Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Remington pump actions, 760 vs. 7600

Looking at auctionarms 4442607, a nicely restocked 1950s Remington 760. How does this differ from the 7600? Are the later guns better designed - were there improvements that make a difference? I have a 7600 .35 Whelen that is a terrific rifle except for a draggy trigger, some day I will have it fixed. The auctionarms 760 is pretty enough to think of rebarreling to .35 Whelen and then sell off my 7600, but not if the 760 is an inferior action.

I THINK they strengthened the pump on the 7600 so it would eject a little better(better rails). My uncle has a 760 in 270 and doesn't have trouble, so you might be OK.

The 760 had multiple small locking lugs on the bolt head (9, if I remember correctly), that lock in with the barrel extension. The 7600 has two larger locking lugs that do the same. I think the only other differences were basically cosmetic. I did buy an earlier production model 7600 in .308 that had the receiver scope base holes drilled and tapped the wrong size. Remington replaced the entire receiver for me, free of charge. The only really major screw up that I've ever experienced with any Remington, but then again I'm a Remington whore, so what do I know.

Miki,
I have an old 760, I am not sure of the year. A 30-06 that was a $75 bar-room purchase 15 years ago. 14 locking lugs, trigger sounds the same as yours, 1/8th inch of creep or more. Been fired enough that the firing pin rod is quite noticeably mushroomed. Loose jointed as hell, forend wobbles quite a bit, barrel has an obvious imperfection, crease, line or something 2 inches from the end of the muzzle spanning across two grooves, no blueing left on the sides and bottom of the receiver or muzzle. It should be put in some sort of gun retirement home. But...it still shoots right around an inch at 100, don't ask me how, and at least for me, has never failed to do exactly as designed years ago.
If you do end up with the old girl and get it rebarreled please post the details, who, where, etc. as I would like to rebarrel mine someday, just to make sure that one of my boys has an old faithful goto rifle, just in case he is ever hungry.

Shummy

I have a brand new 7600 - and have shot the 760 and the model 6 (which was the test bed for the new 7600 improvements - and a durn sexy gun too <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> )

The 7600 series is free floated. the 760 is not - it attaches to the barrel at the end of the slide.

The triggers on the new 7600's are about a billion times better. Which is to say, only mildly crappy. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> But they're better than many of the 'worked on' triggers i've seen. Still - she's not for the bench is she? Who really notices the trigger with a deer in the sights?

I believe the drop is less on the 7600's stock - they knew it'd be used with a scope, whereas the 760 still had the 'iron sight' eye level in mind. I don't know if that was for the whole run of the 760 - but someone told me that.

Both great guns. 7600 is probably a little better, if you're at the range and really measuring things. In the field? I dunno if you'd notice such a big difference unless you like the long range shots.

My Dad bought a 760 for my brother and me to use in 1967. He mounted a 6X Redfield scope. Caliber is .243 and we have had very good performance using this accurate rifle for antelope and mule deer. It has also been used for prairie doggin' and knocking over coyotes. Couldn't guess how many rounds have been fired through it.

According to my research, Remington's 742 automatic could not be chambered for the .270 cartridge due to the bolt mechanism. The 7400 incorporated fewer but larger locking lugs to accomodate the .270 cartridge. This new bolt was added to the new 7600 model which replaces the 760. Both actions share some duplicate parts. Even a few parts such as safety mechanism from the 870 Wingmaster shotgun are used. Truley an engineering marvel when you think about it.

The triggers in these rifles are easy to master with a small bit of practise. I disagree with anyone who says otherwise. The 760's and 742's I've handled are identical in their "feel".

Both the 760 and 7600 are very well built rifles. Accurasy, speed of cycling, safety, and overall balance are the strong points. My sole gripe is the awkward insertion of the clip. I usually have to take my gloves off, hold the rifle upside down for insertion. Seems like its tighter than it needs to be. In contrast, the Savage 99 clip goes in and locks into place with ease.

