The October edition of GunBroker.com’s Top Selling Report, presented by GunGenius.com, is a testament to the staying power of a bolt-action that’s more than 60 years old. Remington’s Model 700 continues to hold steady spots in both the new and used categories for bolt-action rifle sales.

Introduced in 1962, Remington has produced more than five million Model 700 rifles. No matter how you look at it, that is an exceptional production rate for any firearm. If you do the math, that averages out to more than 220 guns per day, every single day, for the past 62 years. Guns that don’t perform well and resonate with people simply cannot achieve that kind of production numbers.

Mike Walker, an engineer who worked at Remington for 37 years, was responsible for creating the Model 700. He also helped create the .222 Remington cartridge as well as the concept for button rifling. At one point in time, the Model 700 was available in .222 Remington and had button rifling, so Walker’s involvement with every aspect of the Model 700 is inescapable.

When production began, the Model 700 was available in both long and short actions to accommodate a wide variety of calibers and cartridges, as well as ADL and BDL model variations. The ADL has a blind magazine that does not open from the bottom while the BDL has a hinged floorplate that can be opened to add or remove cartridges.

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Over the years, different calibers, stocks, barrel lengths, and grades have been offered, but the ADL and BDL are still mainstay offerings in the lineup. New versions of the Model 700 can be had for as little as $500 or more than $1,500. Calibers include .22 Long Rifle on one end and .45-70 Government on the other. Barrel lengths can vary by 10 inches. The list of variations is almost endless.

Currently, the Remington website notes that the Model 700 is available in 14 different variations and 96 different calibers. I’m really bad at math, but that’s a downright staggering number of combinations that exist for just one model!

The Model 700 became the basis for military and law enforcement sniper rifles, too. In 1966, the United States Marine Corps adopted it as the M40. It’s been 58 years and they’re still using it. In 1988, the United States Army adopted it as the M42, and they’re still using it 36 years later. There are currently ten different countries using the Model 700 in one form or another.

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Back on the civilian side, the rifle proved so popular so quickly that it was just three years after production began, in 1965, that Timney Triggers came out with their own Model 700 trigger upgrade. Today, all Model 700 rifles come standard with a trigger from Timney, and if you’re not keen on the one that comes with the gun, you can choose from a half-dozen different options from Timney alone – not to mention other aftermarket companies.

Here in 2024, there are myriad options for bolt-action rifles from which to choose. That’s why it’s so impressive that the Remington Model 700 has remained steady in the number four spot for new bolt-action rifles this month. On the used side of things, plenty of shooters know the quality and value of the Model 700. That’s why it continues to hold the number one spot this month for used bolt-action rifles.

If you’re looking for a bolt-action rifle in a specific caliber and configuration for a specific purpose, I’m supremely confident that you can find a Model 700 that will fit the bill. If it doesn’t exist, then you probably don’t need it.

Top Selling Guns Sold in October 2024

Source: gungenius.com/top-selling/

To learn more or shop for any of the guns listed, visit Gun Genius at www.gungenius.com/top-selling.

Editor’s note: In the report, guns are rated from one to five within each category, with the number one gun being the most popular that month. The numbers are color-coded to show any changes in the ranks from the previous report.

Black = Steady
Green = Up
Red = Down

Source: gungenius.com/top-selling/

To learn more or shop for any of the guns listed, visit Gun Genius at www.gungenius.com/top-selling.