Searching for old Remington 700's

[GhengisAhn175]

not exactly "vintage" but looking to gain information on how to identify older Remington 700's. Reason being is looking to find one to work on (both short and long action ) for builds instead of the newer productions.

Im assuming based off a certain type of Serial #?

 

[pmclaine]

6 digits of a certain range are sought after for M40 and M40A1 builds.

I'm looking for a small bolt face short action now to build a .223 M40 look alike. For some reason Remington .222 BDLs seem to command more money than Remington 22-250 large bolt face BDLs.

Serial number will allow you to find a ballpark of when it was built. If you have an original barrel you can Google search BLACKPOWDERX and learn month and year barrel was installed.

Beyond that the bolt handle had a few changes. Early bolts are what I would describe as "elegant" the shaft is trimmer than the newer square shaped bolt handle and the round knob is less "cast" looking. The bolt handles also seem to exhibit a "plumb" colored bluing. The present style bolt comes about +/- 1970.

Safeties changed from rectangular "tombstone" shape to the present round one +/- 1970.

Bolt striker shroud changed from short to long +/- 1970

Sears changed from multi piece to single piece a little bit earlier 1968-1969.

If you are not talking that early prefix of the serial will help you date the receiver C prefix in the 80s? E prefix in the 90's? 7 digit serials early 70's?

What are you hoping to build? Does it have a historical period connection (M40/M24/etc) or are you more concerned about the notion some eras are better quality receivers than others?

 

[GhengisAhn175]

Thanks pmclaine. I suppose the notion that the earlier eras are better quality but figured it could be a fun pawn shop perusing event.

I hear every now and then someone gets a good deal at a pawn shop and it turned out to be a nifty Rem 700 from a certain time period

 

[kraigWY]

I carried one, a Dec '75 made 700 BDL, Varmit, in 223, Ser. # A6237*** As a counter sniper in my patrol car. I set it up per recommendations of the Cadre of the AMU Sniper school Had a Fixed power Redfield Redfield scope. I thought it was the perfect set up for LE.

I agree its totally different from the later Model 700s, But I didn't know they were that pricy now days. Its 1:12 and I've often been temped to rebarrel to a 1:7 but the thing shoots so well I just cant bring my self to do it. I used M193 in it, and shot a ton of ball 5.56 out of it. But that was before the internet came out and told me 5.56 would blow it up. Guess the rifle didn't read the internet either because it didn't complain one bit.

Its a PD gun now, and has dispatched its share of coyotes and foxes. Not being in the guard I don't have access to M193 anymore but it sure loves those Hornady Vmax bullets.

As I said, I shot the crap out of it, in both running LE and NG Sniper schools. Even now some 40 years later the chamber is still tight.

I have a Mann Device in 5.56. (From the CMP, the Mann was used to test ammo for the army). The Mann, also a Remington action has an extremely tight chamber. I have 4 other 223/5.56 rifles. After firing brass in those other rifles the brass will not chamber in my Mann. Yet after all this time, the old BDL brass will.

I thought many times of turning it into something else, or rebarrelling but just cant bring my self to it.

Its not pre-Korean war, but its MY Vintage Sniper Rifle. So I'll just keep it with my Modle 28 Service Revolver my department gave me when I retired.

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[pmclaine]

I wish I had better access to pawn shops because if you are going to find a deal it seems they will have it.

I think the closets of America are filled with beautiful guns sadly only emptied when Grandpa passes. Ive been looking at Gunbroker for a 6 digit .222 and Ill come across mine in due time.

Quality wise I question if things were better back than. People often mention how smooth an older gun may cycle but is that a result of years of use rather than quality. With properly set up CNC manufacturing how do things get so messed up?

Personally I really like the early bolt handles and their trimmer design. I'm not a big fan of the computer quick codes on the newer guns either but in most cases I think Remington hides it in the bolt handle recess.

I could probably make my next build a lot easier/cheaper by just ordering a receiver from Brownells but I do like those earlier bolt handles.

Another thing to keep in mind if it concerns you is early may also mean you cant cycle the bolt with the safety on unless you make some modifications. The safety has a bar that locks the bolt on my 68 receiver. On my G prefix gun the bar is not there and if I wanted to unload I could have the sear locked and run the bolt to eject a chambered round.

 

[Scarface26]

Ghengis,

Sent you a PM.

God bless America