I got the Rem 798 from CDNN like someone here said and the dealer price was $500 + 17 shipping. I am impressed with the gun and am glad I bought it. I was worried about how the laminated stock would look but am happy with it. [IMG:left] [/IMG]

On the Pro side:
The blueing is deep, uniform and well done. The trigger has all the adjustment screws typical of Zastava so you should be able to get it where you want. (Lawyer pull out of the box) The shape of the pistol grip feels good and the recoil pad is comfortable. The stock is bedded with some kind of plastic/epoxy and there is a metal bedding bar in addition to the two cross-bolts.
[IMG:left] [/IMG]
The rear sight folds down and has an interesting and useful elevation adjustment which was needed to zero the gun. I will make a wide V replacement blade and a bigger bead.

I don't have many rounds through it yet but I think it will be accuarate enough. 405 Rem's didn't show too well with 72 gr. of Varget but the 500 Hornady shows promise. I will try other powders later. I just had to get it to the range to play and the varget can was closest to the front of the shelf.
[IMG:left] [/IMG]
The barrel is supposed to be free-floated but it touches on the left side a bit - easy fix. The front sight hood could use some more daylight over the front sight and the bead could be bigger.

To be picky, I would like a rounded forend not the slanted one and a bigger bolt knob. A barrel band would look nice and a longer stock would fit me better but I am on the tall side. The action will need a little polishing to smooth it up but I am into it less money than if I had started with just an action. Improvements will be easy.

Good buy.
I've tried to have a look on the CDNN site but can't get to the rifles and pricing, how do you do that?
Overall it sounds like a great buy on the rifle and after a bit of tune up you are in it nice and cheap.
Good luck and good shooting.

A friend runs a shop and has a dealer license so he did the leg work. I think you have to have an FFL on file with them before they will tell you much.

I have really been thinking hard about getting this gun. How much does it weigh and what is the recoil like?

I have the one in 375 H&H with the walnut stock and 22" barrel.

It's about 7.5-7.75 lbs. I did put on a slip on soft rubber pad to make the stock longer (I'm 6'3") and add some pad, but with the 500's at 2115 fps recoil is not bad. It is not a sharp jab like some higher velociy rounds. It does come back a ways though. The recoil is significant step up from the 375. When I grow up I want to rechamber it to a 458 AR.

Dan416

I have had great results with IMR 3031 in my 458's.

I have used the 350gr Hornady RN, feeds great, and the 400gr Speer.

Starting load 64gr velocity @2025fs
Max load @71 gr. velocity @ 2225fps.

quote:

I have really been thinking hard about getting this gun. How much does it weigh and what is the recoil like?

You better not wait too long, this is a discontinued product, close out price. That price got to be a 50% discount(half off), which is dirt cheep. It was imported by Remington and dropped. I think you can be confident even without the Remington level markup, they will cost a lot more than $500 when/if they return under a new name.

I think one member of AR, ordered five!

Dan, nice report - thank you.

Zander supply has them in 357hh and 458 win mag. have you dealer check. from what I have found out almost all of the stocks rub on the left side. Remington farmed out the stock work but thats and easy fix.I have shot 80 rounds through mine and it it able to group better than I can shot . The stock finish is great but a little slick I have the famious eye ring to prove it The only thing I don't like it the rear sight blade.

PS if you look at the bluing in good light it is actually brown. it's done great. the old intra arms Mark X was the same.

quote:

Originally posted by Snellstrom:
Good buy.
I've tried to have a look on the CDNN site but can't get to the rifles and pricing, how do you do that?

You have to download the catalog to your computer and then open it.

Thanks Dan - that was a good report.

I hate that you added pictures - now I want one too!

CCMDoc. the soild wood stock looks really good to. you will love shooting it if you get one

With all the chatter about the new rounds offered in the Ruger African and Alaskan -- imagine what a handy gun could be made based on one of these 798's. Cut back the barrel, make other tweeks as suits your taste. You could have just as handy&short a rifle in either the classic 375HH or the versatile 458 - in classic Mauser action.

Does Leupold make a one piece base for this action? I found that system allows the scope to be mounted an inch forward compared to the rear ring location on a Ruger. That inch will can make a difference in a natural head position and safe eye relief.

N E 450
I will have to try some IMR 3031. The 72 and 73 gr. Varget loads flattened the primers quite a bit. From previous posts 2230 seems to be the powder of choice for 500's.

The 798 has a 26" bbl which is long for a 458 - these are 3 shot strings.
71 Varg. avg 2064 ES 12
72 Varg. avg 2086 ES 11
73 Varg. avg 2118 ES 14

2230 is the cat's PJ's.

quote:

Originally posted by ddrhook:
from what I have found out almost all of the stocks rub on the left side. Remington farmed out the stock work but thats and easy fix.I have shot 80 rounds through mine and it it able to group better than I can shot . The stock finish is great but a little slick I have the famious eye ring to prove it The only thing I don't like it the rear sight blade.

You are correct on All Counts! Mine rubs on the left side, and Remington should correct these under warranty.

I've had mine for a while, so I needed to do the work myself. For the money, I sure am happy altogether. My biggest bitch is a folding rear sight on a DG rifle. These are not the slicker Interarms MK X rifles inside, but they work and feed well.

Thats a nice looking rifle

Does anyone know if the 375 H&H version of these REM798s is an actual 375 length action. I seem to remember someone mentioned that they were not a true magnum action. Just wondering if anyone knows for sure.

