Remington has just announced the release of their new Model 700 in 6.5 Creedmoor. This new Model 700 will also be outfitted with the Magpul Rifle chassis that is gaining in popularity for its lightweight design, and enhanced features that provide the modularity to fit a wide range of shooters. The continued expansion of 6.5 Creedmoor has been one of the biggest news items in the rifle market.

Several years ago there was serious doubts about a 6mm or 6.5mm cartridge being able to burst through the .30 caliber strangle hold on the rifle market. I for one am thrilled that 6.5 Creedmoor is gaining in popularity. Mind you, I’ve been a .308 and .30-06 shooter most of my life, in both professional and hunting purposes. However, the superior trajectory, and outstanding terminal ballistics of the 6.5 Creedmoor, have not only wet my appetite for this cartridge but made me seriously consider this to be the strongest contender for the best overall rifle round on the market.

Remington Magpul Model 700 6.5 Creedmoor

Remington Arms is probably the most well-known and well-respected name in the American rifle market. The Model 700 has been their flagship for decades, and has earned its place among the greatest rifles of all time with well over 5 million sold during its lifetime. Despite some setbacks with pistols, shotguns, and even a recall on the Model 700 trigger, Remington is still considered one of the best rifle makers.

The Model 700 is one of the most iconic rifles in America, and that includes in the law enforcement sniper community. The Model 700 truly is the gold standard, though several competitors with advanced stocks, features, and barrels are giving it a run for its title.

When Remington partnered with Magpul, there were some initial commentators who bemoaned the pairing as simply window dressing. However, the Magpul rifle chassis has been gaining popularity among several firearm brands due to its design features that enhance the shooter’s comfort, modularity, and fit to the rifle.

The 6.5 Creedmoor Model 700 with Magpul stock is noteworthy for several reasons:

• A Model 700 in 6.5 Creedmoor makes a bold statement for viable cartridge acceptance
• This Model 700 provides a fresh look and features from a new cartridge and stock
• Magpul’s lightweight, highly modular polymer rifle stock gains significant prestige
• Remington’s selection of a detachable, external magazine advances
• Pricing is kept at competitive market standards.

Remington Magpul Model 700 6.5 Creedmoor Features

• Carbon steel barreled action
• Black Cerakote finish
• Heavy 22.0″ free-floated barrel with 5R rifling
• Threaded muzzle with thread protector
• X-Mark Pro externally adjustable trigger
• Magpul Hunter stock with aluminum bedding block
• Magpul 7.62x51mm 5-round polymer magazine
• Tactical enlarged bolt handle
• Adjustable drop comb.

The Magpul Hunter 700L stock is a great addition to the Remington Model 700. I have carried heavy wood and composite stocks for years. Though added weight can be beneficial to reduce recoil when accurate shots are a must, that same weight is cumbersome and prohibitive in long-distance and stalking movements alike. The Magpul Hunter stock uses a reinforced polymer body for stability and durability, without the unnecessary additional weight. Weighing just over 3.0 pounds, the Magpul Hunter stock is a much more pleasurable to field.

The Magpul Hunter is designed with an embedded anodized aluminum bedding block ensuring the action is securely in place and ready to perform at its maximum ability. This type of bedding has become common among rifle manufacturers and has proven to be one of the most effective designs in precision rifle performance. The Hunter stock provides a length of pull (LOP) range of 13 to 15 inches, and with some M-Lok slots gives shooters several sling mounting options from QD to traditional.

The Remington Magpul Model 700 in 6.5 Creedmoor is outfitted with a 22.0″ free-floated heavy barrel. Where I may not be a fan of super heavy stocks, I am a huge fan of heavy (bull) barrels. I have found these barrels to be far superior to standard or skinny barrel designs. For one, shooters can be confident that rifle harmonics and construction are in line with the best modern manufacturing techniques to produce the accuracy desired.

Another advantage of this selection is the free-floated mounting design. Removing any mounting contact points from the barrel is a huge benefit. Free-floated barrels are securely mounted into the receiver with enhanced connection points. By removing any mounting points from the barrel, the manufacturers are removing one more possible influence on the barrel’s and bullet’s performance. Free-floated barrels provide the best harmonics when fired, removing hinderances and other interferences with barrel performance.

Remington includes a threaded muzzle protector providing the shooter a variety of options for enhanced shooting. If the shooter desires a muzzle brake or suppressor, the new 6.5 Creedmoor Model 700 is ready to go. With 6.5 Creedmoor reducing recoil from even the moderate recoil of the .308 Win. shooters may not see the need in a muzzle device. However, with the advancement of the Hearing Protection Act, and the numerous benefits of suppressors, it is nice to see Remington went the extra step to make this rifle mission ready.

The Remington Model 700 6.5 Creedmoor comes with the externally adjustable X-Mark Pro trigger. This adjustable trigger allows the individual shooter to set trigger pull weight with the use of an included tool, rather than requiring an armorer to make the adjustments internally. X-Mark Pro triggers typically come factory-direct with a pre-set 3.5 pound trigger pull. Adjustments can be made from 3.0 pounds to 5.0 pounds by the shooter.

