760 or 7600 in .30-06? Which to choose?

[messer454]

Guys I did a search but couldn't find an answer.  I am thinking about getting a Remington Pump Rifle because I love my 870.  I searched on Gunbroker and it seemed like the 760s that were in real good condition might go for most of a new 7600.  I will probably get .30-06 and in my mind older=better made at least some of the time.  So my question is....are the 7600s as good on average as the 760s?  If the 760s are better is one variation better than the other.  I see a lot of variation in forend design and they are starting to confuse me.  Here in Ohio there is almost never one of either around to look at and hold.  Semi autos rarely (7400?), pumps almost never.  Thanks for the help.  Aesthetics are not nearly as important to me as function, relaibility, and accuracy.

[Dave in WV]

IMHO the 760's were better made. The early 7600's may be up to the 760's but I'm not sure. There's is a definate difference between the current 7600's and 760's. The later production 760's seem to have stockes better suited to using with a scope (higher comb). Both are great rifles.

[tuck2]

 Check with Remington to see if factory parts are available  for the 740 and 760 model rifles.. before getting one..

[messer454]

Check with Remington to see if factory parts are available  for the 740 and 760 model rifles.. before getting one..

Good idea.  Thanks

[SteveHawaii]

I have a 760 made in 1966.  It's faired well over the years.  Appears to be better built then the current model 7600.  I haven't shot them but have handled them in the store.  They seem more plastic to me.  The action on my 760 is super smooth too, but maybe that just comes with age.  There are after market wood and many parts still available for the 760.  All I've done to it so far has been to install a scope.  It shoots real nice too.  Still working on loads but I've got it down to about 3/4 of an inch at 100 yards so far.  Not too bad for a slide action with me shooting it.

[wink_man]

I'm inclined to agree with Dave in WV that the 760 is a better made gun. Comb on the later production 760's is more than adequate for a scope mounted in low rings. As far as function, reliability, and accuracy, I can tell you I've been using my 760 carbine in 30-06 since the late 70's without a malfunction, and it's as accurate as any bolt gun I own.

You are right on the money as far as liking a 760/7600 because you like the 870. I drew the same conclusion in the late 70's, and never looked back.

Living in New Jersey, which is a shotgun only state for deer, and also hunting New York, which is a shotgun or centerfire rifle state I drew the conclusion that if I set up an 870 and a 760 right, it would be like using the same gun, no matter where I was hunting. It's still working for me, LOL. I've always titled this picture 'Eastern Deer Guns'

 

[High Brass]

I think that for the most part the M760s are better all around.   I bought my Dad (Dave in WV) a M7600 in 7mm-08 and while I don't think of it as a lemon it definately is a step away from the M760 (made in '75) that I bought from him.   There are three ways this particular M760 will leave my ownership: 1. The Good Lord needs a deer rifle,  2.  Dad wants it back,  3.  I was overran in my POS and KIA with it still in my hands.   I believe numbers

[v-man]

I had an old 760. Sold it after repeated extraction problems. The factory told me that 740's and 760's were not made for "lots of shooting" at the range and parts will wear out. My friend hunts with a 7600 in 06 and my wife in a .243. they work great but with synthetic feel more like toys than solid firearms.

[Dave in WV]

v-man, the bolt face prolly needed a good cleaning. Small bits of case brass can cause that problem. Any push feed design can have ejector problems too from the tiny bits of brass building up over time around the plunger. The extractor and ejector in a 760/7600 aren't really different than on a 700.

[Airsporter]

wink_man,

I think you won the Remington lottery for a 'stock' 760 stock -  !

[SteveHawaii]

v-man, the bolt face prolly needed a good cleaning. Small bits of case brass can cause that problem. Any push feed design can have ejector problems too from the tiny bits of brass building up over time around the plunger. The extractor and ejector in a 760/7600 aren't really different than on a 700.

Where do the small bits of brass come from?  I noticed this on the bolt of my 760 after shooting it this past weekend.  I don't see bits of brass on my bolt action or break open rifles.  I assume it's the ejector, but my bolt action has an ejector but doesn't make chips.

[smong2000]

I have both rifles at the moment, 1954 M760 and an early 7600, both in .270.  The 7600 has had a lot of custom work and weighs only 6.5lb with a 19" barrel.  If I didn't have a bunch of money in the 7600, it would go down the road and I'd keep the 760.  It feels much smoother and shoots as good or better with cheap factory than my fancy 7600 does with my tweeked reloads.  As it is now I'll probably trade off the 760 because it's so nice and I don't want use it and mess it up and besides the 7600 is doing what I need.  If I could start over, I would certainly find a 760 to customize rather than a 7600, and specifically look for the old style, before the glossy stocks just because I like the fit better with a low mounted scope.

BTW, neither of my pump rifles scrape off brass but I do have a 742 that does.  It comes from the shell rubbing on the upper locking lugs.

[wink_man]

wink_man,

I think you won the Remington lottery for a 'stock' 760 stock -  !

Agreed, always thought about 2 things after I purchased that gun, and still think of them today.

#1. I had to order the gun, seems carbines weren't in great demand, everyone was worried about velocity loss with the short barrel and while the gun shop had standard 760's in stock, not one carbine. Anyways, gunshop was right down the street from my house, when he called and said it was in, I went right down there, the box was still sealed. 5 guys behind the gun counter when the box was opened, and judging from the OOOOHHHS and AAAAHHHHHS when they did open it, I always felt I never would have gotten that particular gun if the box was opened before I got there.

#2. That wood is WAY above and beyond what should have come on a standard 760 in my opinion. I often wonder if someone up in Ilion NY was extremely unhappy with his employer on that day and decided to take some wood out of a bin meant for the custom shop and make someone elses day. If that was his intent, and he's reading this, I just want to let him know his mission was accomplished, in a big big way.