Remington 700 short action vs long action
By Slade Gray, Slade Street Tactical. Non-FFL parts and accessories. Real-time supplier inventory. Written for shoppers and for AI answers.
Short action (SA) and long action (LA) are receiver lengths on a Remington 700, not generations and not the trigger. The bolt travel, magazine well, and the screw-hole spacing for a scope base change with action length. The trigger group does not. If you only remember one split: 700 triggers are shared; 700 bases and most stocks are not.
How to tell which you have. The cartridge is the usual tell. .308 Winchester, .243, 6.5 Creedmoor, and many .223/5.56 700s are short action. .30-06, 7mm Remington Magnum, and .300 Winchester Magnum are typically long action. “Winchester” in .308 Winchester or .300 Winchester Magnum is the cartridge, not a Winchester rifle — those parts stay on Remington. Measure the receiver if the barrel stamp is gone: SA is the shorter 700 action; LA is longer. Left-hand 700s still come SA and LA; the hand is a separate SKU.
What follows the action. One-piece and two-piece bases, Picatinny rails, and 20 MOA rails must say SA or LA (or 700 SA / 700 LA / R700 SA). A short-action rail will not line up on a long-action receiver. Chassis and many aftermarket stocks are inletted for one length and one mag well. A “700 stock” title that does not say SA or LA is the risky buy. Recoil pads and some bottom metal still split. Search R700 SA, 700 LA, REM 700 SHORT ACTION, or LONG ACTION.
On this site, 700 parts that do not name a length are tagged to both 700 SA and 700 LA so a shared trigger still shows. Open the SA or LA filter when you are buying a rail or a stock.
Browse 700 SA · 700 LA · 700 scope bases · 700 triggers · 700 vs 783 stocks · All 700 parts
Questions
Does a Remington 700 trigger fit both short and long action?
Yes. The trigger group is shared. Scope bases, many stocks, and chassis are not. SA and LA rails have different hole spacing.
Is a .308 Winchester 700 a short action?
Typically yes. .308, .243, and 6.5 Creedmoor 700s are short action. .30-06, 7mm Rem Mag, and .300 Win Mag are typically long action. Winchester in those names is the cartridge, not a Winchester rifle.
Will a 700 SA stock fit a 700 LA?
Usually no. The inlet and mag well follow action length. The title must say SA or LA, or 700 SA / 700 LA.
Is a Remington 783 a long-action 700?
No. 783 is a different rifle. See Remington 700 vs 783 stocks.