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Old September 20, 2012, 06:14 PM   #1
midgamarine
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New Rifle

I intend to purchase a Remington 770 30.06 next week; I am returning to hunting after YEARS of hiatus (loss of interest after dad passed away) and on a tight budget. I will be hunting hogs and deer with it. What is your take on the Model 770?
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Old September 20, 2012, 06:23 PM   #2
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What is your take on the Model 770?
Don't.

For about the same money, you can buy a Howa 1500 or a TC Venture, both very good rifles, and both very respected shooters or you could buy a Savage Edge. Or buy a used rifle for about the same price.
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Old September 20, 2012, 06:28 PM   #3
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Remington is so proud of the scope they're using, they don't feel the need to tell you what the brand is... gotta' wonder huh?

I get that you're trying to keep it simple and easy... but in this case, simple and easy doesn't equate to value for money. The guns Scorch listed are all good options.
I'd toss in the new Ruger American as a possibility as well. I don't own one, but them that do, including a good friend of mine, have nothing but praise for them.

Oh yeah... welcome to the Asylum midgamarine.

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Old September 20, 2012, 08:29 PM   #4
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Good low cost guns are the Ruger American and Savage Axis.
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Old September 20, 2012, 10:53 PM   #5
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I asked about a 770 on the Remington Boards...even they start screaming RUN AWAY!!!
Found one in a pawn shop for $250...and was curious...then read up on 'em..."got issues" is an understatement...

Want to go inexpensive, yet sub-MOA precise out of the box??
Go get a Marlin X-7 in your favorite caliber...they start at $299.
The Heavy Barrel version is available in 5.56/.223, .22-250, and .308...although the 5.56/.223 isn't listed on their webpage for some strange reason...
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Old September 21, 2012, 05:28 AM   #6
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I'd buy about anything but a Rem 770. The Rem 700 ADL or SPS are much better for about the same price. The new Weatherby Vanguard S2 is very good, as are the TC Venture and Howa. Mossberg makes a pretty good starter rifle also.

My first choice would be a Rem 700 ADL. It's a rifle you can grow with, since there are more after-market stocks, triggers, etc. than one can count. It's ergonomically better than any other lower-priced rifle I've handled. Check recent flyers from Dicks Sporting Goods or Wal-Mart for lower prices, (if necessary).
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Old September 21, 2012, 06:27 AM   #7
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770 is a POS, end of story.
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Old September 21, 2012, 07:11 AM   #8
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The 770 is one of the new generation of disopsable guns. They are intended for the guy who only shoots a box of ammo a year and the occasional hunt. To be honest, with that use, they will probably last a lifetime, and I've not heard any horror stories on accuracy. They seem to shoot well enough. The problem is when something breaks or wears out. It costs more than the value of the gun to have it repaired.


The 770 catches everyones attention, probably because they were the 1st to build a disposable rifle. But the Mossberg, Savage Axis, and Ruger American are all in the same category and are no better.

For the cost of 2-3 boxes of ammo you can get a much better gun. Any of the other Savage or Stevens rifles are a good choice. I'd avoid the Axis. The Marlin XS7 or XL7 are good rifles. The TC Venture is a little more expensive, but worth the extra to me. The older Weatherby Vangurds and Howa 1500's can often be found for around $350.

These may not come with a scope like the 770, but the scope on the 770 is not much to start with.
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Old September 21, 2012, 09:09 AM   #9
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+1 for jmr40's response and Picher, you took the words right out of my mouth concerning the Remington 700 ADL. So many aftermarket parts are available for the 700 you can add what you want as finances allow.
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Old September 21, 2012, 06:26 PM   #10
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The 770 is one of the new generation of disopsable guns
Why do you think if this as a disposable rifle? Is the barrel and action of less quality than the 700?
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Old September 21, 2012, 06:45 PM   #11
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I picked one up.

Put it down quickly.

From the cheap plasic stock to the rattletrap bolt, it reeked of "minimum cost".
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Old September 21, 2012, 07:02 PM   #12
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Ruger American, Savage Axis, Marlin or Mossberg all make much better low priced rifles.
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Old September 21, 2012, 07:09 PM   #13
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I need to handle one myself. I looked at the pic that Remington has of it, and the bolt looks cheap, and I prefer wood. I wonder if it has a 3 millisecond lock time like the 700?
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Old September 21, 2012, 09:05 PM   #14
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The Remington 770 might not be all that good of a rifle in comparison to more expensive ones but it really is a good rifle for the money.
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Old September 21, 2012, 11:09 PM   #15
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No, its not...both the Savage Axis & Marlin X-7 beat the pants off of it, in precision and workmanship...
the X7 starts at $299...and is so far ahead of the rest of the sub $500 pack it ain't even funny...
Button-rifled barrel
Fluted bolt
Pillar bedded
Recoil pad
and a Profire Adjustable Target trigger...it will shoot under 1" at 100 yards if the shooter can do his part.
under 2" at 200 yards is no problem if the shooter can do his part, for that matter...

