Remington 783 - opinions?

filmjunkie4ever · Sep 12, 2014

There is a local store with a huge mark-down on these rifles.

279.99 plus tax.

Any opinions on the 783? There are all the standard and magnum calibers available in this model as long as supplies last.

I think about my Grampa in 1946 comparing the prices of the Model 70 from Big Red and the Model 721 (an economy grade rifle) from Big Green.

He went with the Remington and even though I'm a Model 70 guy, those 721s were accurate and much more handsome than today's economy grade rifles.

Maybe should just look for a used Savage 110 or Remington 721 I guess.

DrMike · Sep 12, 2014

Made to compete with the Savage Axis or the Tikka T3, my understanding of the 783 is that they are rough but can be quite accurate. Haven't shot one myself, however.

Dr. Vette · Sep 12, 2014

Buy a used Vanguard for $300 and have a much better rifle.

Go check them out - like many of today's entry level rifles they look cheap and feel cheap. Probably great if you want a throwaway rifle or something to stick under the seat of the truck, but if you expect to keep it, cherish it, enjoy it, well then...

Darkhorse · Sep 12, 2014

I've read some about these rifles and looked at the photos. I haven't actually held one though. They don't make it in LH so I wouldn't buy one for myself, my son maybe.
Personally, I think they have a lot of potential. I like the way they have built the action, it should be good and rigid.
I would need a new trigger most likely.
The stock is pillar bedded but I don't think pillar bedding does squat for accuracy. I know I'll get some flack for that, but it's my opinion. The original reason for Pillar bedding was benchrest shooters found that the wood fibers in the stock were compressing and they were having a hard time holding torque on the receiver screws.
So, one of the first things I would do is to glass bed the recoil lug, front ring and tang, at the least. Maybe an entire action bedding would be better.
I don''t know how the bolt is put together so I wonder about the possibility of the bolt handle coming out.
I think it may be like the old 788 as some of them outshot the flagship M700. I had one of these in .243 and one in 22-250 and with a little stock and trigger work they both shot lights out.
If I could pick one up cheap enough I'd like to work one just to see.

taylorce1 · Sep 14, 2014

Sportsman's Warehouse was blowing these out for $199 after $40 mail in rebate. I handled one and they are so butt heavy and they point like crap that I couldn't bring myself to buy one. I'm not saying they wouldn't serve a person well, I just had no use for a cheap rifle. Besides Walmart is selling m700 ADL rifles for $297 right now with a camo stock and crappie scope.

nvbroncrider · Sep 18, 2014

I wouldn't touch it with a ten foot pole. Spend a little extra and get a new savage first. Or go with the Marlin XL7 Bullet reviewed one and was very impressed with it. I'd personally save up the money and look on GB for a used 70 77 or 700. What caliber are you looking at?

Darkhorse · Sep 18, 2014

Darkhorse":2a23muwc said:
I don''t know how the bolt is put together so I wonder about the possibility of the bolt handle coming out.
.

I've since read that the bolt handle itself is some kind of synthetic instead of steel. I don't think I could handle that myself. Seeing as I'm an oldtimer and think the entire bolt should be made of good steel.
Some of the younger generation probably don't mind such as this.