.30-06 Remington 721

CodyB65 said:
As weird as this sounds, I want to keep it all original. Do you think I could send it to the smith and he can cut the barrel down? All I would have is a gap on the stock, worse case scenario.

Though if I was to go the route of rebarreling, I would actually have it match to the existing. Even down to the pumpkin (lack for a better term) where the rear sight sits.
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The worst thing about setting back the barrel is that you'll have to open up the barrel channel of the stock for when the rear sight boss aka "pumpkin" is moved back. I think you'll be better off in this case to have the barrel contour duplicated and installed. However you'll want to find out what is causing your headspace issues, is it recoil lug setback or a oversized chamber, anyway good idea to get it to your smith.
 
Would I be right in thinking that the barrel would not need to be set back more than one turn to get good headspace? If so, it would not be difficult to inlet for the new punkin position. Then, I would glass bed the punkin area for a nice fit. The Model 70 Winchester, after all, had a screw into the punkin. This would be a nice, small way to get into stock work and glass bedding, and your fusil would remain largely original.

But, if the headspace problem is caused by locking lug mortices set back, ALL THIS IS MOOT.
 
Depends on the reason the headspace is off. If the lugs are setback on the bolt, I would probably buy a different bolt. This may or may not require setting the barrel back to have correct headspace.

If it is a bad chamber, it could require trimming more than one thread off to clean up the chamber, if it can be done at all. You're right it really isn't a big deal to inlet the stock for the boss if the barrel can be set back, just money at the shop rate of the Smith you'll be using if you don't do it yourself. I'm sure most barrel makes have the 721 contour with rear sight boss programmed already so it wouldn't be a big deal to match the original barrel, once installed a head spaced then the Smith can cut the dovetail for the rear sight in the boss.

Until we know the exactly what is wrong it the headspace we can only speculate what will be involved in fixing the rifle. I wish the OP had taken some pictures of the ammunition he shot. The headspace problem could be a lot of different things to include a re-chambered barrel into something like a .30 Gibbs to where the shoulder has been moved significantly forward.
 
721

I doubt the problem is with the rifle. I don't think that grandpa could have shot it enough to wear the bolt lugs enough to cause excessive headspace nor do I think he backed out the barrel. The case head seperation is caused by trying to get one too many reloads out of your brass. I do that all to often myself and the photo you showed is exactly what happens when I push the envelope. Headspace dosen't always do that. I watched a guy in a Leg match shoot 30 plus rounds of 7.62 in a 30-06 Garand and none of the case heads seperated. The brass looked like 45-70 but was intact and that's 1/2 inch excessive headspace. I'd try some new factory ammo as suggested. If the problem still persist have a gun mechanic gauge it.
 
CodyB65 said:
I found this photo online (not actual, but close). It breaks or splits closer to the base of the cartridge body. You know where the brass body becomes solid, at that point. I have shot factory out of it, and they come out different than normal. The whole body comes out looking like the stretch ring that forms in that area (attached picture) on old used brass. I hope didn't l lose you all.
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He did try new factory ammunition and said the brass came out looking stretched.
 
1. Have headspace checked (or check it yourself- guages will only cost 3-4x what many "Smiths" will sock you for....) : either that, or persist in your ignornance ......

2. If the headpace reads "Go", then try a box of factory fodder...... eliminate the cheap and easy fixes first .......



I shoot my Grandfather's 721 ...... It's getting long in the tooth ( I know I've put at least a couple K EFC round down that tube.....) but still holds to 1.25" @ 100, off of sticks .......

...... I know I can't get a replacement barrel with the same contour (the rear sight sits on a wide spot in the barrel)..... but I found another 721, nealy unfired ..... donor barrel! ......just further Proof that "Two is one, and one is none"
 
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