Remington 700

Overview

The Remington Model 700 is a centerfire, bolt-action rifle that has been manufactured in the United States by Remington Arms (now RemArms) since 1962. Built around a cylindrical, machined-steel receiver and a two-lug rotating bolt with a fully enclosed cartridge head, it is renowned for out-of-the-box accuracy and is the best-selling bolt-action rifle in American history. The platform is offered in dozens of configurations and a very wide range of chamberings, spanning everything from light varmint cartridges such as the .223 Remington up to belted and large-caliber magnums. It serves as the foundation for both civilian hunting rifles and military/police sniper systems, most notably the U.S. Army's M24 and the U.S. Marine Corps' M40. Today it is the standard hunting and precision rifle by which many other bolt actions are measured.

History & Background

The Model 700 was introduced in 1962, with its first advertisement appearing in the June 1962 issue of American Rifleman. It was designed by a team led by Remington engineer Merle "Mike" Walker and grew directly out of the earlier Model 721 and Model 722 rifles (introduced in 1948) and the Model 725. Those predecessors pioneered a low-cost, mass-production approach in which the receiver was turned from cylindrical bar stock on a lathe rather than milled in many separate operations, dramatically lowering production cost. Walker refined the design to improve accuracy through tight chamber and bore tolerances, a short leade, and a fast lock time.

Remington initially offered the Model 700 in two grades — the economy ADL and the upgraded BDL — each available in long-action and short-action versions to suit different cartridge lengths. The ADL used a blind magazine, while the more expensive BDL added a hinged floorplate, a black grip cap and fore-end tip, and more checkering. A Safari version chambered in .375 H&H Magnum and .458 Winchester Magnum was also introduced in 1962. In 1969 Remington added refinements such as a longer rear bolt shroud and a jeweled bolt, and left-handed versions followed in the early 1970s.

The action's strength and consistency led to military adoption: the M40 sniper rifle (U.S. Marine Corps) was based on the Model 700 short action beginning in 1966, and the U.S. Army adopted the long-action-based M24 Sniper Weapon System in the 1980s. According to the manufacturer, more Model 700s have been sold than any other bolt-action rifle before or since, with total production exceeding five million. The platform has also been the subject of long-running litigation over its original "Walker" trigger; current production rifles ship with factory-installed Timney triggers.

Design & Features

The Model 700 is a manually operated, bolt-action rifle. Key design points:

• Action: Two forward, dual-opposed locking lugs on a rotating bolt. The bolt face is recessed so it fully encloses the base of the cartridge ("three rings of steel" — bolt, barrel, and receiver). The two-lug bolt body measures roughly .695 in (17.65 mm) in diameter.
• Receiver and barrel: The receiver is machined from round-cross-section steel bar stock. Current production rifles use a 5R-rifled barrel.
• Action lengths: A long action handles full-length cartridges up to about 3.340 in (84.84 mm) overall (e.g., .30-06 Springfield, 7mm Rem Magnum, .300 Win Magnum); a short action handles cartridges up to about 2.750 in (69.85 mm) overall (e.g., .308 Winchester, 6.5 Creedmoor, .243 Winchester).
• Feeding/capacity: Internal box magazine holding 3, 4, or 5 rounds depending on caliber; some models use a hinged floorplate for quick unloading, a blind magazine, or a detachable box magazine (including 10-round magazines on certain tactical models such as the Magpul Enhanced).
• Stocks: Offered in walnut, laminate, and synthetic (including HS Precision stocks on long-range models), in a wide range of barrel contours from sporter to heavy varmint and target.
• Trigger: Newly manufactured Model 700 rifles come with a factory-installed Timney trigger (the Impact 700 on most models, with a factory-set 3–4 lb pull).
• Sights: Most current models ship without iron sights and are drilled and tapped for scope bases/rails; the platform is one of the most widely supported actions for aftermarket optics mounting.

