Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles An Old Remington Model 721

I picked up a first year of production (1948) Remington Model 721 in 30-06. It has the typical plain walnut stock with a decently-installed Pachmayr Decelerator. The metal is very good with the finish wear you'd expect on a hunting rifle this old.

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It came with a nice Redfield steel mount and 'cam lock' rings and an old Bushnell Wideview 4 or 6 power scope. The Leupold Rifleman 3-9 will replace it.

The old gun has a 24" barrel with a nice bore. The rear sight was missing but I had a Marble's 68W fold down rear sight w/windage adjustment and a 1/16” gold bead to match. I easily achieved 100 yard zero. With that out of the way, mounted my Leupold 3-9x40 Rifleman; but the existing Leupold 700LA mount & rings wouldn’t allow the ocular far enough back for quick acquisition.

I already had a set of aluminum Leupold Rifleman rings and I wanted an aluminum rail with cross slots, to keep the weight down. I found a Leupold Back-Country rail locally. So my problems should be over, right?

Not quite. These old 721’s have a low comb stock, which means low rings. With those rings in place my objective bell kissed the front lug of the rail. So I hacksawed that SOB off, squared it up with a file and gave it a dose of Birchwood Casey Aluminum Black. Didn’t turn out half bad and provided plenty of room for the objective bell.

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All went well and zeroing was accomplished with seven rounds of Winchester 150 grain Power Point. This is easily one of the best shooting 30-06 rifles I’ve ever owned. Three shots at 196 yards (that’s where the shade was) including an adjustment, 1 ¾”.

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I’ll be watching the back pasture for a coyote the next couple of mornings.

Very nice, always had a thing for 721’s, 722’s and 725’s.

Nice gun! Never had a 722 but did have a 722 in .244 Remington, it shot 100 gr bullets very accurately. One of my bucket list guns is a 725 in .280 Rem

If you want a higher comb stock they drop right into a 700 LA BDL stock with a little filing for the bolt handle and spacers under the action bolts to fill the deeper 700 floor plate cut out. I have my 721(rebored to 35W) in a 700 BDL stock. I reshaped the mag-box on my 722(22-250 LVSF barrel) and have it in a 70O SA ADL stock.

Actually I like the low-comb stocks, for ease of use with irons and I haven't found them a hindrance when used with a low mounted scope.

It is actually the safety that needs the clearance, not the bolt handle. Better to switch to a 700 safety lever and file the 721/2/5 tang, IMO.

I’ve never owned a 721 or 725 but would not be afraid of one.
I do have a 722 in 222 Remington and it is easily the most accurate rifle I own. You have to work at it to find a load it won’t shoot well.

Although it wears a different scope now my '56 721 30-06 is a very good shooter. It's been doctored up with a '86 RS stock, ditched the rear sight lug, PT&G floorplate, recently threaded the muzzle (had to go 1/2-28). Original trigger is plenty satisfactory. Has done excellent with Hornady Interlocks in 165 and 180gr. Have at least one backup extractor.... Just an excellent basic rifle I wish we had an option like these days. Needs to get out more. Oh, the coordinated sling was put together for me by Troy, HilhamHawk. Enjoy them old Remingtons.






My 722 300 Savage is closer to classic. Someone did a respectable job installing a pad and checkering. Appature sight. Like my 721, she's a very accurate ol'girl. Have fun with it.

My son in law has one, a 30-06

I have one in .270 and its a pretty darn good shooter.