Fact checked by Steven Lines, lifelong Hunter, and Outdoorsman
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Bolt action rifles would not be as popular today without the introduction of the Remington 700. Thanks to this amazing firearm platform, we have some of the smoothest and most accurate shooting rifles in the world. But even though it is extremely popular, what kind of ammo do you need when shooting a Remington 700 rifle?
All Remington 700 rifles utilize centerfire rifle ammunition and can shoot various types and brands. The actual ammunition that you use will depend on the caliber of Remington 700 you are shooting, what your intended uses are, and your budget.
Let’s dive deeper into the world of ammunition for the Remington 700, as well as a few important considerations to think about when trying to decide what type of ammo you should be shooting out of your rifle!
In this post, we'll cover:
Centerfire Rifle Ammunition
So what do we mean when we say centerfire ammunition? This refers to the type of ammo that a rifle will shoot, and how it shoots it. A centerfire cartridge is a cartridge whose primer is placed in the center of the base. Unlike rimfire cartridges (whose primer is one the rim of the cartridge), a centerfire cartridge will generally have a separate firing component (the primer) seated into a recessed cavity on the base that is then struck by a firing pin to ignite the gun powder.
The vast majority of firearms today, from handguns, shotguns to rifles all use centerfire ammunition. Only the small calibers such as the 17, 20, 22, and a few other small shotguns and antique calibers will utilize a rimfire cartridge as the centerfire variety is much more practical and efficient.
Because the Remington 700 rifle uses centerfire rifle ammo, this means that it can use a wide variety of different brands and bullets as well. As more and more companies come onto the scene, you will see more and more types and brands of ammo on the shelves at the gun store. As long as you are using the correct caliber of ammo and a bullet that works with your gun, then your Remington 700 rifle can shoot a wide range of different ammo depending on your needs!
What Type of Ammo Should I Be Using?
So what type of ammo should you be using for your rifle? This will depend on the caliber that your Remington 700 is chambered in, as well as your needs and preferences. For example, a hunter that is going to be using the ammo to harvest animals will need a bullet type that is specifically designed for impacting tissue and causing shock damage in order to quickly and effectively bring the animal down. On the other hand, someone who is simply out for target practice or competing in a competition does not care about what the bullet does once it hits a target, only that it flies as accurately as possible.
This will break your bullet and ammo types into two main groups, those that are used for hunting and those that are made for precision shooting. Of course, there are many types of ammo that can be successfully used for both endeavors.
It is also important to utilize ammunition with the correct powder charges that are made for your specific rifle. All ammunition uses gun powder as a propellant, but did you know that there are different types of gun powder? Some will ignite faster than others, while others are designed to burn slower or hotter. This will all correlate to how it functions with the bullet and the intention is to use a specific bullet type, casing, and powder together in harmony to achieve the desired result. When in doubt, refer to the ammo manufacturer’s instructions that can be found on the box or online.
Bullet Types and Sizes
As we previously mentioned, the bullet type that you are shooting is vital to how well your gun performs and what you will be shooting at. Some bullets are designed for hunting applications, while others are only intended to be used for shooting targets. Getting these mixed up can be disastrous, whether for the animal you are hunting or the target you are shooting.
Bullets can also come in different sizes and weights. The weight of a bullet is measured in grains, and many Remington 700 rifles can handle different grains of bullets for the caliber that they are chambered in. There are many advantages and disadvantages to using different weights of bullets, such as increasing or decreasing speed, penetration, and wind resistance.
Depending on your needs, you may opt to use a heavier or a lighter bullet. In hunting applications, the weight of the bullet is extremely important as it directly correlates to the animal that you are hunting. Larger, tougher animals such as elk will need heavier, higher-grained bullets while something like deer may require a bullet that weighs much less.
Every gun is different as well, and some will almost “prefer” a certain bullet style or weight more than others. For some reason or another, a gun will be able to shoot its preferred bullet more accurately than others, which may also affect your decision of what ammunition you think that you should be using.
Final Thoughts
It is extremely important that you shoot the correct type of ammunition out of your Remington 700 in order to avoid any unsafe situations and to be as effective as possible. Hopefully, you now have a better understanding of what type of ammo a Remington 700 uses and can now put this information to good use on your next trip to the shooting range!
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.fieldandstream.com/sponsored-post/best-long-range-cartridges/
- https://gunvault.com/types-of-ammunition/
- https://www.hunter-ed.com/pennsylvania/studyGuide/Rifle-and-Handgun-Cartridges/20103901_88400/