Remington 700 Issue

VAhuntr

Inactive
Brand new 700 SPS in 308 Win recently purchased. Had it out last night to clean the rifle up and to see how it shot. Noticed what appeared to be a gouge on the edge of the bolt when I started to clean it. Now after looking at the pic I took it looks to me like it is cracked. What do you think? About the 10 o'clock position.




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It has been many years since I delt with Remington customer service but when I did they were excellent. I would give them a call.
 
It looks to me like it skipped a step in the machining process. I pulled the bolt on my ADL, and its cleanly machined, yours looks rough. I would contact Remington.
 
I would say that looks like a crack to me. From the shadow line and the odd brass imprint left on the side of the bolt I'd say there's something not quite right. I'd contact Remington and see what they say. You can take a needle and see if the point penetrates the crack. It may be a defect in the finish, but a little scraping with the needle will reveal the truth.
 
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Here is a picture of the bolt in my Remington 700 SPS in 243. It is a left handed bolt so it probably looks backwards in the picture. Mine is about 2 years old. So it should show more wear then yours. As you can see, there is definitely a problem with yours.

Jim
 
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Just as a comparison here is the bolt out of my Remington 700 BDL in 30-06. It is from the late 80's so it has seen a little more action the then 243. Still, it doesn't have the issues that you are seeing on the bolt of your SPS.

Jim
 
Took it back to the dealer today and they were surprised. Under bright light and a magnifying glass it is certainly cracked. Not sure how it happened or how it got through Remington QC like that.

The store gave me the option of sending it back to Remington for me or swapping it out for a new one. I chose the latter option and walked out of the store with a new one. Can't complain about that.
 
The best factory made production rifles. Or you can buy custom from them. What's in your wallet. :D It is a production rifle. That's how it is produced. Not all the flaws are caught. They are just like Ruger, Winchester... My Ruger had flaws. My Winchester shot shells went poof at a the Green Head yesterday.
I suspect the quality Department needs to do their job and make sure good sound processes are fallowed by every one.
 
They really do leave the bolt face that rough?
Holy Crap, that's unbelievable.

It's from an SPS, so it's probably been bead blasted before getting the Matte bluing

Both SPS bolts pictured look rough, but that's intentional because you can't get a surface like that when machining a part

Notice the bolt from the BDL is polished smooth, since they come in a bright blue finish
 
The store gave me the option of sending it back to Remington for me or swapping it out for a new one. I chose the latter option and walked out of the store with a new one. Can't complain about that.

A man tends to hang on to a dealer like that. Kudos to them!
 
It's an SPS, Remington doesn't put a lot of effort into making them a very polished finished product. I broke the bolt handle on mine, cheap pot metal isn't very durable. Having it studded and another knob installed now just to get it back in battery for the rest of the season. After the season is over, that will be replaces with a PTG fluted one piece bolt body.

I'm not really impressed with the quality of my SPS. Stocks are junk, triggers are awful and the metal finish will rust in moderate humidity right before your eyes. I duracoated the metal, replaced the trigger and stock and now looks like I'll do the same with the bolt. Luckily the SPS Varmint in 7mm08 I have is a great shooter or I'd sell it tomorrow. Heck, I may still sell it and have a rifle built like I want.
 
You must know that the bolt on the MDL 700 isn't solid. It is fused alloy and in the first run back in '64 they failed regularly. They have since been improved, but I sold all my 700's years ago. I won't have anything to do with them anymore. It's not because they aren't strong enough, but they have just cut so many corners, w/o lowering the prices. They are kind of like the Ford Pinto of riflery IMO. They will get you where you need to go, but get no respect from people who know good rifles.

I own Weatherby's, MKV and Vanguard , Coopers, RugerM77, and an old Interarms MKX. All solid, all integral. None made from drilled bar stock, with fused alloy bolts, and washered recoil lugs.

MDL 700's Tikkas, Savages ect, have reputations for quality, but are cheap and over priced, IMO. If you put a big block in a Pinto it will really fly, but still are cheap.
 
My Mosin's bolt is milled better than that! :P

My dad's 700's bolts look very good. As well as my grandfather's BDL. Maybe something happened at the factory.
 
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