First year of Remington 700

Picked up a Remington 700 in 243 a couple month ago, brought it purely cause it was cheap. Had shitty photos so I was thinking screw it the action is worth what I’m paying so if it’s been ridden hard and put away wet I’ll still be onto a bit of a win. Afew weeks later I picked it up, to my delight it wasn’t in bad condition at all, has an older synthetic adl stock on it and a funny looking (compared to the rem 700’s I’ve had in the past) bolt handle and short bolt shroud. A little research revealed it is infact a first year production model 700 that someone had put a synthetic stock on it somewhere during its life. Gave it a clean and took it for a test, shoots bloody well!

Now the hard part, what do I do next? Find an older walnut stock and try put it back to how it should be?
Or as I don’t need another hunting rifle do I put on a heavy 308 barrel and make an early M40 replica?

Has anyone on here got an early rem 700? This is the first one I’ve seen.

Production began 1962

Pics: https://www.proxibid.com/1962-Reming...ation/55533870

Yup that’s just like it, with the ‘tombstone’ safety, short bolt shroud etc. thanks for that link, now I know exactly what style of stock to be looking for. Mine dates around July 1962.

Their Will also be no anti binding rail or groove cut in the right bolt lug. Your Bolt will not swap into newer models.

That’s correct, I plan on cleaning up the original bolt as it’s not bad, just some light pitting where it’s been exposed to moisture. Pretty much decided this rifle will turn into a long term project, M40 replica so will be hunting for a suitable stock and barrel soon.

Greetings All,
The Remington 700 is just an upgraded version of the Remington 721 and 722 rifles that had been produced from 1948. The earlier rifles had the short shroud. The shroud is similar to that on the P14 and M17 rifles that Remington manufactured for the British and US governments in WW1. The anti bind rail was added around 1968 after Winchester had added one to their Model 70. It is doubtful if the model 700 actually needed one, having been in production for 20 years at that point, but it got one anyway.
My first new centre fire rifle was a Remington 700 in .308 that was manufactured in 1975. It is an ADL with the impressed checkering. It has been upgraded with a Hogue stock, hinged floor plate and suppressor and still shoots well. Its's place as my primary hunting rifle has been usurped by lighter rifles but it still gets to some 4P shoots from time to time. It will never be sold.
Regards Grandpamac.

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Originally Posted by grandpamac

Greetings All,
The Remington 700 is just an upgraded version of the Remington 721 and 722 rifles that had been produced from 1948. The earlier rifles had the short shroud. The shroud is similar to that on the P14 and M17 rifles that Remington manufactured for the British and US governments in WW1. The anti bind rail was added around 1968 after Winchester had added one to their Model 70. It is doubtful if the model 700 actually needed one, having been in production for 20 years at that point, but it got one anyway.
My first new centre fire rifle was a Remington 700 in .308 that was manufactured in 1975. It is an ADL with the impressed checkering. It has been upgraded with a Hogue stock, hinged floor plate and suppressor and still shoots well. Its's place as my primary hunting rifle has been usurped by lighter rifles but it still gets to some 4P shoots from time to time. It will never be sold.
Regards Grandpamac.

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the only Remington from that era that had a problem was the little mohawk - my mates .222 mohawk bulged the floor plate and gave feed problems I still have my .222 700 BDL from 1975 and like you granpamac not for sale

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Originally Posted by Barry the hunter

the only Remington from that era that had a problem was the little mohawk - my mates .222 mohawk bulged the floor plate and gave feed problems I still have my .222 700 BDL from 1975 and like you granpamac not for sale

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Greetings,
The Mohawks were made by Remington, I gather from parts left over from the 600 and 660 rifles, and marketed by one of the sports supply chains in the US. Heaps of them seem to have come to NZ. All had the synthetic floor plate that tended to warp. They were replaced by the now gone Model 7. I did some load development for a friends .222 Model 660 recently (20 inch barrel) which shot really well but was a pig to reassemble. They were also available in 6.5mm and.350 Remington Magnum with a laminated stock.
Regards Grandpamac.

A gunsmith friend of mine picked up a 700 in 7mm rem mag the other day. Same early bolt, short shroud and safety features. Interestingly the barrel was stainless. Factory address on it. Looked original rather than a replacement. I know Winchester used to do the same thing for the 220 swift and other 'hot' calibres on their pre64 M70's.