Remington 700 as a safari rifle anyone?

[revturbo9967]

I’d argue that most of those Remingtons used were heavily modified.

Those rifles were also not shooting extremely large bore caliber’s at extreme pressures.

 

[Hogpatrol]

Those rifles were also not shooting extremely large bore caliber’s at extreme pressures.

This made me curious as to the max pressure of some of the large bore magnums, what I found, all in PSI.

375 H&H 62k
416 Rem 65k
416 Ruger 62k
458WM 60k
458 Lott 62.5k

For comparison:
.308W 62k
300 WM 64k
300 RUM 65k

 

[FlyGuy]

I love the pre-2000 Remington 700 rifles, but I agree with many of the above posts.
For DG and large cartridges, I would rather use something else with a better track record in the field.

 

[Muskox]

What is stupid to me, is that everyone acts like a 700 is a plastic fly swatter.

I have owned over 20 700's, maybe 30. I have not experienced a problem with any of them. Calibers from 17 Fireball to 416 Remington.

People get uptight about rifles, because they think it is cool to do. Other than the 17 Fireball, I have never had a 700 that wouldn't feed like a dream if I loaded the magazine correctly from the top. A couple of them would do it upside down.

 

[revturbo9967]

What is stupid to me, is that everyone acts like a 700 is a plastic fly swatter.

I have owned over 20 700's, maybe 30. I have not experienced a problem with any of them. Calibers from 17 Fireball to 416 Remington.

People get uptight about rifles, because they think it is cool to do. Other than the 17 Fireball, I have never had a 700 that wouldn't feed like a dream if I loaded the magazine correctly from the top. A couple of them would do it upside down.

I don't think anyone is doubting the capability of the 700. Its more that it has proven failures in the larger calibers in the high heat environment of Africa.

The 416 rem in a 700 was probably never tested in 120+ degree heat.

 

[Muskox]

I have been two places with 120+ actual degree heat. Djibouti on the equator and the Mojave desert.

So, no one hunts in 120 degree heat. Most people have never even experienced 120 degree heat.

Yes in the 90's.

Kind of like -40. It is fashionable for jackasses to say they hunt elk in =40 in Montana.

Doesn't happen.

M700 m40 and m24 sniper rifles have killed thousands of people at 120+ degree heat in Iraq.

So the point is moot.

 

[WoodencrossIII]

I think the problem is remedied with the Remington 700 in the event it does have issue for extraction then a modified extractor can be installed other than that I think it’s really good. I wouldn’t hesitate one minute to use a Remington 700 in 416 rem mag on dangerous game because I’d be efficient with the weapon and manual of arms and I’d be going knowing it’s capable. Can’t live on the what if’s in life, enjoy the best you can practice and then go hunt that’s what I’ll do I’m happy to get my 416 in a 700

 

[revturbo9967]

I have been two places with 120+ actual degree heat. Djibouti on the equator and the Mojave desert.

So, no one hunts in 120 degree heat. Most people have never even experienced 120 degree heat.

Yes in the 90's.

Kind of like -40. It is fashionable for jackasses to say they hunt elk in =40 in Montana.

Doesn't happen.

M700 m40 and m24 sniper rifles have killed thousands of people at 120+ degree heat in Iraq.

So the point is moot.

Maybe you should have more discussions with the outfits in northern Zim or Zambia and ask the temperatures in November. Every one I’ve asked said it can get to 50c.

 

[MLindsay]

Never hunted at 120 degrees but have hunted probably 21 days with high over 110

 

[GeorgeGibbs505]

I believe this is the rifle BJH 65 was referring too from Seyfried . 700 Rem reworked from Brown Precision.

.

 

[Wyatt Smith]

I think the problem is remedied with the Remington 700 in the event it does have issue for extraction then a modified extractor can be installed other than that I think it’s really good. I wouldn’t hesitate one minute to use a Remington 700 in 416 rem mag on dangerous game because I’d be efficient with the weapon and manual of arms and I’d be going knowing it’s capable. Can’t live on the what if’s in life, enjoy the best you can practice and then go hunt that’s what I’ll do I’m happy to get my 416 in a 700

I was taught to be prepared in the Boy Scouts.
Would you take off on a 1500 mile road trip with bald tires? Sure a lot of people have and made it just fine, I would have a blowout in heavy traffic.
My point is if you’re going to take something with known issues, you should preemptively fix them. Have the bolt handle welded on and a M16 extractor installed for peace of mind.
There nothing worse than depending on something and have it let you down.

 

[Azklmsr]

Folks like to bash stuff.

A gajillion 700s out there and they are used very successfully across the globe. Kinda like weatherby calibers. “Every
One will hate you and you won’t have any friends”. Silly.

No doubt there are 700s that have had a problem. Equally no doubt that most are very very strong. Go hunting without making sure your weapon is good, face the possibility of failure.

Get good with your tools, have a great hunt.

