Fact checked by Steven Lines, lifelong Hunter, and Outdoorsman
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The Remington 700 line of rifles has long been the industry standard when it comes to accurate and affordable bolt action rifles. Used for everything from hunting to tactical operations around the world, this rifle has proven itself to be one of the best. But what about the Remington 710? How does this rifle stack up against the 700, and which one is better?
The Remington 710, although now discontinued, was an attempt to recreate the efficiency and benefits of the 700 while simultaneously reducing the price. Despite their best efforts, many people would agree that the Remington 700 is still the superior rifle in terms of quality and accuracy.
But why is this? Let’s take a better look into both the Remington 710 and the 700 to see what the real differences are and why you may want to stick with the 700 for all of your hunting and shooting needs. If you have either the Remington 710 or the Remington 700, this is one comparison that you will not want to miss out on.
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In this post, we'll cover:
History of the Remington 700
The Remington 700 has enjoyed many decades of use and has been manufactured by Remington since 1962. This model of the rifle will usually come with a 3, 4, or 5 round internal magazine depending on the chamber it is found in, but it can also be equipped to run with external, box magazines as well. Found in a wide variety of different stocks, barrels, and calibers, this gun can take many different shapes and sizes.
The Remington 700 is designed to be manually operated with its bolt action that includes two forward lugs. The bolt face is recessed and the ejector is activated by a coil spring. Because of the bolt’s 3-piece construction, the 700 has incredible durability and amazing accuracy that was leaps and bounds ahead of its competition.
Of course, as time went on, many different variants of the Remington 700 were introduced according to feedback and customer desires. You will also see many different other models that very closely resemble the design and function of the 700, both from Remington and their competition. The Remington 710 is one of these offshoots and was an attempt to replicate the successful design and function of the 700.
History of the Remington 710
As we previously mentioned, the Remington 710 was designed based on the infamous Remington 700. The 710 was produced by Remington from 2001 to 2006, and to the untrained eye, may just look like an average model 700. Based upon the same designs like the 700, the 710 is a centerfire bolt action rifle system that uses a 3 lug bolt system instead of the Remington 700’s dual locking lugs. It was originally designed to be a more affordable option than the 700, while still giving you the same accuracy and dependability.
During its short run, sales of the Remington 710 were not bad but negative customer feedback prevented the gun from really going anywhere (which we will touch on later). While it was produced, however, it was available in calibers such as the 243 Winchester, 270 Winchester, 30-06 Springfield, 7mm Remington Magnum, and the 300 Winchester Magnum. While the calibers are somewhat limited, it did give shooters the most popular options at the time with hopeful plans to expand depending on the reception of the rifle.
Unfortunately, a larger list of calibers was not in the cards for the 710. Once it received negative reviews and a lackluster reception, producing the gun in different calibers was placed on hold in order to assess the other major problems that had surfaced.
Key Differences Between the 700 and 710
Know that we have touched on a brief history of both the Remington 700 and the Remington 710, what really sets these two firearms apart? There are a few key differences that will tell you whether you are dealing with a 710 or a 700.
Some of these differences are hardly noticeable, while others are a big deal that might persuade your decision on using one or another. In fact, some of these differences are the reason that the Remington 710 was discontinued from production after only a few short years.
The first difference that most shooters will care about is that the Remington 710 utilizes a 3 lug locking system as opposed to the 2 that the Remington 700 uses. While this does not really have any impact on accuracy or dependability, it does make the Remington 710 a bit harder to work on as opposed to the 700. You will also notice that the bolt locks into the barrel as opposed to into the receiver as it does in the Remington 700. Again, a minor difference that many shooters may not even notice or care about.
The biggest difference and the main reason that the Remington 710 was discontinued has to do with the “self-lubricating” bolt and the plastic used in the receiver itself. The fact that plastic polymer was used in building the receiver and its habit of wearing out over time was what many shooters and critics severely disliked about this rifle.
Although it did not result in any direct strength issues like many imagined that it would because it fit so tightly around the bolt, it did give a very stiff and sluggish movement to the bolt operation that many people hated.
Add in the fact that a bad reputation can destroy a gun’s potential, and it is no surprise that the Remington Model 710 really started to struggle in sales and popularity despite being a very close replica of the Model 700.
