#2290123 - 07/03/08 11:58 AM
Is a Model 722 any good as the basis for a custom rifle?
|
GA270
Member
Registered: 01/21/08
Posts: 40
|
Offline
|
|
I recently acquired a Model 722 in .308 by gift. I'm considering a full custom job on the rifle--new everything. Has anyone used a 721 or 722 as the foundation for a custom rifle? Seems I saw a similar question posted a couple of months ago, and the responses varied widely, and wildly. IIRC, some said it was a great rifle, almost the equal of a pre-64 Model 70, while others said it was a piece of junk when it was new fifty years ago, and was now a fifty-year-old piece of junk without easy access to replacement parts.
So what's your opinion? As I said, the gun was a gift, so if I decide it's a piece of junk, I'm not out anything. I'll mount a $100 scope on it and use it for rough-area hunting, and customize a pre-64 I bought off GB recently. HOwever, if it seems to be worth customizing, I have a Conquest NIB and a set of Talley lightweights just waiting for a good home.
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
#2290156 - 07/03/08 12:16 PM
Re: Is a Model 722 any good as the basis for a custom rifle?
[Re: GA270]
|
DMB
Campfire Outfitter
Registered: 07/10/04
Posts: 8729
Loc: Grayling, MI
|
|
Offline
|
|
When you say customizing, are you planning on replacing the barrel? The 722 action preceeded the Rem 700 and is nearly identical to it.
722's, as is, are VERY accurate rifles. I have at least one 722 in every caliber they were made in and all are accurate.
_________________________
Don Buckbee
JPFO
NRA Benefactor Member
NSSA Life Member
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#2290168 - 07/03/08 12:23 PM
Re: Is a Model 722 any good as the basis for a custom rifle?
[Re: GA270]
|
model70man
Campfire Ranger
Registered: 03/30/03
Posts: 2095
Loc: West Virginia
|
|
Offline
|
|
If it were mine, I would leave it as is and go ahead and mount the Conquest on it. They are not the best platform for a custom rifle, however, I have seen one built by Griffin & Howe.
Some of them have had problems with the extractor. A co-worker of mine thought he had cleared his 722 in his house (a dumb thing to do) and proceeded to shoot a hole in his floor because the extractor slipped over the cartridge rim.
They are excellent utility grade hunting rifles but not the rifle to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear. Thanks...Bill.
_________________________
NRA Benefactor Member
"I won't be wronged, I won't be insulted, and I won't be laid a hand on. I don't do those things to other people and I require the same of them." (John Wayne, the Shootist)
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#2290232 - 07/03/08 12:58 PM
Re: Is a Model 722 any good as the basis for a custom rifle?
[Re: model70man]
|
trouthunterdj
Campfire Regular
Registered: 04/30/08
Posts: 383
Loc: Northwest Iowa
|
|
Offline
|
|
Read Frank DeHaas's "Bolt Action Rifle" for a perspective on the 722.
I have owned many of both and I would say that the 721 and 722's are as accurate if not more. The 721's and 722's are also very strong actions that can handle alot of pressure. They were made at a time when craftsmanship was better than today IMO.
I have built custom rifles on these actions and they are very accurate. They had to compete with the Winchester Model 70's so they had to be made well and accurate. The stocks were nothing to look at and the bottom metal wasn't very nice.
If I had a choice to make a custom on a 700 or 722, I would choose the 722 everytime.
_________________________
Many men go fishing all their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after. - Henry David Thoreau
The best part of hunting and fishing was the thinking about going and the talking about it after you got back. - Robert Ruark
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#2290248 - 07/03/08 01:05 PM
Re: Is a Model 722 any good as the basis for a custom rifle?
[Re: trouthunterdj]
|
rembo
Campfire Regular
Registered: 11/08/00
Posts: 1272
Loc: Alberta, CANADA
|
|
Offline
|
|
I've owned a few 722's and have had them apart. In some ways they are better than a 700, look at the quality of the machine finish on the bolt, better than any 700 I've seen.
If I were going to use a 722 as a basis for a custom I would put it into an 700 ADL style stock with 700 ADL trigger guard, or get 700 BDL bottom metal and use the BDL style stock, and use a 700 safety lever, you would have to file the clearance on the rear of the reciever. You would also have to open up the bolt handle notch in the stock. On a fibreglass stock this is easily done so it can't be seen
If the extractor is at all questionable just put a riveted 700 extractor into it, I did just that with the last 722 in 244 I owned.
Edited by rembo (07/03/08 01:06 PM)
_________________________
"after the bullet leaves the barrel it doesn't care what headstamp was on the case"
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#2290421 - 07/03/08 02:45 PM
Re: Is a Model 722 any good as the basis for a custom rifle?
[Re: GA270]
|
260Remguy
Campfire Tracker
Registered: 12/18/02
Posts: 6552
Loc: NE
|
Online
|
|
Since the difference between a 722 action and a short action 700 is very minor, if a short action 700 will work for you, so will a 722. The biggest hassel of working with the 721 and 722 is that most of the barrels have a rear sight boss and that feature is a PITA to inlet cleanly into a new stock. I have several rifles built on 722 actions and they work well for me.
