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Replacment options for 700 with a "misplaced" bolt

shanker

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Minuteman
Nov 27, 2011
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Portland, TX
I inherited alot of firearms...including several Remington 700's when I was a teenager (31) now..One of them, is a Remington 700 BDL .243 Varmit, in which I have the receipt from when my grandpa bought it for 160 dollars after tax!

anyhow...In my younger and dumber (still dumb) days, I carelessly lost the bolt. I'm completely happy with the factory bolts in my other 700s; so knowing that what will be the best option to get the firearm working again.

I'm in the process of fixing up this 243 so I can teach my wife to shoot and hopefully my son (who's only 18 months but might as well start em early right
smile.gif
)

and yes...I know I'm a idiot for loosing a bolt. I remember how I lost it...and it was during a move where I was transporting all of the firearms when we moved the safe from one house to another.
 
Re: Replacment options for 700 with a "misplaced" bolt

I should also say that I've already done lots of searching and reading here and come across Pacific Tool & Die's website, as well as the replacement bolts that Midway USA offers.

The only issue with those is that i'm NOT a gunsmith, and I'm NOT going to try to be one either.

I've tried calling Remington but I dont thing I've talked to the right people there...One guy told me to mail my rifle in, it'll be 125 dollars, and another person told me it'll cost 300 + labor....
 
Re: Replacment options for 700 with a "misplaced" bolt

If you want a factory replacement, you have two choices (both of which are not DIY):

1. Send the rifle back to Remington. They will fit a new replacement bolt and check/set the headspace (IMPORTANT!).

2. Source a replacement and take it and the rifle to a gunsmith to check/set headspace. You can find a bolt yourself or ask the gunsmith.

Alt #3: Buy an aftermarket bolt (PT&G or other) and take it to the gunsmith for fitting.

Any way you slice it, it's going to cost you at least what your grandpa paid for the rifle.
 
Re: Replacment options for 700 with a "misplaced" bolt

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: gundoktr</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Send me an email, I have three extra, original Remington bolts for the short action you have. I can headspace it for you and install the bolt. Email me for a price.

Jim
[email protected] </div></div>

email sent.
 
Re: Replacment options for 700 with a "misplaced" bolt

Jim's got the hookup for sure...

But I'm not brave enough to ship my rifle. So now I'm on the hunt for a local gunsmith (within an 1/4 day drive anyhow) to set the headspacing. Once I find one I'll buy a bolt and take it to them to be setup.
 
Re: Replacment options for 700 with a "misplaced" bolt

You should really consider shipping the rifle. After dealing with several local gunsmiths on easy jobs that weren't done right I ended up shipping anyways. With the huge selection of super high quality gunsmiths here on the Hide the only hard choice is wich one to send it to. If you can find a good local gunsmith, go for it. Just don't take any chances.
 
Re: Replacment options for 700 with a "misplaced" bolt

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: mnshortdraw</div><div class="ubbcode-body">You should really consider shipping the rifle. After dealing with several local gunsmiths on easy jobs that weren't done right I ended up shipping anyways. With the huge selection of super high quality gunsmiths here on the Hide the only hard choice is wich one to send it to. If you can find a good local gunsmith, go for it. Just don't take any chances. </div></div>

^^^This.

1/4 days drive = 4 hours? 4 hours is a lot of personal time, plus gas and other expenses. So, you are already going to buy a bolt either way, shipping is around $20 through USPS insured. (I think I shipped mine to Long Rifles, INC for around $17.00 insured for $300). So, even if you pay shipping both ways, you are out $40.00 plus you save all that time driving. Also, that is assuming that your smith can do it while you wait. That may make 2 trips.

My $.02, how I would do it if it were me. Shipping is painless, Remove stock and send it in.

Another two cents, Get the PTG bolt with the M-16 extractor cut. Stronger than the stock remingtion. If you upgrade that rifle later, then you already have a perfect bolt.

Wally
 
Re: Replacment options for 700 with a "misplaced" bolt

well....I called and talked to Glenn Martin of Martin Custom Gunsmithing, after our discussion, he suggested I ship the rifle back to Remington.

He said that buying a bolt off of GunBroker is too big of a risk, because there's no guarantee that there isnt something wrong with it, and additional work may be required depending on how the bolt was previously setup which would end up costing more than just sending it back to Remington.

He also mentioned that Remington "may" put in one of their newer version trigger's as well after all the bad publicity that CNBC gave them. I need to check on that though because I think the trigger has been modified by either my Dad or Grandfather and I dont know what Remington will say if they receive a firearm with a "modified" trigger.
 
Re: Replacment options for 700 with a "misplaced" bolt

If they recieve a modified trigger they will replace it and you may well have to pay for that also. They will not return it unless it meets all their current criteria for a safe firearm. If you send it in with an aftermarket trigger they will replace it and keep the trigger you sent. This happened several times years ago and have heard their CS isn't much fun anymore to deal with. I know as I have dealt with them several times over the years and seemed to always get someone who knew 'everything'!!!

Numerous new bolts can be found for sale but then it may be satisfactory headspace, too short or too long. Too long will get expensive, too short a bit easier to correct. Remington will have the means to go through bolts until they find one that is correct headspace wise so that issue will probably be less stressfull and 50-50 as to less expensive.
 
Re: Replacment options for 700 with a "misplaced" bolt

Wow what a small world the internet has made. You should consider sending your rifle to Jim, he worked on my Win Mod 70 about 16-17 years ago and does Great work!

Best of luck which ever way you go.....
 
Re: Replacment options for 700 with a "misplaced" bolt

the rifle got shipped back to Remington today...I bought 1800 worth of insurance incase it gets jacked so that I could buy a whole combo if it gets stolen..
 
Re: Replacment options for 700 with a "misplaced" bolt

I guess I should have updated this thread...the Rifle was shipped back to me and received on Jan18...unfortunately the stock was split in two (another thread on that)

Remington made good on the repairs and is making good on the stock as well.

I have yet to fire the rifle since getting it back.