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Remington 783 (scoped)

Remington 783 (scoped)

I think we all tend to be a bit snobby when it comes to our equipment, as there’s a certain cachet about having something a bit special or up market. I’m the same, but the long years in my job have taught me not to judge a book too much by its cover; as at the end of the day, it’s results that count. I suppose it’s a bit like saying describe a knife; easy, it’s a piece of sharp/pointed metal with bits of wood on the sides. Everything else is superfluous to its primary function, the same holds true for rifles, in both cases build quality/ability and price are the deciding factors!

Thing in the box

With that in mind, lets consider that ever-increasing market of the budget rifle, and its originator, Remington. The year and date escapes me but it was a long time ago when I was sent their Model 710. As a Model 700 owner (semi-custom of course) I was almost offended by the ‘thing in the box’. A rather crudely moulded black plastic stock, cheap phosphate finish and lines not even a mother could love. But it felt solid and came not only with a proper, detachable box magazine but also bundled with a cheap Bushnell Banner 3-9x40 scope; yuk!

I had pretty much written the article without even pulling the trigger, such was my disdain, something I had never done before and as it happens since. In my hubris, I just knew it was a dog, but thought I’d best at least shoot it. It was chambered in 270 Winchester and had come with 40-rounds of Remington Express 130-grain soft point ammo. Rested at 100 yards it was turning in 5/8” groups; I could not believe it, I asked a friend to try and he achieved identical results. Regardless of how it looked and felt, it had that essential ingredient that all rifles strive for but not all achieve - intrinsic accuracy. I went back and re-wrote the story and learned a valuable lesson about humility and assumption!

Strength to strength

The 710 has long been consigned to the pages of history, but Remington continued to develop the concept, as did other manufactures. The idea of what amounted back then to a sub-$400 rifle with scope to shoot deer was a winner and aimed less at the discerning shooter and at the more prolific everyman hunter, who just wanted a cheap piece that worked to fill their game tag. And in a country that sells guns at the K-Mart etc., legally without a license, a winner! On test, is the latest budget blaster, the Remington 783 and it must be said a far prettier and handier package than its ancestor.

Built!

The build offers an all-steel action, drilled and tapped and fitted with what looks like Warne bases. The twin lug bolt head is pinned to the bolt body and the cranked handle with flattened knob is reminiscent of the Remy 700. It has a standard, Sako-type extractor and plunger ejector. They have fitted their CrossFire trigger system, which is user-adjustable, and the safety is their classic. 2-position lever. rear/right of the receiver. There’s also a proper recoil lug sandwiched between the barrel and receiver, they’ve taken a leaf out of Savages book here, as the barrel is retained by a collar. No complaints so far!

The black synthetic stock has a high nylon fibre content and is surprisingly rigid for this class of rifle and comes with aluminum pillars as standard; not bad! Length of pull is a tad short at 13.5” to its SUPER CELL recoil pad, but it’s after all an ever-man rifle, it was a bit snug for me but shootable. Feed is from a detachable, 4-round (three in magnum) steel magazine with integral release catch. The barrel is button-rifled and offered in six calibres and two lengths: 243 Win, 308 Win, 270 Win and 30-06 all at 22”, 7mm Rem Mag and 300 Win Mag 24”. My tester was a 243 and came threaded 14x1mm with a protector. Raytrade bring in the model with a scope and mounts pre-fitted, which again looked like an un-branded Bushnell Banner in a spec of 3-9x40, with a pleasingly crisp and clear view and medium, Dual-X reticle. OK, no Swarovski, but more than good enough to put the venison on the table at sensible hunting ranges.

The fine print

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Visually, the 783 takes its cues from some other makes, as the stock is reminiscent of the Browning X-Bolt and offers a light free-float to the barrel. Grip is provided by cast-in, textured sections and long, tapered finger boards either side of the forend. One thing I do not like, is the fact that there are no QD sling studs fitted; instead, cast-in loops provide anchor points for QD swivels. But, on what is doubtless a high-volume production rifle, the cost savings in time and materials are obvious. The trigger has a blade-in-blade safety lever that prevents accidental (non-finger operation) like Savage’s AccuTrigger. The break was surprisingly crisp with little drag that went at around 3.5 lbs; good enough!

