Although offering fast operation and simplicity of use, slide- or pump-action center-fire rifles are not nearly as common as their shotgun brethren. Within this niche market, however, the Remington 7600 series of center-fire rifles has proven to be one of the more popular because of its combination of “user-friendliness” and affordability.
Recognizing the strengths of this rifle design, Remington’s Law Enforcement Division is offering two Duty/Patrol variants of the 7600 rifle: the 7600P in .308 Win. and the 7615P in .223 Rem., tested here. The 7615P is available through any distributor that carries Remington’s law enforcement line.
The 7615P offers similar operation to a standard Remington Model 870 with the same slide-action operation, cross-bolt safety at the rear of the trigger guard and slide action release at the front of the trigger guard. According to Remington, these similarities have made for significantly easier transitioning from the 870 for officers who may not have had much prior experience with rifles. Apparently, the .223 Rem. chambering has also made it popular with smaller-statured officers who are uncomfortable with the recoil of a 12-ga. Model 870.
The basic 7600 series of rifles—although similar to the Model 870 in appearance and use—differs significantly in design, utilizing a rotating bolt that locks into a barrel extension. The 7600’s barrel, fitted through a barrel bracket at the front of the rifle’s steel receiver, screws into a barrel extension that houses the recesses for the locking lugs.
The bolt of the 7615P differs from that of a standard 7600 rifle in that it has three locking lugs rather than four. Remington eliminated the lug on the bottom of the standard 7600 bolt to allow clearance for the magazine-well adapter.