New Production Remington 700 CDL

[Joec7651]

That's really cool what kind of prices are they demanding for them

It was $930 with free shipping to my local shop. It’s not a steal, but I can live with that price. I’d like it to be lower but that’s what the lower price point is right now.

 

[Joec7651]

Ok I’ve received it and just finished giving it a once over. I was looking for anything wrong with it. I found nothing that disappointed me. Fit and finish is perfect. Tight wood to metal fit, blued finish is perfect without any flaws I could see, and the stock has no flaws with nice grain to the walnut.
The bore and chamber without question have the smoothest finish I’ve seen in a factory rifle. Maybe it’s due to the hammer forge tooling is new but it’s great. Bolt is smooth, and I’m surprised to say theres no creep or over travel in the trigger. Clean break. I was going to add a Timney but think I’ll keep it as is.
The scope is a Nikon Buckmaster I bought new a few years ago and never used. It’s mounted simply to have a scope on it. I’m picking the Leupold VX-Freedom CDS 4x12 up tomorrow. It will be what it wears permanently.
I have to say Remington can be proud of their work. They built me a great rifle. I’d lay down the money for this rifle again without hesitation. I was looking for something wrong with it. There just isnt anything there to make me complain. I’ll know more when I shoot it. If it shoots as good as it looks it’ll be a keeper.

Edit: The magazine box will accommodate an OAL of 3.700”. I have some Berger 180’s loaded for another rifle and they cycled fine at 3.450” OAL. The throat looks to be a bit longer in this new one as well. Maybe they lengthened the mag box to better utilize the 8” twist.

 

[Joec7651]

The last 3 photos.

 

[ShadeTree]

It was $930 with free shipping to my local shop. It’s not a steal, but I can live with that price. I’d like it to be lower but that’s what the lower price point is right now.

If the quality and performance is up that is not bad. Used Remington's including those from questionable years that you never know for sure what you will be getting, have been running higher than that last I checked. And Winchesters have gone through the roof as well. I'm rooting for them. Put it up when you get it if you would along with what you think of it, and of course how it does shooting it.

Oops, too late, you beat me posting by a couple seconds. I like it!!

 

[ShadeTree]

Man, I'm super happy to hear your description and the pictures go along with it. I've seen a few bores in later Remington's including 1 of those 1 off per year SS Limited's that would not of been a cheap rifle, that was flat out embarrassing. That looks like a custom barrel inside. Hope she shoots for you.

I've been waiting on the right 7mm-08 to come along............if they're going to make a rifle like that, I'll just hold off and buy a new nice quality Remington.

 

[JD338]

Joe,
Your assessment is refreshing. Glad to hear that Remington is back and producing quality firearms. I'm looking forward to your range report.

JD338

 

[Joec7651]

I’m chomping at the bit to shoot it. The wind is whipping around at about 45-50 mph right now, or I’d go ahead and shoot it with the Nikon on it.
I‘ll send a few down range tomorrow. Get the Leupold on and boresighted, then make her go bang. I don’t care if there’s a hurricane blowing through I’m shooting this rifle in the morning. Lol

 

[DrMike]

It does appear to be well built, and that is a great thing. It will be good to see Remington back. And I say that as a Winchester fan!

 

[Joec7651]

I’ve always been more of a Winchester fan as well. My dad was Remington through and through. He’d always pick on me and say “You must get that bad taste in rifles from your mamas side of the family”.

 

[Yoteklr]

After doing a good bit of research on the new Remington QC improvements, and being very impressed with what they are doing. I ordered a new production 700 CDL in 7mm Rem Mag. I should have it in my hands this weekend.

It has a 26” barrel with 1:8 5r hammer forged barrel that’s stress relieved after the hammer forging. Satin AA Grade walnut stock and blueing, ebony forend with jeweled bolt. I’m looking forward to getting it and seeing how it shoots.

I love the things stated in the podcasts from Ken D’Arcy, the head honcho at RemArms.

