Sako Style Extractor for Remington 700

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TrevorMack

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Ive been reading a lot on upgrades you can do to a remington 700 and one I come across quite often is a Sako style extractor instead of the original remington. Has anyone done this and what do you like about it. Ive read some places its "unsafe" but I cant see how. Looking for some more input on this from people who have actually done this.
 
I have one and don't consider it an upgrade.
For some reason the rem extractor gave up on me and a replacement rem extractor was not effective.
So a sako extractor was put on and works fine.
Although small, a factory rem extractor is tough and better than any sako extractor IMO.
 
When a Sako type extractor is installed in a 700 bolt, the extractor lines up with the right hand lug way when the bolt is closed. If there is a case failure, small pieces of steel will depart the rifle, back toward the shooter, at high speed. This will not happen with the factory design.
As manufactured, the 700 action is just about the best standard factory design on the market, from the standpoint of protecting the shooter in the event of a catastrophic case failure. The Remington breeching system works.
Some gunsmiths will not perform the conversion because of the potential liability.
Your rifle, your decision. But you are not upgrading the rifle when you have this done. You are compromising the safety of the breeching.
 
I think it is the worst thing you can do to a 700 action...

Originally the conversion was done to accommodate the PPC case on a 700 action... Why only part of the Sako extractor system was used I don't know. Perhaps the idea that the Sako "bolt guide" was actually a safety device escaped those who pioneered the conversion, or the fact that catastrophic case failures are rather rare.

The problem I have today with those conversions is very few of the owners know what they are getting into... perhaps many of those doing the conversion don't realize it either. I simply wish if you are thinking about having the conversion done you have the facts before hand.

The design of the Model 700 action is superior to any other mass-produced 2 lug bolt action ever made , and that by installing only part of the extractor system from a Sako (2 locking lug action) completely compromises that design. The alteration does not make it happen. But the alteration is completely unsafe when it happens. We are talking about a catastrophic case failure. They do not occur on a regular basis. (In the US there have been serious injuries and at least one death associated with this conversion).

A Sako extractor is safe in a two lug Sako so why shouldn't it be safe in a two lug Remington? ... Because when people install the Sako extractor in a Remington they do not install the Sako bolt guide, which is the safety design incorporated in the Sako. That bolt guide is there to protect the shooter and anyone close to the shooter if a case fails drastically. I do not understand why anyone would knowingly install only part of the Sako system. If the Sako extractor and the Sako bolt guide were installed then the Remington would be as safe as a Sako. Not as strong and safe as the Remington was before alteration but safe.

Here is a picture of how well the Sako "bolt guide" deflected/prevented debris from exiting down the bolt raceway...

243blowupaction-0.jpg
 
Some perceive the circlip extractor to be weak and that the installation of a Sako-type extractor is an improvement that will provide positive extraction similar to the Mauser claw extractor. And some perceive the 700 bolt handle to be prone to breaking off since it's brazed onto the bolt - not as strong as a 1 piece bolt - and the perception that the plunger ejector can get gummed up and fail to eject cases -

DSCN1730ee.jpg
 
Slamfire said:
Some perceive the circlip extractor to be weak and that the installation of a Sako-type extractor is an improvement that will provide positive extraction similar to the Mauser claw extractor. And some perceive the 700 bolt handle to be prone to breaking off since it's brazed onto the bolt - not as strong as a 1 piece bolt - and the perception that the plunger ejector can get gummed up and fail to eject cases -
Click to expand...

Well the 700 extractor is not weak. Brass will rip or distort the before the extractor would ever break. I have tested 700 extractors and have never had one break with a case engaged in the bolt face when 300 pounds of force was applied. The Sako-type extractor has not been proven to be an improvement, the angle of ejection is higher with cases often hitting the scope tube/turret and the ultra safe design of the 700 is grossly weakened.

I have seen many claw extractors slip over a rim and/or break. They are not immune to problems either.

