I know it's a cheaper gun, but what if you put better glass on it. Would it be a good gun then ? What really makes a bolt action gun better then another?

I have one with the original scope on it. I can't say enough bad things about the scope. However, I've killed scads of pigs with it in Florida. Better glass would make it easier to see the target but wont make the rifle a good gun.

What exactly makes a rifle a better gun besides weight and smoothness ? If that makes sense trying to justify spending 3-800 bucks on a new rifle

I already own the 710 so trying to save money if I can ?

Just replace the Bushnell Sharpshooter scope with whatever 3x9 is on sale for $150 this week and keep shooting it.

Yup. Then if the rifle doesn't work out, you still have a decent scope for the next one.

The cost of the materials and labor needed to produce it. More plastic, lower cost. More metal, more cost.

I bought a 710 when Walmart was clearancing them out. Remington also had a $50 rebate at the time, so my purchase price was about $175. I did replace the original scope with a Nikon 3-9x40 BDC model. Ugly, ugly rifle...but shot great. Would put Remington Corelokt 130 grain .270 into .625" groups, even with a less than stellar trigger. Wound up taking it to Wyoming for speed goats and shot three, at distances from 180 yards to 350 yards. All one shot kills.

Definitely not a collector piece, but got the job done every time.

OP. If the rifle is accurate, feeds without jamming and doesn't misfire, it is worth keeping. Adding a decent scope will make shooting the rifle more enjoyable.

It's that simple.

And there's definitely great benefit in having reliable, and yet relatively inexpensive, "knockabout" gun that you don't mind if it takes some cosmetic dings along the way.

Thanks for the replies. Gonna look into getting a better scope for it.

You've inspired me Redneck. I went and purchased a Vortex Crossfire II for my 710. Only took ten years to do the upgrade