722 vs 700 Remington action?

[Dusty Stevens]

The 40x is not a rebranded 721/722. Back in those days as far as rimfires the 40x had a straight bolt handle like the 721/2 and the 40xb had a swept back 700 style handle. The 40x no matter how much they cost from the "custom shop" is no different than a solid bottom 700. They need trued just as much as any remington. They were nothing magical at all and had the same tolerances.

 

[jackie schmidt]

I was told by the Remington Custom shop years ago, that the 722 became the 40X.

Not exactly. The 722 evolved into the short action 700 in the late 1960's, which Mike Walker used as the base for the 40X.

 

[James M.]

This is what Mike Walker told me at the SS about a decade ago. He told the folks to pick a good specimen of the 722 and not make the cut for the magazine. He made a solid bottom 722 and called it a 40X. He had this particular rifle with him and it had serial number "1". Also, he offered it for sale for $12,000 if memory serves. It did not sell at that SS but I believe that he later sold it. Good shooting...James

 

[dmort]

A few more 722 tidbits. Those barrels were button rifled. I believe they started hammer forging in around 1967. Also there were two different weight 26" barrels on the early models. The last of the 722's were referred to as transition models. These had 24" barrels without the boss. I think about that time they brought out the 725 in the long and short version. Then came the 700's. I bought a brand new 725 in .244 back then and wish I'd kept it. Also for the "what it's worth department" extractors are far and few between for these old timers. About the only cure I'm aware of is a sako style conversion.

I didn't know Remington ever made a 725. How is it different from the earlier 721/722 series?

 

[Dusty Stevens]

That was probably a typo

 

[RStiefel]

Some info I found

"The 40-X receivers use the same barrel threads and dimensions as the standard actions, BUT, the 40-X series are NOT taken from the standard production line and trued. They are final machined to a closer to spec dimension, and made (and serial numbered) in a different facility".

 

[martin zuck]

I didn't know Remington ever made a 725. How is it different from the earlier 721/722 series?

725's were a dressed up version of the 721's an 722's. The 725 was actually Wayne Leek's brain storm. They were made to compete with the Win. 70 which of course they never did. They came out in 1958 and there were approx. 16 thousand made.

 

[RJM]

725's were a dressed up version of the 721's an 722's. The 725 was actually Wayne Leek's brain storm. They were made to compete with the Win. 70 which of course they never did. They came out in 1958 and there were approx. 16 thousand made.

From the Roy Marcot book, "The Official Authorized History of Remington Arms Company", page 243:

The 725's were dressed up 721/722's to compete with the fancier model 70 winchesters. They look much like the later 700's, but have a safety that looks like the 1917 Enfield-based models 30/30s/720.

The 725's were made in 270, 280, 30-06, 244, 243, & 222. The 725 Kodak was made in 458 & 375 H&H. They were listed in the catalog from 1958-1961, and a few were made as non- catalog items in 1962. Only 16,635 were made.

I've seen a couple of 725's, but they were both 30-06's. I wish I'd bought that one that was new in the box!

Regards,
Ron

 

[jackie schmidt]

"The 40-X receivers use the same barrel threads and dimensions as the standard actions, BUT, the 40-X series are NOT taken from the standard production line and trued. They are final machined to a closer to spec dimension, and made (and serial numbered) in a different facility".

That might be the intention, but I have trued several 40x actions through the years, and have found them to be no more, or less, truly straight in the criticle areas than any regular Remington 700.

 

[R.G. Robinett]

Can you put a model 700 Jewell or other aftermarket triggers on the 721-722's? If not, are there triggers made for them?
Thanks
Jim

Jim, in my experience - only a pair of 722 - yes, Jewell, and other aftermarket "Rem. 700" triggers have worked very well.
The original 722 triggers had two-part stamped sears . . . and, still, with a little working-over, could be made to work fairly well. RG

 

[jackie schmidt]

Jim, in my experience - only a pair of 722 - yes, Jewell, and other aftermarket "Rem. 700" triggers have worked very well.
The original 722 triggers had two-part stamped sears . . . and, still, with a little working-over, could be made to work fairly well. RG

Randy, on that 1949 vintage 721 that did that project on a few years back, a Jewell Varmint Trigger with the safety went right on with no mods what so ever.

 

[dmort]

More on the 725

From the Roy Marcot book, "The Official Authorized History of Remington Arms Company", page 243:

The 725's were dressed up 721/722's to compete with the fancier model 70 winchesters. They look much like the later 700's, but have a safety that looks like the 1917 Enfield-based models 30/30s/720.

The 725's were made in 270, 280, 30-06, 244, 243, & 222. The 725 Kodak was made in 458 & 375 H&H. They were listed in the catalog from 1958-1961, and a few were made as non- catalog items in 1962. Only 16,635 were made.

I've seen a couple of 725's, but they were both 30-06's. I wish I'd bought that one that was new in the box!

Regards,
Ron

I was cleaning out my loading room and thumbing through some old magazines before tossing them in the recycle bin. One of the things I stumbled on was this ad for gunstocks in a 1968 Herter's catalog."These stocks would dress up a moderately priced 721/722 and could be altered to fit the new model 725". What alterations were required wasn't stated ,but since Herter's was never short on verbiage it must have been obvious or fairly simple.
As an aside, between the different grades and types of wood you had fifty choices! Select American Walnut started at $9.75 and they didn't accept credit cards.
Mort

 

[glp]

The only issue with a 721/722

I was cleaning out my loading room and thumbing through some old magazines before tossing them in the recycle bin. One of the things I stumbled on was this ad for gunstocks in a 1968 Herter's catalog."These stocks would dress up a moderately priced 721/722 and could be altered to fit the new model 725". What alterations were required wasn't stated ,but since Herter's was never short on verbiage it must have been obvious or fairly simple.
As an aside, between the different grades and types of wood you had fifty choices! Select American Walnut started at $9.75 and they didn't accept credit cards.
Mort

is the odd ball extractor. They are very hard to find if they break. I know, you can install a Sako but that defeats the safety features of the action. That mod would not be for me. I have 3...two 722s and one 721, but have spare extractors for them all. greg