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TheRemington Model 700 is part of a series ofbolt-action (latersemi-automatic 7400 series)centerfirerifles manufactured byRemington Arms since 1962. It is a progressive variant of theRemington Model 721 and Model 722 rifles series, which was introduced in 1948. TheM24 andM40 militarysniper rifles, which are both based on the Model 700 design, are in use by theUnited States Army andUnited States Marine Corps, respectively.
The Remington 700 series rifles feature a 3, 4, or 5-roundinternal magazine depending on thecaliber. Some models include a hinged floor plate for quick unloading and can also be configured with a detachablebox magazine. The Model 700 is available in many differentstock,barrel, and caliber combinations, with many third-party and aftermarket variants built on the sameaction footprint. From 1978 to 1982,Remington offered theSportsman 78, which had the same Model 700 action but with lower-cost features, such as a plain, non-knurled stock.
AfterWorld War II,Remington Arms engineerMerle "Mike" Walker designed lower-cost alternatives to theModel 30, resulting in theModel 721. These used a cylindricalreceiver produced from cylindricalbar stock that could be turned on alathe rather than machined in a series ofmilling operations which significantly reduced production costs. Additionally, small metal parts, such as thebottom metal, werestamped, and the stocks were finished to a lower standard than previous models. The Model 721 saw further development under the direction of Walker, which resulted in the Model 722, 725 and ultimately the Model 700 in 1962.[1]
Walker sought to increase the rifles' accuracy by utilizing tight tolerances in the chamber and bore, a short leade, and a much fasterlock time. Like the earlier Model 721, the Model 700 was designed for mass production. Remington initially produced two variants of the Model 700, the ADL and BDL, in both long-action and short-action rifles that allowed for the chambering of different cartridges.
In 1969, Remington introduced several upgrades to the rifle, including a more extended rear bolt shroud, a jeweled bolt, and improved stock finishing. Four years later, the production of left-handed versions of the rifle began to compete with theSavage Model 110, the only primary rifle manufactured with a left-handed variant. Since then, various versions of the gun have been introduced, including thetitanium receiver 700 Ti, the 700 SPS (which replaced the ADL in 2005), and the CDL. In addition to it being catered as a hunting rifle, the Model 700 also provided the basis for military and policesniper rifles, starting with theM40 rifle in 1966, which the U.S. Marine Corps initially ordered. The U.S. Army adopted theM24 Sniper Weapon System in 1986.[2]
The Remington 700 is amanually operated bolt-action rifle with two forward dual-opposed lugs. The bolt face is recessed, fully enclosing the base of thecartridge. Theextractor is a C-clip sitting within the bolt face. The ejector is a plunger on the bolt face actuated by acoil spring. The bolt is of three-piece construction (head, body, and bolt handle), brazed together. The receiver is milled from round cross-section steel.[3]
The Remington 700 is available in numerous variants.
The rifles are designed to accept different magazine configurations — a blind magazine without a floor-plate, a conventional magazine with a detachable floor-plate, and a detachable box magazine. There are standard consumer versions as well as versions designed for military and police use. Some variants also havebipods,slings and other accessories.[7]
Remington produces the Mountain LSS model with a stainless steel barrel and laminated stock. Heavy barrel versions with laminated stocks like the Model 700 SPS Varmint are available forvarmint hunting. The Model 700 ADL was replaced as the most economical Model 700 by the Model 700 SPS (Special Purpose Synthetic) in newer production.[8]
Remington also produced a 700 ML (muzzleloader) rifle from 1996-2004.[9]
The EtronX electronic primer ignition system was implemented in the Model 700 EtronX introduced in 2000, though this model was a commercial failure and ceased production in 2003 along with the EtronX primers.[10]
Remington markets the 700 to military forces and civilian law-enforcement agencies under the "Remington Law Enforcement" and "Remington Military" banners, with the military/law enforcement 700s referred to as the Model 700P ("Police").[11][12]
The 700P series was influenced by the designs, features and success of the M24 Sniper Weapon System and theM40 series; for instance, the Model 700P series features a heavier and thickerbarrel for increased accuracy and reduced recoil.[citation needed]
The rifle is chambered for the.308 Winchester cartridge as well as the.223 Remington,.243 Winchester,7mm Remington Magnum,.300 Winchester Magnum,.300 Remington Ultra Magnum and.338 Lapua Magnum. The 700P has a 26" barrel and aluminum block bedding in its stock made by HS Precision.
Remington also sells the standard U.S. Army-issueLeupold Mark IV M3 10x40mm telescopic sight used by the Army's M24 as an optional feature.