The 700 bolt does use a plunger ejector, regardless of extractor alterations. It can 'gum up' if you abuse your rifle over several years and fail to clean it. Rusting in place and old dried oil are two causes.
 
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I think there was a good discussion on here previously about different actions and their gas handling abilities. It broke them down into 2 types....venters (like a 98 Mauser), and containment (like your Rem 700).
Basically the venters are designed to allow gasses from case failure to vent out of the action/bolt/raceways etc to protect the shooter, while containment actions like the 700 are designed to hold the gasses until the bullet exists the barrel and vent gasses down the bore.
Something like that... memory is shot these days lol
But basically by cutting the bolt head to accept a Sako or M16 extractor, you are now defeating the 700 containment design. Gas is going to escape there and cause all kinds of hell.
 
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I'm not sure if everyone is aware that the rem 700 338 lapua actions have a m-16 type extractor I was quite surprised to see that and the reason behind it was the lack of material left on the bolt nose because of the larger case head of the 338.
 
coyote said:
I'm not sure if everyone is aware that the rem 700 338 lapua actions have a m-16 type extractor I was quite surprised to see that and the reason behind it was the lack of material left on the bolt nose because of the larger case head of the 338.
Click to expand...

Remington got away with that because of the extremely strong Lapua case. It still is too much case for that action though... I wish Remington had scaled their 700 up slightly and made a dedicated action for the big case... it would have required a new footprint and bottom metal... too much investment I guess.
 
Bile said:
I haven't heard of any of those blowing back debris into shooters, and 338 LM factory loads are full power.

Every complaint about this being a downgrade or compromising the design is overblown.

I've seen factory 700s have poorly built and put together extractors which would rip, slice and peck off brass from cases, gumming up the chamber. On a long action magnum bolt face. That is just as bad as anything else.
Click to expand...

Ever seen a catastrophic case failure? With modern factory ammunition, they are rare. Most shooters will never see one, let alone experience a failure.
But there is a world of difference between what happens if a 700 has been altered versus an unaltered rifle.
Anyone altering a rifle is assuming a liability; anyone using such an altered rifle should be aware that if there is a case failure there is the strong probability of injury.
Folks are free to make choices. And are responsible for the consequences.
25 or 30 tons per square inch just in front of one's face is serious.
 
Twice I have seen what would have been a catastrophic failure in any other rifle than a 700... one with factory ammo... a .303 British fired in a factory 700 7mm Rem Mag. The case formed into a belted mag at the rear and the bullet exited the barrel. Try that in any other bolt action and see what happens.

The second was a reload in .223... the rear of the case was very distorted and expanded to the max. I had to remove the barrel and the bolt nose was expanded to the inside cut on the barrel. I had to replace the extractor. Headspace and chamber were fine and it is back shooting. The 3 rings of steel did their job. If that bolt had been altered with a Sako extractor, it would have been blown out and a lot more damage...
 
If you were to do the Sako extractor mod to the 700, could you not improve the gas handling some other way? Vent the bolt body like a '98 or Wby?
 
Just for the record I am in no way implying that it is safe practise only that Rem had done it after bragging for years about their 3 rings of steel for added safety that the rem 700 was sold on.
A good friend of mine does the conversion using a m-16 extractor and it is imo better than the sako , it is much longer and is pinned same as rem is doing with the 338 but gas would certainly blow by
 
Hitzy said:
If you were to do the Sako extractor mod to the 700, could you not improve the gas handling some other way? Vent the bolt body like a '98 or Wby?
Click to expand...

Do the extractor modification the same as Sako does, with the gas deflecting guide rotating on the bolt... shown in post 7. Not as good and safe as the original but at least an attempt at gas control.

But why bother altering the original system to start with? Multi millions of owners have no problems.
 
I bought a 700 a couple years back that has been modified to the Sako extractor. If this is a concern should I purchase another 700 long action bolt to use in the rifle?
There isn't a lot of valuable stuff in my head but I wouldn't want any more holes in it than there are now.
 
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