Remington 722 in .300 Savage

Blastattack

Blastattack

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So i got a gift in the mail today. My grandpa sent me one of his old guns, a Remington 722, (1960) in .300 savage. She's a little on the worn side, and well used but she's a beauty. However, the caliber is a problem,i cant seem to find any ammo anywhere (online at least). So, my question to all you is this, should i re-chamber her to .308?
Does the .300 savage chambering give it some intrinsic value worth keeping? And what would the ramifications be of re-chambering it?

The gun has been appraised at $300. I currently have a Remington 700 in .308, and all the reloading supplies to feed her. I also have access to a couple gunsmiths at my tech college who have all the supplies and tools i would need to do a re-chamber. Tell me your thoughts
 
Blastattack said:
So i got a gift in the mail today. My grandpa sent me one of his old guns, a Remington 722, (1960) in .300 savage. She's a little on the worn side, and well used but she's a beauty. However, the caliber is a problem,i cant seem to find any ammo anywhere (online at least). So, my question to all you is this, should i re-chamber her to .308?
Does the .300 savage chambering give it some intrinsic value worth keeping? And what would the ramifications be of re-chambering it?

The gun has been appraised at $300. I currently have a Remington 700 in .308, and all the reloading supplies to feed her. I also have access to a couple gunsmiths at my tech college who have all the supplies and tools i would need to do a re-chamber. Tell me your thoughts
Click to expand...

You just received a priceless gift from your Granpa! Being well worn means to me it was something that he used. For him to pick you as the recipient, you should consider yourself very lucky! Don't change the caliber. Like said earlier most CT's have 300 sav in stock. Head out to the Calgary gun show in April and you won't have any trouble finding 300 sav ammo at reasonable prices.
 
Please don't rechamber it! The .300 Savage is an outstanding classic, and a very capable deer round. Buy some dies and start reloading, or, like others have said, take a better look around for factory ammo. The thought of rechambering that rifle reminds me of the many pre-64 Model 70 Winchesters that were rechambered from .300 H&H to .300 Weatherby - a total waste and shame, imho.

Not to mention the important points made by 99trix.

But if you can't bear to keep it the way it is, then perhaps list it on EE and let some other gun nut care for it!
 
If you already reload for the .308 getting set up for .300 savage should be easy enough and as has been said lots of canadian tires carry it and your local dealer should be able to hook you up with ease.
 
I believe that you will someday regret modifying an old gem like that, especially if it came from your grandpa and has obvious sentimental value. I know the feeling but try to resist the temptation. I have a gem of an old 722 in 222 and a 721 in 30-06. I wouldn't part with either one of them for anything. Having one in 300 savage makes it a pretty cool conversation piece too. (in my opinion) Congratulations!!
 
Well, you've all convinced me. Caliber will stay the same, no rechambering. Any objections to some refurb work? ie Refinishing stock + reblueing, polishing of bolt (not lapping, but restoring the shine on the bare metal bolt) , replacing of small parts etc? Essentially restoring the old gal to New From Factory condition. Obviously only as needed, and only after a very thorough cleaning?
 
I don't know if I would refinish it or not. If it was a safety issue of course, but the wear marks were done by your grandfather and helps remember him. But that is just me. Get some ammo and take it out and try it you will probably be pleasantly surprised at how nice it is to shoot. I like my 99F in 300 sav. If you reload, try 165 gr bullets and RL15 or IMR4895.
 
Remington rifle

I tend to agree with the people who say "don't refurbush" your rifle. It was given to you by your Grandfather in that condition, and if it is reasonably good condition, I would leave it that way. Those marks on the rifle were earned honorably by your Grandfather, and you might even add a few of your own if you use it. ANY restoration/renovation/refurbishment will lower the future value of this rifle, especially one in the .300 Savage calibre.

As mentioned, it is a good hunting calibre. It was designed to give approxiamately the same velocity as a 30-06 with 150 grain bullets, but with a short case. Reloading will really make it shine as a hunting rifle.

It is also something that you can pass down to a Son in the future. It has more sentimental value, and one time can be considered a family heirloom.

