Buying a Rifle on Family Vacation - Another Remington 721

[usabaker]

Just got back from a whirlwind seven-day family vacation. In seven days, we visited;

• The Narrows in Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon National Park Utah
• Elkhorn Hot Springs in Montana’s Pioneer Mountains
• My fathers Grave in Coeur d’Alene and Post Falls in Idaho
• Multnomah Falls, Lava River Cave, and Lava Lands in Oregon
• The ghost town Bodie State Historic Park in California
• Lastly, before returning home Keough’s Hot Springs near Bishop, California.

All in All, we drove 3,559 miles.

While in Idaho I stopped in a local gun store. They had a Remington Model 721 in 30-06 sitting on the shelf. I could not pass it up for $240.00.

They also have a really nice 1903 Sporter, it has a high gloss blue so this is not one that would be a candidate for restoration. But for the price, $250.00 it would make a nice shooter. I didn't buy it only because the gas cost in the RV killed my bank account.

The Remington 721 I bought has what I think is a Herter’s stock with a really short length of pull The stock looks to have been cut down for a Jr. shooter. I'm going to look for a factory stock to put back on the rifle as the one on it has zero appeal.

The bolt and follower are both jeweled which is interesting. The blue is near 100% and the bore is fantastic.

I think the most interesting part of this rifle is the Leupold scope. The Leupold Mountaineer is different in that it only has a elevation adjustment. The windage is dialed in using the Leupold Adjusto-mounts.

In all of the old catalogs and even doing a web search, I was only able to fine Leupold Mountaineer scopes that have both elevation and windage. I find that odd and interesting that the Leupold Mountaineer that came with this rifle has only the elevation adjustment.

If anyone has any AD’s or documentation on this version of the scope I would be grateful if you shared it.

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[baltimoreed]

That’s a beauty for sure.

[browningautorifle]

Too bad the stock is so reduced, I like that kind as a shooter.

[usabaker]

Too bad the stock is so reduced, I like that kind as a shooter.

When I first got it I considered extending the stock for the correct length of pull and refinishing it. I decided that it would just be better to replace it altogether. Besides, whoever fit the stock didn't quite get the fit correct. The barrel hits the barrel channel in a couple of places and with the action screws tightened down you can still move the receiver up and down so I would need to inlet the barrel channel, insert some pillars and bed the action.

Today I found a really nice unfinished Montecarlo stock that would look nice on her. It would need final fitting and finishing but it has pretty wood, if I can get it for a good price I might go with it rather than factory stock.

I haven't decided if I want to resell or give it to one of my kids yet after I'm done playing with it. I'm starting to get too many 721's and I'm still on my quest for a 1st year low number 721.

[browningautorifle]

When I first got it I considered extending the stock for the correct length of pull and refinishing it. I decided that it would just be better to replace it altogether

I just did that with a 1936 Marlin only because a repro is unavailable and replacements are worse. I wasn't suggesting that, besides like you say too many issues.

[usabaker]

I just did that with a 1936 Marlin only because a repro is unavailable and replacements are worse.

Jim, that a lever-action Marlin? Sweet! those are pretty much untouchable price-wise anymore. The stock on the rifle, while wouldn't take much to get'her squared away, I just figure if I was going to put a bunch of labor (of love) in the stock it might as well be a nice piece of wood that wouldn't be splice at the buttstock. I'm always conflicted though with fixing what is, replacing with aftermarket, and putting factory wood back on these old gals.

[browningautorifle]

a lever-action Marlin

That's the one. I had no choice when I rescued this one from a small interior town in B.C. Came from a farm where the wife used it to pot deer. It needed about everything. SURPRISE, the bore is very nice and very tight. I wanted a Marlin that had a Ballard barrel and now this one and a 336A from 1948 as well. Price on this worn old piece was $500 shipped and a bunch of parts that members here helped me procure. Anyway, here it is. Yes, low number and no prefix. 1936.

[usabaker]

That's the one. I had no choice when I rescued this one from a small interior town in B.C. Came from a farm where the wife used it to pot deer. It needed about everything

She's a beauty Jim, nice clean stock extension work. I can almost feel cycling the action.

[browningautorifle]

nice clean stock extension work

I appreciate that Bill, I have seen much work by others here and still feel mine looks rudimentary. I have a friend here that's a cabinet maker and gun guy, refused to do the extension for me. He did guide me though and told me to use an epoxy instead of glue so I see a line. Used an existing busted 336 stock that had the same grain. Anyway, I agree that yours is much simpler to use a stock that is ready drop in. I'll bet you can still sell that high comb stock to someone.

[ssgross]

told me to use an epoxy instead of glue so I see a line

I saw a thread here or somewhere where someone first coated the surfaces of a repair with glue (so to minimize the visible line), then put epoxy in the holes where the internal metal support was. The epoxy held the pieces together very tight, and the glue filled all the microscopic pores at the seam, and blended it all together.