Jeff
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#2290478 - 07/03/08 03:17 PM
Re: Is a Model 722 any good as the basis for a custom rifle?
[Re: GA270]
|
JungleJim
Member
Registered: 02/17/08
Posts: 139
Loc: Washington USA
|
|
Offline
|
|
Go for it, 722 and 700 in general hold up well. From what I have seen. Myself, I would rather customize one of these than any pre 64 model 70. Occasionally some 722s and 700s do have extractor issues but that can be taken care of with minor work if you do run into that.
Pre 64 model 70s are classic rifles for sure. But in the event of a mishap they also have one of the worst modern rifle gas handing (venting) systems designed. If I'm going to shoot a rifle a lot with handloads much prefer the 722 700 style actions.
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#2290714 - 07/03/08 05:57 PM
Re: Is a Model 722 any good as the basis for a custom rifle?
[Re: JungleJim]
|
Mauserkid
Member
Registered: 06/03/04
Posts: 222
Loc: Stevensville, Montana
|
|
Offline
|
|
Just assembled a 35 gibbs from a combo of parts my self..
721 action, 700-adl std. length plastic stock, 700 Whelen barrel, 700 magazine parts, and an aluminum 700 adl trigger guard.
Used the 721-trigger assembly, clearance the stock for the safety to work. One thing I have noticed, but not measured, is the action does not drop as low into the 700 stock, I think it is a touch larger in dia.
Purchased that 721 years ago, waiting for just the perfect parts to come along...
Reamed er to 35 GIBBS.... perfect mountain packing elk buster...
The 722 would be done the same way.. Just a note, I spoke to a smith who would turn off that rear sight bump if I so chose...
What twist is your barrel, all my 30 cal. 721/722 have been 1-12, most chose 1-10 for stuff today...
Take off barrels are easy to find, if that is what your wanting...
Later....
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#2290979 - 07/03/08 08:04 PM
Re: Is a Model 722 any good as the basis for a custom rifle?
[Re: Mauserkid]
|
SavageSam
Member
Registered: 10/15/07
Posts: 17
Loc: california
|
|
Offline
|
|
don't mean to hijack the thread, but i have been considering doing the exact same thing to my 722 in .300 sav. in 'as is' configuration it consistently shoots at/under 1 moa with factory ammo, so it's a keeper. i am having some extraction problems, however. about half the time, if you work the bolt vigorously, rounds will not extract and you will get double feeds. i didn't know that was a common problem with these rifles. what would be the easiest way to fix it without spending an arm and a leg? also, what should the magazine capacity be for this rifle? on mine, to get 5 in it, you have to load it with 4 in the mag, close the bolt halfway while holding the 4th round down manually, then insert the 5th round into the chamber by hand and close the bolt the rest of the way. if you try to load the 5th round in the mag, it pops out and won't stay in place so you can load it using the bolt. this is my 1st time using a 722 so i don't know if this is normal or i should even worry about it. any help would be appreciated. thanks! in regards to the OP, i really think this rifle is just as good as a 700, as far as the action goes (minus the extractor issues). i am planning on keeping and refinishing the factory stock and dropping in a timney trigger. it's already scoped with a steel-tube 3-9x weaver and is dead accurate.
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#2291005 - 07/03/08 08:15 PM
Re: Is a Model 722 any good as the basis for a custom rifle?
[Re: GA270]
|
30Gibbs
Campfire Regular
Registered: 01/24/04
Posts: 950
Loc: Central Calif. Coast
|
|
Offline
|
|
Wow......I would like that exact rifle to go with
My 721 '06 and 722 .222.
Your .308 will probably have the later version higher comb
stock that will work well with scope sights.
The low comb stock did not work well for me and I
replaced it with a high comb model,
Late versions of the 722 have 7oo style sights and a 22" barrel.
My '06 shoots cloverleaf groups with 150 gr Sierras or Hornadys.
If I found a clean 722 .308 I would put the appropriate Leupold
on it, tweak the trigger, and get to shooting!
Your only real issue is the bottom metal..........
You can learn to live with it or find a Griffen &
Howe machined unit and really be styling.
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#2291010 - 07/03/08 08:20 PM
Re: Is a Model 722 any good as the basis for a custom rifle?
[Re: GA270]
|
Savage_99
Campfire Tracker
Registered: 09/01/03
Posts: 7125
|
|
Offline
|
|
Unless that specific rifle has some special sentimental value to you I would not bother with it much at all.
Just scope it up and see how it shoots and if its ok then put it in the back of the safe as a loaner or back up to a back up.
Keep in mind that the 722 and the 721 were the cheapest rifles made about half a century ago. Today they are obsolete and replaced by better guns.
A 722/222R was my first new rifle and with it I shot my first deer and almost a thousand chucks along with lots of other things. I wore out the barrel, sold it and replaced it with better guns.
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#2291092 - 07/03/08 09:04 PM
Re: Is a Model 722 any good as the basis for a custom rifle?
[Re: Savage_99]
|
Mauserkid
Member
Registered: 06/03/04
Posts: 222
Loc: Stevensville, Montana
|
|
Offline
|
|
Try cleaning the extractor , may be brass build up under it..
