Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Remington 721

What is the general thought of the Remington 721 rifle? My dad had one in .30-06 ( passed it down to one of my brothers ). At the gun shop yesterday, I saw one in decent condition for $300. I was thinking of maybe a boyds stock or a maybe even a lightweight composite stock. Does this action use the same aftermarket parts as the 700 as far as triggers, barrels etc? Any issues with the rifles?

There's not a darn thing wrong with those rifles...I have one in .300 H&H and just love it.

$300 is a good buy....grab it and run.

They do like a new stock as the original have much too much drop for scope use.

I restocked mine but I'm told the Rem 700 stocks and even bottom metal can be retrofitted.

I have one in 35 Whelen in a BDL stock, the original bottom metal fits well I just had to fill the front and rear of the recesses in the stock,file a little to clear the bolt handle and safety.

For $300. Get back there and buy it before I jump in the truck and beat you to it. My first rifle was a Rem.721 in 30.06, cost $75 in 1959, wish I still had it. Mine was very accurate BTW

Oakster;
With the understanding that I've played around a fair bit with our youngest daughter's rifle which is based on a 722 action and have had a couple good looks at some 721's I'd offer this.

We fitted a Remington 700 trigger on hers as the 722 safety would engage more or less on its own. That required a bit of filing on the right rear of the tang to clear the safety on the 700 trigger.

The shape of the bolt handle is slightly different and will require a bit of inletting on any 700 stock. Not much mind you, but in my experience one doesn't want the bolt handle contacting with the stock.

As far as I'm aware, the barrel threads are identical on the 721/722/700 rifles. Thus far on the ones I've looked at, that also appears to include the thickness of the recoil lug.

The extractor on the 721/722 series isn't the same as the 700 in that it isn't riveted in but is more like an internal snap ring type of arrangement. Original extractors are very hard to come by, or at least I've not been able to find one after looking for years.

The fix for a broken 721/722 extractor would be one of three choices I'd believe. One could replace the entire bolt with one out of a similar length 700 action, have a 700 type extractor installed or have a Sako/AR 15 type installed.

Without opening the can of worms too wide - and shaking them onto the kitchen table - I will say that I'd research putting in a Sako extractor thoroughly before having that particular modification done.

Anyway, here is a a quick photo of the aforementioned 722 of our daughter's.


For those interested in the details, it's a 722 action, 700 trigger, 700 ADL magazine assembly, 700 ADL short action laminated stock which I epoxy pillar bedded as well as having a million holes drilled in it to drop some weight and then putting on a Decelerator. The rings are Talleys, the scope a Leupold Vari X II 3x9 and the barrel an RKS stainless match in .250AI.

Hopefully all that was some use to you or someone out there. Good luck in your rifle build whichever way you decide and good luck on your upcoming hunts this fall as well.

Regards,
Dwayne

I have two. Good rifles. I put a 700 BDL bottom metal and floorplate on one. I like the round bolt knob.

As mentioned, the only problem area is the extractor, but only if it fails, which is quite rare.

If you like the rifle in question, I would get it without hesitation at that price. It would make a good, rugged hunting rifle for you.

The only issue I would have with this rifle is, as BC pointed, the extractor..I have had several 722's in .222, on excellent 721 in .270 and several 721's in .300...all gone now..I sold the 270 to a guy in town..It shot perfect and functioned fine..shortly after he bought it the extractor broke..I think he finally located one..That is the only issue I would have with the rifle...In Kearney, Neb. there is a gunshop that might have extra extractors..If I bought another 721 or 722, I would locate a spare as soon as possible..I think I have the card for that shop..If you need it..

I would not take a 7xx for nothing!

I have some nice guns. The safe is full. I don't have room for cheap stuff like those.

Here are some of my guns at the range.

Despite being left handed I've always liked the 721/722. I've had several and handled many more. All have been accurate. I like nice rifles and have several nice left handed rifles in my safe. I still have a soft spot for the 721's and 722's. They take me back to a time when life was a little less complicated.

I'd snap that 721 up if I were you. You won't be disappointed. Fitting a 700 stock to one is easily accomplished. I have dressed up a couple of them with 700 classic take off stocks.

Mart

I have seen Remington M721/722s with M700 stocks, barrels,
bolts, floorplates, etc. installed on them.

What's wrong with the existing wood? I have a bunch of 721/22s and all of them are original and scoped and I hunt/target shoot with them all. Each of them is a fine rifle.

I like mine. "Customized" a bit before I swapped two shotguns for it. Gun shop had another (both .300 H&H Magnum) "plain" / rough. 300 bucks is a no-brainer (if you have the dough).

The wood is in decent condition but it appears to have had the original finish removed and a really dark oil rubbed in to it. Feels like unfinished wood. Checkering etc is still there, but I like to have clear coat type of finish on the wood.

The action is worth $300+.

You'll have to file an area on the right side of the rear tang to clear the M-700 safety, if you decide to go that way. The 721 trigger and safety are OK as is, IMHO.

You may want to check on the extractor situation. I read that the 722/721 extractor is different than the 700 part and could be hard to find. Not sure about that, just remember reading something. Those parts look pretty close to the same to me.

Solid old rifles with barrels that shoot.

DF

that is some very good information guys! I will have to toss this idea around and see if i want to spend the money on this rifle. It seems like it would be a very neat little project.

The M721 is the forerunner to the M700. The barrels interchange, will need to do a bit of mods to a M700 stock to make the M721 fit, and a ADL mag box assembly. I just recently did the same thing as BC30 and fit a M700 trigger to a M721--the triggers are the same basic design, the M721 has more open side plates instead of the closed plates of a M700 trigger. I prefer the M700 safety lever over the M721--just my personal preference.

The tang on the M721 is wider and deeper--that's the single biggest difference between the actions. It requires some judicous filing to make it fit. The M721's larger action makes it a heavier rifle than the M700.

Casey

Forgot to add: At $300 I'd buy it. At $250 I'd buy it in a heartbeat.

Casey

The M721/722 stocks have got to make for one of the "kickingest" rifles out there.

A Decelerator pad would undoubtedly help, but a M700 stock does wonders........

Casey

Probably due to too much drop. It's an old design, set up more for iron sights. The 700 stock has better ergonomics for modern use, especially scopes.

DF

Extractors are a problem if one is needed.