The Model 700 series of firearms are bolt-action hunting rifles manufactured by Remington Arms since 1962.[1][2] All are based on the same centerfire bolt action.[3] They come with a 3, 4 or 5-round internal magazine depending on caliber, which sometimes includes a floor-plate for quick-unloading, and sometimes is “blind,” meaning it has no floor-plate. The Model 700 is available in a great number of different stock, barrel and caliber configurations. It is a development of the Remington 721 and 722 series of rifles, which had been introduced in 1948 [4].

Design Details

The Remington 700 action is designed for mass production [5]. Despite its cost-effective production methods, it is very strong and reliable, and has a large worldwide following. It is a manually-operated bolt action with 2 forward dual-opposed lugs and a rear safety lug formed by the bolt handle lug sitting in a receiver recess. The bolt face is recessed, fully enclosing the base of the cartridge, The extractor is a C-clip sitting within the bolt face. The ejector is a plunger on the bolt face actuated by a coil spring. The bolt is of 3-piece construction, brazed together (head, body and bolt handle). The receiver is milled from round cross-section steel of highest quality.[4]

Models

The Remington 700 comes in a large number of variants, with different stocks, barrel configurations, metal finishes and calibers. In addition there are 3 lengths of action (not including the Model Seven lightweight’s action, which is even shorter than the ‘standard’ short action). There is the short action for .308-length cartridges, the standard for .30-06 length cartridges and the long action for magnum calibers. To these can be added various magazine configurations; a blind magazine which has no floorplate, a conventional magazine with detachable floorplate and a detachable box magazine. There are standard consumer versions as well as versions designed for military and police use. Some variants come with bipods, slings and other accessories.

Model 700 – Public versions

There are several variants of the consumer version of the Model 700, including; Model 700, Model 700 ADL, Model 700 BDL, Model 700 CDL, and Model 700 Safari. Remington also produces the Mountain LSS model with a stainless steel barrel and laminated stock. Heavy barrel versions with laminated stocks like the Model 700 SPS varmint are available for varmint hunting. The Model 700 ADL has also been re-branded as the Model 700 SPS (Special Purpose Synthetic) in newer models.

Model 700P – Police version
Remington Model 700P.

There are two main models of the 700P — the standard 700P with a 26″ heavy barrel and the 700P Light Tactical Rifle (LTR) which has a 20″ fluted heavy barrel. Both rifles also come (optionally) in a Tactical Weapons System (TWS) package, complete with telescopic sights, a bipod, and carrying case. Both rifles are capable of sub MOA accuracy right out of the box using match quality ammunition and a quality scope.

According to Remington Arms, around 90% of the police sharpshooter rifles in the United States are based on Model 700s, specifically the 700PSS model (now known as the 700P). The rifle is also very popular with law-enforcement agencies abroad.

Remington markets the 700 to military forces and civilian law-enforcement agencies under the Remington Law Enforcement and Remington Military banner, with the military/law enforcement 700s being called the Model 700P (“Police”). The 700P series appears to have been influenced by the designs, features, and success of the M24 Sniper Weapon System and the M40 series, with one feature of the Model 700P series being the heavier and thicker barrel for increased accuracy and reduced recoil. The rifle was chambered for .308 Winchester cartridge as well as the .223 Remington, .243 Winchester, 7 mm Remington Magnum, .300 Winchester Magnum, .300 Remington Ultra Magnum, and .338 Lapua Magnum. The 700P has a 26″ barrel, an aluminium block bedded in its stock, which is made by HS Precision.

The police version (700P) is also marketed to private citizens and is very popular with shooters and hunters who like the “government issue” appearance as well as the handling and accuracy. Remington also sells the standard, U.S. Army-issue Leupold Mark IV M3 10×40 mm telescopic sight used by the Army’s M24 as an optional feature. A less expensive but similarly-styled version called the Special Purpose Synthetic (or SPS) is similar in most respects to the 700P but has a lighter weight barrel and lacks the H-S Precision stock.

Model 700 – Military version

Both the U.S. Army’s M24 Sniper Weapon System and U.S. Marine Corps’ M40 sniper rifles are built from the Remington Model 700 rifle, in different degrees of modification, the main difference being the custom fitted heavy contour barrel. The M24 uses the long action bolt-face, whereas the M40 uses the short action. The reason for this difference is that the M24 was originally intended to chamber the longer .30-06 round.