price check: early rem 700

[AiredaleTerrier]

Hi,

I don't have a current book of gun values so I thought I'd ask some guys who know these guns well.  I'm called on an ad for a 700 in 25.06.  Guy says it's like new, but without a box.  Walnut furniture and a high lustre bluing with no wear, scratches, dings, anything.  He claims it looks like it had the scope mounted and has sat in the cabinet since the early 70s.  The scope is some brand I never heard of, but it has Redfield mounts and base.

Thanks,
Eric

[Graybeard]

Going to assume it's a BDL not an ADL if so around here at least used older ones usually go for about $450. The bases/rings really add nothing to value but if they are what you want to use do save you a bit on buying some. The scope if an off brand adds zero and less than half new cost if a major brand name.

[AiredaleTerrier]

I got to look at this rifle in person.  The guy was calling the scope a "Micro Trac", but upon further inspection I could see under the rear ring "Weaver".  It's a 3-9x40 AO.  It does have a Redfield base and rings.  Everything is in new condition like the owner said.  You do have to take the safety off to cycle it though.  I'm not very familiar with the 700s, is this a gun I should stay away from?  I do know the newer ones can be cycled with the safety on.

Thanks...

[Brithunter]

If you like it and think the price is fair then buy it. If t doesn't speak to you or feel right to you then pass. I believe Remington can tell you when it was made, they have a list on their web site I seem to recall but a 1970's model 700 is not really an really an early one as surely they came out in 62? I am sure some of the Remington buffs can correct me if I am wrong 

[Swampman]

If the price is right I'd buy it.  That's a good scope.  If the safety bothers you, then return it to Remington and they'll change it for free.  If you don't like the scope, sell it on eBay.  That's what I do.

I would consider it an early Remington 700.

[charles p]

If you buy it, you'l probably never regret it.  That is a nice gun and a very good caliber.  A Remington receiver will bring almost $275 on today's market, and gunsmiths I know favor the older numbers.  It could be a great project gun even if the barrel is ruined.  My first scope was a 4X Weaver back in the 60's.  Wish I still had it.

If you already have several variable scopes, make sure the older Weaver turns up the same diriection as your other scopes.  I once had a Weaver that was threaded the opposite direction as old 3X9 Leupolds.  Gave me a fit in the field.

[AiredaleTerrier]

I can't get the guy to budge off of 600 for it.  It appears to be the BDL with the black forend cap, white trim and hinged floor plate.  You guys think this is too high?

[Swampman]

I think that's all it's worth on a very good day to the right customer.  I wouldn't give that, but then I'll never be a .25-06 man.  A new 700BDL without scope cost more than $600.00.

[Rangr44]

[I can't get the guy to budge off of 600 for it.  It appears to be the BDL with the black forend cap, white trim and hinged floor plate.  You guys think this is too high?]

Very.  A 98% Rem 700 BDL would tag at $430 retail  - from a dealer with at least a 30-day warranty.

.

[Swampman]

Don't forget the scope and mounts.  They are worth something.  It also depends on where you live.

[Graybeard]

I love my Remington rifles but I would NOT put $600 in that particular rifle.

This has nothing to do with this post but I'm gonna toss it here anyway.

Long long years ago I had just begun hunting deer and didn't own a suitable rifle for the task. I had borrowed one from my cousin to use on that hunt and on our way back we stopped at the Carlisle Hardware Store at Lenlock in Calhoun County, Alabama. The fellow who owned the store was named Erman Ogborn yes that's the correct spelling.

I asked him if he had the rifle I wanted which as I recall was a Remington 742 carbine in .30-06. He offered me instead since he didn't have that a 742 rifle not carbine, a Ruger .44 mag carbine and numerous others I've long since forgotten and each time I said no that is NOT what I told you I want do you have it or not.

Finally he said to me I'm gonna find out if you are a buyer or a talker. Mine you I had never met him prior to this day. He pulled from the shelf a used but almost as new Remington Model 700 BDL in .25-06 with scope and sling. I've long since forgotten what scope was on it. I handed it back to him and said that's not what I want. He said but you've not heard the price yet. I said OK what is the price. He said to you today right now only $75 out the door.

Needless to say me and it went home together. He and I became good friends and I bought many guns from him over the years many at super bargains but never another quite that good. I even took off from work a week and helped him run the store once at no salary to me when I walked in one day and he had fired all his employees cuz someone was stealing from him and he couldn't figure out who.

I toss it in her cuz that rifle I walked home with that day is likely just about identical to the one in question here. Yeah mine was worth way more than $75 but this one you are looking at is not worth $600.

[burntmuch]

$600 buys alot of gun if your looking at used ones. Id pass on this one. Easy for me to say. I dont got $600 right now

[AiredaleTerrier]

That's a good story GB.  I haven't been anywhere to see what guns are going for besides on here.  Most of my time is spent in the T/C and NEF stuff to boot.  Been building a pole barn and working overtime, so it doesn't leave much shopping time.  I appreciate everyone's insight.  I'm thinking maybe wait and see if I can make it to Tulsa, never been.  Thanks for all the help!

[Graybeard]

I probably bought at least 150 guns likely more from Erman before the IRS came looking for him for tax evasion. Last I heard he was somewhere in South America where there is no extration treaty. I dunno where he is or if he is even still alive but where ever he is I wish him well I sure got some good deals from him.

Once he sold me a S&W 41 in almost new condition for I think about $60 or $80. He sold me a Python once so cheap that when I sold it to a dealer in B'ham I made a profit.

After I helped him that week he took in a set of cased Remington 1100 small bore shotguns a matched pair of 28 and .410 in a very limited edition of perhaps 750 or at most 1500. He charged me $200 for the pair in case. I already had a matched pair of 870s in 28 and .410 they put out in the same general time frame.

In a life time of buying guns I have a lot of stories like these. I haven't kept an accurate count but by now I'm sure I'm well over the 400 mark in guns I've had go thru my hands. Sadly I wasn't smart enough to hold on to very many of them and sure have some regrets about many I've let get away.

[Drilling Man]

You do have to take the safety off to cycle it though.  I'm not very familiar with the 700s, is this a gun I should stay away from?  I do know the newer ones can be cycled with the safety on.

  I want to talk about the older safety that some seem to think is unsafe...

  I don't get it?  Is there a problem with doing what you SHOULD do anyway, and that is, to keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction??  IF you have the muzzle pointed in a safe direction, what's the big deal about the gun being able to fire for the fraction of a second while you push the safety ahead and open the bolt??  That's the only time the gun could fire, you don't have to cycle the rounds into the chamber to unload the magazine...  You point the bbl up, push a round out of the magazine, and let it fall out into your hand, "without" ever chambering the round.

  I'd MUCH rather have the older safety that locks the bolt closed when it's on safe...  There's NO chance of the bolt lifting while going through brush.  (yes i've seen it happen)

  YOU ARE THE SAFETY, nothing on any gun is "safe" if YOU aren't!!

  DM

[Graybeard]

I actually preferred the older safety.

[Doe Dumper]

GB.. Love your stories...lol. I wish I had some of that luck you have running into deals like that.