What Remington actions are reliable?

[ELR LVR]

Couple years ago I built a 6 dasher on a stainless Rem 700 action. Put a 28" stainless douglas barrel

Never could get it to shoot good

So eventually , I went with a kelbly Atlas action, had southern precision torque down one of their barrels, it shoots great
Thoughts appreciated.

Leaning more toward the barrel being the reason

 

[L.Sherm]

The sad part is the primary extraction on a 700 isn't that difficult for Remington to fix i can live with some other things I can fix myself but not the primary extraction I dont have the fixtures or want to.

 

[jackieschmidt]

The basic Remington 700 design (first 721/722) goes clear back to 1949. Little has changed in the basic barrel/tenon/furnace brazed bolt nose/locking lugs/extractor, two piece bolt construction, basic stuff.

People will say the older ones were better. I did a nice custom on a 721 circa 1949 a few years back, and found it to be no truer in the critical areas than an any other Remington 721/722/700/600/40x/model 7/XP-100 and do on.
The way they manufactured actions pretty much held through the decades.

They have now supposedly switched to CNC manufacturing, which should improve things. However, I had a recent one that the primary extraction was non existent, fixed it with a PTG Bolt.,
I think the action body material has always been a generic chrome moly steel at about 34RC hardness, the bolt nose something similar.

In basic construction, they are all the same within basic manufacturing tolerances. It’s a time proven design, since the majority of actions that follow a Remington foot print copied it.

 

[round]

Pretty sure the old rifle was a 308.

As above... havent decided on the new rifle.

My question here is what Rem 700 actions are reliable. Im told some are, some arent.

You said the old rifle with douglas barrel didnt shoot. You then ordered a kelbly with an spr barrel that shoots great. Because you failed to mention the caliber, barrel specs, etc... I assumed they were the same cartridge , and once you got the Kelbly , your ammo was then shooting good.

You then ask why the other rifle wasnt shooting good. Again, include details that are missing from your post and maybe someone can help you. Where you trying to shoot Berger 105 in a slow twist barrel ? Who knows.

You then ask if the stainless action in the photo is junk. Who knows ?

I come here to read and learn. I've learned that barrel twist , bullet choice, velocity , brass prep , etc.. is super important.

 

[GetReal]

I come here to read and learn. I've learned that barrel twist , bullet choice, velocity , brass prep , etc.. is super important.

In this thread, I'm only looking to learn if this remington action is a candidate to be rebarreled because it is a trustworthy , true , reliable action

 

[Aero]

Couple years ago I built a 6 dasher on a stainless Rem 700 action. Put a 28" stainless douglas barrel on it that mic's 0.900 at the muzzle. Put it in a MPA chassis, spec'd out the action screws, etc etc. Never could get it to shoot good. So eventually , I went with a kelbly Atlas action, had southern precision torque down one of their barrels, put it in that MPA chassis , and it shoots great ( my handloads)

It would probably be too wide open a question to ask people to explain why the other rifle wouldn't shoot good, so my question now is what generation Remington actions are worth building a rifle on. Its an S-65xxxxx serial action.

Thinking about building another mild caliber rifle on this action.... havent decided what... target rifle... something. But want to make sure this action isn't junk.

Thoughts appreciated.


View attachment 1737949View attachment 1737950

I can tell the action pictured in your post is definitely one of the really bad ones that Remington made. I will do you a monumental and extremely generous favor and take it off your hands for $150 shipped.

 

[timeout]

I have several builds based on Rem 700's that shoot well. The biggest problem that I have ran into on some is the lack of primary extraction. Also, I have the bolt bushed and firing pin turned to .062". I'm not sure what level of shooting you are into. I am not shooting competition, but I want my rifles to shoot pretty small. I haven't checked prices lately, but a Mack Brothers action is a great buy for the $$. I only have one of those, but I love it. It is smooth as butter. Smoother than one custom action I have that was way more $$. It has been my experience that the barrel is way more influential with how a rifle shoots than is the 700 action. I have never used a chassis but I bed all of my rifle stocks.

 

[GetReal]

Picture of the lugs on the bolt and action?

Not sure what these might tell you , but here

 

[GetReal]

I can tell the action pictured in your post is definitely one of the really bad ones that Remington made. I will do you a monumental and extremely generous favor and take it off your hands for $150 shipped.

Yer a prince.

 

[GetReal]

I keep hearing about extraction , so don't know if this picture will help you determine anything...

 

[L.Sherm]

I keep hearing about extraction , so don't know if this picture will help you determine anything...

View attachment 1738110

You have to look at the extraction cam on the handle to action extracton cam timing right at the top of the bolt lift.
Watch a you tube video it will show you its all about breaking the case loose from the chamber.

 

[timeout]

I keep hearing about extraction , so don't know if this picture will help you determine anything...

View attachment 1738110

Wow, looks like it hasn't had a good home for sure. That bolt has been reworked with a Sako extractor I think. That is not a stock Remington 700 bolt.

 

[BHP9]

The S prefix in the serial number looks like it was manufactured in 1998.

 

[L.Sherm]

Definitely is a Sako

 

[GetReal]

Wow, looks like it hasn't had a good home for sure. that bolt has been reworked with a Sako extractor I think. That is not a stock Remington 700 bolt.

Yeah... its been homeless and unloved for maybe 10 years, I think. Honestly , I can't recall what all I did to it had done to it because I was just getting into precision shooting at that point ( out of CMP / DCM competition).

 

[timeout]

Here is what a standard Remington 700 extractor looks like (223 bolt face).

 

[GetReal]

Definitely is a Sako

Sako bolt in a Rem 700 stamped action?.

 

[timeout]

Sako bolt in a Rem 700 stamped action?.

No, a Sako style extractor was installed into a Remington bolt. Some also install mini 16 extractors.

 

[butchlambert]

Fellows, The young guy is pretty much a rookie as to this subject. He wasn't aware that his bolt was modified or knew what was asked about a pic of the bolt lugs. I love the late model receivers as they are machined by CNC and are straight. Yes, several have primary extraction problems, but Dan Armstrong either repositioned the bolt handle or replaced it if I wanted. No more primary extraction or timing problems.
My last 4 builds have been on PT&G's $499. receiver. It is CNC machined, .062 firing pin, ground recoil lug, and external bolt release. It uses Remington triggers. bottom metal, and other Remington parts. They shoot extremely well. Why pay a feller to "blueprint" your old receiver.

 

[butchlambert]

New Bynuna Custom Shop Creation

www.pacifictoolandgauge.com