721 standard bolt to magnum bolt

[lefteyedon]

I have a custom made 721b lefthand rifle, the 30/06 barrel is shot/rusty. Setting on my shelf is a Remington barrl in 7mag.
 Replacing the bolt is not an option, so how can a 721 be opened up to mag bolt face?
 What problems am I looking at?
Gr

[longwalker]

First the bolt face would have to be opened up some 0.059 inches. If there is enough material on the bolt to allow this you have a starting point. The extracter will have to be considered as well. Does the current configuration allow the increase in pressure safely? I don't know.

The next question is how will you open up the magazine to accomodate the larger diameter, and case overall length.

You might be better staying with a "standard" 30-06 based round, rather than go to the magnum. Regardless you will be well served by talking to a competent gunsmith. Some machining will no doubt be required.

longwalker

[lefteyedon]

The 721 was chambered for 300 H&H, Trying to find a 300 H&H and then converting it left hand seem to be a greater challenge than opening the bolt face on the 721. Nothing is as simple as it first seems but then why should it be?
 Someone around this board has done this...
Gary

[gunnut69]

I may have already spoken to this on the gunsmith forum, just not sure.. It is possible and there are a couple of ways. The bolt face will need to be opened to accept the larger case head and the safety replaced. If the Remington thumbnail safety is to be retained the bolt face will hace to be recut for it. Or it is possible to replace the remington extractor with a Sako/M16 extractor. Either change will require a good machinist and gunsmith.. You will also have to replace the magazine box with a magnum version. I would bet a box from a M700 would work.. although it might require a bit of work. If your trying to save money the machine work will almost surely cost more than a simple rebarrel with a new barrel to a more compatable caliber. I would suggest the 280 Rem. It's a personal favorite of mine and will give nearly 7Mag ballistics especially in the lighter bullet weights. I am very fond of the 140 grain ballistic tips/partitions from Nosler for deer.. The 270 is almost exactly the same round but has a smaller selection of heavier bullet weights. Either would cost several hundred dollars less to produce than the 1Mag conversion and that'l cover most of the cost of the new barrel..