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OLD VS NEW

wbelcher
NEED HELP! I AM DEBATING WHETHER TO BUY A OLDER MODEL 700 BDL (1967) OR A NEW ONE. IS THERE ANYTHING ABOUT THE OLDER MODEL 700 BDL RIFLES THAT I NEED TO KNOW BEFOR I BUY. THANKS
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Comments

4 comments

Date Votes
  • tsr1965
    Provided the older ones have not been abused, and the barrel's rifling is in good shape, they are much better than today's current crop.

    Best
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  • sandwarrior
    Other than damage you may see, there isn't really any detractors from the BDL series of Rem 700's. If you can get it for a good price do so.

    As much as I have nostalgia for the older 700's (I feel the same way tsr1965 does) it doesn't mean they are better. The newer rifles have come up somewhat in accuracy. In the past they were the 'go-to' rifle for off the shelf accuracy. They, in my mind, have been supplanted by Savage as "The most accurate rifle off the shelf". They are gaining ground back though and 700's have a ton of aftermarket stuff for them that Savage is only beginning to break into.

    My bottom line with a 700 is cost. You will usually get very good quality with them and if purchased relatively inexpensively, they are a good foundation for a custom rifle.
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  • TWalker
    I bought two 98% mid 60's 700 BDL's fairly recently with Redfield scopes for about $450 each. One is a 7mm Magnum and the other is a 17 Remington caliber. Both are outstanding shooters and I honestly prefer them to my newer 700 BDL's which cost a good bit more. The early 700 ADL's are also great rifles and have metal buttplates and nicely finished stocks and bluing. I think the ADL's will outshoot the BDL's slightly. The only negatives are that the older 700's have pressed checkering instead of cut and the safety locks the bolt. To unload requires turning off the safety and that makes for unsafe unloading. However, Remington will fix that for you if you send them your rifle. Vintage 700's are some of my favorite rifles.
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  • Michibay
    Some of the very early 700's came with 20" barrels...a PLUS or Minus depending on your use. Also some of the early 700's in magnum calibers came with blued stainless barrels.
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