. Next reattach the scope bases using blue locktite on the screws. Level the scope and torque to spec.

Simple steps that seems to fix most new "lemons"

Burt,
Thanks but I have done all that and more. The first range session was with the rifle right out of the box on sand bags. Completely as is & no changes. Shot like crap. I have made one change at a time, not several at once.

I tried several different factory ammo; shot like crap. Very meticulous hand loads: shot like crap. Changed scope and base rings; shot like crap. Jewell trigger; shot like crap. Changed stock; shot like crap.
I have tried everything but a Catholic Exorcisim.