Technical Data

Feature	Specification
Manufacturer	Remington Arms / RemArms (USA)
Model	Model 700
Firearm type	Bolt-action centerfire rifle
Action	Bolt action; rotating bolt with two dual-opposed locking lugs
Caliber / Gauge	Wide range of centerfire rifle cartridges (e.g., .223 Rem, .243 Win, 6.5 Creedmoor, .270 Win, .308 Win, .30-06 Sprg, 7mm Rem Mag, .300 Win Mag; see Calibers below)
Capacity	3-, 4-, or 5-round internal magazine (caliber dependent); detachable box magazines on some models
Barrel length	Approx. 16.5–26 in (419–660 mm) depending on variant
Overall length	Approx. 41.5 in (1,054 mm), configuration dependent
Weight	Approx. 7–9 lb (3.2–4.1 kg) depending on variant; a representative figure is ~8.99 lb (4.08 kg)
Stock / Frame	Walnut, laminate, or synthetic; steel receiver
Sights	Typically none fitted; drilled and tapped for scope bases/rails (iron sights on select models)
Year introduced	1962

Variants

The Model 700 has been produced in a very large number of variants over six decades. Current and well-known configurations include:

• Model 700 ADL — historically the economy grade with a blind magazine.
• Model 700 BDL — upgraded grade with hinged floorplate, grip cap, and fore-end tip.
• Model 700 CDL / CDL SF — Classic Deluxe; CDL SF adds a stainless-fluted barrel.
• Model 700 SPS (Special Purpose Synthetic) — the modern economy line that replaced the ADL in newer production; offered in SPS, SPS Stainless, SPS Varmint, and SPS Tactical configurations.
• Model 700 Varmint / SPS Varmint — heavy-barrel rifles for varmint and predator shooting.
• Model 700 Sendero SF II — long-range heavy-barrel hunting rifle.
• Model 700 Long Range — heavy 5R target barrel with HS Precision stock and Timney trigger (e.g., 7mm PRC).
• Model 700 Alpha 1 Hunter — modernized hunting configuration.
• Model 700 Magpul Enhanced — fitted with Magpul stock and a detachable 10-round magazine.
• Model 700 Mountain LSS / LSSF — stainless barrel with laminated stock.
• Model 700 Police (700P) — heavy-barrel law-enforcement model.
• Military derivatives — the M40 (USMC) and M24 / later M2010 (U.S. Army) sniper systems are built on the Model 700 action.
• Remington Model Seven — a compact short-action carbine derived from the Model 700, introduced in 1983.

Calibers / Chamberings

The Model 700 has been chambered for an exceptionally broad list of centerfire cartridges across its short- and long-action variants. Commonly offered chamberings include: .204 Ruger, .222 Remington, .223 Remington, .22-250 Remington, .220 Swift, .243 Winchester, 6mm Remington, 6mm Creedmoor, .25-06 Remington, .257 Roberts, 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5x55, .260 Remington, .264 Win Magnum, .270 Winchester, .270 WSM, 7mm-08 Remington, .280 Remington, 7mm Remington Magnum, 7mm Rem Ultra Magnum, .308 Winchester, .30-06 Springfield, .300 WSM, .300 Win Magnum, .300 Rem Ultra Magnum, .338 Win Magnum, .338 Rem Ultra Magnum, .338 Lapua Magnum, .375 Rem Ultra Magnum, .35 Remington, .45-70 Government, and .450 Bushmaster, among others. (Available chamberings vary by model year and configuration.)

Intended Use

The Model 700 is primarily a hunting rifle, used for everything from varmints and predators (in light calibers such as .204 Ruger, .223, and .22-250) to deer, elk, and other big game (in .243, 6.5 Creedmoor, .270, .308, .30-06, and the magnums), up to dangerous and large game with the Safari-class chamberings. It is also widely used for long-range and precision target shooting, and — in its heavy-barrel and tactical forms — for military and law-enforcement sniping and designated-marksman roles.