Remington 700

Remington Arms introduced the Model 700 in 1962. Designed by engineer Merle "Mike" Walker, the rifle is a progressive variant of the Model 721 and Model 722 series, which debuted in 1948. Development began after World War II as Walker sought to create lower-cost alternatives to the Model 30. This effort led to the use of cylindrical receivers produced from bar stock, which allowed for lathe turning instead of complex milling operations. The design aimed for accuracy through tight chamber tolerances and a fast lock time while remaining suitable for mass production.

The Model 700 is a manually operated bolt-action rifle utilizing a rotating bolt with two forward dual-opposed lugs. The bolt is a three-piece assembly consisting of the head, body, and handle brazed together. Its receiver is milled from round cross-section steel. The bolt face is recessed to enclose the cartridge base, featuring a C-clip extractor and a spring-actuated plunger ejector. Feed systems include internal magazines with 3- to 6-round capacities, some equipped with hinged floor plates, or 10-round detachable box magazines. Available in both long-action and short-action configurations, the rifle's lock time ranges from 2.6 to 3.2 milliseconds. Stock materials vary from walnut and hardwood to laminated wood and synthetic polymers, with some specialized variants utilizing aluminum block bedding.

The United States Marine Corps adopted the M40 sniper rifle, based on the Model 700 short-action, in 1966. The United States Army followed in 1986 with the adoption of the M24 Sniper Weapon System, which utilizes the long-action version. Further military development resulted in the M2010 Enhanced Sniper Rifle. For law enforcement, Remington produced the 700P series, incorporating features from military models such as heavier barrels. International operators include the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and various military or police units in Australia, China, Indonesia, Israel, Malaysia, and Ukraine. Commercial and specialized variants include the ADL, BDL, the Special Purpose Synthetic (SPS) series, and the titanium-receiver 700 Ti. The Model Seven is a compact carbine version introduced in 1983. Between 1996 and 2004, a muzzleloader variant designated the 700 ML was also produced.