Understanding the Heart of the Matter: The Remington 700 Long Action
The Remington 700 rifle is an undeniable legend in the firearms world, a name synonymous with accuracy, reliability, and a vast legacy of successful use across diverse applications. This platform has served countless hunters, target shooters, and military personnel. Within the broader family of Remington 700 rifles, the Long Action (LA) model stands out for its compatibility with a specific range of powerful cartridges and its contribution to long-range shooting and hunting applications. This article offers an in-depth exploration of the Remington 700 Long Action, examining its design, history, and its continued relevance in the modern shooting world.
Before diving into the specifics, it’s crucial to understand what defines a Remington 700 Long Action. Essentially, the “Long Action” designation refers to the length of the receiver, the main housing that contains the bolt, trigger, and other critical components. The Long Action receiver is designed to accommodate longer cartridges. These longer cartridges typically hold more propellant, resulting in higher muzzle velocities and increased effective range.
The Long Action differs significantly from its “Short Action” counterpart. Short Action rifles are tailored for shorter cartridges, often resulting in a slightly lighter and potentially faster-cycling rifle. However, the Long Action provides the platform needed for cartridges such as the .30-06 Springfield, .300 Winchester Magnum, and the 7mm Remington Magnum, all well-regarded for their power and long-range capabilities.
The Remington 700 Long Action platform offers key shared characteristics across the entire model line. The iconic design of the bolt action, featuring the two-lug bolt, and the smooth cycling operation remains consistent. Furthermore, the foundation of its trigger system, renowned for its crisp break, is present, though customizations and upgrades are frequent. The Long Action therefore offers not only the potential for extended range, but also inherits the fundamental design elements that have made the Remington 700 a renowned platform.
A Chronicle of Excellence: The Evolution of a Legendary Rifle
The Remington 700’s story begins in the early 1960s. Remington Arms Company aimed to produce a bolt-action rifle with superior accuracy and robust construction. This endeavor resulted in the Remington 700, instantly becoming a popular choice among hunters and target shooters. The Remington 700 series replaced the Remington Model 721 and Model 722, marking a shift toward a more modern and refined design.
The Long Action version quickly emerged, accommodating the prevalent and increasingly popular longer cartridges of the time. This versatility immediately solidified the Remington 700’s appeal, as it could be configured for a broader spectrum of hunting applications and long-range endeavors.
Throughout the years, the Remington 700 Long Action has seen various iterations and model designations. The BDL (Deluxe) models, with their more ornate stock designs and enhanced features, provided a refined aesthetic. The ADL (American Deluxe) offered similar performance with slightly simpler features, maintaining the rifle’s core functionality. The SPS (Special Purpose Synthetic) models, with their synthetic stocks, provided a rugged and weather-resistant option, and remain favored in many applications. Each evolution reinforced the Remington 700’s reputation for quality and performance, expanding the rifles use by military and law enforcement and solidifying its place in the sporting world.
The impact of the Remington 700 Long Action on the shooting world is immense. It set a standard for accuracy and reliability, inspiring countless competitors to achieve significant accomplishments. Its design principles influenced other rifle manufacturers, and its popularity spurred an enormous aftermarket industry dedicated to customizing and improving the platform. The Remington 700 Long Action, in a very real sense, helped shape what we know about modern bolt-action rifles.
Decoding the Design: Key Features of the Long Action
The core of the Remington 700 Long Action lies within its receiver, crafted from strong steel to withstand the pressures generated by high-powered cartridges. The robust construction ensures long-term durability and consistent performance. The receiver is precision-machined to exact tolerances, providing a solid foundation for the action and contributing significantly to its inherent accuracy.
The heart of the rifle’s functionality is the bolt, which is a critical element of this platform. Its design incorporates a pair of locking lugs that engage with the receiver, securely locking the cartridge in place during firing. The bolt’s robust design also allows for smooth and reliable extraction and ejection of spent casings, ensuring that the rifle operates seamlessly.
The trigger system is another critical component, offering a crisp and predictable break which is important for accuracy. While the factory trigger is generally adequate, the Remington 700 platform offers vast opportunities for trigger customization. Aftermarket triggers are widely available, allowing shooters to fine-tune the trigger pull weight, creep, and break characteristics to their individual preferences, maximizing accuracy and providing greater control.
The interaction between the receiver and the stock is a significant aspect of the overall performance. Proper bedding of the action within the stock is crucial for minimizing stress and maximizing accuracy. The Long Action receiver is designed to integrate seamlessly with a variety of stock options, from classic walnut to modern synthetic materials. Pillar bedding, where pillars are incorporated into the stock to provide a more rigid foundation, is a common and often highly effective customization.
For mounting optics and accessories, the Long Action receiver usually has pre-drilled and tapped holes. These allow for easy mounting of scope bases, offering a wide selection of options to accommodate various scope designs and shooting preferences. The Long Action’s design readily accepts rails, giving shooters maximum flexibility.
A World of Choices: Cartridges and Calibers Suited to the Remington 700 Long Action
The Long Action is known for its adaptability to a wide range of powerful cartridges. This versatility is one of the primary reasons for its sustained popularity. The .30-06 Springfield, a classic American cartridge, has found a home in the Long Action, demonstrating its suitability for a wide range of hunting scenarios. The .300 Winchester Magnum offers greater long-range capability. The 7mm Remington Magnum delivers exceptional flat trajectory and has served as an excellent choice for long-distance hunting. These are but a few examples of the many calibers that can be used with the Long Action.
