M722 or M788?

[MarshallDodge]

If I was looking for a factory rifle in 222 Remington, which one should I be looking for?

 

[PapaG]

The old 788, originally panned by the gun writers for its rear locking lugs, has proven to be a fantastic shooter. I had a 308 and my brother had a 22-250. A friend has both the 222 and 30-30. All are MOA shooters. Prices now are 500% or more of original.

 

[br549arkie]

Both are quite good rifles but I myself would prefer the 722 if it's still in good condition (particularly the bore).

 

[rust collector]

If you like the finish and feel of the old guns, the 722 will appeal to you more. If accuracy is the only thing, the fast lock time and stiffness of the 788 will prevail. Stocks on the 788 reminded us that we were traveling in coach, but my 223 and 7-08 were very accurate. Both are probably heavier than we'd like.

 

[jmr40]

The 700 is just a fancy 722. The 788 is a different design. While the 788 outperforms it's price they are getting hard to find. Not many of either out there especially in 222. You might have to take whatever you can find.

 

[BWS]

Tough call.... I'd probably get the one that's in the best condition.

I had a first year 722 in .222 with a one year "newer" K10 Weaver. Got it from an older gentleman,along with a lb of IMR4198 and a box of 50g,can't remember the brand....bullets. He gave me his CH dies and load data,with just enough guidance to keep me out of the ditch,haha.

Fantastic accuracy,killed a trailer load of Ghogs with that thing. Years later a guy made an offer I couldn't refuse. But,me and the original owner got the best out of that rig. Good luck with your project.

 

[Slamfire]

Something I got to say about the 722. Find extractors first. If you cannot find a replacement extractor, life will get complicated if the first one fails.

I absolutely do not recommend any SAKO or M16 extractor conversions on M722 or M700's. I know all the cool kids are doing that, and vaping too. Addiction is cool. We all want to be a cool kid don't we? Lots of cool kids have lost eyeballs with the SAKO extractor conversion. Missing an eyeball or hand is so cool.

An ex Remington employee I met at a match had tested the M16 extractor conversion at the request of the US Army. I think it was for the 338 Laupa sniper rifles. Material has to be removed inside the receiver ring so the M16 extractor can move out, before snapping over the cartridge rim. That clearance was enough to blow a receiver ring if a case head blew, or some other massive gas release. The action was designed with the three ring concept, and given an intact bolt head, a M722 or M700 will survive ungodly pressures. But cut that bolt head for a SAKO or M16 extractor, and what happens after ward may be very unpleasant to the shooter.

 

[BWS]

Don't want to drift too much....

I swear,why is making parts...like 722 extractors so... dang insurmountable?

And in NO way directed at Slamfire. It's just something I've never understood? Anyway sorry for the drift.

 

[eastbank]

i have owned a boat load of 721-722,s in most calibers and never had a extractor go bad in thousands and thousands of rounds both factory and reloads, and owned a lot of 788 in most of their calibers and they do shoot very well as do the 721-722,s with loads they like. here are the four 721-722,s i own and shoot right now.

 

[horsemen61]

722 for me nothing against the 788 but I prefer the 722 and the triple Duce together

 

[Slamfire]

The M722's have a stamped extractor inside the bolt head. That extractor has a very shallow lip

This lip is thin and weak, and will chip and wear. It has to snap over the rim, and thus, the ultimate doom of all push feed extractors. They all wear due to that. Including AR15 extractors!

Hard to believe that will wear, but they do!

Hot loading round in a M700 or M722 will expand the case head, which then breaks the lip on the extractor. Because it has no place to go, it is crushed inside the bolt head.

As to why no one makes M722 extractors, maybe they would have to get permission from Remington, and that these parts were stamped out. I am not a stamping expert, but that would require punches, dies, strip steel, punch machines. And at the end of all that capital investment, gun owners are cheap skates.

 

[MarshallDodge]

.....And at the end of all that capital investment, gun owners are cheap skates.

Isn't that the truth

 

[mgmorden]

I'm partial to the 788. Always liked the design for its uniqueness.

 

[MarshallDodge]

I'm kinda liking the looks of a 40X but they are getting up there...

 

[Milt1]

I have a Winchester Model 70 (newer model) in .222. I don't know how many of these are out there in regards to the Remingtons but it's worth a look.

 

[Jim Watson]

But cut that bolt head for a SAKO or M16 extractor, and what happens after ward may be very unpleasant to the shooter.

Then why are Sako and M16 rifles not blowing up regularly?

 

[lysanderxiii]

All I can say is that is the poorest excuse for an extractor design in history.

 

[Big_Al]

The 700 is just a fancy 722. The 788 is a different design. While the 788 outperforms it's price they are getting hard to find. Not many of either out there especially in 222. You might have to take whatever you can find.

The 722 was the predecessor to the 700.

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

The 722 was the predecessor to the 700.

As was also the 721.

 

[DM~]

I have a 700 in .243, it's been fired thousands and thousands of times and still works perfectly, I just don't worry about Remington extractors wearing out. IF someone wanted to start making new Rem. extractors they could, as that patent expired long ago.

How much does a nice 788 chambered in .222 go for these days??

DM

 

[Slamfire]

Then why are Sako and M16 rifles not blowing up regularly?

Don't you have some AR15 blow pictures somewhere?

The design of the AR will keep the extractor in the action.

Assuming the kaboom does not completely destroy the barrel extension and the lower.

try hard enough, anything will disassemble

I am sure reloaders have blown SAKO’s all to hell, but they are expensive enough, and rare enough, that I can’t remember seeing any kaboom pictures.

SAKO or M16 extractor conversions on M722/M700’s will blow the extractor out of the receiver ring. I do have a SAKO extractor conversion bolt for a M722 and the extractor is exactly in line with the right bolt lug race. There is absolutely nothing to keep it in the receiver. And that is also a risk with M16 extractor conversions, that the extractor can be blown out, into the shooter’s eye.

See what happened in this picture, gas ripped off the extractor and the side of the bolt, and blew the receiver ring.

The thing is, Mike Walker designed his rifle to contain pressure inside the bolt head and inside the three rings. He did not design his rifle with M98 Mauser type gas venting features, so breeching the bolt face, will create passages for gas, brass particles, and what ever else is there, to go into the shooter's face. At least the SAKO and AR15 have gas deflecting measures.

The bolt guide on the SAKO should keep the extractor inside the receiver ring, or at least deflect it. Up to a point.

Do you believe that AR15’s and Sako’s are not blowing up or have not blown up? What makes you think that? If you have not heard of AR15/M16 or Sako blowups, maybe that is because no one is required to call you up, and inform you. So many people have this delusion that they are the center of the universe and unless they have heard about it, it has not happened, or it does not exist. The universe is a lot larger than any human cranium. (though infinitely smaller than human ego) As the guy said, just because you have not seen black swans, does not mean they do not exist.

 

[Mal H]

Closed at the request of the OP.