Remington 7600 30-06.

[Country Boy 14]

I really need a new deer rifle. I love guns chambered 30-06. First, my concern is quality, I have been hearing that Remington is suffering from quality control. Is this really true? Second, I would like to know if the 7600 is a good gun. Thanks in advance.

 

[Ranger30-06]

Remington 7600's are very accurate and pretty light for their size. Be warned, everyone here that owns one loves them, but the folks who have only held them in the gun store love to bash them.

I would probably look for a slightly used or older one as the new ones are pretty expensive out of the box, and yes, Remington does have some serious issues with quality control right now. Not so much on the more expensive guns, but on the budget models and plain jane models there are plenty of horror stories floating around.

Good luck!

 

[Clodhopper]

If I remember right, the barrel cannot be replaced. So it is more or less a disposable rifle, but a the price they go for, it isn't really an heirloom firearm anyway. If you get one, test it out well before you get rid of the packaging and paperwork just in case you happened to get the lemon from the factory and need to trade it in on one that works better.

 

[ColeK]

Rem 7600, .30-06 is ok.
But if I was going to buy a 7600, I would get one in a .308 Win.

 

[Ranger30-06]

If I remember right, the barrel cannot be replaced. So it is more or less a disposable rifle, but a the price they go for, it isn't really an heirloom firearm anyway. If you get one, test it out well before you get rid of the packaging and paperwork just in case you happened to get the lemon from the factory and need to trade it in on one that works better.

A barrel change out is actually extremely easy with a barrel clamp/vise/etc. Since the barrel is 100% free floated, there is no lining up gas ports or forends or anything. Unthread the old barrel, thread the new one on. It's pretty easy with the right tools!

 

[Freedom_fighter_in_IL]

Remington 7600's are very accurate and pretty light for their size. Be warned, everyone here that owns one loves them, but the folks who have only held them in the gun store love to bash them.

I've owned them, not just handled them in the store and I will bash them regularly! The ones I had, sloppy actions, inaccurate, and kicked like pissed off mules! Maybe the lighter cartridge ones such as the .308 or .270 are better, but as far as the .30/06 760 and 7600 goes, never found one that was worth a damn. I really wanted to find a good one for hunting in PA but never found one that could beat, or even come close to, my Savage 99 lever gun in .30/06.

Country, are you in a "manually operated" only state? Just wondering why the look at a pump rifle. I know some people just can't get the bolt actions down for quick follow up shots which is why I ask.

 

[Clodhopper]

Ignore my above comments. For some reason I read 7600 but was thinking 770. Sometimes the old synapses just don't fire in proper succession.

 

[jmr40]

Remington 7600's are very accurate and pretty light for their size.

Very accurate, but too heavy for my tastes. Much heavier than most other action types. They weigh about 7.5 lbs, add a scope, mounts, sling and ammo and you are pushing 9 lbs.

They are good guns, very accurate. They will come close to most bolt actions and beat many for accuracy. If you think you may need to get off repeat shots in a hurry and still have accuracy and reliability they are hard to beat. They are probably the best bet for a lefty not wanting to spend the money for a left handed bolt gun.

I've always just prefered bolt guns though. You can get a quality bolt gun that will be a pound lighter, $200 cheaper and at least as accurate. Can't get off repeat shots as fast with the bolt gun, but you'd be surprised at how close they can be with someone who has bothered to learn how to shoot a bolt gun fast.

 

[Country Boy 14]

''Country, are you in a "manually operated" only state? Just wondering why the look at a pump rifle. I know some people just can't get the bolt actions down for quick follow up shots which is why I ask. ''

No, I'm in OK. I just think it would be cool to own one.

Is $425 a good price for these guns?

 

[mljdeckard]

I inherited my dad's old 760 in .257 Roberts, (I gave it to my sister,) he said for years it made him look like a really good shot. we hunted with a guy who had one in '06, the only problem he ever had with it was that he once took a plastic aftermarket magazine hunting with him without testing it. Failed to feed and he lost a deer. Magazine got roasted in the camp fire, he still has and loves the rifle. I like the 760/7600 as a good brush gun, and I would echo what someone else suggested about looking at one in .308.

 

[jmr40]

I've owned them, not just handled them in the store and I will bash them regularly! The ones I had, sloppy actions, inaccurate, and kicked like pissed off mules!

I'm sorry you had a bad experience with a 7600, but your experiences are not typical. There are simply too many, including myself, that have found the opposite to be true for your post to have any validity.

The actions are loose for a reason, to improve reliability. If the rattle bothers you, don't buy one. As far as accuracy goes they have the potential to be just as good as any other Remington bolt gun. Same barrel, very solid lockup. The only thing holding the 7600 back is the trigger, which can be improved upon. Many bolt guns need trigger work as well.

That said, I still wouldn't buy another. I just like a good bolt rifle better. But for certain uses I think they have their place. They are actually a much better choice than a lever gun, and the way things are going right now, are cheaper. A guy could do a lot worse.

