Anyone have any experience with these rifles?? Thinking about getting one in a 220 Swift(possibly a 223) just looking for any opinions good or bad, mainly be used as a bench gun with maybe a little hunting mixed in, I am guessing the stock might leave a little to be desired. Thanks for any help.
Remington 700 Varmint SF
- Thread starter JLJ223
- Start date
Treerat-sniper
Member
I had a 700 VSSF in .308. 20 years ago it was a fantastic rifle...the newer Remington's aren't what they used to be though IMHO. I switched to Savage for many years & then to Tikka rifles, of course YMMV.
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Rustydust
Active member
I have a M700 in .220 Swift. Not the SF but the plain heavy barreled one with the HS Precision stock. Sure has been a gem. I long ago wore out the factory 24" barrel and had it re-barreled with a 28" Krieger. It still to this day is my favorite varmint rig. It does not get shot as much as some of my other guns because there is not much need for the booming .220 Swift for ground squirrels. But when I put my suppressor on it and using 40 grain bullets it's still lots of fun. Lots and lots.
Now having said that, the .223 Remington chambering is most likely going to be a more common sense chambering for you but hey- since when did us varmint shooters ever have an awful lot of common sense?
Now having said that, the .223 Remington chambering is most likely going to be a more common sense chambering for you but hey- since when did us varmint shooters ever have an awful lot of common sense?
Redneckbmxer24
New member
Remington isn’t the company they used to be and don’t make the rifles they used to. Personally I steer clear of them now.
Seebass
New member
I used my 700 VSF .223 as my only coyote gun for 4 years. A bit to lug around but it was one heck of a shooter!! (profile pic gun)
Relegated to the safe as a guest gun now only because I decided to go back to a .243 for coyotes.
Yes, the stock is cheap and you"ll want to replace it eventually. I also swapped my trigger with a Timnney 512.
Relegated to the safe as a guest gun now only because I decided to go back to a .243 for coyotes.
Yes, the stock is cheap and you"ll want to replace it eventually. I also swapped my trigger with a Timnney 512.
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Several years ago, a couple of by buddies had the VSSF in .223 and were using them for prairie dogs. Great looking guns, and theirs would really shoot. I bought one, and it was one of the worst guns I've had. I tried everything to get that gun to shoot, but no go. Traded it for a Tikka Varmint, should have done that a lot earlier. I later got a Tikka Varmint in 22-250, and both were great guns. One buddy talked me out of the 22-250, but I still have the .223. Personally, I would be looking at a Tikka. As others have said, Remington's just aren't what they used to be. I have had some good Remington's, but that has been several years ago.
IdahoSawtooth
Member
I have one in 220 swift great gun very accurate and consistent.
When I first got it I was at the range sighting it in and a fellow shooting a cooper next to me was telling me how bad remingtons had gotten lately. When I was done I picked up my targets and he asked to see them. He didn't have much to say when he saw the 1/2" 200 yard groups. I said something about the factory trigger needing some work or maybe putting a timmeny in it then it would really shoot. He grumbled something remington and slid his 1" 100 yrd targets under a gun case so I could see them anymore.
I have since put a timmeny trigger in it and a HS stock just cause I had one on the shelf. The trigger helped with the occasional flyer but the stock didn't make much difference.
Anyway they are great guns you won't go wrong.
When I first got it I was at the range sighting it in and a fellow shooting a cooper next to me was telling me how bad remingtons had gotten lately. When I was done I picked up my targets and he asked to see them. He didn't have much to say when he saw the 1/2" 200 yard groups. I said something about the factory trigger needing some work or maybe putting a timmeny in it then it would really shoot. He grumbled something remington and slid his 1" 100 yrd targets under a gun case so I could see them anymore.
I have since put a timmeny trigger in it and a HS stock just cause I had one on the shelf. The trigger helped with the occasional flyer but the stock didn't make much difference.
Anyway they are great guns you won't go wrong.
varminter .223
Well-known member
I have a new swift and a 223 in the 700 sf.I had to return the Swift because it wouldn't shoot worth a crap. After arguing with Remington they finally sent me a different barreled action or at that point I would say that's a whole new gun. This one is still not out of this world but I do have one load with a 55 grain bullet that stays close to 1/2 inch for 5 shots a lot of the time. The 223 I bought used and I don't remember the deal but it had some kind of an issue in the chamber and Remington replaced that as well and it is very accurate rifle with 40 and 53 v max. If I recall my Swift now wears a Hogue stock that I bedded the recoil lug on.
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willy1947
Active member
Originally Posted By: varminter .223I have a new swift and a 223 in the 700 sf.I had to return the Swift because it wouldn't shoot worth a crap. After arguing with Remington they finally sent me a different barreled action or at that point I would say that's a whole new gun. This one is still not out of this world but I do have one load with a 55 grain bullet that stays close to 1/2 inch for 5 shots a lot of the time. The 223 I bought used and I don't remember the deal but it had some kind of an issue in the chamber and Remington replaced that as well and it is very accurate rifle with 40 and 53 v max. If I recall my Swift now wears a Hogue stock that I bedded the recoil lug on.
