I never claimed to be an expert and the differences in rifles is not the issue. The original post was: "Would this be a good gun to buy? There is a 30-06 remington 770 rifle combo with a burris scope. Any advice, comments, sugguestions?" All firearms have differences whether they are rifles or not. It then becomes a question of whether or not those differences are worth the extra $$$ or if they are differences that you want in a rifle.

I obliged the original poster with my experience because I thought actual experience with the rifle would be a lot more useful than comments like "you can't polish a turd" or some unexplained comment about a pressed barrel. Given the number of posts on this thread, very few of them are useful, but that's true for most opinions asked for on the internet. You've got to weed out which ones you find useful and those that you don't. Been there. Done that.

My 710 is accurate - I can get a 1-1.5" group with it using 150gr Federal Sierra Game King BTSP ammo-, functional and does what it was designed to do those 8-12 times a year I get to hunt. The deer are just as dead as anybody else's here that has a high dollar rifle with an equally expensive scope.

What intelligent discussion? You criticized the 710 for having a 'pinned' barrel when Remington states it is a pressed barrel (which may be pinned in place?). A high-quality firearm like the Barrett uses the same process, so just having a pressed barrel can't be an indication of low quality. No reasoning was offered for why a pressed barrel should be avoided. The only reason anyone ever stated in another discussion on the pressed barrel issue was that you couldn't change the barrel. I would guess that only a very small percentage of people ever "shoot out a barrel" on their deer rifle, so it's a non-issue for anyone but the most avid shooter.

You mentioned the plastic insert in the receiver in which the bolt travels. Unless I missed something, the 770 does not have this nor did the 710 in the last year or two before Remington changed the model number. But even so, what does it matter whether the plastic insert is there or not? You provide no rational for why it is a feature that you think should be avoided.

Intelligent discussion requires a rational or proof to back up statements regardless of whether you've been working on guns 27 years or not. I see no problems with a pressed barrel, but am open to why anyone would think it is a problem. Likewise for the plastic receiver inserts in the older 710s. Other than possibly making the action a little less smooth, I see no reason to find it so highly objectionable.