When choosing a cartridge for a Remington 700 Long Action, considering intended use is important. For big game hunting, cartridges like the .300 Winchester Magnum and the 7mm Remington Magnum are commonly used. For varmint hunting, the Long Action might be less common, but you can choose from a wider selection of cartridge options.
The choice of a caliber also depends on your needs in relation to long-range shooting. Ballistics, recoil, and the availability of ammunition all play a role. The .300 Winchester Magnum and similar cartridges offer flatter trajectories and increased range, while the .30-06 Springfield provides a good balance of performance and availability.
Enhancing Performance: Customization and the Aftermarket
One of the most compelling aspects of the Remington 700 Long Action is the enormous aftermarket support it enjoys. This allows shooters to personalize and enhance their rifles according to their specific needs and preferences. The availability of aftermarket parts is massive, providing endless opportunities for optimization.
The process of customizing a Remington 700 Long Action can provide improvements for accuracy and enhance the user experience. This might involve fitting a new stock to better fit the shooter, or upgrading the trigger to provide a more predictable pull. The barrel can be replaced to modify the rifle’s capabilities or replace a worn barrel.
Common modifications include replacing the stock, upgrading the trigger, and installing a new barrel. Bedding the action in the stock can significantly improve accuracy by ensuring that the receiver is held firmly and consistently. Aftermarket companies make the components that fit the Remington 700 Long Action readily accessible to shooters.
Accuracy and the Pursuit of Precision
Achieving optimal accuracy with a Remington 700 Long Action involves many factors, the quality of the barrel being a major influence. A well-made barrel with precise rifling ensures that the bullet exits the muzzle with consistency, resulting in tight groupings on the target. The choice and mounting of the scope also has a major impact on accuracy.
Ammunition selection is another key area for precision. Reloading, or the process of hand-loading your own ammunition, allows shooters to tailor their loads to the specific characteristics of their rifle, maximizing performance. Even with factory ammunition, experimentation and the proper choice of bullet weight and type can produce excellent results.
The technique of bedding the action, either with conventional bedding compounds or using pillar bedding, plays an important role in providing a stable and consistent platform for the action. A well-bedded rifle exhibits less movement during firing, leading to improved accuracy.
Expected accuracy can be exceptional. When properly set up and expertly used, a Remington 700 Long Action rifle can achieve sub-MOA (Minute of Angle) groups, meaning that the shots will consistently fall within a circle that is one inch in diameter at a distance of one hundred yards. This level of accuracy makes the rifle ideal for long-range shooting, precision hunting, and competitive events.
Practical Applications: Where the Remington 700 Long Action Excels
The Remington 700 Long Action finds application in several fields, due to its versatility and long-range shooting capabilities. In hunting, the Long Action is used to target bigger game animals such as elk, moose, and bears, as well as medium-sized game such as deer and antelope. The wide range of compatible cartridges provides the power and accuracy needed for ethical kills at extended ranges.
The rifle has become a firm favorite in the field of long-range shooting competitions, where the objective is to hit targets at great distances. The Long Action’s combination of accuracy, powerful cartridges, and customizability makes it well suited to a variety of disciplines.
In military and law enforcement applications, the Remington 700 Long Action has also made a big contribution. Its accuracy and reliability are highly prized in sniper rifles and designated marksman rifles.
A Guide to Care: Maintaining and Troubleshooting
Proper maintenance is essential for ensuring that the Remington 700 Long Action performs reliably over many years of use. Cleaning after each shooting session will keep the rifle in optimal condition. Swabbing the barrel with a cleaning rod and solvents will remove powder residue and other fouling. Regular lubrication of the bolt and other moving parts will ensure smooth operation.
Common issues, such as accuracy problems, feeding issues, or trigger malfunctions, can often be addressed by routine maintenance. If accuracy deteriorates, first, inspect the scope mount and rings for looseness. Then check the barrel for fouling. If the feeding of rounds is unreliable, inspect the magazine and the chamber. If trigger pull is erratic, consider upgrading the trigger. If issues persist, seeking help from a qualified gunsmith is recommended. Safety is paramount when handling firearms. Always follow safe gun handling practices.
Comparing and Contrasting: Examining Alternatives
While the Remington 700 Long Action is a dominant force, other comparable bolt-action rifles are on the market. The Ruger M77 offers a strong reputation for reliability. The Savage 110 provides excellent value, and the Tikka T3x provides a reputation for out-of-the-box accuracy.
Each rifle has its strengths and weaknesses. When making your choice, consider the build quality, the availability of aftermarket support, and the performance that each rifle offers.
The Enduring Legacy: Conclusion
The Remington 700 Long Action continues to be a leading bolt-action rifle. Its reliable performance, versatile nature, and the huge aftermarket make it popular with hunters, target shooters, and others. The Remington 700’s design, combined with its adaptability to powerful cartridges, provides a unique capability for reaching long ranges. Its place in firearms history is secure.
The platform’s ongoing appeal is testament to its design and enduring reliability. The Remington 700 Long Action is an excellent choice if you’re looking for a rifle that can deliver accuracy, power, and the flexibility to take on a wide range of shooting challenges. The classic Remington 700 Long Action platform remains a reliable choice and will continue to provide service to the shooting community.
