Remington's Newest Rifles

Guns Magazine, Feb, 2001 by Scott Farrell

Reminton's newly unveiled Model 710 rifle may just be the iMac of the hunting world. Apple Macintosh computers once enjoyed outstanding brand recognition among computer users, but those users were very dedicated and knowledgeable; casual users and first-time buyers tended to choose other brands which were, in a word, cheaper. Then Apple introduced the iMac, which was advertised as being ready-to-go right out of the box, had impressive list of features, and boasted a price tag which was competitive with the "off brands." It was a huge success.

The Remington Model 710 is based largely on the same philosophy. Big Green has taken some of the best components of their classic Model 700 (namely the trigger and chamber design), combined them with some innovative new elements which take advantage of state-of-the-art manufacturing techniques, added a Bushnell scope, and given the whole thing a suggested retail of $359. If that's not the hunter's version of an iMac, we don't know what is.

The gun is designed for the "casual whitetail hunter," according to Remington engineers. With a 4-lb. trigger and a boresighted 3-9x scope already attached, a hunter can buy one of these guns, a sling and a box of ammo in the morning, test the rifle with a five-shot group at an 8" target or even a paper plate, and be ready to head into the woods by lunchtime. The synthetic stock and matte, blued finish make the rifle very durable. (No word yet on whether the stock will be available in Blueberry, Grape, Lime, etc... Maybe Remington's new motto will be "Hunt Different.")

At the opposite extreme is the innovative Model 700 "Ultimate Lightweight." This new rifle achieves its remarkable weight of 5 1/2 lbs. with the use of a titanium receiver and a skeletonized bolt. The rifle also features a 22" stainless steel barrel and a Kevlar-reinforced fiberglass stock, and is available in .260 Rem., .270 Win., 7mm-08 and .30-'06. With a retail price of $1,199, the "Ultimate Lightweight" is an outstanding rifle at a fraction of the price of a similar custom gun.