RE: Remington 721 vs 700 What are the major Differences?
I read once years ago that the 721 was "made better". All the articles since then just say how ugly and plain the 721 was and the 700 just modernized it.
I have a 721 in 30-06 that my grandpa bought new in '56. One of my most accurate rifles. Shoots most anything very well.
Copied the following from an article from Guns Magazine, Annual 2001, by Clair Rees
Introduced in 1962, the Model 700 was basically an improved, better-looking version of the Model 721 and 722 rifles developed by Mike Walker and his engineering staff right after World War II. The main difference between the Model 721 and Model 722 was action length. The Model 721 digested full-sized cartridges like the .30-'06 and .300 H&H Mag. The short-action Model 722 accommodated stubbier rounds like the .257 Roberts and .300 Savage loads it originally chambered. First offered in 1948, Remington's Model 721 and 722 rifles quickly won a reputation for rugged reliability. The rifles also produced accuracy unmatched by competing mass-produced hunting rifles. Minute-of-angle groups were far from common then, and that's what .222 Rem. Model 722 rifles often delivered. Selling for less than $100, the new rifles were also highly affordable.
Admittedly, there were tradeoffs. While Model 721/722 rifles were accurate, reliable and attractively priced, aesthetics suffered. Stocks bordered on downright homely and the stamped trigger guard didn't improve the rifle's appearance. The Winchester Model 70 was more expensive, but boasted greater visual appeal.
In spite of its plain exterior, the Model 721/722 sold well. Still, the Model 721, Model 722 and the Model 725, an entirely different design introduced in 1957, were all discontinued in 1961. The Model 700 was unveiled the following year.
Enter the 700
With only a few minor changes, the new Model 700 employed the same basic design used in Remington's Model 721/722 rifles. There were some mechanical improvements, but the big differences were cosmetic. The new rifle had a more streamlined tang and a considerably more graceful trigger guard. Instead of projecting straight down from the base of the bolt, the new bolt handle featured a rakish, swept-back configuration. The bolt knob was given an oval shape and checkered top and bottom. Equally important, the Model 700's stock was better designed, better finished and much more pleasing to the eye.
Today, the Model 700 is famed for its excellent trigger. Letoff is typically crisp and sharp, while lock time (the time elapsed from trigger break to cartridge ignition) is the fastest in the industry. This significantly aids long-range accuracy.
Compared to the classic Mauser bolt, the Model 700 bolt is elegantly simple. It consists of a clean, straight tube uncluttered by guides or rotating extractor assemblies. The face of the bolt is recessed to fully enclose the cartridge head. A spring-loaded plunger kicks empties clear on the bolt's rearward journey. Twin front lugs provide lockup, assisted by the root of the bolt handle when the rifle is in battery. When engaged, the two-position safety locks the trigger, but allows cycling the bolt to clear the chamber.
Hope this helps.
Erik
Rusty Axe Camp
__________________
"Don't hit at all if it is honorably possible to avoid hitting; but never hit soft." T. Roosevelt
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