I have an OLD Remington 721

[L.A. Native]

I recently purchased an old 721 in 30.06. My question is, can I replace the butt plate/pad with a Model 700 hogue recoil pad? Will it fit? If not can someone recommend something to replace the old rotting butt pad?
thanks

[mydogsmonkey]

from what i've heard, the 721 is just a clip slotted long action 700 so it should work, but i'm not 100% on this.

[quicknick]

I have a 722 in 257 so no need for it but i would imagibe you could make one work pretty easily. Some slips on pads are pretty slick.

[ar15barrels]

from what i've heard, the 721 is just a clip slotted long action 700 so it should work, but i'm not 100% on this.

There are a few differences between 700s and 721's.
First off, the 721 came BEFORE the 700.
The 700 has a safety cut in the side of the receiver while the 721/722 only have the cut in the stock.
The 721 safety lever is wider as there is no safety cut in the receiver.
721/722's use a 600/XP100 style (shorter) shroud, cocking piece and striker.
721/722 barrel contours are different than 700 contours.
721/722 tangs are shorter and the rear action screw is likely closer to the front action screw.

[6mmintl]

I have a couple of 722 and a 721 used for national match shooting the past 30 years and find them to be much smoother and better/tighter tolerance machined actions as smooth as glass.

The triggers are easy to adjust and I think better adjusted down to the 1.5-2 lb range then the 700 trigger and certainly better then the x-mark pro.

Most Remington 700 takeoff barrels ($50-$100) will fit the 721/722 action and headspace correctly or headspace can be corrected with spare recoil lugs or minor shoulder machining.

I flute the long 721 pins to speed up locktime.

Stocks are butt ugly and buttpad replacement can be done yourself if knowledgeable and have a belt sander/patience.

Or you can have a gunshop do it.

[kendog4570]

from what i've heard, the 721 is just a clip slotted long action 700 so it should work, but i'm not 100% on this.

It is not actually a clip slot. It is a cut through the bridge and called an "ammunition guide" by Rem. Not wide enough to receive clips nor has relief cuts on either side of the slot for clip depth stop. I believe it is a byproduct of broaching or shaving the back end of the mag well.
Standard US Springfield type clip slots run .574"+ wide, the guide slot on 721's and 722's run approx .520".

I used to cut them in Win and Rem actions for clip loading for rapid fire stages in NRA Highpower. Now do an occasional one for guys building USMC M40 clones.
Here is a pic of an incomplete 40-x type slot for an M40 clone.



Here is a complete one for a X Course gun. The side cuts control clip depth, and also, if properly dimensioned and cut, force the empty clip up and out of the slot when the bolt is closed.

[zoid52]

My 722 is in .222. Deadly accurate.

[smle-man]

It is not actually a clip slot. It is a cut through the bridge and called an "ammunition guide" by Rem. Not wide enough to receive clips nor has relief cuts on either side of the slot for clip depth stop. I believe it is a byproduct of broaching or shaving the back end of the mag well.
Standard US Springfield type clip slots run .574"+ wide, the guide slot on 721's and 722's run approx .520".

I used to cut them in Win and Rem actions for clip loading for rapid fire stages in NRA Highpower. Now do an occasional one for guys building USMC M40 clones.
Here is a pic of an incomplete 40-x type slot for an M40 clone.



Here is a complete one for a X Course gun. The side cuts control clip depth, and also, if properly dimensioned and cut, force the empty clip up and out of the slot when the bolt is closed.

Someone used to sell an aluminum clip slot adapter that was held in place by the tapped screws the receiver for a scope mount. I had one on my Winchester 70 back in the 70s. It was pretty slick. Haven't seen 'em for sale since then.

[kendog4570]

Those would work on long Remingtons and standard length, non-target Win 70 actions when converting to 308 length rounds. Short Rems and Winchesters need the slot cut in the bridge.

[fallfornoone]

I recently purchased an old 721 in 30.06. My question is, can I replace the butt plate/pad with a Model 700 hogue recoil pad? Will it fit? If not can someone recommend something to replace the old rotting butt pad?
thanks

I also have a 721 that i am looking to upgrade parts on. did you ever get a new buttpad? if so what did you get and how did it work?

[L.A. Native]

I also have a 721 that i am looking to upgrade parts on. did you ever get a new buttpad? if so what did you get and how did it work?

I ended up buying a used original 721 metal butt plate on Ebay.
As you can imagine shooting it was brutal on my shoulder so I'm buying a slip on limbsaver pad. I know it's not the prettiest solution but it doesn't bother me.
Please keep me posted on what you end up doing with your 721.