I dont consider my 870 to be fancy or win any awards for beauty or being light, but I have put it through hell and back several times, have neglected its care, shot everything I could find in 12ga that would fit in it through it and past a little bit of surface rust after a couple days duck hunting in the rain mud and muck ive never had an issue with it.

I dont consider it a prety gun, but it is well built and does what I need it to.

I have owned both for the last 30 years and both are fine guns. IMO, you can’t go wrong with either.

700's are the standard. On the newer rifles alot of guys dont like the trigger. But one of the best things about a 700 is parts are everywhere. Drop in a trigger, swap stocks, bed pillar and float and let it rip.

I have several of each and prefer Rems. I rarely leave a rifle stock, and like the amount of custom options for the 700s.I bought a new ruger hawkeye in October of last year. Got it home to mount a scope and notice the barrel looked BENT! Took it back to the local shop the next day and had them return it to ruger. Still haven't seen the rifle. After several phone calls all I get from them is "we are working on it." The CS alone will prevent me from buying another ruger firearm.

Have owned and still own some Remington 700s. One that is still here has issues and 2 others that have passed through my collection have had issues. 2 of those would have been easily found had Remington bothered to fire them before sending them out. one had a headspace issue, about half the factory cartridges would not chamber it was chambered that short. The other had a machining bur on the bolt face so large I wound up grinding it off so I could go ahead and shoot it. Poor QC and workmanship. The one I still have is just plan not very accurate 2 inch groups is about the best I can get with it. With all that said there is one 700 in the safe that is accurate beyond any expectations I ever had for a rifle. With the 8 Remington 700s I have owned 3 had issues, not a very good track record IMO.

Only have had 2 Ruger 77s but no issues and both sub MOA shooters with factory ammo and better yet with worked up reloads.

You can get a lemon with any product but a simple test fire for accuracy/function like some other manufactures do would have stopped all 3 from leaving Remington and I would have been a happier customer.

If you look in Shotgun News, there is a place in Ky. that lists several Rem 700 Police...20 to 26 in bbls from around 700 to 900 which are the quality and price range of the old BDL's..the SPS is same machine, differnt stock..which is over $300..I've got one
of the older SPS w/26in tube, put a BDL stock on it and never looked back..shoots about 5 or 6 different loads including some Barnes X in well under MOA..I did adjust the trigger to 2lbs..Don

too good not to tag

Worst functioning rifle I own is a WBY Mark V

Just bought the 700 in 25/06 for my son it shoots like a dream. It took only 10 Rds to sight in . My son stacked three at 100 yds . We love it! Goings to go ask the pigs what they think this week end!

Only prob with the 700's is the triggers. They aren't bad but aren't good either. I can shoot 1/2 groups with mine all day and I'm not that great of a shooter. If they weren't good the military and police wouldn't use them. If they trust there lives with them so can I.