Value on a used Rem 700 LA

[ajandrs]

Last summer I found an old barreled Remington 700 LA (blued) with a shot out 30/06 barrel on it. It looked old and well used, definitely wasn't a safe queen ... but not something that couldn't be easily cleaned up and made new. I got it for practically nothing because the guy had no use for it and saw no potential for it where I saw it as a great platform to start a custom build. I've since decided to go with a 6.5 build and for that I need a short action. I know I could go with a 6.5x284 or 6.5x55 with this action but I'm not really interested in those calibers and am leaning towards the 6.5x47L.

Any idea on what this action is worth? I know new ones are in the $500 range so I'm thinking this has got to be worth at least $300, if not a little more but obviously my market is limited to someone looking to do a custom build with it. I've been keeping an eye on local pawn shops to try and find an old short action 700 to do a trade on but no luck so far.

Also, if you have a short action 700 for sale or trade PM me!!

 

[ants]

I used a long action for 308 Win. You can use it for your 6.5 build if you wish.
I just put a spacer in the back of the magazine box to keep the rounds forward
and used the follower and spring from a short action. It works perfectly.

Lots of people state that the short action is stiffer and stronger, thus more accurate.
But the Remington design is extremely strong. You can use it if you wish.

If you want to sell, judging by the actions I've seen recently, your "well used not a safe queen but can be cleaned up"
doesn't draw premium money, I sorta doubt you can get 300 but if someone pays the money... take it quickly.
After all, if they can get a new one for $500 they will. They won't buy yours for 300 and spend 200 cleaning it up.

 

[TTundra]

$400 gets you a brand new 700 Stainless action with trigger. I pick up well used 700's at LGS's for $300. Pull the barrel, stock, and BM and get around $100 for it, tops.

A older 700 action is about $200-$250, max. Even then you need to rip it all apart and make sure there aren't any hidden issues that may need to be corrected, extractor issues, etc.

 

[farmerboy78]

You could build a 6.5-06, I have one and its one hell of a cartridge! Have any pics?

 

[Gtscotty]

I saw some guys shooting built up 700's with Pac-Nor barrels in 6.5-06 at the range this weekend.... They looked pretty nice, and a 140 gr pill at 3k is a fair bit stouter than what the short action 6.5's will give you at sane pressures. I think they said that they convert 25-06 brass. Something to think about.

 

[farmerboy78]

Yeah! I'm using a Bartlein barrel on my rig!

 

[ajandrs]

If you want to sell, judging by the actions I've seen recently, your "well used not a safe queen but can be cleaned up"
doesn't draw premium money, I sorta doubt you can get 300 but if someone pays the money... take it quickly.
After all, if they can get a new one for $500 they will. They won't buy yours for 300 and spend 200 cleaning it up.

Yeah I wondered if $300 might be getting towards the high end. When I say "clean up" I mean blue print / true up the receiver and bolt and blast the rest of it so I figured even if you bought a brand new one for a custom build you're going to still do that anyway. Seems doing that is around $200 - $300 from the few smiths I've looked at. I'd rather buy a used receiver at a discount and true it up rather than pay for brand new and still have to do the same work, but then again that's just me.

 

[ajandrs]

I used a long action for 308 Win. You can use it for your 6.5 build if you wish.
I just put a spacer in the back of the magazine box to keep the rounds forward
and used the follower and spring from a short action. It works perfectly.

This was my first thought as well but when I talked to the shop about it they really didn't like the thought of using the LA for a SA caliber. I mentioned that I've read where lots of people have done it but they swore I'd have feeding issues ... or "could" at least. If I can find a SA for a trade or at a good price I think I'd like to go that route, but thank you for the suggestion, i'll keep it in my back pocket!

 

[ajandrs]

$400 gets you a brand new 700 Stainless action with trigger. I pick up well used 700's at LGS's for $300. Pull the barrel, stock, and BM and get around $100 for it, tops.

A older 700 action is about $200-$250, max. Even then you need to rip it all apart and make sure there aren't any hidden issues that may need to be corrected, extractor issues, etc.

If you find a 700 SA that you'll part with for $100 I'd greatly appreciate a PM about it!! I don't know if it's because rifle hunting is illegal in my state (IL) or what but finding old guns like that is pretty tough, or at least it is where I'm at.

I did some more searching online tonight and the cheapest 700 LA I could find was $450, a little more for the stainless version.

 

[ajandrs]

You could build a 6.5-06, I have one and its one hell of a cartridge! Have any pics?

It's at my smith's right now getting the barrel pulled, but I can post pics once I get it back. I didn't read too much about the -06 cartridge, I'll take a look at it. Thanks for the suggestion!

 

[ants]

Just as buddies talking (and I've done my small share of builds like you're considering)
Keep the long action in the drawer, you WILL do a long action build one day. Yes! You will!!!
And you got it at such a price. It will be priceless to you one day. When used actions are $1k.

Go slowly so you do all your own full satisfactory research on a short action.
Buy one when it is all right and the stars come together. A used 700 or a new 'Youth' rifle
are excellent to start with. Sell the parts you don't need for 1/4 their value.
You'll get a little money back, and make good friends who will always be valuable.
Take it step by step. Build your SA rifle. You will learn so much, and have such an excellent rifle!

Then, one day, you'll build that long action. Don't waste it. Don't sell it.
Believe me (from a decade of experience) you will be glad you kept it.

 

[ants]

Don't know why I didn't add this in the previous post:
I did a build on a Rem 700 that I got at WalMart (ha!!!) when deer season was over. Their regional headquarters
authorized clearance prices and I got one for $325. Now, this was 6 years ago, it might be more when
2016 deer season is over. Point is: End of season sales at big box stores are golden.
They're just thinking $ and cents. You are thinking base receiver for a build. Perfect storm.

 

[TTundra]

If you find a 700 SA that you'll part with for $100 I'd greatly appreciate a PM about it!! I don't know if it's because rifle hunting is illegal in my state (IL) or what but finding old guns like that is pretty tough, or at least it is where I'm at.

I did some more searching online tonight and the cheapest 700 LA I could find was $450, a little more for the stainless version.

I'm in Illinois too. I've found at least 3 700's this past year at Cabelas in HE for around the $300-$350 mark. I stopped buying there once the $25 fee was put in place. Maxons in DP gets them in now and then as well. Once stripped and sell off the parts, you'll have $200-$250 into an action easy.

Cabelas had a 700 in 8mm Rem, looked unfired or fired very little. Were asking $600 for it, should have bought that too. Even with the fee, that HE store has low prices on a good chunk of rifles.