Remington goes retro

Guns Magazine, Oct, 2003 by Holt Bodinson

Being a 35-caliber case with an excellent expansion ratio, the .350 Rem. Mag. is versatile. If you are a handloader, it can be fed a diet of 38-caliber pistol bullets for plinking or varminting. It's amenable to a variety of excellent cast bullet designs. And when fall rolls around, you have a wide choice of quality 180-, 200-, 220- and 250-grain jacketed soft points to match the game. Indeed. the 180-grain pointed soft point can be moved along at almost 3,000 fps from the original 18.5 inch barrel

Which brings us to the new Model 673.

Something Old, Something New

Called the "Guide Rifle." it could serve well in that capacity, and with its 22-inch barrel, it does qualify as a rifle. Cosmetically, it looks a lot like the old Model 600. The ventilated rib is there, nut it's now made of steel rather than plastic The distinctive shark fin front sight of the 1960s has returned and looks as racy as ever. The laminated stock has been retained. although it's a bit beefier and more conventional in shape than the Model 600's.

Alas, the dog-leg bolt handle has been replaced, and the Model Seven's bottom metal is steel not plastic. And it's chambered for the .300 Rem. SA Ultra Mag as well as the traditional .350 Rem. Mag. Overall weight is up a bit. The Model 600 Magnum scaled out at about 6.5 pounds. The Model 673 is a pound heavier.

By any measure, Remington's "retro" is a well thought-out rifle, and to me, pleasing to look at and handle. It's certainly more affordable than the original Model 600 Magnums that today command a premium collector's price. Of course, one question remained: How would it perform?

When I scoped my original Model 600 Magnum, I chose Conetrol rings and bases. Conetrol's mounting system is uniquely elegant and rugged. The smooth streamlined rings add a touch of esthetic class to any rifle, and I've never had a Conetrol mount shoot loose. So when the Model 673 arrived, I again chose Conetrol.

The scope selected was one I had wanted to try, It was Bushnell's new 1.5-4.5x32mm Elite 3200, with their proprietary Rainguard lens coating and Firefly reticle.

Bushnell's water repellent Rainguard coating technology prevents lens fogging when you're hunting in rain, sleet, or snow. The coating causes moisture to bead up into tiny droplets. The result is amazing. You can continue to acquire a clear image under the wettest of conditions.

The Firefly reticle is the non-battery answer to the illuminated reticle. Designed fur those highly productive dawn and twilight hunting periods, the Firefly reticle is charged by covering the objective with your hand and shining a small pen light (supplied) through the eyepiece for a minute or two. The result is a reticle that glows with a warm green hue. It's very distinct without being distracting, and it's utterly practical, requiring no batteries or electrical circuitry.

Ballistic Comparison

Having an original carbine with an 18.5-inch barrel and the new rifle with a 22-inch barrel to shoot side-by-side was an appealing prospect. Plus I had a variety of old Remington and Peters 200- and 250-grain ammunition on hand and a favorite handload to test together with Remington's latest 200-grain Core-Lokt load. The results were intriguing.