action comparison - rem 700, rem 798

[horseman308]

I'm in the market for a new all-around rifle. By that, I mean one that is used especially for hunting deer, but can also be used for wild boar/pigs, coyotes, and occasional long-range steel silhouettes for practice and fun (my dad built himself a range so I get to use it when I visit him). I'm really partial to the .308 but would certainly take a .30-06 if one came around and would consider other calibers of similar ballistic and recoil characteristic. My last centerfire was a Ruger #1 in .308 which I sold when I moved to a midwest state where its a shotgun only zone and only 2 weeks of deer season per year. Now that I'm moving back South with a longer firearms season and use of rifles, I need another.

With that background I wanted to get some of your opinions on action characteristics. I've shot the Remington 700 action the most (several hundred rounds on a few different guns), and I really don't like it. It feels kinda "sloppy" to me, even after getting broken in. I really haven't been nuts about the push-feed action on it. So in looking for other alternatives and like the things I've heard about the Mauser-type action such as the 798. I've never had occasion to use one and wanted to hear if anyone could provide a side-by-side description of the feel of a 798 action to the 700. I like the idea of the controlled feed on the 798 but hear that a Mauser-type action also feels kinda "sloppy." Does it take long to break it in? Does it stick or feel at all clunky once it has been shot a couple hundred rounds (I expect any action to feel a little sticky or clunky when new). How are the barrels on the 798's? Thanks for any info.

[horseman308]

Has nobody handled both of these rifles, and could give me your impressions. I didn't think the 798 was that new.

[Brithunter]

May I suggest that you ask about the Mark X or Zastava rifles after that's who I believe actually makes the 798. Remington only have their name on it.

However all Mausers ............. true Mausers that is have bolt slop when it's retracted all the way. It's the way they were designed for the battlefield and a Mauser should never stick which is why they are popular for dangerous game rifles.

If you want smooth and little bolt slop then I suggest you look at Mannlicher rifles. The Schoenauer and GK were known for have a bolt glide like it was on greased bearings  Sorry but I have not used nor really handled the modern Mannlichers so cannot really comment on them from personal experience but those that have them seem very pleased with their purchases.

Hopefully someone with experience of the 798 will come along 

[horseman308]

Okay, that makes sense. I heard someone once say that you could take a WWII era 1911 .45 and shake it and it would rattle really loudly - the point was that in order for it to function with all the grit and grime one picks up in a battlefield, there had to be more "space" between moving parts so that they wouldn't get jammed. Assuming that this is the same idea behind the Mauser, that makes much more sense. Thanks for the tip on the Mannlichers. That "greased bearings" feel is more what I'm looking for, but it may be beyond the average rifle's design these days.

[huntswithdogs]

Horse,
I don't knkow if you're gonna find what you are describing. Even the high dollar bench rest rifles I've shot have sloppy bolts when at the rear most of their travel. When I say "HIGH END", I mean some of these things cost more than my truck! What you should be looking for is a rifle that locks up solidly. The Mauser style action on the 798 is indeed the same as on a Mark X Inertarms. I've had my current Mark X for about 27 years and it well broken in. It's had the same feel to the bolt since it was new. My youngun has a 7Mag and I've had 2 300WMs all in the same action. Trouble free, reliable and strong. One of the best actions ever designed.


HWD