Remington Model 760 question
My father located and purchased a 760 30-06 for my Christmas present. It looked very old so I did some checking and found out that it was made in Nov 1952. According to Remington's website....that is the first production year. So now I have two questions:
1. Any Idea how much it is worth? There are no scratches on the stock and the blueing looks perfect as well.
2. Would it be a HUGE mistake to have it drilled for a scope? I have no plans of ever selling it, I just don't want to destroy a work of art. Hell, I'm half afraid of even taking it into the woods.
1. Any Idea how much it is worth? There are no scratches on the stock and the blueing looks perfect as well.
2. Would it be a HUGE mistake to have it drilled for a scope? I have no plans of ever selling it, I just don't want to destroy a work of art. Hell, I'm half afraid of even taking it into the woods.
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Sevnsola;
First,a first year production 760 in the condition you discribe would be worth as much as $1200. They are scare, especially in very good to excellent condition. Second, Yes,in my opinion, it would be a HUGE mistake to drill and tap it for a scope. Some where done at the factory, if so there will be four small screws in the top of the reciever.
In absence of the plug screws, I would not alter the rifle. Old guns, as a matter of course, are best left in there original configuration.0 -
One other note on this rifle. I do NOT ever plan on selling it. I had asked about the value just as a curiosity. Regardless, I am still reluctant to drill it for a scope. There are no holes there. 0 -
You have a fine hunting rifle. If it were in 222 or 257 Roberts caliber (or later production 223) you would have a very desirable collectable firearm with values reaching or exceeding the value posted by Python. However, the 30-06 is very common so the value would be more like $350. to $450. If I planned on hunting and keeping the rifle I would set it up the way I wanted it even if it meant drilling and tapping holes for a scope or receiver sight. My family presently has two of these rifes we hunt with (both in 35 Remington and both first year of production) one has been cut down to carbine length and had a scope installed. The other is factory original. I have had many of these guns pass through my store over the years and consider them one of the best hunting rifles ever made. 0 -
HUGE mistake does not begin to describe it. Those four little holes you are contemplating will cost you hundreds of dollars in value. If you want a modern rifle to scope, buy a used or new later version. Save this old rifle in its original condition. 0 -
Listen to the experts. You have a very fine rifle and probably the best Christmas present yet. Do something extra nice for your dad.
Pack slow, fall stable, pull high, hit dead center.<BR>0 -
Sevnsola,
Listen to all others except R J S.
Original condition is everything. You received a super gift.
For hunting, go out and purchase a used one. Not very expensive and you will maintain the original integrity of your rifle. Just look for
one that has excellent mechanics and bore. I have two pre 64 Winchester Model 70's that have no collector value as I hunted them
to death and they show all the marks of hunting. Drilling is a HUGE
mistake, as mentioned. You have a super father! 1010 -
Thanks to everyone that replied. My Dad was equally surprised when I told him how old the rifle was (he had purchased it for $225.) I'll probably refrain from drilling it, but I may use it from time to time. I'll also continue to look for another 760 that is not as old (I really like the 760 as opposed to the 7600....maybe I just like old guns.)
The funny thing is, I was originally searching for a 760 to use as a backup/replacement of my Win Model 88 (post-64) A fine firearm that I was looking to retire and keep for posperity. Of course once I find one.....I ended up stumbling into a collectors item. Damn the bad luck!!! heh heh. Looks like my search will continue.
Thanks Again,
Jim Urbine0 -
It will do you no good to not use this rifle. It was not meant to stay in the guncase. I agree not to drill but anything you own that you do not use is worthless.
If all the gift means is what it is worth in the future rethink.0 -
My two cents is this: If you re not planning on it's 'collector' value, and it's YOUR gun that YOU want to use as YOU see fit, then do what ever you want to it. Dang it, I'm so tired of these 'collector' people that have no imagination. I mean if something is done to a gun that improves it, then it should improve the value. Otherwise, we'd still have only the '93 mauser. The '95, '96. and the '98 would never have been invented. Look at the mausers, the German's Drilled and tapped a few and put scopes on them, and now they are called sniper rifles, and command the highest prices. I've seen old mausers that sold for $35.00, be sporterized to the max and sell for the thousands. Some people remind of horses with blinders on them. 0 -
My goodness, the statement that anything done to a gun that improves it should ADD to its value is one of the most ridiculous statements I have seen on these boards. I recently saw a four-digit Pre-WWI Colt Government Model that had been "targetized" and hard-chromed. No doubt, those "improvements" make the gun "better," but they reduced the value from perhaps several thousand dollars to an unmet asking price of $350, probably half of what was spent on it.
The example that, unless things were done to improve guns, we would still have '93 Mausers instead of '98s, etc., is totally off base. Drilling holes in a fifty year old gun is not the same as Remington building improved models as the design evolves over the years. Of course improvements should be and have been made by manufacturers. However, drilling holes in this wonderful old M760 is the same as "sporterizing" an original Mauser 93. The originality is being destroyed by an individual, which is not the same as evolution in the design by the manufacturer. The example of a "sporterized" Mauser being worth thousands more than one of several million original military surplus rifles is off base as well. The value of a custom-built Mauser rifle by a well-known builder is in the additions and the reputation of the builder, which the market values, while the value of holes in this M760 is negative, something the market does not value and instead penalizes. How does a fancy stock blank worth several thousand dollars improve a military 98 Mauser, when the original stock is undoubtedly stronger?
Anyone can ignore collector value if so desired. That is the owner's right, but why destroy value just because you can? Do you kick dents in your new car just because you can? Do you paint your house pink with blue stripes just because you can? Probably not. It is common to try to preserve value, not diminish it.
I think we owe it to our gun heritage to preserve old guns that have survived decades in original condition, not destroy them just because we can. Sell the M760 for its collector value and buy two or more shooters with holes already in them if you must have the holes.0
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