The Remington 700 is a bolt-action rifle mostly used for hunting and learning how to use a gun at a young age. The gun has a good history behind it and chances are you have one on your hand that was handed to you by your family.
If you have a Remington 700 and want to make it competitive by today’s standard and have a better shooting experience overall, then you might want to upgrade your Remington 700.
That’s where the issue is. Finding the best Remington 700 upgrades isn’t as easy as walking into the nearest Ikea and grabbing a pair of Alex drawers for your table. You will need to find out what’s worth upgrading and then make a list of how to handle it. Don’t worry, I took care of the findings for you. Without further ado let’s start.
Remington 700 Barrel Upgrades
The first thing you see lots of hunters do to their Remington is upgrade the barrel of it. It’s not that the stock barrel is bad or anything, but chances are your barrel is a bit worn down. And a sniper rifle’s accuracy mostly depends on a good barrel. So, it makes sense to upgrade the barrel of a 700.
1. Rem/Age Pre-Fit Barrel By Criterion Barrels
Criterion Barrels are one of the largest barrel manufacturers in the market. Their sniper rifle barrels are one of a kind. Made through CNC machining with proper coating and durable material, this barrel is a perfect fit for your Remington 700.
The barrel is constructed from 4140 Chrome Moly Steel. Tough and well-proven material to be effective in military-like situations as well. The inside of the barrel is polished. Thanks to that, you will not lose any velocity with this barrel.
Depending on what size you like, you can choose from 26, 28, and 30 inches. There are also legal issues with sizes depending on the state. So, make sure that the size you want is perfectly legal for hunting.
2. International Barrels Remington 700 Prefit Precision Barrel
If you want a different barrel but have the same shooting experience as stock, then this is the closest you can get. This barrel made by International Barrels is made out of steel and is polished both inside and outside.
The barrel is precisely crafted for specific ammunition. Depending on what you shoot, you should select that option. As it’s machined with perfect tolerance and comes in a threaded barrel system, you will not need a gunsmith to swap your old one out with this one.
Remington 700 Stock upgrades
The factory stock of 700 stock is perfectly fine. It might be one of the best bolt-action stocks you will come across. But your choice might differ from mine and vice-versa. And for some, the wooden look is not it. So, if you are after a bit more comfort or want to change the look of the 700 and make it feel like a custom Remington 700, then you might want to grab an aftermarket stock.
1. Magpul Remington 700 Hunter Stock
Who hasn’t heard of Magpul? Their accessories are top notch and chances are you are already using some of their gear in your sessions. This hunting stock for Remington 700 is made out of reinforced polymer and anodized aluminum bedding blocks.
In terms of durability, it blows the wooden stock out of the water. Then again, some may prefer the aesthetics and natural feel of the wooden stock. If you are not that someone, then this is the obvious choice for you.
Don’t let the polymer fool you. It’s the type of polymer that will last you a long time. It’s not cheaply made and won’t wobble from shooting either. Rest assured, your gun’s longevity won’t be harmed with this stock upgrade.
2. MDT Remington 700 ACC Chassis System
Let’s say you don’t like wood or polymer. Want something completely different that makes the Remington 700 look nothing like the Remington 700? Then this is the perfect upgrade for you.
Technically speaking, this is not a stock upgrade. Rather, it’s changing housing. The housing is made out of 6061 aluminum. One of the most durable types of aluminum that is used in lots of other stuff besides scopes.
If you are keeping your Remington 700 as a short barrel chamber and want to make it even more durable, then this chassis is worth looking into.
Remington 700 Mounting Base and Mounting Ring Upgrades
What makes a long-range gun good? The accuracy and power it packs to hunt from far away. But without a scope, you won’t be able to do that. But to mount a scope on the Remington 700, you will need a base. Or a pair of rings that installs directly on the gun. That’s why this upgrade is a must-do for all Remington 700 owners.
1. NightForce Standard Duty Picatinny-Style Mounting Scope Base
The Nightforce base is made out of high-quality aluminum. The aluminum is lightweight and durable. This base will make your Remington 700 compatible with all sorts of 1913 weaver accessories.
Depending on what kind of distance you shoot at, you will want to go for the 0 MOA or 20 MOA base. Rule of thumb, 20 MOA is better for the longer range and 0 MOA is better for the close to medium range.
Now that you know what kind of base you will need for the Remington, you will need to purchase a pair of rings. Or multiple depending if you swap out scopes often or not. Here are some good ones.