Other than the fact that the Remington 710 does not have a replaceable barrel like the Model 700, it is in reality not too much different than the 700 in terms of design and function. But of course, with this bad reputation, sales suffered and the 710 was discontinued from production after a few short years.
Looking at the two rifles side by side, it would be difficult for the average shooter to see any major differences between the two. However, it is generally in the smaller details that tend to make the most difference. Even more, after a quick trip to the shooting range, you would be able to tell an immediate difference between the 710 and the 700.
Not only is the Remington 700 much more comfortable and accurate while shooting, but the bolt and its action are much more smooth. Even though it may not seem like a huge deal, a smooth action can make a world of difference in any shooting situation.
The Future of the Remington 710
Because of all of the issues that customers reported with the Remington 710, Remington knew that they had to do something about it. With sales declining fast and even a big recall due to improperly made safety springs in 2002, some major changes happened with the Remington 710 that would forever change this gun and future guns to come.
Remington went back to the drawing board and consulted all of their customer feedback on how the 710 could be improved upon. They went on to change out everything that the customers disliked, especially the polymer in the action that caused so many issues with the bolt and its drag. After redesigning many different aspects of the 710, they discontinued its production and renamed it the Remington 770.
This gun, which is still being produced today, has gone on to receive excellent reviews and accomplish that which the 70 could not. It became the cheaper alternative to the Remington 700 that the original 710 was intended to be.
Is the Remington 710 Still a Good Deer Rifle?
Although the Remington 710 went on to be discontinued, does that still mean it is a bad rifle? No, the 710 is still a great rifle that can hold its own. Thanks to its design, it is still very accurate and can hit your target out to long ranges.
And because it was produced in some of the most popular calibers, it is always easy to find ammunition for and could be relied upon to effectively take down your quarry, from hunting to target shooting.
Despite its downfalls, the Remington 710 still makes a good deer rifle for the average hunter. All of the calibers that it is found in can be used to effectively take down a deer, even out to longer ranges. While the bolt can be a bit “sticky” at times, this does not mean this gun is a pushover and can’t accurately hit your target when you need it to.
This is the most important aspect of a proper deer rifle, and because of its design and stock, you have an accurate and lightweight bolt action rifle that can serve its purpose of downing deer on your next hunting adventure.
Which is Better? 710 or 700?
When it comes to deciding which is better, the 700 or the 710, the answer should be obvious by now. The Remington 700 has long been the gold standard of quality bolt action rifles since its inception decades ago. The 710, on the other hand, was a bad attempt at recreating this same rifle but for half the price and quality.
The Remington 700 was also designed to be a mass-produced rifle, but due to its excellent design and precision, it has been one of the most widely accepted and used bolt action rifles in the world. In fact, it is most likely safe to say that there are more Remington 700 rifles out there (especially in the United States) than any other bolt action rifle in the entire world.
Few other rifles can hold a flame to the 700, and it is not just hunters that have grown to love this model of firearm. It has seen extensive use in both the police and military forces around the world, and both the M40 and the M24 sniper rifles were built on the Remington 700 action and design.
And because it has been around for so long, the Remington 700 is available in a large variety of calibers, including newer calibers that have only been out for short periods of time.
Final Thoughts
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So when it comes to deciding between the Remington 710 or the Remington 700, which one is better? If you look at everything from the design features to the popularity, you will clearly see that the Remington 700 is the winner in a head-to-head competition between the two. While incredibly similar, the 700 has been around for a long time and continues to be a base upon which to build.
On the other hand, the 710 only saw a few short years of production until all of the various problems and complaints caught up to it, causing Remington to end its production. While both are still good rifles, the Remington 700 is a hard one to beat.
Steven Lines is a hunter and outdoorsman from Safford, Arizona, USA. Since he was a child, he has been hunting and fishing and has over 20 years of outdoor experience. Steven works as a hunting guide in Arizona during his spare time and runs a Youtube channel dedicated to sharing his outdoor adventures with others.
Sources
- https://www.outdoorlife.com/remington-710/
- https://military-history.fandom.com/wiki/Remington_Model_710
- https://forums.gunsandammo.com/discussion/42196/talk-to-me-about-the-remington-710