 

[Freedom_fighter_in_IL]

sorry to bust ya bubble there jmr40 but I have seen hundreds of posts on here over the years about people with the exact same problems with the 760's and 7600's that I had.

They are in the group of either you absolutely love them or absolutely despise them. I am in that latter group. That's after owning several because I really liked the pump action idea and gave them a really good chance.

 

[dprice3844444]

get the 3006 in the carbine 18 inch plastic stocks

 

[wnycollector]

I would probably look for a slightly used or older one

+1 on this. You can find excellent condition 760's for $350-450 range on gunbroker.com

 

[LoonWulf]

I had a 7400 semi not the 7600, and honestly i never had an issue with my rifle. I like the design, feel and weight of the gun, it balanced well, and was accurate. Ive handled and shot a 7600 and all the things i liked about the 74 are there, its forend rattled like an 870s but i could care less.

 

[JSNAPS]

Meh the remmy QC has gone down the tubes .

 

[jbkebert]

I was torn on your choices in the poll. Yes the 7600 was a great gun. I have owned a couple 760's the original version made by remington. Plenty accurate, easy to shoot, and best of all they breakdown like a 870. The 7600is not different.

However I would not touch a new remington anything made within the last 10 years. That is my personal opinion. I have purchased two different models or remingtons in the last 5 years and both were horrible disapointments.

My advice is to find yourself a good used one. I bought one at a pawn shop in 80-85% condition for $190 in .270 win. It shot circles around the Remmy 700 cdl i bought new in .260 rem. Heck I had almost $1600 wrapped up in the .260 pretty sad.

 

[NCsmitty]

I really wanted to find a good one for hunting in PA but never found one that could beat, or even come close to, my Savage 99 lever gun in .30/06.

That's interesting, Freedom_fighter_in_IL, seeing Savage only made 2 prototypes in 30'06 before ending production. Perhaps you are mistaken about the caliber of your M99.

It's been my experience that the M760-M7600 pumps are quite accurate, with most capable of 1 1/2" groups at 100yds. You just cannot shoot much more than three rounds at a time without the barrel heating, and the groups open up. An '06 on deer usually only requires 1 shot if you're any kind of a marksman.
Normal cleaning and oiling will keep them working for many years, and something to pass down to your children.


NCsmitty

 

[BBDartCA]

+1 on this. You can find excellent condition 760's for $350-450 range on gunbroker.com

Same opinion here. I've seen near NOS 760 go for the mid to low $350 range on Guns American and Gun Broker. Seems prices are up over the last few months though (been a couple articles on pumps in the big guns magazines recently, maybe a connection). Yeah and if weight is your concern, a synthetic stock conversion will help tremendously. I bought a NIB mid 70's example with the nicer stock (BDL?) recently on GA for under $400 shipped including FFL fee and local tax.

 

[Snowbandit]

My 7600 in 30-06 is as accurate as any bolt action and light enough to carry all day. It's the last deer/elk rifle I ever intend to buy. I keep an old 760 in 300 Savage around for back-up/loaner use. It sits in the case year after year unless someone else has a rifle go down. My custom built model 700 hardly ever gets out of the safe though.

 

[jhnrckr]

I have a 7400 270 that shoots MOA. I think it is ugly and the 7600 is uglier. They work, they work so well I wont sell mine even though it is practically retired. if you go with the 18" you sacrifice velocity, that is the only drawback. I see the gun shows are littered with 7400/7600's for some reason, dont know it that is good or bad but you should be able to pick one up for way under $400. For the same money I would say get the 7400 and let it do the work for you.

 

[Freedom_fighter_in_IL]

Nope not mistaken at all NC. Was a custom rifle made by Savage for my Dad back in 1962. Honestly thought they made a run of them. It's been my goto Elk rifle for over 30 years and killed quite a few deer with her as well. Never looked for another one so I really didn't know it was that special. I just figured my old man, being the picky type, just wanted something a little different for Elk hunting. He wasn't big on bolt actions and absolutely loved leverguns. I just figured he had a custom length barrel or something made for it. Way back when rifle companies actually gave a crap about customers, they had custom shops and would build "wildcat" firearms (as long as they were safe of course) for customers. Granted they weren't cheap by any means but they were very nice and the companies back then were much more pleasant to deal with. Now with everything being automated I guess it would be near impossible to get something like that done. Thanks for letting me know she is special NC!

 

[sKunkT]

I think they are a great hunting rifle. Out of the half dozen or so guys I know that deer hunt with 7600 3006, I've not heard one complaint. As earlier stated, the barrel heats up quick. Always make sure your mag is seated properly, and you should be good to go. Others have not had as good of luck with them as me, but I never plan on getting rid of mine. It has taken 3 deer this year already, and accuracy has not been an issue. I've not had to go tracking at all.