Is there something wrong with this Remington 700 I just bought?

eksine · February 21, 2015, 10:19 PM

Hi, I bought a Remington 700 from someone I knew. He claimed it was worth $1000 and I paid him $500 for it but after I looked it up I see the gun is $600 online and the Timney trigger he put in it looks like a model 510 worth about $136. The gun is a 26" and from the stock I am assuming it is a SPS Varmint. So the price doesn't add up and it's kind of beat up, the trigger guard is made of metal and it has a good chunk taken out of it, it would take a ton of force to do this damage. I also had to reseat the mag door spring, it fell off somehow.

The worse part is the bolt, I'm used to glocks and AR's but this bolt has unusual wear marks on it. The guy claimed and showed me a picture and he said he put a bullet on top of a bullet at 314 yards. I'm worried that whatever made the wear marks on this bolt did internal damage to the action. I don't know anything about rifles so can someone tell me if this is serious damage?

eksine · February 21, 2015, 10:20 PM

heres the other pics, it wont let me upload more than 3 at a time

reynolds357 · February 21, 2015, 10:26 PM

Hard to tell from pictures. Is the bolt coated with a finish coating?

Scorch · February 21, 2015, 10:58 PM

The damage to the bolt was caused by someone tightening the action screw into the lug or closing the action with a screw protruding into the lug ways. Not serious damage.

Other than that, you didn't get a screaming deal on the rifle, in spite of what your friend says. The rifle has cheap rings and bases. It is kind of roughed up. You got a fair deal, that's all.

eksine · February 22, 2015, 04:40 PM

yeah i figured i didnt really get a deal on it. I checked the screws and I am guessing he switched the front and back screwed at one time and switch it back because it cycles ok.

and yes it had a black coating all around when new

Paul B. · February 22, 2015, 04:56 PM

I concur that it was caused by a protruding screw. I had it happen when one of the scope base screwed was too long. Made the same kind of general marks as on the OP's bolt. I pulled the screw and shortened it a bit. Everything worked fine after that.
Paul B.

jmr40 · February 22, 2015, 07:55 PM

It looks like someone used the wrong screws when mounting a scope base. With most mounts the longer screws go in the rear, shorter screws in the front. If you do it backwards the bases will go on, but the front screws protrude into the action right at the locking lugs. The times I've seen it happen the bolt won't open, or close depending on which position it is in when mounting the bases. Looks like someone tried to force it.

For a used SPS Varmint in that condition $500 is at best a fair price. Certainly not a steal. If it shoots as well as claimed you did OK.

Picher · February 23, 2015, 07:31 AM

Put a little cold blue on the bolt and all should be fine.

**4V50 Gary** · February 23, 2015, 11:14 AM

I'm not sure what is meant by "action screw." However, like JMR suggested, I suspect the scope ring screws may be too long and protruding into the receiver. If the bolt is pushed against it, it can cause that type of marks. The solution would be to swap out the screws or if they are equal length, shorten the screw slightly. As for the bolt, I wouldn't worry about it. The Rem 700 bolt designed is more compromised with respects to its ability to seal the breech if there is a case failure that by adding a SAKO extractor than by those scratches.

You may be able to poke your finger into the receiver and feel the screw. If so, shorten it.

old roper · February 23, 2015, 12:35 PM

The front action screw threads thru action right under the recoil lug on 700 action and like Scorch mention that what happened to that bolt.

**4V50 Gary** · February 23, 2015, 01:54 PM

Thanks old roper.

How embarrassing. Now I even remember drilling a hole and tapping it for a wrench I made for the Rem 700 receiver.

LoganDon · February 23, 2015, 01:59 PM

I've purchased a couple of guns from family and often end up with something like this. Hate to say it, I now stay away from buying from friends and family.

February 21, 2015, 10:58 PM	#4
Scorch Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2006 Location: Washington state Posts: 15,248	The damage to the bolt was caused by someone tightening the action screw into the lug or closing the action with a screw protruding into the lug ways. Not serious damage. Other than that, you didn't get a screaming deal on the rifle, in spite of what your friend says. The rifle has cheap rings and bases. It is kind of roughed up. You got a fair deal, that's all. __________________ Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs. But what do I know? Summit Arms Services

February 22, 2015, 04:56 PM	#6
Paul B. Senior Member Join Date: March 28, 1999 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 3,800	I concur that it was caused by a protruding screw. I had it happen when one of the scope base screwed was too long. Made the same kind of general marks as on the OP's bolt. I pulled the screw and shortened it a bit. Everything worked fine after that. Paul B. __________________ COMPROMISE IS NOT AN OPTION!

February 23, 2015, 11:14 AM	#9
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,829	I'm not sure what is meant by "action screw." However, like JMR suggested, I suspect the scope ring screws may be too long and protruding into the receiver. If the bolt is pushed against it, it can cause that type of marks. The solution would be to swap out the screws or if they are equal length, shorten the screw slightly. As for the bolt, I wouldn't worry about it. The Rem 700 bolt designed is more compromised with respects to its ability to seal the breech if there is a case failure that by adding a SAKO extractor than by those scratches. You may be able to poke your finger into the receiver and feel the screw. If so, shorten it. __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

February 23, 2015, 12:35 PM	#10
old roper Senior Member Join Date: June 11, 2007 Posts: 2,155	The front action screw threads thru action right under the recoil lug on 700 action and like Scorch mention that what happened to that bolt. __________________ Semper Fi Vietnam 1965 VFW Life member NRA Life Member

February 23, 2015, 01:54 PM	#11
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,829	Thanks old roper. How embarrassing. Now I even remember drilling a hole and tapping it for a wrench I made for the Rem 700 receiver. __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

February 21, 2015, 10:26 PM	#3
reynolds357 Senior Member Join Date: December 10, 2012 Posts: 6,164	Hard to tell from pictures. Is the bolt coated with a finish coating?

February 22, 2015, 04:40 PM	#5
eksine Junior Member Join Date: June 14, 2013 Posts: 8	yeah i figured i didnt really get a deal on it. I checked the screws and I am guessing he switched the front and back screwed at one time and switch it back because it cycles ok. and yes it had a black coating all around when new

February 22, 2015, 07:55 PM	#7
jmr40 Senior Member Join Date: June 15, 2008 Location: Georgia Posts: 10,805	It looks like someone used the wrong screws when mounting a scope base. With most mounts the longer screws go in the rear, shorter screws in the front. If you do it backwards the bases will go on, but the front screws protrude into the action right at the locking lugs. The times I've seen it happen the bolt won't open, or close depending on which position it is in when mounting the bases. Looks like someone tried to force it. For a used SPS Varmint in that condition $500 is at best a fair price. Certainly not a steal. If it shoots as well as claimed you did OK.

February 23, 2015, 07:31 AM	#8
Picher Senior Member Join Date: December 14, 2004 Location: Maine Posts: 3,694	Put a little cold blue on the bolt and all should be fine.

February 23, 2015, 01:59 PM	#12
LoganDon Junior Member Join Date: February 22, 2015 Posts: 2	I've purchased a couple of guns from family and often end up with something like this. Hate to say it, I now stay away from buying from friends and family.

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