760's worth much more than they bring....

[John (Rojo)]

Nice to hear from other owners of Rem. 760 rifles.  This prompted me to do a little research.  While I have many other rifles, it seems that pumps get the least attention.  Anyway,  I heard the 760's old and new, are big sellers in Pennsylvania and the surrounding states.  However, in Calif. and the western states, the 760 is not very popular.  I can't understand why not.  I made the following observations regarding my 1952.  Bluing is excellent, and obvious high quality.  Wood to metal fit is even - no gaps, and centered.  Its all steel and very solid.  I know they sell a version of this gun today.  I have a hard time believing that they would have the quality of the fifties and sixties manufacture.  I could be wrong, and if I am, someone let me know.  This has started me looking for the model 35.  I believe the caliber would be 35 Rem.  If I am in error regarding the caliber, someone straighten me out.

After looking it over carefully, I feel the early ones should bring twice what they do in Califorinia.  

John (Rojo)

[Rick Teal]

I'm unfamiliar with a model 35 Remington, however, the model 760 was manufactured in .35 Remington.  This year in my 2nd week deer camp two of us had 760's in .35 Rem. and one fellow in the camp next to us carried one in the first week.  My .35 was manufactured in 1954.

The predecessors to the 760, the models 14 and 141, were also available in .35 Remington.  These were tubular magazine guns, but the magazine was spiral in configuration, allowing the use of pointed bullets.

Last year Remington produced a few of the newer 7600's in .35 Remington as well.  

You may also be interested to know that the 7600 was manufactured in .35 Whelen for about a decade, and those of us who own one regard them as the almost perfect marriage of rifle and cartridge for hunting moose and bear in Canada.

[Oldtimer]

Remington made up several thousand 760's in .35 Remington in 1982.  I had mine out, deer hunting, on Wednesday evening.  It is a pleasure to carry.  Several years ago, there was an article in Handloader on loading for the 760.  With the longer barrel and stronger action, it was possible to get another 300 f/s out of the round and use spitzers as well.  My gun is one of my most accurate guns.  The Army used 760's in their marksmenship program in the 60's, in .222 Remington.

[John (Rojo)]

Rick and others,  thanks for the information.  The rifle I was thinking about is the 14 and the 141 in 35 Rem.  I could not remember the correct model designation.  I am going to a gun show this weekend (Costa Mesa) and I'm going to start my search there.  Was it  the 14,  the 141,  or both which had the cartridge head stamp in the receiver ?.  If you know, would post a reply before Saturday as it would help in my search.  

Thank you folks in advance.

John (Rojo)

[Siskiyou]

In 1957 my Dad gave me a Rem. 760 in .270 just before the opening of deer season.  At that time the 760 had a fair following in the far Northend of the State.  In the little cowtown I was raised in hunters were starting to give up their old pre-war 94 Winchesters for something with a bigger bang.  WWII and Koren War vets made up a major part of the hunting population.  Their number one choice in caliber was the 30-06.  

The rifle has taken a lot of bucks over the years.  The blueing is about gone above the magazine well.  There is a nick in the barrel from when I fell off a cliff.  The stock looks great.  I refinshed it years ago.  It was the old plain Jane stock with grooved forearm.  I had it tapped for scope mounts in 1958.  It has had a couple of different scopes.  I replaced the firing pin in the late 60's.  I had spent a lot of time dry firing.

Dad could not afford a truck load of ammo so I took up reloading.  In those days I liked the Remington Bronze Pt.  It was hell on woodchucks, jack rabbits, and deer.  I got away from the Bronze Pt. on deer in a couple of years because it was to explosive.

At that time the 760 was very popular.  Again the 30-06 was by far the most popular with a few .270's, and later a couple .280 Remingtons.  I was aware of one .257 Roberts.  My Dad almost bought one in .300 Savage but he got a better deal on a Rem 722 in .300 Savage.

Middle brother also got a 760 in .270 Win. a couple of years later.  His was a little nicer model.  His would not chamber my reloads which was great because it kept him out of my ammo box.  All the practice he got kept him alive with the Marines in Vietnam.