They scrapped the old steel previously used and went with a higher grade steel for receivers and barrels. More difficult to machine but higher quality receivers, bolts, and barrels. The barrels are hammer forged with 5r rifling, updated twist rates, and stress relieved. Chambers are now 100% CNC cut to within .0002”, no hand finishing the chambers any more. Bolt face to breech tolerances are kept to .0002” as well. Bolt lug to receiver tolerances are kept to .0003”. The thread tolerances for mating barrel to the receiver is greatly reduced as well but I dont recall the exact number. He said tolerances were such that bolts from one new production 700 can be interchanged with another rifle, and as long as they have the same bolt face diameter headspace would be correct. That’s quite a statement. The recoil lug is also machined to within .0002” of being perfectly flat. Fit and finish has been refined as well. Yes the tolerances are in tenths of a thousand. Not a typo.

The thing that impressed me most was one statement. He said “It’s ok to build a budget rifle if that’s what your company does. Do it and do it well. We aren’t interested in making the model 700 a budget rifle. It’s an icon, quality and performance will match.“ I like that. I like that a lot.

I hope he wasn’t blowing smoke in the podcasts. I’ll know soon enough.

I’ll post a lot of pictures when I get it, along with how it shoots. From what I heard on the podcasts I’m expecting a high quality rifle deserving the Remington Model 700 name that’s stamped in the receiver.

How would I know the difference in the new vs old stock 700 if I were to look online?
Would it say Alpha 1?

 

[Joec7651]

New production 700’s have a serial number that begins with a RAR. Example, RAR054302. I called the retailer and asked what the SN began with to make sure. Also new ones have the rate of twist stamped in the barrel. Previous 700’s do not.
The Alpha 1 has a little different receiver than 700’s. They built it as a long range hunting rig. The bottom footprint of the receiver is the same as a normal 700. The top side of the receiver is round and doesn’t have the mauseresque contours of the traditional 700. The Alpha 1 also comes with a Timney trigger.

 

[Yoteklr]

New production 700’s have a serial number that begins with a RAR. Example, RAR054302. I called the retailer and asked what the SN began with to make sure. Also new ones have the rate of twist stamped in the barrel. Previous 700’s do not.
The Alpha 1 has a little different receiver than 700’s. They built it as a long range hunting rig. The bottom footprint of the receiver is the same as a normal 700. The top side of the receiver is round and doesn’t have the mauseresque contours of the traditional 700. The Alpha 1 also comes with a Timney trigger.

I found a picture, it looks like they have different floor plate release and ...bolt shroud maybe?

 

[Joec7651]

Yeah the A1 has a different shroud and bolt release. The bolt face and lug dimensions are the same.

 

[DrMike]

I’ve always been more of a Winchester fan as well. My dad was Remington through and through. He’d always pick on me and say “You must get that bad taste in rifles from your mamas side of the family”.

Touché! Note the tagline for SJB358. That'll do.

 

[RL338]

The magazine box will accommodate an OAL of 3.700”.

That’s a lot of room for a 7mm. They must be after the long range crowd with their heavies.

 

[Joec7651]

That’s a lot of room for a 7mm. They must be after the long range crowd with their heavies.

That’s what I was thinking.

I removed the bottom metal, and then the magazine box. Measured the magazine box with calipers and it was 3.700” on the nose for length. It adds a degree of versatility. I’d rather have the room and not need it than need it and not have it.

 

[wvbuckbuster]

Nice looking rifle Joe. Restores the confidence in Remington. Dan.

 

[Guy Miner]

That’s what I was thinking.

I removed the bottom metal, and then the magazine box. Measured the magazine box with calipers and it was 3.700” on the nose for length. It adds a degree of versatility. I’d rather have the room and not need it than need it and not have it.

I think that the 700 long actions have always been that way. Long enough for the .375 H&H without having to make an entire new action, even longer.

I can go measure one of mine.

Have two CDL's here - both have been great! I hope yours is even better. Thanks for the great photos of your new 7mm Rem Mag!

Guy

 

[RL338]

I think that the 700 long actions have always been that way. Long enough for the .375 H&H without having to make an entire new action, even longer.

I found out the Wby Vanguard is only 3.526” and they offered the 375H in it. Not sure how they made that one work

 

[Joec7651]

I found out the Wby Vanguard is only 3.526” and they offered the 375H in it. Not sure how they made that one work

Wow, no kidding? Hmmm