I was given a Remington 710 yesterday.

[SteelyNirvana]

My father gave me a Remington 710 yesterday in 300 Winchester mag yesterday. He'd gotten it on a trade, had no real use for it and was wanting to give me it as an early x-mas gift as he was leaving the state for a job op.
Looking at a few of the threads the Remington 710 seems like a laughing stock to most people. Is the quality of the gun that bad or what? The only problem I notice with this gun is the bolt requires a gentle touch to open it. If you grab it and yank it, it won't open. I've heard that Remington was using nylon parts in these guns at one time but the later models don't. Is there anyway to tell by looking at the serial #? What kind of accuracy is this thing capable of? Its got a Bushnell banner wide angle scope on it (Looks expensive)

Thanks

 

[Art Eatman]

From both magazine articles and comments here, that model is plenty accurate for hunting. It's not the deal for somebody who shoots a lot, whether plinking or on paper. Plenty good for somebody who sights in, hunts, and then the gun goes back to the closet until next season. Remember, the majority of all hunters don't do a lot of shooting. The 710 is a least-cost effort by Remington to reach that general group.

 

[rbernie]

The 710 is an adequate hunting rifle, especially for the price you paid. It's not a rebuildable heirloom piece, which is the standard by which most rifles are judged, nor is it a tactical precision long-range shooting iron.

But it'll drop a Bambi if you do your part.

 

[SteelyNirvana]

From both magazine articles and comments here, that model is plenty accurate for hunting. It's not the deal for somebody who shoots a lot, whether plinking or on paper. Plenty good for somebody who sights in, hunts, and then the gun goes back to the closet until next season. Remember, the majority of all hunters don't do a lot of shooting. The 710 is a least-cost effort by Remington to reach that general group.

Let me ask this, will the bolt loosen up over time? I loaded the mag and was cycling (Trying to) the action to see how it would feed and everything. It seems like its a real PITA the ammo in the gun to open the bolt than with the gun empty. I'd hate to use this gun hunting and need a quick follow up shot because it won't happen with this gun. Any idea what is causing it to stick? As for me, I don't hunt so I'll primarily use this as a plinking/target shooting gun.

 

[Art Eatman]

Oilling and manipulating the bolt will probably help.

The .300 WinMag is not exactly a joy forever from the benchrest. Recoil in the field when hunting is not as big a factor, given the body's "give" and one's adrenalin when shooting game. At the bench, sitting, recoil is felt to a greater degree.

Just offhand, if it wouldn't create hard feelings with your father, I'd keep the scope and rings and try to trade in the rifle on something in, say, .223. Fun for paper, no recoil, relatively inexpensive ammo.

What you have is a quite-adequate package for hunting deer or elk. It's just not a "range toy".

 

[rangerruck]

usually just by looking , you can see the nylon parts on the bolt assy., especially the endcap piece. But I allways liked the 710, and I allways thought that the stock was tailor made for your own special brew paint job, I have seen some darn good ones out there. I think it was the last year , or maybe two, of production, that they dropped the nylon parts.

 

[Ash]

For a free rifle, there isn't a thing wrong with the 710. I can't stand them, personally, and probably would view them as your dad did, but on the other hand, they are resonably accurate and can be scoped just fine. If it has the nylon inserts, it probably won't slick up, ever. But, it does remain a free rifle that will hunt just fine.

Ash

 

[Crazy Fingers]

It's a rifle meant for a blue collar guy with no money. Everybody knows someone like this. He's broke because he has 4 unwanted children and a fat wife, which drove him to spend what little money he had on alcohol. When he sobers up some, he can take his 710 out and poach some deer. When the warden takes it away, it's no big deal.

That's... halfway joking.

 

[B.D. Turner]

The 710 is not a bad rifle. I have owned one from almost the time that they came on the market. Mine is in 30-06 and shoots very well. I sat in a chair and worked the bolt over and over while watching TV. Working the bolt makes it work much better.

 

[Ash]

The problem with the 710 is that it is a cheaply made rifle that costs (especially when introduced) the same price as the far better Savage 110. The 770 is priced more than the 110 today and is only marginally better than the 710. The Marlin XL-7, the Mossberg 100ATR, and the Stevens 200 are all cheaper than the 770 and yet are better rifles. That is the problem, not their ability to kill a deer.