Or try this, should work no problem.. This is the rivetless extractor.
http://www.e-gunparts.com/product.asp?chrProductSKU=321220B
As far as the last round popping out, sounds like the spring may be weak.
The mag well, is a bit deeper, you can either change it or grind to fit next stock. Some stocks do not even use the metal, the have built in mag wells.
If your going to get rid of that cheap obsolete half century old rifle, I have a few barrels that need a short action. %)
...
Later...
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#2291694 - 07/04/08 08:30 AM
Re: Is a Model 722 any good as the basis for a custom rifle?
[Re: Savage_99]
|
trouthunterdj
Campfire Regular
Registered: 04/30/08
Posts: 383
Loc: Northwest Iowa
|
|
Offline
|
|
Unless that specific rifle has some special sentimental value to you I would not bother with it much at all.
Just scope it up and see how it shoots and if its ok then put it in the back of the safe as a loaner or back up to a back up.
Keep in mind that the 722 and the 721 were the cheapest rifles made about half a century ago. Today they are obsolete and replaced by better guns.
A 722/222R was my first new rifle and with it I shot my first deer and almost a thousand chucks along with lots of other things. I wore out the barrel, sold it and replaced it with better guns.
The reason that the Remington 721 and 722's were cheap is that they had to find a market. If they were at the same price point as a Winchester, most people would have bought the Winchester.
I wouldn't have called them cheap, they were a value!! If someone were to make a gun like the 722's today, we would all own one IMHO.
_________________________
Many men go fishing all their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after. - Henry David Thoreau
The best part of hunting and fishing was the thinking about going and the talking about it after you got back. - Robert Ruark
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#2291711 - 07/04/08 08:37 AM
Re: Is a Model 722 any good as the basis for a custom rifle?
[Re: trouthunterdj]
|
Savage_99
Campfire Tracker
Registered: 09/01/03
Posts: 7125
|
|
Offline
|
|
The talk back then was that the 722/721's were accurate and they had those "Three Rings of Steel" for safety. Of course they cost less.
I got mine in March 1953 with a new Lyman 6X Wolverine scope along with a complete reloading outfit. By the time I got out of high school I was up to date and I bought a new M70 243 in 1957. However Remington 40X's are my favorites for target shooting and thats been very important to me.
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#2291829 - 07/04/08 09:23 AM
Re: Is a Model 722 any good as the basis for a custom rifle?
[Re: Savage_99]
|
gahuntertom
Campfire Regular
Registered: 11/13/05
Posts: 1007
Loc: Atlanta
|
|
Offline
|
|
I have a 722 in 222 remington, broke the extractor, after looking 4 months I bought 1 off Gunbroker for $40.00 & was happy to get it.
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#2291903 - 07/04/08 09:56 AM
Re: Is a Model 722 any good as the basis for a custom rifle?
[Re: gahuntertom]
|
jpb
Campfire Regular
Registered: 06/30/01
Posts: 1094
Loc: Umeå, Sweden
|
|
Offline
|
|
A friend of mine back in Canada had a 722 (perhaps still does!).
Last I heard he was trying to get a new extractor. Not easy to find even in the US (as others have noted).
Impossible to get somebody to ship one to Canada even when he did find an extractor on ebay. 
This action would not be my choice to put money into unless the particular rifle had some sentimental value. On the other hand, such an oddball custom would score high on the "never seen one like that before" scale! 
John
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#2292762 - 07/04/08 08:08 PM
Re: Is a Model 722 any good as the basis for a custom rifle?
[Re: GA270]
|
JungleJim
Member
Registered: 02/17/08
Posts: 139
Loc: Washington USA
|
|
Offline
|
|
If you are having extractor issues with you Remington bolt guns I would not waste much time or money trying to get the stock set up to work.
The best thing you can do is have a Sako style extractor installed. This is a much less finicky set up. Russ Haydon makes an excellent Remington Sako style extractor out of heat treated A2 tool steel. They are available thru Brownells.
The Sako style extractor does need to be installed by a GOOD gun smith as there is some machining of the bolt that need to be done.
SavageSam your Remington should only have a maximum of 4 rounds in the magazine.
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#2292924 - 07/04/08 10:17 PM
Re: Is a Model 722 any good as the basis for a custom rifle?
[Re: JungleJim]
|
WheelchairBandit
Campfire Guide
Registered: 05/21/02
Posts: 4019
Loc: The Dude abides.
|
|
Offline
|
|
If Don says a 722 sucks,that means it's a pretty good rifle.
WB.
_________________________
Smokey,this is not 'Nam.This is bowling.There are rules.
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
Moderator: RickBin, SYSOP
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
2
|
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
9
|
|
10
|
11
|
12
|
13
|
14
|
15
|
16
|
|
17
|
18
|
19
|
20
|
21
|
22
|
23
|
|
24
|
25
|
26
|
27
|
28
|
29
|
30
|
|
31
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
18465 Members
66 Forums
189181 Topics
2323833 Posts
Max Online: 1366 @ 08/07/07 07:51 PM
|
|
|
