Remington 721 Questions

Reflex_84

Reflex_84

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I tried a search and didn't come up with much.

A fellow at work has an old 721 in .30-06 that he "willed". He is thinking of selling it for around 150 to 200. I'm thinking of buying it from him.

I don't know much about these rifles, but thought i might ask the enormous knowledge base known as CGN.

Were these good rifles? What can you tell me about them? Is there anything i should be looking for? I thought I once hear of a recall from Remington, but I can't seem to find it.

Any insight would be apreciated.

BTW. I haven't seen it yet, he is supposed to bring it in sometime in the next week.

Thanks Everyone!!
 
For $150-$200 I wouldn't be asking questions...buy it..it's the forerunner to the 700...lots of 700 parts interchange...they are nice old rifles

Reflex_84 said:
I tried a search and didn't come up with much.

A fellow at work has an old 721 in .30-06 that he "willed". He is thinking of selling it for around 150 to 200. I'm thinking of buying it from him.

I don't know much about these rifles, but thought i might ask the enormous knowledge base known as CGN.

Were these good rifles? What can you tell me about them? Is there anything i should be looking for? I thought I once hear of a recall from Remington, but I can't seem to find it.

Any insight would be apreciated.

BTW. I haven't seen it yet, he is supposed to bring it in sometime in the next week.

Thanks Everyone!!
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Most of those 721's were fabulous shooters. As Rembo said, they have a lot in common with the 700 Model Remington, which needs no introduction. For that price, I would grab it so fast that my hand would just be a blur. LOL Regards, Eagleye.
 
Huntin' Gun said:
Further to what Rembo said... don't dicker. Just pay the $200. But do it quick before he changes his mind. These are good solid rifles. The 700 was created by making the 721 cheaper to manufacture.
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How did the 700 get cheaper?..the 700 bottom metal easily cost more than the stamped one piece blind 721/722 bottom metal..the checkered bolt knob of the 700 was another manufacturung step added, the 700 had a checkered stock, albeit originally stamped checkering, the standard 721/722 was without checkering, the 700 trigger housing is three pieces riveted together, the 721/722 trigger housing was a bent piece of sheet metal...can't see where the 700 was cheaper to build.
 
Reflex 84;
As others have already posted, the 721/722 family were the forerunners of the long and short action 700's.

The machining on any of the 721/722 actions that I've seen has been very good, certainly as good as the early 700's and arguably better than some newer 700's in some cases.

The triggers are adjustable, but the safety sits somewhat lower than on a 700.

There was a fair bit of drop to the stocks on them, but with a wee bit of modification a 700 stock can be made to work. It will however require changing the trigger guard and magazine box as well because of the stamped strip of metal used on the 721/722.

The extractor is not the same as a 700 and are next to impossible to find. That said I've been told that it is not a huge deal for a gunsmith to install a 700 riveted type extractor into a 721/722.

The barrel quality must have been pretty good on average because the few I've played with, a .308 and a .270 that I recall off the top of my head, shot very well.

Our youngest daughter's semi-custom .250AI is built on a 722 action, so I've learned a bit about them since that project began. Hopefully that was some use to you and lastly if I could buy it for the price you quoted, I would do so in a heartbeat.

Regards,
Dwayne
 
The action alone is worth around $400, complete rifles in pretty decent shape will bring around $450 (I just sold one for that). The triggers are great on them, probably not bench rest quality but great for any hunting rifle. That action IMHO is as good or better (probably better) than any of the "cheap" mass produced crap coming out of the rem factory today.
 
The 721's and 722's (short action) are very plain but well-made, functional rifles. I have several, and would not trade any of them for any model 700 on the market today. Yes, extractors sometimes break and originals are hard to find, but Sako-style or rivetted M700 extractors can be fitted. Don't delay, buy it. You won't be disappointed.
 
Rembo said:
How did the 700 get cheaper?..the 700 bottom metal easily cost more than the stamped one piece blind 721/722 bottom metal..the checkered bolt knob of the 700 was another manufacturung step added, the 700 had a checkered stock, albeit originally stamped checkering, the standard 721/722 was without checkering, the 700 trigger housing is three pieces riveted together, the 721/722 trigger housing was a bent piece of sheet metal...can't see where the 700 was cheaper to build.
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That's something I read somewhere. The 721 morphed into the 700 by streamlining production and reducing costs. Not so much cheaper in materials, but cheaper in process: ei: more automation, less hands-on work. Could be wrong, though. I might be thinking of the 725, which was the fancier version of the 721. :slap:
 
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I remember when the 721 came out. I thought they were the chepest looking things in creation and the price tag sort of suggested the same thing. I think the original Canadian price was about $120, whereas a Winchester Model 7o would be about $150.
A brother bought one of the first 721s out and it was soon discoverded they were really a good shooting rifle, right off the shelf.
 
Huntin' Gun said:
That's something I read somewhere. The 721 morphed into the 700 by streamlining production and reducing costs. Not so much cheaper in materials, but cheaper in process: ei: more automation, less hands-on work. Could be wrong, though. I might be thinking of the 725, which was the fancier version of the 721. :slap:
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I was thinking that you might be thinking of the Model 720....;)
 
My reply should also be on the other post. my expirence with the 721 was that it was the worst firearm I ever owned. I could never trust the safety.Never own one again.
 
The one I owned was a tack driver. But I had a real issue with the stock cracking. I had Ramline replace my stock 4 times before I sold the action and barrel.
 
721/722

I have a real soft spot for these old gems. It all started back when I inherited my grandpa's old 722 chambered in 222 Rem. It has a 26" barrel and saw very little use. It even has the original old Weaver K8 scope that granddad ordered with the gun back in the 1950's. I loved this gun so much I started buying 721's wherever I could find them. I currently own a 721 in 30-06 and it is a real sweetheart. Ya, it's not anything fancy to look at, but very low round count and boy does it shoot. I've never had any safety problems with any of mine and think they are the sh*&t! (If I could only find a minty one in 300 H&H or 250 Savage!!!) Good luck!!
 
Rembo said:
I was thinking that you might be thinking of the Model 720....;)
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The 720 was based on the M1917 action, but without the rear sight base and a more conventional bolt handle. They were made only in small numbers in 1940-42.

The 721 and 722 were the same except for action length (the 722 was the short action). They were an economy rifle, having a blind magazine and a stamped trigger guard. The 725 was a higher grade version with the same action with a hinged floorplate magazine, checkered Monte Carlo stock, and three-position safety.
 
Is anyone familiar with the different variations of the 721 series ?
For instance, my 300 H&H purchased used in the early '70s has a 24" smooth barrel and my brother has a 721 with a 26" barrel with a raised band part-way down the barrel, also a 300 H&H. Both appear identical except for those differences.
 
Kevan
721's were std/actions
722's are short actions
725's are delux std actions
As far as I've seen, lots of variations within.
Have a look at your brothers. A factory quarter rib is something I have not seen or heard of. Check if it is stock.
Let me know.
Dwayner
 
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