The Axis doesn't have the Accutrigger, and the barrel ain't as precise as is slightly more expensive brother (11 or 16)...but it'll do a good job.

Ruger has never impressed me for precision shooting, until you throw another $500-1500 in one...which kinda kills the inexpensive point...

Mossy's ATR, heck, go hold one...kind of hard to take them seriously in the bolt-action category after looking at the rest...
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Old September 21, 2012, 11:43 PM   #16
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First of all I,m very sorry about your dad.As for the 770,I don,t own one,but my shooting buddy does and he shoots competitively{with hand guns though}He says,it looks like crap,bolt feels like crap,trigger feels like crap and is creepy,but the accuracy is just as good as any rifle he owns. I,ve been with him on the range with it and I have personally seen what he can do with it.He told me the only reason he bought it was" it was so cheap". It,s a 300 win mag combo,which he never even fired a shot through it with the scope that came with it,he took it off and gave it to me{I don,t even know what i,ve done with it}He still has it today and he bought it in 2008.
All the big players have the inexpensive bolt action rifle now.Rugar being the latest to enter the market.My TC Venture has already been recalled,but no one seems to bad mouth it.
I will probably own a 770 in the future just to see for my self how awful this rifle is.
Good Luck with your decision and glad to see heading back out to hunting grounds.
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Old September 22, 2012, 06:05 AM   #17
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Very few guns are just best to keep in the safe and thats one of em! Hope ya find something though good luck
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Old September 22, 2012, 08:55 AM   #18
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The Stevens 200 I'd buy before the Savage Axis, I've never had a Marlin XL7 in my hands but I did handled the Ruger American and I have to admit, I will own one of these pretty soon I hope. damn sure wouldn't buy no Rem. 770.
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Old September 25, 2012, 04:39 AM   #19
midgamarine
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I thank you all for the advice. I am just starting over and want to know that I am REALLY going to be into it like before. This price is hard to beat and my dad left me a model 700. I know it's over 20 years old, I just don't want to use it.
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Old September 25, 2012, 07:24 AM   #20
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A couple of people mentioned the T/C Venture. IMHO, it’s a lot of rifle for the money. I have one in .270 and it shoots great. It’s the most accurate hunting type rifle I own. I purchased a combo w/ mounts and scope because I found it for just a little more than w/o. The mounts are fine for what they are, but the scope was replaced after a couple of weeks. If you look at the Ventures, don’t add much value for the scope when comparing rifles.

Good luck w/ the new rifle.
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Old September 25, 2012, 12:41 PM   #21
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I understand about not wanting to uuse your dad's rifle. I have my father's rifle and my grandfather's and they were the last to fire them. But I have plenty of other rifles to use. What would your dad want you to do? Mine would have wanted me to if I needed to. He would kind of liked that his son was hunting with his rifle.
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Old September 26, 2012, 08:56 AM   #22
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The 770 catches everyones attention, probably because they were the 1st to build a disposable rifle. But the Mossberg, Savage Axis, and Ruger American are all in the same category and are no better.
Totally disagree (other then the 770). The Mossberg, Marlin, Ruger and Savage are all made and shoot well. But after looking at them I would want a more finished rifle with all metal parts. These rifles will function just fine for hunting. But for me a rifle is more then just function.
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Old September 29, 2012, 04:08 AM   #23
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The Remington 770 might not be all that good of a rifle in comparison to more expensive ones but it really is a good rifle for the money.
The 770 is not a good rifle period. In absolute terms it is a steaming pile of junk that makes a BIC lighter look like a solid gold Dunhill.

In relative terms there are lots of better rifles available for similar prices. The few dollars it might cost to step up to a Marlin X7 or a Savage Axis would be the best you ever spent.

I wouldn't own a 770 if it were free.
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Old September 29, 2012, 06:25 AM   #24
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The Mossberg bolt-action is much better than the 770, and is about the same price.

I agree that the 770 is not worth keeping, even if it were a gift from your dad.
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