Ash

 

[jaholder1971]

It's a rifle meant for a blue collar guy with no money. Everybody knows someone like this. He's broke because he has 4 unwanted children and a fat wife, which drove him to spend what little money he had on alcohol. When he sobers up some, he can take his 710 out and poach some deer. When the warden takes it away, it's no big deal.

A bit cold-blooded, friend...

 

[AirPower]

What are the plastic parts on the 710/770? There are plenty of guns with polymer parts on nowadays. Is there a particular reason Remington doesn't use the polymer parts well?

 

[Seafarer12]

Well the price was fair. I wouldn't pay new prices for one when I could buy a better used rifle for the same price. It is one of those guns that will never increase in value. It would work as a truck gun or a loaner type gun.

 

[Ash]

We're not talking plastic stocks. Remington used the nylon to cut corners on polishing the receiver, which was itself a major cut corner being mild steel and all. The nylon didn't provide a slick action at all, but rather made it sticky and subject to binding. They have since discarded it in their 770 evolution of the 710.

Ash

 

[Art Eatman]

Rather than a bunch of non-helpful bum-rapping and snark, stick with the subject.

Art

 

[Crazy Fingers]

A bit cold-blooded, friend...

You're right. I apologize. I was trying to make a joke, but it was too over the top to be funny. There's actually nothing wrong with the rifle in terms of its functionality. It will work just fine. Enjoy it, and keep it around. One day you'll always remember your dad giving it to you. I have a really cheap, worn out, Marlin Model 60 that is even missing parts which my grandfather gave me. It has more sentimental value to me than anything else in my collection. So value is what you place on it.

 

[rangerruck]

look inside the receiver, and see if you see the rails, that dont look normal, then look at the bolt assy, real close, see if you see any nylon parts on it, especially the end piece, CLOSEST TO YOUR FACE!!!! YIKES.

 

[SteelyNirvana]

see if you see any nylon parts on it, especially the end piece, CLOSEST TO YOUR FACE!!!! YIKES.

Yeah, mine does have the plastic/nylon end cap on the bolt. Is there an all metal replacement for this gun? I took the bolt out, wiped off the old oil and put a few drops of 3-in-one on it and worked the bolt for about 30 minutes tonight. Its alot better now I can cycle it as fast as I won't without it hanging up. I noticed that the grip cap is missing from the buttstock tonight, is there a replacement that will work with the synthetic stock?

 

[Sunray]

"...meant for a blue collar guy with no money..." Like UAW blue collar workies guys? Those guys make more money than most white collar workies do. Up here, CAW plugs make $30Cdn per hour for their unskilled work. That's over 50 grand per year plus benefits without any OT.
The 710 was an entry level rifle. there is a current factory recall of them too. Go here. http://www.remington.com/safety/model_710_notice/
"...the bolt requires a gentle touch to open it..." It has a shorter 60 degree bolt throw vs the 90 degree throw of other rifles. Like most of us, you're used to a 'larger' bolt throw.
The important thing is that your da gave it to you. You might not have any use for a 710 .300 Mag either, but your da gave it to you when he could have sold it. If you don't want to use it, grease it up and put it away.

 

[sam700]

There have been times when I considered trying to find an unwanted 710 for cheap for something to keep in the trunk. For example, if hunting national forest land, you could keep the 710 in the trunk of you're car as a backup in case you have some unlikely failure of you're go to deer rifle. S8r I'd hate to leave a $700 gun in the trunk of an unattended car, but if the gun was free, I wouldn't worry about it too much. You could also consider it a loaner if you take a friend hunting for their first time.

 

[HB]

It's a rifle meant for a blue collar guy with no money. Everybody knows someone like this. He's broke because he has 4 unwanted children and a fat wife, which drove him to spend what little money he had on alcohol. When he sobers up some, he can take his 710 out and poach some deer. When the warden takes it away, it's no big deal.

That's why I bought one...

Its just an OK rifle for shooting a deer and putting the gun away

 

[jordan1948]

Let me ask this, will the bolt loosen up over time? I loaded the mag and was cycling (Trying to) the action to see how it would feed and everything. It seems like its a real PITA the ammo in the gun to open the bolt than with the gun empty. I'd hate to use this gun hunting and need a quick follow up shot because it won't happen with this gun. Any idea what is causing it to stick? As for me, I don't hunt so I'll primarily use this as a plinking/target shooting gun

I just soaked my bolt assembly with Remoil and worked it back and forth a LOT and now it's twice as smooth as it was when I bought it.