Remington Model 700 Mountain LSS Rifle Review

In 1985, Remington introduced the now-famous Mountain Rifle. Slim and trim, it was something Remington needed in its line, which at the time consisted of the popular ADL and BDL 700s plus an assortment of semiautomatic and pump rifles. The new gun checked in at 6¾ pounds and quickly became a favorite.

The rifle is still in the line, with models that include the Classic Deluxe (CDL), Limited Editions and recently the introduction of the Mountain LSS (laminated stock, stainless) rifle. Available in four chamberings--.270 Winchester, .280 Remington, 7mm-08 Remington, .30-06 Springfield--and complete with the weather resistance of a laminated stock and a stainless action, surely this is a prime candidate for those who never let the weather interfere with a hunt.

The classic design starts with a nicely tapered fore-end with black tip. The pistol grip has a comfortable sweep to it and, like the fore-end tip, ends with a black pistol grip cap. The buttstock features a straight-line comb that is angled downward toward the receiver and sports a tasteful shadow-line cheekpiece.

The Mountain LSS is pure Model 700 and chambered to four excellent cartridges: .270, .280, 7mm-08 and .30-06.

The color of the laminated stock fits the gun perfectly. Instead of being too colorful, the laminates go from black to a dark coffee tone--creating a pleasing look that could almost pass for highly figured walnut.

Specifications: Remington M700 Mountain LSS
Type:	bolt-action centerfire
Caliber:	.270 Win., .280 Rem. (tested), 7mm-08 Rem., .30-06
Capacity:	4+1
Barrel length:	22 in.
Overall length:	42.5 in.
Weight:	6.6 lb.
Stock:	satin-finished brown laminate
Sights:	none; drilled and tapped for scope
Finish:	stainless
Trigger:	X-Mark Pro Adjustable; 4- to 61„4-lb. pull as tested
Price:	$1,098
Manufacturer:	Remington, remington.com, 800-243-9700

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The finish is smooth satin, and there's more than ample checkering on both the fore-end and pistol grip. Executed in a point pattern, today's machine checkering can easily surpass even some of the best hand checkering of years past.

The stock has a black through-bolt for strength, and for those who like their recoil soft, Remington has installed its propriety Super Cell recoil pad at the common 131„2-inch length of pull. Although it is longer than most recoil-dampening pads, the end result not only makes the gun more comfortable to shoot but it can be modified to fit you. An accessory package allows the shooter to tailor the length of the pad via an optional adjustable length-of-pull kit that includes various spacers and screws.

The stainless action is of course, pure Model 700. My sample is chambered for the .280 Remington, a cartridge that seems to get more popular as the years go by.

The stock's fore-end sports a black grip cap and ample checkering in a flawlessly executed point pattern.

The handsome laminated stock has a straight comb and shadow-line cheekpiece, and it's capped off with Remington's Super Cell pad.

The receiver is machined from solid bar stock for strength and good out-of-the-box accuracy, and of course the action incorporates the company's "three rings of steel" design. A washer-type recoil lug holds the action securely in the stock, and the receiver is drilled and tapped for scopes.

The bolt on my .280 sample is 71„4 inches long from the bolt face to the rear shroud. There are twin locking and opposing lugs, with the right lug incorporating a guide for mating with the receiver raceway for smooth operation. Within the bolt face you will find a plunger ejector and typical Remington extractor.

The bolt body is polished and jeweled, and the bolt handle is brazed to the bolt, canted to the rear and has a checkered bolt knob. There is a cocking indicator at the rear of the shroud, and the safety lever is a simple two-position design.

The trigger guard is more than ample size for winter glove use and plays host to the floorplate and bolt releases. Push in on the bolt release; push forward on the floorplate release.

I found the Remington Model 700 Mountain LSS rifle not only a fine-looking gun but one that was fun shoot as well.

Barrel length on all Mountain rifles is 22 inches with a sporting muzzle diameter of .550 inch. They are hammer forged.

Like most Remingtons these days, the Mountain LSS is equipped with the X-Mark Pro Adjustable trigger. While Remington touts the trigger as adjustable from two (too light for a hunting rifle) to 31„2 pounds, my sample produced only a range from four to 61„4 pounds of pull. It broke cleanly, though.

I mounted a Redfield 3-9x40 scope in Redfield rings and headed for the range. Firing the gun from a benchrest proved to be pleasurable thanks to the Remington pad. Since the temperatures were in the mid-30s, the barrel did not have a chance to really heat up, and groups never ventured over two minutes of angle.

I found the Remington Model 700 Mountain LSS rifle not only a fine-looking gun but one that was fun shoot as well.

Accuracy Results | Remington M700 Mountain LSS
.280 Remington	Bullet Weight (gr.)	Muzzle Velocity (fps)	Standard Deviation	Avg. Group Size (in.)
Winchester Silvertip	140	2,806	28	1.5
Remington Core-Lokt	150	2,786	40	1.0
Remington Core-Lokt	165	2,655	38	2.0
WARNING: The loads shown here are safe only in the guns for which they were developed. Neither the author nor InterMedia Outdoors, Inc. assumes any liability for accidents or injury resulting from the use or misuse of this data. Notes: Accuracy results are averages of three three-shot groups at 100 yards. Velocities are averages of nine shots measured on an Oehler Model 35P chronograph set 10 feet from the muzzle.