Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Rem 700 Sako/M-16 extractor.

Who ever found this to be a necessary upgrade? I am aware that the Rem 700 extractor is "a weak design" but I have never had an issue. That said I am thinking of performing this surgery for a "piece of mind".

PS: Sako or M-16 extractor----either.

Thank you.

When I had my 700 in 300WM re-barreled last year I had one put in, it was about $125 to have it done.

Same reason, piece of mind.

Biggest reason was the lack of REM parts at the time. I had just had my Rem M7 in 350RM CeraKoted and a spec of sand blasting material got caught under the extractor. Luckily my smith diagnosed it and his simple fix worked. IF not I'd have been screwed as finding Rem 700 magnum extractors was a PITA and the magnums have to be rivetted in.

Other than that I've never had an issue with a Rem extractor.

I do like the ability to disassemble the bolt completely for occasional cleaning and I also strip it down completely when checking headspace to adjust my sizing die.

Be aware that almost all replacement extractors defeat the gas sealing property of the 700. If you’re ok with losing your eye or whomever you lend your rifle too, go for it.

Thank you fellas.

I get the "3 rings of steel" marketing appeal, but just about EVERY Rem 700 Clone action has an M16 Type extractor cut into the bolt. This is an image of bolt faces from several custom 700 Clone actions. Several of these are just like an aftermarket M16 extractor installation :

Eye pro.....

M16's in all my 700's....BECAUSE the rem design is weak, AND I've had a problem with them.

I like the tough little model 700 extractor. But a sako type extractor is fine too. No one’s losing an eye without being a negligent reloader. Christiansen Arms is essentially a Remington bolt design with an external extractor. I’m sure there are others as well.

For me, I’d just wanna make sure the ejected case goes out at 90 degrees from the ejection port. A few of the CA rifles tossed the ejected case right into the windage turret. Not sure if that was a function of the dual ejectors or M16 style extractor but it was enough of a pain I’d not wanna deal with it again.

Never had that issue with a 725/700.

I had the same problem with the SAKO 85. I think the issue was the ejector at 6' o clock position. What a big PITA that was.

I’ve had a few buddies that clipped a few coils off of one of the ejector springs so it essentially had tension to hold it in place but no ejection. It fixed the turret strikes. Worked on my long gone CA 300 Rum as well

Yep, extractors that are above the locking lug on a two lug bolt as pictured above can do that.

I think that a Remington extractor will be good or bad from the start. I have not had a bad one yet, but do have a spare on hand. My .308 40x is now on its third barrel with no issues, about 7000 rounds thus far and I bought it used. It is important to keep them clean of any brass slivers that may accumulate over time.

I also have one 40X clone with the Sako conversion. Between discussions with knowledgeable smiths like our own Al N. and others it seems that proper bolt nose dimensions/clearances to the barrel counterbore can keep it in place even with a ruptured case.
I'll address that with its next re-barrel.

I had a Sako put in my 722 when converting it from 300 Sav to 22-250, there were no replacement Rems at the time. My 721- 35 Whelen and 700- 20 Practical still use the originals.

Just curious, is this a common modification for military and LE users of the M700?

It's common in the PRS circles with those like me slumming along with 700 actions. Positive extraction counts when seconds count.

Sako extractors were common when 700’s were used for the 6ppc case head. And when factory replacement Remington extractors dried up or were unable to be refitted properly. I don’t see them being a performance add on compared to a properly working Remington extractor.

Same here. My ridgeline throws that brass right into my turret. The model 700s extractor isn't weak BTW. I've got old 700s that'll toss the case 4 foot away. The plunger is what throws cases, the extractors job is to simply grab the case. Never seen one fail or am not worried about it. If your so spooked of it, grab a CRF gun and fire away.

Just re-read what I said. I don't believe the plungers "throw" cases, but help with ejection.

No.

Thanks MA. My good buddy has my old 300 RUM Ridgeljne. I’ll see if I can grab it and fix it for me.

After having the old extractor on my 700 Ti in 7SAUM changed TWICE because it failed, I decided on the M-16 extractor. My GS did a great job and it works flawlessly.

It's nothing more than a spring.

A thin slim piece of spring steel, and poorly thought out to boot.

