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7mm Express -- 7x57???

wtroperwtroper Member Posts: 736 ✭✭
edited January 2007 in Ask the Experts
I have a Remington M700 that is marked on the bbl 7mm Express. I traded for this rifle from an individual who is not expert in firearms. He included 4 boxes of 7x57 ammo with it as the "bullets for it." I smugly thought that it was a 280. However, 280 ammo will not chamber in it (the bolt will not close). The barrel is a 7mm but the chamber is too short for the 280. Is it possible that this is a factory mistake? A 7x57 marked as a 7mm Express.

I have had two gunsmith's look at it and neither will state definitely that it is or is not a 7x57. Both agree that it is not a 280.

Comments

  • iwannausernameiwannausername Member Posts: 7,131
    edited November -1
    Cast the chamber, get out the calipers, and refer to the SAAMI specs....

    Brownells sells the chamber casting stuff.
  • reddnekreddnek Member Posts: 1,552 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Didn't remington mark the early 7mm Manums as 7mm express??
  • perry shooterperry shooter Member Posts: 17,105 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Hello IMHO one of 2 things #1 remington made a mistake and mis marked the barrel it may be a 7 X 57 or #2 the first owner turned the barrel back at the threads take a cleaning rod and with the bolt closed on an empty chamber slide the cleaning rod down the barrel until it touches the bolt face and then measure what the exact lenght is. Remington first rifles as 280 Remington then for a few years marked the same rifle and ammo 7MM express then for some reason when back to marking them 280 Remington. sort of like the 244/ 6MM at least with the 244 they did not go back because they changed the twist in the rifleing.
  • GeriGeri Member Posts: 2,102 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Have a chamber cast made. That will tell the story. Just had a rifle come in the shop marked 300 S magnum. Chamber cast showed it to be a 300 super mag. Gun was stocked by Monty Kennedy in 1950. Looks identical to the rifle on page 35 of checkring and carving of gunstocks by Monty Kennedy. The rifle in the picture was made for Audie Murphy.
  • ATFATF Member Posts: 11,683 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Why not just call Remington?????? [:(]
  • wtroperwtroper Member Posts: 736 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Thnaks ATF. Novel idea. However, I would really like to know what it is before I call. Expect some corrective action from them if it is mismarked.

    Since this is basically just trading inventory, I have not been pressed to find the solution. In fact, only happened to remember the darn thing was still around while scanning through this forum.

    Thanks to all of you for your responses.
  • JustCJustC Member Posts: 16,056 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    assuming the bore really is a 7mm,..then since the 280rem doesn't chamber,..move back to a 7x57 and try chambering that, if no fit, then chamber a 7mm-08 etc etc. A chamber cast is really the only right way to be sure. Does the chambering stamp on the barrel look to be factory or aftermarket/custom? does the warning or other rem info line up? or is it offcenter so that the rifle has to be turned one way or another to read that info off of the tube?

    if it has been set back and rechambered,..it very well could be the same chambering,..just cut with a min-spec reamer that may or may not allow factory ammo to chamber. OR it could have been rechambered to some shorter 7mm chambering.
  • nononsensenononsense Member Posts: 10,928 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    wtroper,

    We are not going to be able to tell you anything for sure without examining the barrel first hand. We can make all sorts of guesses but you have to be the one to establish what you have.

    Here are some clues:

    7x57 Mauser (1989 - 1995, 1981 Classic)

    7mm Express Rem (1977 - 1983)

    If you are unwilling to cast the chamber then you can put a wooden dowel down the barrel from the muzzle and mark where it stops against the bolt face. Measure this, it should be 22" since both the 7mm Express Remington and the .280 Remington were chambered in 22" barrels. Lacking a dowel, simply measure from the muzzle to the front of the recoil lug and then add about 7/8" (0.875") which is approximately the length (0.885") of the threaded tenon. Add together and you should have about 22" in length.

    If the chamber was adjusted from the 7mm Express Remington to something like the 7 x 57 then a substantial amount of the tenon (or all of it) has to be removed. If part or all of the tenon has been removed then the barrel should be shorter than the 22" length. Some of the makers marks on the barrel near the action junction will have been removed also.

    You can remove the firing pin and cocking piece from the bolt body and then use just the bolt body to chamber one of those 7 x 57 cartridges that the seller gave you. Removing those pieces will prevent an accidental firing of the cartridge and it also takes the springs out of the feel for the chambering.

    Other than that, you can take it to a gunsmith and have him use Go/NO-GO gauges to establish the length of the chamber and maybe even cast the chamber to be sure.

    "However, I would really like to know what it is before I call. Expect some corrective action from them if it is mismarked."

    Remington will require you to send them the rifle at your cost for them to examine. They will accept no responsibility for any changes to the rifle if it isn't as it was when it left the factory. In essence, if it was shortened to allow for a new chamber, they will change out the barrel to the original chamber (correctly labeled) and charge you for it before returning the rifle to you. Otherwise, if it was, for some very unlikely reason, mismarked, they will happily change out the barrel and then return it to you free of charge.

    Best.
  • wtroperwtroper Member Posts: 736 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Thanks, nononsense. Since I do not know anything about the history of this rifle (I bought it & several more from a trader who traded for them), I cannot say whether someone purposefully tried to shorten the chamber. However, it is in good condition and expect that it was either not used much or was well cared for. But who knows?

    The local gunsmith sent it to another gunsmith for casting of the chamber. It has been gone for 3-4 months. I need to follow-up & find out where it is at this time. Appreciate your comments.
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