Oh, I shoot at 120F in Az, occasionally with a Rem 700. Got all my fingers and I don’t talk with a squeaky voice

 

[WoodencrossIII]

Hey gents wanted to update I went out and shot my Remington 700 in 416 rem mag and it functioned and shot flawlessly without issue to extract or anything I’m pleased. These were my handloads with 350 gr ttsx loaded to book velocity of lowest charge at 2329 fps but it went good. Off handed shots to 100 yards weren’t the tightest group so I may load with more powder to tighten it up a bit but it was fun

 

[RedTag]

I have been two places with 120+ actual degree heat. Djibouti on the equator and the Mojave desert.

So, no one hunts in 120 degree heat. Most people have never even experienced 120 degree heat.

Yes in the 90's.

Kind of like -40. It is fashionable for jackasses to say they hunt elk in =40 in Montana.

Doesn't happen.

M700 m40 and m24 sniper rifles have killed thousands of people at 120+ degree heat in Iraq.

So the point is moot.

I hunt caribou at -40. Meat spoilage is a non issue

 

[RedTag]

Hey gents wanted to update I went out and shot my Remington 700 in 416 rem mag and it functioned and shot flawlessly without issue to extract or anything I’m pleased. These were my handloads with 350 gr ttsx loaded to book velocity of lowest charge at 2329 fps but it went good. Off handed shots to 100 yards weren’t the tightest group so I may load with more powder to tighten it up a bit but it was fun

I would say you’re on the right track. For what it’s worth I think the most important thing is for each hunter to test his individual rifle with the chosen ammunition under the conditions (or as close an approximation as possible) in which he intends to hunt. I prefer a CRF rifle in general principle, but they aren’t all perfect; I’ve had a couple of them fail on range in ways that would be very bad if those failures were to happen facing a dangerous animal. This is exactly why we must practice and confirm our gear is up to the task. A proven CRF may be tops, but a proven push feed rifle would be preferable to an unproven CRF any day in my opinion. I would think about replacing the trigger on a Remington 700 long before I would think about replacing the extractor.

 

[MS 9x56]

I think the problem is remedied with the Remington 700 in the event it does have issue for extraction then a modified extractor can be installed other than that I think it’s really good. I wouldn’t hesitate one minute to use a Remington 700 in 416 rem mag on dangerous game because I’d be efficient with the weapon and manual of arms and I’d be going knowing it’s capable. Can’t live on the what if’s in life, enjoy the best you can practice and then go hunt that’s what I’ll do I’m happy to get my 416 in a 700

Thanks for the memory. I hadn’t heard the term “manual of arms” since I was discharged from the military.

 

[dchum]

@IvW is a PH and has commented on this thread.

Is he though?

 

[mdwest]

I have been two places with 120+ actual degree heat. Djibouti on the equator and the Mojave desert.

So, no one hunts in 120 degree heat. Most people have never even experienced 120 degree heat.

Yes in the 90's.

Kind of like -40. It is fashionable for jackasses to say they hunt elk in =40 in Montana.

Doesn't happen.

M700 m40 and m24 sniper rifles have killed thousands of people at 120+ degree heat in Iraq.

So the point is moot.

I'll start out by saying I've been a proponent of the 700 for a multitude of applications for a very long time.. I have used a 700 in a professional capacity quite a bit (a 700P was my issued "sniper" rifle when I led a SWAT sniper element for a few years.. and the 700 was the action used in the old military M24's that a unit I belonged to deployed with as "sniper" rifles).. Ive also used 700's on a "personal" level quite a bit over the years and have owned a number of 700's and 700 clones (Christensen Arms for example) and have hunted with them extensively and competed with a 700 action that got built into a long range precision rifle platform back in the late 90's..

All of that said... I wouldnt use a 700 (or high quality clone) for DG hunting...

Rem quality these days isnt what it was in days past (although I think theyve gotten past the dark years where they were pretty much only turning out junk for a while)... and there are some inherent problems with the 700 design that doesnt lend itself well to DG hunting.. primarily the extractor..

They break.. and break far too often / regularly for me to be comfortable using a 700 on a DG hunt..

We remedied that problem in the military by always having a spare extractor available whenever we deployed a 700.. its a 5 minute job to rip out the old one and install a new one if you know what youre doing...

A good friend of mine was the NCOIC at the US Army sniper school house for a couple of years just before he retired.. his solution was to keep a pocket full of extractors on him whenever he was out "on the line".. He'll tell you that he absolutely loves the 700 system.. his own personal hunting rifle and his own personal competition rifle are both 700's... but he loathes the extractor..

For me, the solution is the AR15 style extractor that most of the modern clones now incorporate into their guns.. but.. even with the AR15 style extractor, youre still not looking at anything close to the rugged reliability of the Win 70 / Mauser style extraction system..

the "push feed" vs CRF argument doesnt hold a whole lot of weight with me... I have seen push feed guns (700 and others) work perfectly well in the most austere environments.. extreme heat.. extreme cold.. extremely dusty.. etc..etc.. and not seen any problems with feeding.. even when the guns are worked ferociously hard by the shooters..

its the extraction problem that would keep me from taking a 700 out after a buffalo or a lion or an ele, etc..