I love the 220 swift. I have been shooting and loading it for 56 years. I have two 70 Winchester a 47 and 62. I shoot a Ruger M77 .
I love the 220 swift. I have been shooting and loading it for 56 years. I have two 70 Winchester a 47 and 62. I shoot a Ruger M77 .
AdamT
Well-known member
Get one and let me know how it is, as I’ve been wanting one also. I already have a replacement stock that it’ll fit in, and really just need to go ahead and get one before it’s they don’t offer it in a Swift anymore. I think it’s the only rifle Remington offers in 220 Swift.
I grew up using my dads 220 Swift when we would go out shooting groundhogs, just something about that round. I don’t really need it, but there’s just something about a Swift.
I grew up using my dads 220 Swift when we would go out shooting groundhogs, just something about that round. I don’t really need it, but there’s just something about a Swift.
Rustydust
Active member
Originally Posted By: AdamT
It's just something about that round. I don’t really need it, but there’s just something about a Swift.
As a 43 year Swift owner myself that sums it up perfect. 83 years old now and still nothing has ever put it in a corner. It was the king back then and as far as I and many many others are concerned it always will be.
It's just something about that round. I don’t really need it, but there’s just something about a Swift.
As a 43 year Swift owner myself that sums it up perfect. 83 years old now and still nothing has ever put it in a corner. It was the king back then and as far as I and many many others are concerned it always will be.
varminter .223
Well-known member
I have a swift in 700 vs as well that was a 1990 something gun that I found new in the box unfired. Its a 24" and shot very well the 1st couple groups with hornady 55 v max factory loads but then opened up a bit. After about 175 rounds I bedded it and it help quite a bit and I noticed the copper fouling changed some about that time too. I spent hours cleaning that thing during that time. I went to my best loads after bedding and I have about 5 loads that will keep 5 under or at .75 center to center after about 300 rounds and 3 coyotes to it's name. Since then I put together a Savage with a 22" pacnor 12 twist that was nearly given away here in the classifieds. Its a copper fouling machine but will digest both the loads I shoot out of my Rem swift very well. It shot those loads well enough I just stopped if I recall they were .75 or so 5 shot groups. Which is probably pretty good with the Redfield scope I have on it.
After fighting some of the Remingtons I have fought my suggestion would be to have someone put a good quality barrel on a action or Remage one yourself.
Somebody on here said one time that life was too short to have copper fouling barrels and I am now in that camp. I highly recommend a swift though.
I'm not sure what the interior of my Pac nor Barrel looks like clean but it looks like the Statue of Liberty is in there after it sits for awhile but dang does it shoot.
After fighting some of the Remingtons I have fought my suggestion would be to have someone put a good quality barrel on a action or Remage one yourself.
Somebody on here said one time that life was too short to have copper fouling barrels and I am now in that camp. I highly recommend a swift though.
I'm not sure what the interior of my Pac nor Barrel looks like clean but it looks like the Statue of Liberty is in there after it sits for awhile but dang does it shoot.
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The original version Rem VSSF, often called a Sendero by many because they look the same, is probably my favorite off the shelf factory gun of all time. Beauty is certainly in the eye of the beholder, but the original Rem VSSF rifles not only looked good but they felt good in the hands. They were maybe a little on the heavy side due to them having a pretty healthy size barrel but, to my eyes, they just were a dam good looking rifle, and they generally shot real well too.
BUT, then Remington in their infinite wisdom had to go and ruin their good looks and great feel by coming out with the VSSF II. They still generally shot very well but, ugh, that new stock, to my eyes, is just fugly. The original VSSF stock had a nice look/feel to it and the forearm tapered up to its rounded tip. I can live with the black inlaid flutes on the barrel, but the VSSF II stock is chunky, kinda wide and squares off at the tip and I struggle to like the double palm swell, no matter what I do it just doesn't feel right in my hands. Probably why the VSSF compared to the VSSF II take off stocks usually go for a higher price and get snatched up a lot quicker.
BUT, then Remington in their infinite wisdom had to go and ruin their good looks and great feel by coming out with the VSSF II. They still generally shot very well but, ugh, that new stock, to my eyes, is just fugly. The original VSSF stock had a nice look/feel to it and the forearm tapered up to its rounded tip. I can live with the black inlaid flutes on the barrel, but the VSSF II stock is chunky, kinda wide and squares off at the tip and I struggle to like the double palm swell, no matter what I do it just doesn't feel right in my hands. Probably why the VSSF compared to the VSSF II take off stocks usually go for a higher price and get snatched up a lot quicker.
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