I was shopping for other things and found a rifle At Gander Mountain. I found a Remington 725, in 280 Remington. It looks pretty good. A few wear marks on the stock and metal work. The bore is bright. It is used but doesn't appear to be abused. It has a Leupold Vari X II 3x9 scope on it, and a sling.
The price was comparable to some of the ones I did a search on. $699. I picked it up today. No pics yet.
They didn't have any ammo. I found some at Herb Phillipsons. The cost of ammo has gone up a bit. When I bought the Stevens 200 in 270 the anmmo was $19 a box. The ammo today was $29 a box.
Looks like I'll be shopping for brass, bullets dies soon.
How can you tell the manufacture date of this rifle. The serial number is 716xxx.
I know that they first chambered the 725 in 280 in 1958.
If anyone has any experience with this rifle, how good is it?
I'll try to get out and see if it goes bang in the next couple days.
Thank you.
Leo

Thank you thirdbite, According to that site it was made in 1939 or 1961. I don't think they made the 725 in 1939 so I believe it was made in 1961.
Thanks again for the link.
Leo

That is a wonderful model of rifle...one of my most favourite. I sure wish my health was good enough to use it these days. I'd try to talk you into selling it to me if I ever expected to be physically fit enough to use it.

44MagLeo--Remington used the 12 letters in BLACKPOWDERX to identify month of manufacture. In other words A, for example is the 3rd letter so would represent 3rd month (March). Then there was a single or double digit code to identify year. There was overlap of the year codes so like in your case where it could be 1939 or 1961 they were not made in 1939 so it would have to be a 1961. Reminds me of a funny story. I went to a garage sale and a guy had a Remington way overpriced. He was telling everyone it was pre 1964. I tried explaining to him that with Remington pre 64 meant nothing--It meant something in Winchesters. He insisted that it was pre 64 thus very valuable. I finally got my book out of the pickup and showed him his rifle was made several years later. He said book was wrong he had that rifle prior to 1964 (several years before it was made). When I left he was still billing it as pre 64. Guess he thought I had a special fake book printed up.

quote:

Originally posted by Alberta Canuck:
That is a wonderful model of rifle...one of my most favourite. I sure wish my health was good enough to use it these days. I'd try to talk you into selling it to me if I ever expected to be physically fit enough to use it.

Hang in there guy.

IMO its the best bolt action big game rifle Rem every made, they encorporated all the good features of a Rem. 30-S and the later to be produced Rem 721, and Rem 700..They just didn't know when to quit! I love that Enfield safety, especially on a DGR..

I see a plain 'rem' design with just push feed and that two position enfield type safety that does not allow a hot chamber to be unloaded on safe.

I don't have room for one.

If I had to use a Rem bolt I would prefer their M30.

quote:

Originally posted by Atkinson:
IMO its the best bolt action big game rifle Rem ever made, they encorporated all the good features of a Rem. 30-S and the later to be produced Rem 721, and Rem 700..They just didn't know when to quit! I love that Enfield safety, especially on a DGR..

I agree completely. Just one time-line correction....the Model 721 came before the Model 725, and the Model Model 700 after the 725.

The safety on my 725 is a three position safety. You can cycle the action to remove cartridges from the chamber with the safety on.
I like that it is oversized. Easier to use with gloves on.
Leo