In summary, the 760 is a very good rifle. The improved 7600 may be a better rifle mechanically but I'm not trading in our 760 for one. Used 760's can be purchased for about $300. in my area. To me at least, seems like a genuine bargain for a tack driving hunting rifle!
Buck

Only the early model 760's had the front barrel support bracket attached (non-free float). The great majority of the 760's were free floated barrels. All of the 7600's have free floated barrels.

Miki, hang on to the 7600. I have had both 760's and 7600's. tom

Miki,

I have an original Model 760 Gamemaster in 30-06, which my dad bought new back in the early-1950s. The gun always shot extremely well. In 1964 he put a 4x Bausch & Lomb on it via a strange mount - the windage & elevation knobs are on the mount - not the scope. He used to outshoot his buddies and their Model 70's with this rifle, and 1" groups with 180gr handloads were normal. I think these old 760's are very accurate. Unfortunately for me, I'm a fairly short guy and my arms are not as long as a tall guy, so the "reach" to the forearm is uncomfortable for me. As for triggers, I think it's just fine, but I've been hunting with a Savage Model 99 for decades, so I guess I'm used to crappy triggers and have no problems with them.

Cliff
Seattle

Yesterday I found a 760 in 257 Roberts at my favorite gun shop. They wanted around $330 for it. It's not in the greatest shape, but seems functional. Is that in the ballpark price wise, if it was $250 I would have walked out with it.

What gunshop is that? So far, I like Far West (Sandy) and the one on 62 between Wihte City abd CP--I can't remember it's name...............

Blaine

Gents

Thanks for all the valuable info, looks like for now I should hold onto the 7600 Whelen as mechanically definitely better than a 760. One point you guys did not mention was touched on recently by Mule Deer in the Gunwriter forum, discussing the 9.3x62 and its rivals, he noted that factory Whelens have a 1-16 twist which tops out stabilizing 250 grain bullets. Heavier bullets no go. In looking in my American Rifleman magazines from the 1920s Townsend Whelen and Griffin & Howe recommended up to 275 grain bullets in the .35. So if I indeed some day rebarrel a 760, I would go to a 1-12 twist, and also, to 24" or 26". Also, before doing anything, I am going to get Eugene Myszkowski's new book "Remington Autoloading and Pump Action Rifles" all about the 740, 760, 4,6, 7400 and 7600 rifles. Found it on ebay but the various internet book dealers have it too. I have his book on the Winchester Lee straight pull and there is a lot of good stuff in it.

Miki

Looks like I am going to get a 760 in 30-06. One thing I like about the rifle is it has to be one of the safest rifles on the market today. The safety is correctly positioned and in order to operate it a person would have to have his finger off the trigger. I have seen young men at the rifle range have their finger on the trigger of a Mod 700 as they disengaged the safety. As they rotated the safety forward their finger followed the natural rotation and set the rifle off. Thank God it was pointed down range, with only hearts being raced and not broken. Also the pump style can be operated without taking ones hands off the rifle and or having to manipulate the hands in order to get a follow up shot. The pump style also allows the action to be opened without disengaging the safety. The clip/magazine design also allows the rifle to be unloaded or loaded without running cartridges back and forth thru the magazine. Yep, I am sold. Probably wouldn't own anything else in a hunting rifle if I didn't already have some others. Great gun for a kid to learn on.

Yellowbear

I think that you can fire a Remington 7600 with the magazine removed. If so, that could lead to even more dangerous situations than those you are trying to avoid, since removal of the magazine without clearing the chamber could result in an accidental discharge. It happens all the time with pistols. Ya, its empty, I took out the magazine, bang.

Perhaps life would be safer, at least theoretically, if everyone used a Ruger #1 and had to make 1 shot count.

Jeff

In the mid 70's I picked up a 760 in .270 Win.for my ex. With a Siera 140gr and some 4350 it was one of the most accurate hunting rifles I've fired and that covers alot of rifles. I've been thinking about a 7600 to leave back in WI so I don't have to bother takeing one on the plane when I go back there to hunt deer.

erich