2. Vortex Optics Precision Matched Riflescope Rings
Vortex makes some of the best hunting-related accessories in the market. This one is no different. This pair of precision-matched rings comes in various sizes to match your scope tube diameter.
Depending on which scope you choose, make sure to grab the pair that matches your scope tube. This pair of rings is made through CNC machining from a 7075 T6 aluminum. It can handle the recoil of your 700 and keep zero on any scope you put on it.
3. NIGHTFORCE Standard Duty Picatinny Style Scope Rings
In case you didn’t know, they also make scope rings. Just like the base you are about to install, this pair of rings is also made out of aluminum. The aluminum is durable and extremely lightweight.
They are available in multiple sizes as well. They are also compatible with most scopes you can think about. As they can hold zero on guns like the Remington 700 with ease, you can add in a high-powered scope if you want.
Remington 700 Scope Upgrades
The next big thing to do is install a scope on this lovely gun. As you guys know already, it doesn’t come with any kind of optics. Without installing one, you won’t be able to do much with it. So, what are the best scopes for the Remington 700?
1. Leupold VX-R 3-9x40mm Rifle Scope
Leupold makes wonderful scopes. The VX-R is a long-range scope with a pretty huge objective lens. Thanks to that, the field of view of this optic is quite large. On top of that, it has an illuminated reticle.
While it’s a shame that it has no FFP option, the SFP reticle doesn’t perform any less in long-range shooting either. Good accuracy on an extremely well-built chassis makes it an unbeatable bargain for any Remington 700 user.
2. NIGHTFORCE ATACR 7-35x56mm F1 Hunting Gun Scope
Let’s just say you are someone that can’t be satisfied with 9x magnification. Then this scope from Nightforce is the perfect choice for you. ATACR is equipped with a 7x base and 35x maximum magnification. Paired with a 56mm objective lens, the scope is amazing.
The lenses are fully multi-coated and the inside is also purged with nitrogen. Making it immune to fogging. The scope is also waterproof and shock-resistant. Low-light performance is quite good. Thanks to that, it’s a perfect choice for long-range hunters.
Remington 700 Trigger Upgrades
If you are changing the housing of the gun and the barrel as well, might as well change the trigger to something that will allow a bit more control overall.
1. Timney Elite Hunter Remington 700 Rifle Trigger
When it comes to good triggers, Timney is one of the best on the market. This trigger comes with a consistent pull weight of 1.5 to 4 pounds. The size of this trigger is quite short and you can use this with precision for both short and long-range shooting.
The trigger material is not plastic. It’s made out of durable metal and the finish on this looks extremely nice. There is no flaw in machining and the trigger pull is always consistent.
2. Triggertech Diamond Remington 700 Trigger
If you use your Remington 700 for competition, then you might want to go for this trigger. As this trigger offers adjustable pull, you can set it from 4 oz to 32 oz. The durability of this trigger is quite good as well.
The size is relatively small and the trigger chamber has no way of catching rust at all. If you are a competitive shooter, then this is one of the best triggers for the Remington 700.
Should I Upgrade My Remington 700?
Now that you know about some of the best upgrades for the Remington 700, the big question remains. Should you upgrade your gun? Or just install a scope and call it a day?
The answer to this question is only known to you. If you ask my POV then I will say to upgrade the gun as it’s worth it. It will make your gun perform better and improve your chances of hunting more and winning competitions as well. If those things sound appealing to you, then you already know that you need to upgrade your gun.
As for the upgrade order, you can do it little by little and then gradually go for the big changes. For example, you might not want to commit to a housing upgrade from the start. Upgrade everything else first and then commit to a housing change.
Conclusion
I hope that wasn’t too much to stomach. The Remington 700 is dear to the deer hunting community no pun intended. The gun has been in service for a long time and I hope it will continue to do so.
Upgrading guns can change the look and how it feel and make it alive again to be used for a long time. In my humble opinion, upgrading guns is one of the most fun experiences you can have in this hobby. This implies you do them yourself and not get it done by a service provider.
And that’s all for now. Hope you found the best upgrades for the Remington 700 you were looking for. Take your time and slowly upgrade one thing at a time. Till next time, take care and have fun.
Hi, I’m Brent Hansford. A writer turned hunter & now sharing my love for the sport through writing. As I practically breathe weapons, I firmly believe I’m capable of providing you with new knowledge about firearms and hunting. My mission is to help more people get better at hunting & master the weapons. Let me help with unleashing the beast within you!