Also, you have to look at the present and future value of this rifle. You might check some of the Remington websites, and just find out how many of these rifles were made in .300 Savage, as compared to the other calibres. Not rare, but certainly scarce.

The production of the 721/722 models was relatively short, being developed after WWII and being superceded by the Model 700 in 1962.

Me, I would leave it as is, except for a bit of cleaning, lightly oiling the metal, and possibly some stock wax to spruce it up a bit, but if you think about it, your Grandfather gave it to you in that condition, not in a shiny new rifle condition.
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It seems you have made your mind up not to rechamber. Good. My vote is to give the rifle a good cleaning, replace any parts that are broken, and leave her as is. As you get older, you will appreciate all the memories of your Grandpa this rifle will bring. Returning it to "like new" will only diminish those memories. If you want to restore a rifle, buy another one and have at it. You can fulfill the desire to restore something without doing it to a rifle with sentimental value.

My $0.02

John
 
Why don't you call gramps and ask what he would like to see you do? That way, you will have some peace of mind with your decision. Just a thought...
 
Blastattack said:
So i got a gift in the mail today. My grandpa sent me one of his old guns, a Remington 722, (1960) in .300 savage. She's a little on the worn side, and well used but she's a beauty. However, the caliber is a problem,i cant seem to find any ammo anywhere (online at least). So, my question to all you is this, should i re-chamber her to .308?
Does the .300 savage chambering give it some intrinsic value worth keeping? And what would the ramifications be of re-chambering it?

The gun has been appraised at $300. I currently have a Remington 700 in .308, and all the reloading supplies to feed her. I also have access to a couple gunsmiths at my tech college who have all the supplies and tools i would need to do a re-chamber. Tell me your thoughts
Click to expand...

once you figure out how to reload , you will find that the 300 savage and the 308 are virtually identical , very similar to the way the 260 and 6.5x55 are " twins " .

if it was my rifle , i'd leave just as it is , keep it clean dry and well oiled .

if you want to play with something , go buy a savage or a stevens bolt action and have fun cutting it up .

when you get older you may regret cutting up the rifle you grandpa gave you .
 
Interesting answers. I'll hold off on any refurbishment, for now, maybe down the road.
I've gotten to cleaning it, used a lightly damped rag to wipe the grime off. Going to move onto some gun-scrubber in a bit. Anyone know how you get the bolt apart? The cocking piece doesn't seem to have the little slot that my rem 700 has.
 
Blastattack said:
Interesting answers. I'll hold off on any refurbishment, for now, maybe down the road.
I've gotten to cleaning it, used a lightly damped rag to wipe the grime off. Going to move onto some gun-scrubber in a bit. Anyone know how you get the bolt apart? The cocking piece doesn't seem to have the little slot that my rem 700 has.
Click to expand...

you dissassemble the bolt the same way as a 700 , but you have to pull the cocking piece further out and catch a penny under the cocking piece itself as, like you say, there isn't a slot. Use a penny, not a dime...copper is softer than steel and won't mar up the bolt plug like a dime can when you twist it out on reassembly.

Take it out of the stock and flush out the trigger mechanism with carb cleaner or something similiar and compressed air.

Glad to hear you are leaving the rifle as is....I've owned at least 6 722's, including three of them in 244 and one in 257 Roberts and I wish I had a couple of them back now....:rolleyes:..but I do have a pretty nice 721 in 270 around here somewhere..
 
About 12 years ago I tracked down my Grandfathers 722 chambered for 257 Roberts.
It had been sold out of the family by my Uncle who placed little value on such things but luckily it remained close to home in one small Saskatchewan town.
When it came time to close the deal I traded straight across one mint Ruger tang safety 25-06 for my Granfather's scarred up weatherbeaten old 257 Bob.

Everytime that old 722 comes out of the safe I know that was one of the best gun deals I've ever made.
 
Don't change a single thing. Give it a good cleaning and make sure it is in good operable condition, but nothing more. I have my Dad's old Parker Hale and my father-in-laws old Remington and I will pass them on to the next generation 'as is' with all the character they have developed over many years. I know of what I speak. :)
 
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