Dating a Remington 700

[tapauly]

I'm sorry if this gets asked a lot, but I'm quite new to the arena and I think this should be easy for someone with experience.

I recently bought a Remington 700 off gunbroker. It is chambered in .30-06, 22 inch barrel, wood Monte Carlo stock. Stock is checkered simply on the foregrip and the pistol grip. It has a jewelled bolt and a metal butt plate.

The barrel markings are E N, which give me a date of either October of 1966 or 1993. The question is then: which year? I'm sure something here may give it away, I'm afraid I just don't know what it is.

Also, in my search to try and find out for myself, I heard mention of whether or not the bolt locks during safety on. Do I test this by attempting to pull back the bolt after closing it, with the safety on? I'm not sure how to test this.

Thanks to any who can help!

-Tyler

PS: Can add pictures if necessary.

 

[tapauly]

Re: Dating a Remington 700

Forgot to mention: it does not have a base plate, so I assume it is an ADL model. In addition, if the first barrel markings indicate a repair date, it has repair date markings of P C. Also, the metal is blued.

Thanks again,
Tyler

 

[SDWhirlwind]

Re: Dating a Remington 700

Aluminum buttplate would make it a '66 model. Guessing then a 6 digit serial number? Should have the tall safety knob also? It will have the locking bolt unless somewhat cut the safety lever off on side of trigger. Cycle bolt, engage safety then try and open bolt. If it doesn't open with safety engaged the bolt lock is intact.

 

[tapauly]

Re: Dating a Remington 700

It does have a six digit serial, 247XXX.

However, I think the safety has been changed. The knob only sits maybe 1/4" off the top of the receiver face. Seems to be a serrated cylinder laid on its rounded edge, with circular faces to the sides of the gun. It will open the bolt with the safety engaged.

Does this mean that someone gerry-rigged my safety, or does this sound like a rework/repair by Remington?

Thanks for the help, SD!

 

[SDWhirlwind]

Re: Dating a Remington 700

Sounds like a newer safety lever. Hard to tell without seeing it but if it works I wouldn't worry much. Remington had a recall on those that locked the bolt back in the mid 80's IIRC and it may well have been sent in and fixed. Those with the safety lever that locked the bolt would sometimes accidentally discharge when trigger had been adjusted a bit lite and the safety was disengaged on a loaded chamber. Several deaths from them.

 

[tapauly]

Re: Dating a Remington 700

Sounds good, so it's something I shouldn't worry at all about.

Thanks again for the help, now I just have to wait for daylight to try it out!