So I posted a few months ago about wanting to get into hunting. And I have been looking for the first gun. I am a military trained shooter, and am a dead on shot. I used a Rem. 700 SWS for awhile. I wish I had the money to put that on the shelf and have it, but I know I would be paying more for a "accessory" piece then for what I would actually use it for.I will be a total "green-horn" hunter and will only use this once a year putting MAYBE a box or two through it in the whole year.

Well, when walking through the local Wally World (( I KNOW THIS IS NOT THE BEST PLACE TO FIND A RIFLE )) I stumbled across a Remington 770 30-06. I have been looking online for a shooters review of this rifle. Nothing. I have found some people in different forums who got this rifle as a gift and then went on to SMITH it out to being something completely different. I have seen a few "YOUTUBE"er reviews from people I know I wouldn't trust to shoot an M16 on a military range and understand how it all works together.

So here I am, coming to where I know decent people with a good grip of knowledge will be...

If you have any advice on this PLEASE let me hear it, good or bad.
Particularly the shooting of this rifle. I know that a bore sighted pre-mounted scope will need to be adjusted at the range.

I've never been a fan of the Remington 710/770 action. Check out Academy for the Marlin XS7 series or even a Stevens Model 200 package gun instead of the 770.

My opinion, only.

First of all, Welcome to the forum!! Always good to have new hunters come aboard. If you hunt or fish, pull up a chair to the fire..this is the place to be.
Wal-Mart isn't a bad place to find a rifle any more than Academy, Cabela's, etc. is, as long as you get a good deal on a quality rifle. I know absolutely nothing about the 770 rifle and have no experience with it, hopefully someone here will come along and be able to speak about it. What I do know is Remington 700 rifles as I have owned quite a few over the years and still do. You cannot go wrong with one of those. Though I'm not a big fan, Savage makes a fine rifle as well..along with Winchester, Ruger, Sako (and Tikka), I've heard good things about Marlin bolt actions too, among others. My point is, you have a PLETHORA of good options at different price points out there. Shop around and don't turn your nose up at a good used rifle either. Good luck!

x2

I always recommend a Remmy 700. Tikka T3 is another, if you could stand to spend a little more money, I think you'll get much better quality.

770 is mostly crap

^^ This is of course, not helpful... While I respect your opinion I think without good support you will fall short on me. How often did ((or Do)) you shoot the 770? How many rounds did you fire through it? What was the action on it? What made it crap? While I respect your right to opinion, you will need to support it with some facts, otherwise your response is not warranted.

He's correct.

BY far the most commonly brought in modern gun for repairs.

I've shot plenty and share the same opinion. Never could get but a handful to group worth a flip even after working up loads for some. Action feels cheap, stock feels cheap, rifle in general feels cheap and it shows on paper.

@ Andrew, what was it about the action? I know there is some serious improvement options to be made at purchase to stabilize the action.

@tth_40 & rebel, I know the 700 is a great rifle, I mention is the original post that I shot the 700 SWS (sniper weapon system). I just don't have the financial means to go out and purchase the Remington as well as a scope. So while I know how wonderful THAT weapon is, it will not help to repeat that.

I am not trying to be rude here, but I KNOW this is the place to get the best help.

Action is sloppy and the bolt does not travel smoothly. The tang is made of plastic. Barrel and action bedding to stock is nonexistant and variable. Trigger is horrendous. Sling swivel holes are molded into the stock and are prone to breakage.

Not upgradeable after purchase, dead-end platform.

Stevens 200 offers ability to do a bunch of stuff as funds allow later, better trigger and action out of the box. Many stock options to upgrade later - even pillar bedding.

I have only shot one 770 and it had the worst action that I have ever felt. Not smooth at all had to try a couple times to even get the gun to load a round. Accuracy was only decent 1 1/2 inches @ 100 is the best we could get out of it with factory ammo.

Stay away from the Remmy 710/770. If you need a discount rifle the low end Savage and Stevens are much higher quality.

While a true statement, BIL just didn't beat around the bush.
If memory serves me correct, the barrels are press fit into the action, not threaded. The actions are crude by manufactures standards, hence cheaper cost. You may have already bought one as defensive as you became, sorry if that is the case.
I shoot Tikka's, poor mans Sako. Stevens 200 is a very viable alternative, you can spend more on good glass to top it.

Good luck with your decision.

Scout, what does your budget for this look like? With or w/o glass??

@ ju993rnaut

Budget is low.. I know there are great guns out there. But I'm really trying not to spend over $350 on a complete package. The reason is because I am not a die-hard hunter. I have done plenty of time behind the glass, and have been able to manipulate the most amazing rifle ((sarcastic) the Army will issue, the good ol' M16A2.

And seeing as this will be my first rifle, with my first hunting trip outside of the Army. I know that there are great rifles out there and knowing the Remington brand produces good, accurate rifles right outta the box, and though I am headed for a much cheaper rifle, you can't deny the attraction to a rifle that MIGHT shoot 1 MAYBE 2 boxes of ammo all year. I will more than likely take her down to the range, zero it in, take to the woods and HOPEFULLY drop a deer. Fill a few tags, then put her back till the next year.

Have a little experience with the 710 and 770 and I would stay away from them. Like others have said the Stevens is a better platform in the same price range. I know one person who after 2 770s one shot from each on a trip to the range then back to Remington and them replacing it, he traded the third one on a Stevens 200 and has been happy with that choice. One of the 770 after the first shot the bolt handle broke off, the other the action locked up after the first shot. They were 30-06s and he was shooting Remington green box corelocts

@kmon
First off I want to tell you "Aim small, Miss small" is what I teach in my entry level marksman class. IT is a great mantra and really will help with breathing.
just a side note

That is why I have it in my sig, wether shooting Bow, Pistol or Rifle it is a mentality that helps

I have a 710 in 30.06 I bought in 05. Is it cheap and ugly? Yes. Is mine 10 for 10 on the deer I have shot at? Yes. The gun fit my purpose at the time I needed a cheap gun and trusted the Remington name. I have had no trouble from mine and it has never let me down. I am not saying there aren't better guns out there but for a gun I shoot a couple times a year it has definately served it's purpose. This is just an opion from an "actual" owner of one.

The biggest problem I have seen with the 710 is the stock, have replaced a few whem the clip for the magazine broke and replaced stock to correct the issue. Other than that I think the 710 might have been a better rifle than the 770 is that replaced it

@md2tx

This is what I was looking for. This is better then the "I heard" or "My Friend" or "I read". I needed a shooters prospective.

Have you kept it stock or did you modify it in any way? How was it right out the box? And what is the maintenance on it?

IMO the Mossberg 100 ATR that Academy sells is a much better gun than the Rem 770. Also, it's the same price if not a bit cheaper. If I wanted to get a cheap gun to use once a year thats what I would get Mossberg 100 ATR in 270.

With a 350 budget, I'd get a used Stevens 200 for around 200 bucks and a used leupold rifleman for around 150

Sorry to be harsh, but you are not listening. I know that atleast 3 "trained" people have answered your question and several more that have ALOT of gun experience with alot of guns saying stay away. They are speaking about their friends or actual stories through truth not hearsay.
If you want a Remington platform atleast go in to 700 model. They will never get below $350 because that is the lowest they go period. 350 is going to be tough budget. 450 opens alot of doors with ok optics.