The steel receiver is tubular and shows a more enclosed ejection port than the 700. Rifling twist for the 243 Win is 1 – 9 1/8”, so it might lean a bit more towards heavier bullets; we shall see! The trigger guard is also synthetic and large enough for easy access for a gloved finger. The 783 is what it is, but comes up as a well presented, good looking and handy package. Dollar price is interesting; the scoped version is just $399. Remington’s catalogue shows four more options; camo, walnut scoped, walnut and heavy barrel with Picatinny rail and tan synthetic stock. As luck would have it, these were on show at the IWA, the heavy barrel is available in both 20 and 24” and looks to be a most practical and cost-effective design!

Ammo up

Ammunition was supplied by Raytrade and consisted of Remington’s 75-grain Premier AccuTip-V Boat Tail and their High Performance rifle, 80-grain PSP soft tip. These weights are doubtless popular in the UK, as they offer a single solution for vermin and deer species. The AccuTip quotes a muzzle velocity of 3375 fps/1909 ft/lbs and the High Performance Rifle at 3350 fps/2010 ft/lbs.

The double column magazine fills and fits easily and the action offered reliable feed and cycling. Remington’s 2-position safety is well located for operation with the firing hand thumb and minimal disturbance to the firing position. FIRE is forward and SAFE with bolt operation (rear position), which is a nice feature for unloading a live chamber. The trigger did not offer any problems and I left it at its factory setting. Though technically a budget end rifle, the 783 looks and feels a lot more!

A tiny bit thick

The scope showed a clean and bright sight picture, though the reticle for me was a tad thick, then again, I like a fine cross hair. It’s funny these days, we see a 3-9x40 as a low power optic, with specs like 3-12x50/56 or 3-15 x 50/56 as more common. But for many years on my Remy 700 Light Sporting Rifle from Riflecraft, I used a Leupold 3-9x50 VX-II and that has taken me out to nearly 400 yards on deer with good success.

Shooting off the bench supported at 100m I started off with the 75-grain Premier AccuTip-V. The scope was way off but offered more than enough adjustment to get back on and I was easily printing consistent 1” groups. Over the chronograph, average speed came out at 3262 fps/1783 ft/lbs, with an extreme spread (ES) of 58 fps. The 80-grain High Performance Rifle, PSP soft tip proved not so tight, punching 1.5-2”; speed went to an average of 3180 fps/1811 ft/lbs but with a much better ES of 32 fps. It’s funny how things go. I later found some 95-grain Premier AccuTip, which also shot an inch at 2980 fps/1885 ft/lbs and 37 fps ES. So, like most rifles, the 783 liked more than it didn’t.

Feel and function

The general feel and handling of the 783 was good, it came up well, if a tad short in the shoulder for me and all the controls worked, and operation and function were 100%. The bundled scope proved more than adequate and for some will be a great USP. And, compared to the original 710, it has a lot more curb appeal, that very much lifts it from its budget class; at the price, I reckon it will do very well!

  • Remington 783 (scoped) - image {image:count}

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  • Remington 783 (scoped) - image {image:count}

    click on image to enlarge

  • Remington 783 (scoped) - image {image:count}

    click on image to enlarge

  • Remington 783 (scoped) - image {image:count}

    click on image to enlarge

  • Remington 783 (scoped) - image {image:count}

    click on image to enlarge

  • Remington 783 (scoped) - image {image:count}

    click on image to enlarge

gun
features

  • Name: Remington 783 (Scoped)
  • Action: turn-bolt
  • Action: 243 Winchester
  • Capacity : 4+1 (DM)
  • Barrel: 22” (button rifled)
  • Twist rate: 1 – 9 1/8”
  • Stock : black synthetic Bases, rings and 3-9x40 scope included
  • Price : £529
  • Contact : Raytrade UK; www.raytradeuk.co.uk
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