The 710's tend to bereally inconsistent in quality. they are made as an inexpensive "first rifle", though I wouldn't recommend one to anybody. A friend of mine bought one when they first came out, and has had zero problems with it. He put a Nikon scope on it, because he didn't like the Bushnell it came with, but other than that it's been a great rifle for him. Apparently, from what I have heard from just about everywhere else, that is the exception rather than the rule. I know the lock work is different than the 700, I believe the bolt has rear lugs, and the barrel is pressed in. If remember right, I thinkI read that the chamber is actually in the reciever rather than the barrel? At any rate, the 700 is well worth the extra cost IMO