Limitations Of Remington Actions in Medium/Big Bore Chamberings

[DelRock83]

Hello to all I was interested in the subject of Remington actions not being robust enough in MOST cases to handle big bore cartridges (416 calibers, 458 calibers, etc) does it have the same problems with a milder cartridge such as 375 H&H

 

[Hunter-Habib]

The factory extractor is far too flimsy for long high pressure rimless cartridges such as the .375 Holland & Holland Magnum. I broke the extractor on a Remington Model 700 chambered in this caliber during a Cape buffalo hunt in 1979. It was not a pleasant experience. The extraction failure mostly occurs in hot dusty conditions.

Which is why I had an M-16 extractor fitted to my Remington Model 700 Kevlar Stock Custom which is chambered in .375 Holland & Holland Magnum.

 

[DelRock83]

I was wondering because I see A LOT of new and used 700's in 375 and up....and I'm wondering why Remington doesn't at least beef up the extractor in the larger calibers if they know that is the weakest link in the design, I know cost may be an issue but I'm like ANY rifle chambered in such cartridges are gonna cost 1100 USD plus easy ANYWAY

 

[skydiver386]

I think the action itself is more than strong enough for any cartridge you care to run through it. The issue has always been the extractor and ejector.

 

[roklok]

I assume you are talking Remington 700, correct ? There are other Remington actions. I have a .375 H&H Remington 30 Express, one of the best actions ever devised, essentially a M1917 in civilian dress. I also have another 375 on a Rem 798, which is simply a rebranded Zastava M98.

If you are talking the 700, or 721, or 725, the extractor is considered the weakest link. The .375, 458 WM, and 416 Remington all have the same case head size, other than pressure differences the function of the extractor should be the same. The .416 in the 700 did have a reputation of having issues with SAAMI max pressure of 65,000 as compared to the .375 H&H 62,000 psi. The 458 Winchester is rated for less pressure then the H&H, therefore I would expect less issues than either the .375 H&H or .416.

As Habib noted, installing a robust M16 style extractor is good insurance on a 721, 725, 700 in any of the belted mag cartridges if used for DG.

 

[Surgeon1]

The 700 and its custom clones make great varmint and small caliber rifles. A few of the clones work well in Long Range calibers where it's usually 1-2 shots at long range where your life doesn't depend
on it. In big cartridges (>30-06) the only thing I want in a bolt is a CRF. A well worked Mauser98, Mod 70, or a CZ/Bruno is all I want to stake my life on when it comes to a bolt gun.

 

[leslie hetrick]

any thing man made can and will fail at some point. i have owned well over 50 remington rifles in the last 60 odd years and have hunted hard in advers conditions and never had a problem. maybe i have been lucky, but with the millions made i will take the chance. and i have had a few 98 type mausers and winchesters fail in the field over the years. the remington 700 series actions handle gas and pressure with the best of them.