rewmington 721 vs. 700, what are differences

[hopefullbencher]

Hello,
Well I have a 721 with a old cracked stock and I would like to replace the barrel and I would like to install a nicer, more rest ready stock. I don't want a full 3 inch fore end but something in the 2 - 2.5in. would be nice. Well, I guess what I am trying to ask is, will a 721 action fit into a 700 stock? Are their bolt patterns and recoil lugs in the same place. If I can't just use an off the shelf stock I will just place it back into the cabinet and leave it be.
Thank you,
Mike

 

[Preacher]

Yes they most certainly will as long as the action length is the same, and Boyds Varminter target stock is just what your looking for.......
Lots of other places offer stocks for the 700 Remington.
Run a search on them.

 

[Cheechako]

Mike

The 721 is the same as the long-action 700.,The 722 and the short action 700 are the same length).

You may have to do some adjusting on the cut in the stock for the bolt handle. The 721 had a straight handle while the 700 handle is curved. Other than that little detail you should not have any problems.

Ray

 

[Eddie Harren]

And you will have to cut the bbl. channel for the "dogknot" where the rear sight used to be,if it is an older model 721).
You will also have to relieve the stock a little bit for the safety lever.

 

[hopefullbencher]

Thanks,
I am planning on a straight taper barrel instead of that strange "dogknot" thing that came from the factory. And this is great news, I will proceed with this project. I am thinking of 6.5/.284 and I will be able to make my OAL longer and still use the mag.
Mike

 

[3sixbits]

An extractor rework on your bolt would be a great advantage. The extractor on the 721 was never one of it's strong features. When having the barrel work done, would be a great time to have the extractor reworked.

 

[hopefullbencher]

Is the Sako conversion the one you are speaking of? I was thinking of doing that and just get a quick truing of everything. It isn't going to be a full-bore comp. rifle but I will do mostly target shooting with a trip or two out to the fields for whistlepigs. I am also going to install a jewel trigger. I have one on my win. stealth in .308 and would never use anything else now.

 

[3sixbits]

I never fault anyone for a selection of a trigger from Arnold Jewell. The Sako extractor is a better choice than the AR extractor.

I would consider sending my action out to the barrel maker to have them do the work, all of it.

I think you might want to save or milk money, so down the road you can get it into a good fiber glass stock.

I took a look around and I see that there are Remington fiber glass take off stocks available for like 50.00 bucks. If that sounds like something that might interest you, let me know and I will post the link.

 

[Spotcheck_Billy]

This sounds like an interesting project. You should be aware that you might run into the problem of the brass being ejected upwards, then hitting the scope and bouncing back into the action, on a Sako extractor conversion. Doesn't bother some shooters, but this can be a PITA during rapid fire.

Kiff relocates the ejector on his Sako-style extractor bolts for this reason.

 

[hopefullbencher]

Thank you for that information, but I will most likely hand feeding one round at a time and catching the brass as it is extracted. Is there a way to eliminate the ejector and just extract? I just like the idea of being able to use the magazine if I feel a need.

 

[Preacher]

Pop the pin out of the bolt that holds the ejector in and clip the spring until it just allows the empty case to lay in the trough. Some folks just leave the spring and the ejector out........

 

[hopefullbencher]

And thank you again for the wealth of information that is provided at this site.
mike

 

[Hammer]

Not related to the stock issue, but what are some other differences between the 700 and its predessessors the 721 and 722 ?

Have seen some 721 and 722 actions with stripper clip guide cutouts which I have been told were original factory. Have never seen a similar 700.

 

[terryb]

Some of the very early 700's had a stripper clip cut out in the receiver and also had a double sear in the trigger like the 721/722 and 725,left over parts from the 721/722 i suppose?

 

[Eddie Harren]

Well actually the small slot in the rear bridge is not a very functional stripper clip slot. It is to narrow for a standard 308 clip. All of the 721, 722, some 700 and some 40X rifles had this feature. Many 700 and 40X rifles had the real stripper clip slots in them, from the factory. I have recently been building a few USMC M40 replicas on early 60's actions. I offer the complete installation of the USMC spec clip slot and other receiver modifications, along with reblueing.