Springs can and do break, the weak link between ejection or not.

I've had two break on me.

This is what drives me nuts. I hate bouncing cases off my windage turret and back into the action. Almost every action with an m16 style extractor has done this for me. I've had the problem with christensens, stillers, mack bros, sake 85s being some of the worst, even had the problem with some howas. I much prefer an extractor in the lug area like a traditional 700. I like the bighorn actions and recently bergaras because of where the extractor is.

I still haven't found a custom action I really like for sure yet. I want an open top like a defiance anti so I can get my fingers in but with a bighorn style extractor and about a .68-.70 firing pin. I think the pins too small for a hunting action on an origin and I missed a big buck last year because my bolt knob came up a bit and I got a light strike.

I'd like to find a nice custom hunting action built for reliable function and ease of use. The gunwerks one is close i just wish it took standard rem threads and was timed for shouldered prefits.The last few years I've done more remage. Even though they're kind of ugly they work and I can do them myself.

I've been tempted to try a kelbly nanook even though it has an m16 style extractor. They claim that it won't eject into my windage turret because of the style of ejector.

Bb

I never had one go bad yet, but I did check with Brownells regarding availability and was told Remington hasn't made any parts for last 4 years. Just out of curiosity, what will make the extractor go bad? Number of rounds fired, hot loads or just time?

I've locked bolts down before and used about every kind of brass/powder/bullets/primers, whatever. Seated em out, jumped them, and all my 700s have never had a problem. But, Kamfeld will slap an m16 in it for 125 bucks and that includes parts. Cheap piece of mind I guess.

Just found some Remington Extractors (Rivetless) so I bought a few just in case

You are extremely lucky then. Almost every rem 700 I've had, had extraction issues. Not just the 700, but also the 722 models too. So, it isn't just a "piece of mind" thing for me. The only downfall to the sako/m16 style conversion is it eliminates the "3 rings of steel", so some say it weakens the design of the 700. Personally, I'd just buy a different push feed designed rifle, like a Sako or Tikka, or even the Winchester model 70. Have never had an issue with extraction on those models.



That is common with some Sako's that have the ejector in the wrong spot. Very poor design to put the ejector in the 6 o'clock position IMHO.. Some Sako's are not like that, like the one I just bought a few days ago (Sako AII).

Mine too. He installed a badger Ordnance magnum in my 700 for $125.

https://www.badgerordnance.com/shop/rifle-parts/part-type/extractors.html

Zero issues.

You’re so predictable and full of sh it.

How many have you had?

Offhand I can think of fourteen I've had over a stretch of 40+ years. Several of them have multiple thousand round counts. No difficulties/failures to extract yet.

Like they say, experiences vary.

100++ for me and never an issue. Nor has anyone I know. Hint.................

I have four m700s. I have the m16 extractor on one so far. I like them and will do all of them when I get around to it, the Remington are fine for now. I decided to do my 223 because I was shooting gobs of rounds through it and the factory extractor was screwing up and the replacements were not as reliable as they should be.

I've shot out (4) 223/223AI spouts on (1) 700 receiver alone,with it's OEM extractor. Bushed 'pin hole and turned pin though. Hint.

Just sayin'............

Now there's an area where many 700s need work.

Not that many for me, but I've shot one 6.5x06 barrel damn near out and no problems. Same with a 243/243 ack.. never a problem. Locked the bolt down on the 6.5 once and the case came out....as did the primer when it hit my feet...

Stick an empty case im that bolt and go to cranking on it, that little sucker is in there better than you'd think

(5) 7-08 barrels shot out on (1) 700. Hint.

Just sayin'...............

If you need OEM type rivetless extractors, PT&G sells them.

The Remington extractor design has been essentially the same for 75 years. Regardless of how many barrels you supposedly shot out, others have shot and extracted more without issue.

I knew Chet Brown the founder of Brown Precision. He built hundreds of rifles on factory M700 actions. He said very very few original extractors ever fail. The few failures he saw were in the first 50 rounds. If they last that long then they never ever fail.

If you install a Sako/16 type extractor then the plunger ejector needs to be relocated in order to restore the original ejection angle.

Incidentally, Surgeon make the best rough duty 700 clone. The .473 bolts use the original extractor.