ORIGINAL: bigbulls
I am not saying things like a bolt handle breaking off is an every day occurance but it does occasionally happen and while I have not had it happen to me personally a customer brought a Remington in the shop just two days ago with a bolt handle that came off the bolt body. It is sitting in the shop right now.
Venting in the bolt body is just added insurance should something bad happen like an obstructed bore, reloading with the wrong powder, pierced primers, etc... It vents escaping gasses away from the shooter. Again not something that happens every day but if it did happen to to you then you would certainly appreciate those three vent holes.
I see broken extractors in Remingtons often enough to know that they are incredibly weak compared to other extractors. Why do you think so many people install Sako extractors on Remington bolts? Because they break.
Both are good rifles but the Howas & vanguards are better rifles IMHO.
Can you take a picture of this bigbulls? I would really like to see a broken bolt handle from the Remington. Don't get me wrong I'm not doubting you I just would like to see a picture of it.
I know for a fact that more military and law enforcement sniper weapons are based on the Remington 700 platform. No one's tougher on weapons then the military so if it's good enough for them, it's good enough for me.
