Guys,

I have not really been in the shooting game long enough to know anything but the Remington M700. I know there are previous models, which from time to time are reported to display excellent accuracy. I have come across model designations such as 788, 722, 721 - and there may be more, for all I know??

What gives, would anybody care to educate me regarding chronological order, design parameters and any other information regarding these pre-M700 Remingtons?? Are they as accurate as they are often described?? I gather some of these actions fetch quite high prices on the second hand market??

- mike

I'm sure someone can chime in and give accurate dates on all of this, but I'll try to cover all of the ones that you listed.

The 700 is obviously the latest generation of Remingtons primary line. The predecessor to the 700 was the 721 and the 722. I think the 721's came out in the early to mid 50's if I recall correctly. The 721/722 and 700's are very similar. There are some subtle differences like the safeties (the newer 700's since '82 I think don't lock the bolt... the 721/22's do) The bolts and actions themselves are very similar. Two locking lugs, similar extractors, yadda yadda. The difference between the 721 and 722 is action length. The 721's were chambered for the longer cartridges like 30/06, 300 H&H and so on.

The 788's (introduced in the mid 60's IIRC) are a whole different beast all together. They're all short actions, and the lockup is different. The locking lugs are in the rear vs. the front like on just about everything else out there. Also the 788 safety doesn't lock the bolt.

I don't recall the year the 700 was introduced in 1962 I believe as the replacement for the 721/722. The 700 and 788 shipped concurrently until the 788 was discontinued.

Aww hell... you know what? I just found a page on Remington's website that covers the history on all of their models in detail. Just read it there.

http://www.remington.com/aboutus/gunhistory.htm

I am lucky enough to own all of the above models (save the 722) and I love all of them. The 721's that I have seen, namely the ones in 300 H&H like the one that I have, have all been shooters. The same goes for the 788's which were actually used in benchrest competition for a while. To answer your final question, some do fetch high prices on the 2nd hand market... it usually depends on what they're chambered in condition etc. the same as it would for any other gun. For example, Remington 788's in 243 or 6mm are fairly common and will go for $300-$400 whereas a 788 in 30/30 or 44 mag will probably start at $400 and go up from there.

Anyway, don't take my word for it. Read it from Big Green themselves.

Thanks Kingfisher, excellent stuff! You have contributed to my firearms education in no insignificant way.

- mike

There are a couple of other 7s: M720 and 725. Frank de Haas' book Bolt Action Rifles covers all of them well.

The 720 is the last and best of the Enfield design, controlled feed and nice features. WWII did it in, and Remington went "low cost" when they restarted after the War.

The 725 is a fancy grade 721/722.

My first centerfire rifle was a M721 in .30-'06. I still have it though it is now a .280 Rem (I had it marked 7 mm Express because it was built during that time).

jim

Remington, like many US manufacturers, became obsessed with the "botom line" some years back, and their guns reflect this view. A new Remington today is little more than a crap shoot. It may shoot great. It may also be horrendous. Most of their excellent gunsmiths and machinists are gone, sadly replaced by bean counters and lawyers, both of whom build lousy rifles. I have some great shooting Remingtons, mostly from the '80s, and a few recent stinkers. It's by no means limited to Remington. It's an industry wide curse, the search for the attractive bottom line. One day you realize your loyal customers are no longer buying your products. Just one mans opinion. Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal

The (additional) reference to the M725 came in handy today, I came across that model designation in an article about the .280 Rem. Thanks to the knowledge gained here, I could nod my head at that point in the article .
- mike