In my professional opinion, supported by the American Sniper Association, I believe the 3.5 pound trigger weight is as light as a shooter should adjust their trigger – especially on police sniper rifles. Though some shooters like to show off their “smooth” hair triggers, a professional sniper must have the profound confidence that they are in full control of when the rifle fires. Light trigger pull weights are inherently dangerous as they have been shown to discharge from simple rifle jostling as opposed to deliberate trigger pull.

Benefits of the 6.5 Creedmoor

The advancement of 6.5 Creedmoor should actually excite the majority of center-fire rifle shooters. Target shooters get a round with high ballistic coefficient creating a very flat trajectory for extremely accurate shots. Hunters get a round with amazing energy levels over long ranges, and just a slightly reduced bullet diameter to provide acceptable expectations for humane kills. Snipers take advantage of flatter trajectories to reduce turret manipulations, while producing extremely accurate shots with high levels of energy to ensure the one-shot success often necessary to provide safety to victims, hostages, or innocent bystanders. In addition, the .308 magazine compatibility means less expense in a transition.

Remington and 5R Rifling

Remington uses the newer, and highly praised 5R rifling in their Model 700 6.5 Creedmoor barrel. Conventional rifling uses an even number of lands and grooves to produce a gyroscopic stabilization (spin) on the bullet prior to its departure from the barrel. Lands are the bore surfaces in contact with the bullet, while grooves are cut outs in the bore. Traditionally there are 4 or 6 lands and grooves. The grooves take on a spiral cut over a specified distance in the bore to maximize the effectiveness of the spin created by expelled gas in the grooves exerting pressure on the bullet as it is discharged.

This is where the “twist rate” is measured – such as common hunting rifle rates of 1:10 or 1:12. These numbers correspond to “1:” full rotation of the groove twist in the bore, over “8, 10, or “12” inches of the barrel. The Remington Model 700 6.5 Creedmoor rifle has a twist rate of 1:8, creating nearly (3) full rotations of the bullet over the course of the 22-inch barrel prior to leaving the muzzle (22-inch barrel/8-inch twist rate = 2.75 rotations in barrel).

This spin allows the bullet to travel more uniformly through the air while maintaining accuracy. One drawback of conventional rifling however, is the lands are placed directly opposite of each other. As pressure is applied directly across the bullet from directly opposite grooves, minor deformations can form on the bullet as the softer bullet metal is pressed into the landings. This can translate to minor imperfections in flight – thus reduced accuracy over distance.

The 5R rifling technique creates lands that are opposite of grooves. Pressure is now more equalized across the moving bullet due to each groove having a solid landing to its opposite rather than another gas-filled groove. With reduce bullet deformation, accuracy can and has been shown to be improved.

Finally, conventional rifling uses a more 90-degree cut on the grooves, where 5R rifling slopes the groove cuts at an angle. There are two benefits of the 5R rifling method. First, the sloped cuts create a better pressure pattern on the bullet from the gases traveling through the grooves. Glock’s polygonal rifling is a great example of this (see picture below), and has allowed the striker fired pistols to produce impressive accuracy.

Second, the 5R sloped groove cuts make cleaning the rifle bore much easier and efficient. The conventional rifling creates sharp 90-degree corners that are much harder to get to with brushes and even smaller amounts of bore solvent. The 5R rifling with more sloped grooves angles the edges to allow brushes and solvent to more easily clean off the carbon and copper debris build-up from shooting. This is extremely important in rifle shooting, where proper barrel break-in requires extensive cleaning after shots, and continued accuracy success is dependent upon the ability to remove interfering debris from the bore.

Remington Magpul Model 700 6.5 Creedmoor Specifications

• Calibers: 6.5 Creedmoor, .260 Remington, .308 Winchester
• Overall Length: 41.5″
• Barrel Length: 22.0″
• Barrel Material: Carbon steel
• Barrel Finish: Black Cerakote
• Stock Material: Polymer with aluminum bedding
• Length of Pull: Adjustable from 13″ to 15″
• Twist Rate: 6.5 and .260 (1:8); .308 (1:10)
• Magazine Capacity: 5-rounds
• MSRP: $1175.00 starting.

Final Thoughts

Remington has done well with their Magpul Model 700 chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor. I am excited to see the advancement of 6.5 Creedmoor and the inclusion of the Magpul Hunter 700L stock. Both of these features create a remarkable rifle with plenty of potential. Other features have been thoughtfully included to produce a rifle capable of delivering highly accurate shots, from a reduced weight platform.

The Remington Magpul Model 700 6.5 Creedmoor is nicely priced in the mid-range of precision rifles, and is reasonably priced for the features it provides. My next precision rifle will be chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor and this Model 700 is a strong competitor to the new Ruger Precision Rifle and other competitors advancing 6.5 Creedmoor.