27-Jul-2026
Few bolt-action rifles carry as much name recognition as the Remington 700. It has been in continuous production since 1962, has sold in the millions worldwide, and its action has become the de facto template for half the custom rifle industry. For UK shooters, that pedigree translates into a deep used market, superb aftermarket support and a rifle that can be configured for everything from foxing to F-Class. Searches for the Model 700 remain consistently strong among British shooters, so here’s what you need to know before buying one, new or used, in the UK.
Why the Remington 700 endures
The heart of the rifle is its cylindrical receiver and famous “three rings of steel”, the bolt face, chamber and receiver ring encircling the cartridge head. Machined from round bar stock, the action is inherently stiff and easy to bed accurately, which is a large part of why it became the starting point for so many precision builds and why gunsmiths know it better than almost any other action.
For the buyer, that heritage means three practical advantages: an enormous choice of stocks, triggers, bottom metal and scope mounts; gunsmiths everywhere who can work on it; and strong parts availability even for older rifles. Very few factory rifles offer this much room to grow with your shooting.
The main variants you’ll see in the UK
The 700 family is broad, but a handful of variants dominate the UK market. The ADL and BDL are the classic sporting configurations, blind magazine on the ADL, hinged floorplate on the BDL. The SPS (Special Purpose Synthetic) took over as the affordable workhorse, usually wearing a synthetic stock and matt metalwork. The Varmint and Police (700P) versions carry heavy barrels for sustained accuracy, and the 5R models are prized for their rifling and build quality. At the top end, custom shop and tactical variants appear from time to time and hold their value well.
Older wood-stocked BDLs in good condition have quietly become desirable, while SPS rifles make superb donor actions for custom projects, a route many UK precision shooters take.
Calibres for British shooting
UK examples most commonly appear in .223 Remington, .243 Winchester, 6.5 Creedmoor and .308 Winchester. The .223 suits foxing and smaller quarry, the .243 remains a classic all-round deer calibre, and the .308 and 6.5 Creedmoor cover larger deer species and target work at distance. If you’re weighing up cartridge choices, our comparison of .308 vs 7.62 and our guide to popular cartridges are worth a read alongside this one.
As always, match the calibre to your land conditions and the quarry written on your certificate, and remember that moderator threading is common on UK rifles, a threaded muzzle in good condition is a plus worth paying for.
Buying used: what to check
The 700’s long production run means used examples vary enormously. Start with the bore: a borescope inspection or at minimum a bright-light check for wear at the throat tells you more than any amount of external polish. Check the crown for dings, and on threaded barrels remove the cap or moderator to inspect the threads.
Cycle the action with dummy rounds if the seller allows, feeding should be smooth and extraction positive. On older rifles, ask whether the trigger is original or replaced; many 700s have had aftermarket triggers fitted, which done properly is often an upgrade, but you want to know what you’re getting. Factory triggers on older rifles were subject to recall programmes over the years, so it’s sensible to ask whether any recall work was carried out, and a check-over by a competent gunsmith after purchase is never wasted money.
Finally, look at the stock. Wood stocks should be checked for cracks behind the recoil lug area, and cheap synthetic stocks may have been upgraded, again, often to the buyer’s benefit.
Accuracy expectations and upgrades
A healthy 700 with decent ammunition is capable of impressive accuracy, and heavy-barrel variants especially so; this is a platform with genuine sub-MOA potential in the right configuration. If that term is new to you, our explainer on what MOA means in shooting covers it in plain English.
The classic upgrade path runs: better scope mounts and glass first, then a trigger, then bedding or a stock, then eventually a rebarrel. Because the action is the industry standard, each step is straightforward and holds resale value better than on more obscure platforms. Plenty of UK shooters run a 700 for decades this way, evolving it as their shooting changes, and if a full custom build appeals, our look at mid-range rifles shows what the factory competition offers at each price point.
How it compares to the modern competition
Rivals like the Tikka T3X offer excellent out-of-the-box value, and our Mauser M12 vs Tikka T3X comparison covers that end of the market. Where the 700 wins is ecosystem: no other action has the same depth of aftermarket, gunsmith familiarity and long-term configurability. Where it can lose is factory finish on some budget-era examples, which is precisely why buying used on condition, rather than on model name alone, is the smart approach.
Scoping and setting up a 700 for UK use
Because the 700 receiver is the industry standard, mounting options are endless, one-piece Picatinny rails, traditional two-piece bases and everything between. For stalking, a 3–12x or similar variable with a 50mm-class objective covers dawn and dusk sessions; for foxing and longer-range work, shooters tend towards higher magnification and dialling turrets. Spend proportionally on glass: a modest 700 under a good scope will outshoot an expensive rifle under a poor one.
Most UK 700s wear a sound moderator, so check thread condition and factor the moderator’s own condition into the price if it’s included. A bipod stud, sling and a zero with your chosen hunting load complete the setup. Keep a record of the loads the rifle shoots well; future you, and any future buyer, will thank you for it.
FAQs
Is the Remington 700 legal to own in the UK? Yes, as a bolt-action rifle it can be held on a firearm certificate with the appropriate calibre and good reason listed. Buy through the proper transfer process as with any Section 1 firearm.
Which Remington 700 variant is best for deer stalking? A sporter-weight ADL, BDL or SPS in .243 or .308 is the traditional choice, light enough to carry all day and accurate enough for any realistic stalking shot.
Is the Remington 700 accurate enough for target shooting? Heavy-barrel variants have a long competition pedigree, and the action is the foundation of countless precision builds. With good ammunition and a solid setup, it will hold its own at club level and beyond.
What should a used Remington 700 cost in the UK? Prices vary widely with variant, calibre and condition, from affordable SPS workhorses to collectable custom shop rifles; comparing current listings side by side is the most reliable way to judge the market.
Browse Remington 700 rifles on Rightgun.uk
The used market is where the 700’s value really shows, and condition is everything. Compare current Remington 700 rifles for sale and the wider range of rifles on Rightgun.uk, all listed by trusted UK sellers on Britain’s dedicated shooting marketplace.
Read next:
