REMINGTON M-700 BOLT HANDLE SEPARATION (As in Falling Off!)

Ian M · #1 01-22-2005, 11:46 AM

A friend just had the bolt handle of his 700 Remington simply fall off while he was checking the trigger setting. Guess this is a true urban-legend! Amazing how little weld was holding that bolt to the body - would have been ugly if it had broke while he was hunting.
Anybody else have this happen to their rifle?

Dave King · #2 01-22-2005, 12:03 PM

I had one come off many years ago while on a prairie dog shoot. It was a Rem 700 SA in 22-250...good thing the prairie dogs didn't jump on the opportunity and attack, all I had left was a Ruger 22mag.

Pete Lincoln · #3 01-22-2005, 01:25 PM

This is a known problem on Rem 700's and is the reason why riflesmiths have started drilling, threading ( 6-48) and screwing the handle to the bolt. If you want to have a look at some pictures of this mod the best are to be seen at HD rifles web site, but many smiths offer this same modification. its a quick and easy fix.
regards Pete

Varmint Hunter · #4 01-22-2005, 03:14 PM

I had UPS beat mine off, and the best part was that the rifle was in a hard case at the time. Many smiths (or Remington) should be able to easily braze (or whatever welding method they use) the bolt handle back to the body without too much trouble.

Ian M · #5 01-22-2005, 04:29 PM

Pete,
I have that mod on my GA rifle, just in case!

Shawn Carlock · #6 01-22-2005, 10:05 PM

I have for quite some time been drilling the handle for a line up pin then silver soldering and finaly drilling and bolting the bolt to the bolt body on duty use rifles.

Ian M · #7 01-22-2005, 10:39 PM

Scary thing is how do you know if your bolt is attached properly or if it is the next one to drop-off [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]