Thanks

Thay are the 30-06 length action with the magnum bolt face in 458 Win Mag. So any of the non 375 length cartridges (300 Win Mag, 7mm Rem Mag, 264 Win Mag, etc) could be built on this action. I have one in 375 and 458 and after the requitite cleanup, lapping to smooth it up it's great and both shoot well. Will second the notion that the level of finish is not what the older Mark X and Whitworth's were.

They still have some left. I just ordered one of each. What do I need to do to smooth up the actions?

Thanks for the report. I wonder why Remington have discontinued such a greate value-for-money product?

I have been considering selling my CZ .375 to buy one of these. I prefer rifles built on a standard length action.

Cheers

luv2safari which mounts did you use?

quote:

Originally posted by umshiniwam:
I wonder why Remington have discontinued such a greate value-for-money product?
Cheers

Let me give you my opinion on this.....This line was being imported by Chas Daly....pretty good prices and pretty good product......and then all of a sudden Remington got the import license.....

They raised prices dramatically and when they finally got to market with their product the product had slipped horribly in quality. Some of the first 798 rifles I saw were atrocious in the wood to metal fit.....and I mean terrible!

They just pissed everyone off with jacking prices and delivering far less quality than Daly.....and you got to go some to do that....Daly is (was) a pretty low buck outfit.!

IMO Remington stumbled badly and they did the same with their attempt to introduce Russian rifles.....they blundered the double rifle badly and didn't fare well with the twin tube shotguns either.

Remington wsas on the skids and was finally bought out by (Bushmaster) et al and the new parent company dumped the failing imports!

Midway will soon be selling the same action (if they ever get them in stock) but then you barrel it and stock it yourself.

quote:

Originally posted by Slider:
luv2safari which mounts did you use?

Those are the Leupold Pin & Cam type QD mounts...use FN Mauser bases. These are a real close copy of the FN and the contour is the same.

quote:

Originally posted by vapodog:

quote:

Originally posted by umshiniwam:
I wonder why Remington have discontinued such a greate value-for-money product?
Cheers

Let me give you my opinion on this.....This line was being imported by Chas Daly....pretty good prices and pretty good product......and then all of a sudden Remington got the import license.....

They raised prices dramatically and when they finally got to market with their product the product had slipped horribly in quality. Some of the first 798 rifles I saw were atrocious in the wood to metal fit.....and I mean terrible!

They just pissed everyone off with jacking prices and delivering far less quality than Daly.....and you got to go some to do that....Daly is (was) a pretty low buck outfit.!

IMO Remington stumbled badly and they did the same with their attempt to introduce Russian rifles.....they blundered the double rifle badly and didn't fare well with the twin tube shotguns either.

Remington wsas on the skids and was finally bought out by (Bushmaster) et al and the new parent company dumped the failing imports!

Midway will soon be selling the same action (if they ever get them in stock) but then you barrel it and stock it yourself.

I have to agree that Remington cocked up a great concept..An affordable CRF Mauser action rifle from a brand that is (was) trusted.

luv2safari thanks for the reply. I should have asked you what model scope that is also?

quote:

Originally posted by Slider:
luv2safari thanks for the reply. I should have asked you what model scope that is also?

Leupold 1-4 VXII. I like them because they come to the eye well and are light. I used a 2-7 Loopy on my 416 Rigby and still do on several 375s. The VXIII series are good for the big bores, too, but I get everything I need from the VXII/VariX II lines...and a tad less weight.

I just put a 2-7 on my new-to-me Kimber Montana 325 WSM. I need the good eye relief.

Kind of a trivial point but I wonder why the 798 is also stamped with "USSG Rockledge, Florida." Did Remington buy them from or have them imported by USSG. Seems odd. USSG seems to be connected to EAA by the web site links. The USSG site also touts a double rifle by Sabatti - anyone heard of them?

Go look it up in the DR area.. It's been covered alot.

it's stamped remington then has serbian manufactor name on it

I picked up both rifles today. The barrel on the 458 is almost touching the stock on the left hand side.(I will contact Remington in the A.M. about repairing it.)The barrel on the 375 is centered in the stock. The action on the 458 seems a little smoother than the 375. All in all I would say $499.00 is a STEAL!!! They are better than I expected!!! I'm Glad I purchased them.

I picked up the baby version in 7.62x39. Shoots great.

I ordered a .458 on Monday, should be here tomorrow. When you call CDNN ask for Keith, he will take care of you. I am planning to use a Talley peep on my rifle, is the hole spacing on the rear bridge .500? Any info would be appreciated. Thanks

Yackman, Yes .500", I am considering a peep too.

I took my 375 H&H to the Smith yesterday. He is guessing around $120.00(2 hours work)to smooth up the action? My guess is my 458 will take about an hour? I figured about $100.00 each so I am pretty close.

Has anyone tried to have a barrel band installed on one of these rifle's?

Yes, I had a barrel band installed on mine. With the reblue it was $250 from Canyon Lake Gunsmithing (north of San Antonio, TX).

they still available for 500 bucks? anybody punch one out to Lott yet? are they better than the EAA imported ones coming in?

quote:

Originally posted by Dago Red:
they still available for 500 bucks? anybody punch one out to Lott yet? are they better than the EAA imported ones coming in?

I beleive to get a Lott from the current Zastavas, you have to either get a .458WM, re-chamber it and open the action up or buy the .375H&H and re-barrel.

pevtsovy was the front sight originally soldered? If so was it low heat or high heat soldered? Was the front sight re-installed after the barrel band was installed?