Remington 721

jackie schmidt

jackie schmidt

New member
A local Pawn Shop has a Rem 721, in 30-06, it looks old and worn, but the bolt is slick as grease, and has a surprisingly small amount of play. The bolt face is in great shape as well.

They want $299 for it. I am almost tempted to buy it, take it all apart, and see just how true the action would be as compared to what we have seen in recent years.......jackie
 
Jackie
Buy it! Stongest action Remington ever made I have Five of them on some of my 1000 yard rifles.

Joe Salt
 
Joe, I just went up there and bought it, drove it out for $290, tax, title, and tags.

For what it's worth, the serial # is 94855

Just what I needed, a project Rifle.:D
 
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The 721 is the fore-runner of the modern 700 long action. I would not agree that it is any stronger than any other Remington and the newer ones are probably made of better steel so they may be stronger. I have used a couple of them to make LR rifles. Some were better made than the new ones, while others were not.

JMHO

Ray
 
The only weakness is replacement 721 extractors are hard to find if you were to ever need one...

I have had old actions quite true and considerably off... as I have also had new actions the same. I don't know if the day of the week had anything to do with the manufacturing variance.
 
The last Remington I bought was a Stainless 700. That action had single pointed threads, a very square receiver face, and threads clearly cut at the same time as that face was done. The major parts of the action (R threads, face and bore) were remarkably inline. I was happy with what I had. I know lots of people seem to say that new ones run all over the place. I've only had a few so I'd be unfair to dispute that, but mine were great. I would never go BR with one, but, I wouldn't bash the quality either.

Let us know if you see any marks indicating the threads were single pointed. Mine had light chatter (visible, but not detrimental). It was enough I knew how it had been made.
 
I have only worked on a couple of the titanium actions and both of them were nicely made and quite true. I wish all the steel actions were as good.

I have not seen a regular 700 'series' action where the front of the receiver was faced true from the factory. All of them appeared as if they were run through a chop saw...
 
Jackie,

What does the lug contact look like? With custom actions the way most are, going back to trueing 700 actions (for someone like yourself and others that can do their own truing work) may be the way to go. I've seen several old sleeved 700 actions that will walk the dog on what I've been shooting lately.

Hovis
 
There you go Jackie. Now you can build that long range rifle that has been sitting in the back of your mind. Go for it!!!! Lee
 
I heard back when bench rest got started they yoused sleved remingtons.
 
Hovis, just a visual, but both luggs look like they are hitting, and no gall marks. I just happen to have my Son's Remington BDL 700 in my office, and this old 721 appears to have a lot less bolt clearance.

Heck, you can't buy much of anything for less than 300 bucks, it's all there, and everything works. It had a old TASCO 4X sitting on top.

I guess the trigger is originol, it has the two piece cocking block, feels real smooth, about 3 pounds. I have never seen a 721 trigger, so I am not sure. I assume a 700 trigger will fit.

I'll take the barrel off next week, take a good look at eveything. .........jackie
 
The trigger housings are the same. If you switch over to a 700 trigger with a safety the 721 stock will require inletting for the safety.
 
If you are planning on using some sort of factory trigger, the 721/722 trigger is easier to get down to a safe lighter pull than the later 700 triggers. I had one that was safe at 1 1/4#. Compare the springs.
 
A 700 trigger will fit, but the bolt release spring is different. It's a coil fit into a whole under the bolt release, rather than one hung on the trigger pin in the 700. I rebarreled a 721 to 25-06 with a shilen bank, put on a shilen trigger & an HS stock. Shoot very well. The 721/722's seem to go (around here) for just what you paid & are a better deal than 700's.
Regards,
Ron
 
very cool jackie...looking forward to see what you decide to do with her.


my great grandmothers 722 (257 roberts) has probably killed more critters than all my other rifles combined. I have a soft spot for them.

pf
 
Wow, maybe 1949, that is the year I was born. Now, that would really be neat, a custom Rifle built on an action born the same year as me..........jackie
 
You better watch out..... that whole "guns are tools" thing is fading. You're going to be a certifiable gun nut if you don't watch out!

al
 
Jackie If you are going to do anything to the bolt add on a sako extractor. oh and a 28 lb. wolf firing pin spring, the spring is probably as old as the rifle.
 
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