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Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 58
Campfire Greenhorn
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OP
Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 58 |
hello everyone! i have an old remington 721 in 30-06 that needs rebarreling. i havent felt comfortable hunting with it as it isnt consistant at the range and groups are only getting larger with same ammo that used to group well. i plan to use it for elk and mule deer at ranges of 300 to 450 yards. i am wondering if i should rebarrel it as a 30-06 or go with a .280 ackley. any thoughts?
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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 5,179
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 5,179 |
Barrel might just need a good cleaning with copper solvent.
Some people are educated beyond their intelligence.
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 3,639
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 3,639 |
Barrel might just need a good cleaning with copper solvent. yup....not to say they don't exist.....I've never seen a 30-06 that is "Burned" out. The likelihood that it needs a new barrel is very slim in my opinion. Bedding and cleaning with copper solvents would be my first attempt. So many folks look down the barrel from the muzzle to inspect riflig.....this isn't where the "burn" is found....it's immediately foreword of the chamber. Look to see if rifling still is sharp and visible from the chamber end.....a burned out barrel will show clear erosion several inches ahead of the chamber. A rebarrel job will cost you as much as $500 or more by the time it is threaded, crowned, polished, and blued and new sights are installed.....one could find a very fine Howa/vanguard, M-70, M-700 on gunbroker for that.
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 3,639
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 3,639 |
BTW.....if you must rebarrel and want an ek rifle.....I'd opt to rebarrel to .30-06 or even the .338-06
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Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 58
Campfire Greenhorn
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OP
Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 58 |
very true. cleaning makes the rifle change point of impact by 10'' left or right and open up wider until fouled. when using an OAL gauge the 180 gr bullets don't contact the lands. is the rifle worth rebarreling/keeping? how many would just sell it and start over? local gunsmith said he would install the barrel for $65 with crown and flute for an additional $85, I just have to provide the barrel. douglas barrels are running around $315 and shaw are around $265. but as vapodog said Barrel might just need a good cleaning with copper solvent. A rebarrel job will cost you as much as $500 or more by the time it is threaded, crowned, polished, and blued and new sights are installed.....one could find a very fine Howa/vanguard, M-70, M-700 on gunbroker for that. no arguments there. paid $325 OTD for the rifle in the first place.
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Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 13,490 Likes: 3
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Oct 2002
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If I were going to rebarrel it I would make it a 30-06 again.
Dog I rescued in January
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Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 450
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 450 |
I think the 721/722 are under rated. I have a couple and just rebarreled a 270 to a 30-06 mountain barrel. Check your stock, they can loosen up or get soft from oil. The dog knot makes them shift too from my experience but usually you can still get them to shoot 1-1/2" or better.
Another option is a take off barrel. Mine headspaced fine and indexed correctly and they are usually easy to come by one with low or no round count for $50.
The only problem with them is the extractor. They are as rare as hens teeth now and if it breaks you will need to either do an AR or Sako type or reface the bolt.
I gave $225 for my last one and will snag as many as I can for that money. Triggers are very good if clean.
Won't necessarily get your money back out of it but it will last another 60 years.
Recovering Yankee
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Joined: Jan 2004
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jan 2004
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BTW.....if you must rebarrel and want an ek rifle.....I'd opt to rebarrel to .30-06 or even the .338-06 I'd send it out to the rebore folks for that. They can clean out even the nastiest of copper fouling you might have.
Black Cows Matter!
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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 5,179
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jul 2011
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Yep, just send to JES for a rebore to .338-06 and you're good to go.
Some people are educated beyond their intelligence.
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Joined: Oct 2002
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Oct 2002
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Or be really cool and have it rebored to 35 Whelen.
Dog I rescued in January
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Joined: Oct 2005
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Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,199 |
I was in your same shoes. My grandfather's 721 had the first few inches of the throat burned. After cleaning thoroughly that area was dark, where the rest of the barrel was bright and the rifling still looked good.
I considered a 700 take off barrel, but wanted to keep the original barrel so ended up going with a re-bore.
I went 9.3x62, but if I were to do it again I'd go 338-06.
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Joined: Mar 2001
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
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I could buy a new Thompson/Center Venture 30-06 on the local market from Gun Genie for less than $500. They aren't pretty but they are guaranteed by the manufacturer to shoot MOA of the box and they are durable enough to last a lifetime with proper maintenance. T/C Venture 30-06, Gun Genie You could get a new Rem 700 30-06 for about the same price, but it wouldn't be guaranteed to shoot MOA. Remington 700ADL 30-06, Gun GenieYou can probably find similar prices where you live. I would give it a good scrubbing first, then give it another chance at the range. If it still won't group, then my recommendation is to lose it and replace it. The only reason that I would keep such a rifle is if it has sentimental value. I would keep a family heirloom but I wouldn't shoot it. KC
Wind in my hair, Sun on my face, I gazed at the wide open spaces, And I was at home.
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Joined: May 2002
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: May 2002
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I dont think a good 721 take off barrel in 30-06 would be hard to find
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Joined: Jul 2011
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
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You can beat that price big time on the Venture https://www.gunbroker.com/item/757853015 BIN of $287.99
Some people are educated beyond their intelligence.
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Joined: Nov 2010
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 37,192 Likes: 6 |
338-06 rebore by JES sounds like a good option, less expensive than a re-barrel.
That should be a good round for stated use.
If it was mine, I'd glass the action and maybe free float vs full length bed.
DF
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Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 450
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 450 |
9.3x62 would be interesting. I think the next 721 i find may have to go to JES for a re-bore to that caliber.
I free floated my 721 in 270 and found it liked the forend pressure point better than free float. Easy enough to put back though. Some of them had some decent wood, albeit plain.
Recovering Yankee
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 37,192 Likes: 6
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 37,192 Likes: 6 |
If re-barreling, would an aftermarket bolt be a good idea due to the 721 extraction issue?
That would up the cost a bit.
DF
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 57,494
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 57,494 |
Might want to check MV these days. When barrels start to wear, they slow down, generally speaking, which also means you are not likely in the sweet spot anymore.
I always chased MV to the sweet spots as our barrels aged on the ARs...
We can keep Larry Root and all his idiotic blabber and user names on here, but we can't get Ralph back..... Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, over....
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Joined: Dec 2015
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 8,318 |
as what has been posted ,your barrel need`s cleaning. buy some sweet`s 7.62 solvent do what the directions tell you,also buy 2 new 30 caliber bronze brushes and scrub the heck out of that barrel. then take a bore scope and see if its clean should be only a steel shiny color ,if it shows a color kinda goldish more sweets over nite ,dry out again,more bore solvent on bronze bush and more scrubbing ,another good solvent is GM power tune engine cleaner buy it at GM garage. the other thought is sell me that old 721 Remington and buy a new gun ? if your going to keep your gun stay with old reliable and easy to find ammo 30-06. good luck,Pete53
Last edited by pete53; 03/19/18.
LIFE NRA , we vote Red up here, Norseman
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 21,199
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 21,199 |
6.5 ai or 280 ai would be good
Ping pong balls for the win. Once you've wrestled everything else in life is easy. Dan Gable I keep my circle small, I’d rather have 4 quarters than 100 pennies.
Ain’t easy havin pals.
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