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I found a early Model 700 in a spot on my pawn shop/gun shop route i frequently go treasure hunting for cool old bolt rifles. I spotted a 700 in a case among a few other beat up old hunting rifles. the first thing i noticed was the notch in the top rear of the ejection port, then the two small threaded holes on the left side of the receiver, and finally, the ol tombstone safety. Being a fan of Rem Model 700s, i asked to see it. It was a long action, blind floor plate ADL, chambered in 7mm Remington Magnum. It had cool old school Baush & Lomb scope mounts on it, (the ones with the adjustments built into the mounts instead of the scope turrets), and a M1907/Turner Saddlery looking sling with dirty brass hardware. the stock was rough-scratches, dents, gouges, heavily worn finish. The bluing on the action and barrel was just as rough.
As I cycled the bolt, i noticed that although it appears to have been well used, the action felt smooth and tight. I turned the rifle on its side in my hands to take a peek at the barrel code and serial number, which off the top of my head, led me to believe this rifle had been manufactured in 1963-64. (BK barrel code, B=January, and K=1963, and the 48,xxx SN# supports that conclusion). I thought, "Cool old rifle but damn, its pretty rough..." I flipped the tag tethered to the trigger guard and saw the price was $349...I figured what the hell. I figured it would make a fun project. This process below took me roughly a week, a couple hours invested after my work projects were finished for the day.
I got home and went to work on my diamond in the rough, pulling the barreled action from the poor stock that had, of course, seen better days. I stripped the rest of the worn finish, did my sanding sequence, and after a bedding job, used a sealer/filler, re sanded, and lastly, applied the finish.
The barreled action got a chemical blue strip, then chucked up in the lathe remove some scratches with extra fine abrasives. After smoothing the surfaces, i went to work polishing the barreled action, bolt handle, Leupold ring bases, rings, and an old Weaver K3 scope ive had in a parts bin. It came out pretty cool. I cooked up some Sierra TGK handloads for it and slayed paper with it, and she shoots sub-1" 5 shot groups all day just seated to mag length with a conservative charge. I hope to put some meat in the freezer with it this elk season.
As I cycled the bolt, i noticed that although it appears to have been well used, the action felt smooth and tight. I turned the rifle on its side in my hands to take a peek at the barrel code and serial number, which off the top of my head, led me to believe this rifle had been manufactured in 1963-64. (BK barrel code, B=January, and K=1963, and the 48,xxx SN# supports that conclusion). I thought, "Cool old rifle but damn, its pretty rough..." I flipped the tag tethered to the trigger guard and saw the price was $349...I figured what the hell. I figured it would make a fun project. This process below took me roughly a week, a couple hours invested after my work projects were finished for the day.
I got home and went to work on my diamond in the rough, pulling the barreled action from the poor stock that had, of course, seen better days. I stripped the rest of the worn finish, did my sanding sequence, and after a bedding job, used a sealer/filler, re sanded, and lastly, applied the finish.
The barreled action got a chemical blue strip, then chucked up in the lathe remove some scratches with extra fine abrasives. After smoothing the surfaces, i went to work polishing the barreled action, bolt handle, Leupold ring bases, rings, and an old Weaver K3 scope ive had in a parts bin. It came out pretty cool. I cooked up some Sierra TGK handloads for it and slayed paper with it, and she shoots sub-1" 5 shot groups all day just seated to mag length with a conservative charge. I hope to put some meat in the freezer with it this elk season.