Remington offers similarly styled, less expensive versions under the Special Purpose Synthetic (SPS) name.[13]
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Both the U.S. Army's M24 Sniper Weapon System and U.S. Marine Corps'M40sniper rifles are built from the Remington Model 700 rifle with different degrees of modification, the main difference being the custom fitted heavy contour barrel and action length. The M24 utilizes the long action and the M40 employs the short action bolt-face, as the M24 was originally intended to chamber the longer.300 Winchester Magnum round. The M40, however, was not intended to chamber the more powerful .300 Winchester Magnum round, yet the Marine Corps' intention was to migrate to the .300 Winchester Magnum cartridge. The Marine Corps' delay led to a change in the migratory direction. The goal was for the M40 to become a rifle chambered in.338 Lapua Magnum.[14]
The United States Army's Joint Munitions and Lethality Contracting Center awarded Remington aFirm Fixed Price (FFP)Indefinite Delivery/ Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract (W15QKN-10-R-0403) for the upgrade of up to 3,600 M24 Sniper Weapon Systems (SWS) fielded to the Army, pending type classification as the “M24E1”.[15] The major configuration change for this system was the caliber conversion from 7.62mm NATO (.308 Winchester) to .300 Winchester Magnum to provide soldiers with additional precision engagement capability and range. The contract was for a five-year period with a guaranteed minimum value of $192K and a potential value of up to $28.2 million.[16] This award followed a full and open competitive evaluation lasting nine months, which began with the release of the Army'sRequest for Proposal (RFP) on January 13, 2010. The program was executed under the authority of Project Manager Soldier Weapons,Picatinny Arsenal,New Jersey, and managed by its subordinate unit, Product Manager Individual Weapons.[citation needed]
In 2009, the U.S. Army changed the weapon name from M24E1 toXM2010 Enhanced Sniper Rifle.[17]
The Remington Model Seven carbine is a compact version of the Remington 700 built around a short action and chambered in the.223 Rem and.308 Win class cartridges. Introduced in 1983, the stock is shorter than the standard version with the barrel being only 18.5".[18]
Australia:New South Wales Police ForceState Protection Group[19]
Canada:Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).[20]
China: Remington 700 PSS used byPeople's Armed Police[21]
Indonesia:Komando Pasukan Katak (Kopaska) tactical diver group andKomando Pasukan Khusus (Kopassus) special forces group.[22]
Israel:Israel Police andIsrael Defense Forcesspecial forces, replaced byMauser 86 SR andM24 SWS[23]
Malaysia:Pasukan Gerakan Khas (PGK).[24]
Philippines:Philippine Marine Corps (PMC).[25]
Sierra Leone:Sierra Leone Police[26][self-published source?]
Ukraine:Ukrainian Army[27]
United States:United States Border Patrol,[28]United States Marine Corps,United States Navy,United States Army,[29]Cambridge Police Department (Massachusetts).[30] | This section needs to beupdated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. Last update: February 2017(May 2022) |
Thousands of Remington Model 700 customers have complained to Remington that a defect in the trigger mechanism could cause the gun to be fired without the trigger being squeezed.[31][32] Remington received nearly 2,000 complaints from 2013 through 2016[32] and 150 lawsuits had been filed against Remington alleging injury or death related to the trigger.[32] Lawsuits have alleged that Remington covered up a design flaw in the trigger mechanism, resulting in dozens of deaths and hundreds of serious injuries.[33] Aclass-action lawsuit alleges Remington knowingly sold adefective product.[32] TheAttorneys general from nine states and theDistrict of Columbia objected to the proposed settlement in the class action, saying that Remington has "long known" of the defect and that the proposed settlement "fails to adequately protect public safety."[34]
On October 20, 2010,CNBC televised the first in an ongoing investigative series,Remington Under Fire: a CNBC Investigation, reporting that the trigger mechanism used prior to 2007 on the Model 700 could fire without the trigger being squeezed. The report stated that Remington has received thousands of customer complaints since the firing mechanism was introduced in the 1940s and that nearly two dozen deaths and hundreds of injuries had been attributed to inadvertent discharges of 700 series rifles. Through internal Remington documents, the program showed that on multiple occasions the company considered recalling the product.
The inventor of the firing mechanism,Mike Walker, 98 years old at the time of the documentary, told CNBC he proposed what he called a "safer trigger" back in 1948 while the product was still in the testing stage. Walker said his enhanced design was rejected because of the added cost, 5.5 cents per gun (adjusted for inflation: $0.72).[31] Critics of the documentary countered that every incident featured on the program involving loss of life was the result of firearms mishandling, where owners pointed their rifles at other human beings.[35] Remington responded with the Remington Model 700 Network, which gave direct rebuttals to the program, and their perspective on the incidents the program described.[36] Remington dismisses the allegations, pointing out that in every case either trigger mechanisms of the rifles were adjusted or altered beyond recommended specifications,[37] with rifles being poorly maintained and left to rust, or due to the misuse of the rifles. Those involved admitted to police they might have "possibly" pulled the trigger.[36]
Though Remington has since changed to a new, cheaper, trigger mechanism design, the original Walker trigger is still produced for theU.S. military and buyers of custom rifles.[36]
On December 6, 2014, Remington announced that as a part of actions put into place to settle multiple lawsuits and to avoid future legal actions, they are replacing all triggers in the Model 700s.[38] Over 7.85 million rifles were included in this agreement, making all of them eligible for replacements.
On February 19, 2017,CBS News'60 Minutes aired a segment on the Remington 700 trigger mechanism safety. The episode highlighted incidents of accidental deaths as a result of Remington 700s firing without the trigger being initiated, problems with Remington's trigger mechanism replacement program, and a class-action lawsuit filed by Remington owners.[32]
