Q: I have been offered a Remington 7600 pump-action rifle in .270 Win. The owner bought it new and it has only been used for sambar hunting here in Victoria.
In 20 years it has only fired 200-odd shots. It shows signs of hard use with the bluing rubbed and stock scratched, but otherwise is like new. The only thing that worries me about it is the accuracy.
What can you tell me about the Model 7600?
Brian Jones
A: Over the years I tested a number of Remington’s pump guns and semi-autos and they’ve all been accurate, delivering 1½-2 inch groups at 100 yards (42-56mm at 100m). There are several reasons why these guns are accurate enough for big game hunting.
For one thing, the bolt locks up at the front, same as a bolt action, and the locking lugs engage the barrel extension rather than the receiver ring, which is an extremely rigid locking system.
The barrel is completely free-floating, which means there’s no way the stock can warp against it and shift zero or ruin accuracy. With a .650” (16.5mm) muzzle diameter the barrel is relatively heavy.
The Model 7600 has things other than accuracy going for it. It is faster on the follow-up shots than a manual bolt action.
Another advantage: the 7600 is about as weatherproof as a sambar rifle can be. Its working parts are protected by a solid receiver and the ejection port is covered by a sliding dust cover as the bolt is closed.
If the gun has fired as few shots as the owner claims and the price is right, don’t let it get away from you.
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