Older 700 Remington Question

[KMart]

A few days ago, I bought an older 700 rem in 30-06, factory installed barrel sights and a BDL stock with the mid 70's cut checkering. The price was very reasonable. After getting it home, I cleaned the barrel and got zero indications of any powder fouling or copper fouling.
The barrel code indicates a July 1965 manufacture, with a 6 digit s/n. The bolt face is blue with no indication of brass or primer marks from being fired. The extractor appears to be riveted in. It appears to have never been shot. However, the rifle lived a hard life with some slight rusting on the outside of the barrel.
The action does not have a guide rail for the bolt, nor a place in the right lug for a guide rail. The rear bridge looks to have a factory clip slot in it .500" long and .530" wide.

All that for this question. Did the early 700's not have the bold guide? The clip slot also appears out of place.

 

[Bc'z]

I shoot with an old timer occasionally who has a 260 put together by Wyatt's. No bolt guide in the lug. Early 60's model.
Action is smooooth as butter!!

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Anti bind rail came later

 

[stork]

The anti-bind bolt cut & corresponding rail in the action weren't around until later in the 70's IIRC. And yes smooooth as soft butter.
I'm probably wrong, just ask the wifey, but I believe the clip slots were cut to operate on stripper clips from the 03a3 and Enfield era. Another nice feature was the left rear screw holes for installing a peep sight.

 

[riflewoman]

The “Anti-bind” rail came in the 1970s, 1974 IIRC. So your action and barrel date of 1965 sounds about right. The “clip slot” you mentioned really isn’t one but may have been intended to be one when the 721 was designed as scopes were just becoming popular and reliable. The tooling and process however remained so the 721 and some 722 had these slots. When it was removed I can’t remember. The stock with the “mid 70s cut checkering” is a bit odd on such an early rifle. Perhaps it was restocked?

 

[Tommie]

I agree that the stock isn’t 1970’s vintage. Every one I’ve seen from that era has pressed “checkering”.

 

[KMart]

The “Anti-bind” rail came in the 1970s, 1974 IIRC. So your action and barrel date of 1965 sounds about right. The “clip slot” you mentioned really isn’t one but may have been intended to be one when the 721 was designed as scopes were just becoming popular and reliable. The tooling and process however remained so the 721 and some 722 had these slots. When it was removed I can’t remember. The stock with the “mid 70s cut checkering” is a bit odd on such an early rifle. Perhaps it was restocked?

The more I think about the stock situation, there may be an answer. When I took the stock off of the action, there was no magazine box. Another clue is the bolt does not have the "engine turned" finish on it.
The rifle was most likely an ADL when it came from the factory and someone upgraded it over time.

 

[STS]

The clip slotted receivers were few in number and were only made in the mid 60’s iirc. I had a short action one for a while.

 

[riflewoman]

The more I think about the stock situation, there may be an answer. When I took the stock off of the action, there was no magazine box. Another clue is the bolt does not have the "engine turned" finish on it.
The rifle was most likely an ADL when it came from the factory and someone upgraded it over time.

Without a magazine box the rifle won’t hold ammo as the “feed lips” are on the magazine; also why magazines are specific to caliber(s). So that needs to be in there. ADL mags are also different as they don’t have the bottom metal to contend with. So get the right one. Bolt “Jewelling” was on both ADL and BDL so it was likely just worn away or polished off in rust removal.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Sounds like the bolt was refurbished and they snuck a few bdl parts in to make it more desirable

 

[SDWhirlwind]

The so called 'clip slot' isn't but was carried over from the 721/722 into the 700 until somewhere between 192,000 which I have seen one with listed on GB and a gent in town with a 199,000 short action with full rear bridge. However there was a company or two that made an adaptor that attached using 2 rear screws to utilize stripper clips. Last I seen for sale was on fleabay and I run it to about $50 just to have one but lost out. Cannot remember who made them or sold them? Sinclair?????

This rear bridge slot was on long and short 700's also. I was under the impression that when prefix letter was added or changed was because of a change in the 700 receiver according to ATF or someone whom required something to differentiate changes? A prefix began in early 70's about when anti bind rail was added and rear bridge was raised the .007? but unfortunately I have not payed attention to verify? Side aperature sight holes eliminated about time of B? prefix and bolt lock safety early 80's or around C prefix started. Probably full of that male bovine material....but?

All above comments made with no hard evidence may affect my Christmas presents from some of you I am fully aware and willing to that www punishment. Be kind, I just returned late afternoon from a 350 mile round trip to oral surgeon for 1 goober tooth removal and part of bridge that attached to it. Not enough gold in it though to buy an early 700 receiver!!!!!!

Respectfully,
Dennis

 

[skeeljc]

Not trying to hijack the thread. I have a Remington 700 ADL with a four digit SN. When was it made?

 

[STS]

Not trying to hijack the thread. I have a Remington 700 ADL with a four digit SN. When was it made?

If it has the original barrel you can date it by the letter date code on the barrel.

 

[skeeljc]

The original barrel is long gone.

 

[SDWhirlwind]

4 digit would be '62. Had a 98XX 222 carbine ADL which was '62 yr but cannot remember month. Sold it after last wife left as I let her use it for coyote and all I had was bad memories everytime I picked it up. Was prestine other than original owner inscribed DL# on stock behind grip, on right side of barrel and on tube of the 4X Weaver. Wanted to make sure I guess.lol