Opening up rem 700 bolt

The M16 extractor is probably the way to go. Sako style can be blown out of the bolt. If you blow the Sako extractor on a Barnard (actually hard to do with the small pin) often you can't open the bolt without unscrewing the barrel (the only fault I am aware of on the Barnard) and this can bugger your day. I have had 700 bolts opened up and M16 installed, I did not do it but jobbed it out to a qualified friend, a master machinist and rifle builder. The barrel needs to be a bit larger where the bolt nose goes in because the extractor goes outside the bolt nose when it goes over the rim.
 
If the extractor system is altered, and the barrel face counterbore is enlarged, the original breeching system no longer exists.
I know what happens when there is a catastrophic case failure in an unaltered 700, having seen the results. The Remington design is impressive.
There are accurate reports of what has happened when there is a failure in a 700 with a Sako style extractor.
Catastrophic case failures are uncommon, fortunately.
I think this is why extractor conversions remain as popular as they are.
 
If the extractor system is altered, and the barrel face counterbore is enlarged, the original breeching system no longer exists.
I know what happens when there is a catastrophic case failure in an unaltered 700, having seen the results. The Remington design is impressive.
There are accurate reports of what has happened when there is a failure in a 700 with a Sako style extractor.
Catastrophic case failures are uncommon, fortunately.
I think this is why extractor conversions remain as popular as they are.

I think it lack of knowledge on the facts and money to be made is the reason behind the conversions...

The conversion does not make the rifle any more reliable and it also causes the ejected shell to eject higher often hitting the scope. If an extractor fails to extract, it doesn't matter if it is an original 700 extractor or a Sako extractor... the conversion does not make it more reliable, it makes it less safe... and the money is spent...
 
I think the money to be made is the reason behind the conversions...

The conversion does not make the rifle any more reliable and it also causes the ejected shell to eject higher often hitting the scope. If an extractor fails to extract, it doesn't matter if it is an original 700 extractor or a Sako extractor... the conversion does not make it more reliable, it makes it less safe... and the money is spent...

Agreed!
 
Several years ago there was a death associated with the conversion. (Reported on Benchrest Central) A catastrophic case failure caused the Sako extractor to become a projectile that ended up in the shooters head. Also reported were other instances of serious injury when extractors blew out with a case failure.

If you never have a case failure you will never have a problem, but if you have a case failure you have removed all the inherent safety that was built in the original design of the enclosed extractor.

Remington never produced a rifle chambered for the PPC case... some who chambered 700's for the PPC used a 308 bolt face and bent the extractor in slightly to engage. Others altered the bolt to accept part of the Sako extractor system, failing to add the Sako bolt 'guide' which acts as a deflector and protects the shooter who has a case failure.

The bolt 'guide' does its work well as illustrated below.
243blowupaction-0.jpg

Damn...
 
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