I like the removable magazine.  I have had two for years.  I purchased a third one a couple of years ago and it is not a good fit.  This feature is great for kids.  There is no reason to cycle rounds out of the mag.  Just release it.

In 1957 the true competition did not come from bolt action rifles, but from the Remington 740/742 autoloaders.  Those vets wanted fire power.  Those vets who had been very successful with 30-30's and 32 Specials wanted autoloading 30-06's.  The bolts would take over in a few more years.
_____________
Thanks to those vets who fought those nasty battles so that we could live in America.

Siskiyou

[Big Tom]

There is a Rem 7600 in .35 Whelen in my local gun shop for $300. What kind of accuracy can I expect from this rifle. I've never owned a pump, just levers and bolts. Is this a good deal? :?

[jhm]

Tom use your judgement on the condition of the rifle look it over as you know most hunting rifles dont realy get shot enough to do them any damage usually just mis-use or neglect.  $300 isnt vary much when you are talking about a rifle you are not going to be able to find everywhere and in that caliber I would say if interested in that cal. to make a reasonable offer for it and see what happens.   JIM

[Rick Teal]

Big Tom:

I looked for one of those for 3 years before I could find one, and when I did it was in 99%+ shape and I paid $549 (CDN) for it.  I think I did OK.

Rick

[Big Tom]

Thanks guys. I don't think many around here are interested in pumps much less .35 Whelens. I'm going to play dumb and see how much of a deal I can get. The rifle is about 90-95%.

[Gregory]

I bought a 760 in 1980 when I lived in upstate NY, sold it after I moved to the midwest, at a gunshow in Indiana in 1994.  I think I paid $220 for it new and got $250 when I sold it.  Not much of a demand for them out here.
Greg

[High Brass]

I bought my M760 in .30-06 a couple of years ago from my Dad.  Its 25 or 26 years old and looks practically new(he took care of it).  Lord knows how many deer were killed with it when he had it, I've take 4 with it myself.   I've heard and read that PA is the "Pump Capitol" of the US, doesn't surprise me.   I grew up in WV and you see a bunch of them there as well.  Great guns that just get no respect.

[Alaska-Bush-Man]

I have a 35 Whelen Rem 7600 pump I use here in Alaska, of course I handload for it with:

Speer 250 SPT
IMR 4320 @ 54.0
FED 210 Match Primers
Fed Prem Cases

Excellent Moose and Bear gun up 250 yards.

[coug2wolfs]

John

I believe the boys can not use auto loaders in Penn, and this is the reason why the pump is up front.  The other thing I saw down there is what I call a bean field rifle. About 12 pounds, bipod, and will drive nails at 300 yards.

Hunted down there with some local boys a while back. They of course were NUTS! Had ta been if they wuz huntin with me. :wink:

Was about noonish and we met up for a sandwich.  Not so long after we parked our kiestas we could hear rifle fire way off in the distance.  Ron, one of the locals started getting antsy.  In a few seconds we could see a herd of deer out on the horizon that looked about the size of black gnats. Ron jumps up and yells get ready boys!  

Hell, them deer gotta be clear over a mile out I sez. To which Ron replies, YAH, sling lead, it's just about self defense! Some of those boys can shoot. I saw 2 go down at a good 300 yards that were on the run. Myself, that's out of my leauge.

I've had a number of Rem pumps, all in 30-06. Have yet to see one that won't keep up with the best of the bolt guns, some with 165 pills, the others with 180s.

They do pour the lead  :lol:

[Rojo]

Coug,  I would like to have another one, but, It's tough to find one out here in Ca.  thats not beat all to hell.  I'll keep looking and one will pop up somewhere.  I was really lucky with this rifle - condition and all.  The original Weaver K-4 is not very bright but, it still holds zero.  It makes sense why the 760 is popular in that neck of the woods.

By the way,  I had to change my username from John (Rojo) to Rojo.  So future posts are going to show me as a new member.  

Rojo