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7mm Express -- 7x57???
wtroper
Member Posts: 736 ✭✭
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.
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
Brownells sells the chamber casting stuff.
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.
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.
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.
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.