Ontario Hunter
AH legend
There's a big difference between "criticism" and "suggestion." I have had the stuffed shirts on this site call my 404 project homemade junk and unreliable without ever handling it. The bolt on this rifle will fall open with just the force of gravity. I have posted videos of me rapidly cycling a full magazine and snapping over on cartridges dropped in the chamber. Flawless. I posted images of the fifty yard target with bullets literally landing on top of each other. But hey, it's still junk because it's military surplus, wears used iron sights and a new scope that doesn't cost as much as a good used car, and sits in a secondhand stock. But my "junk" looks very nice and will kill buffalo just as dead as any $20K Rigby. I'm sure if I ever decided to sell it, I could easily get my money out of it and then some. Once I finish the cherrywood case I'm sure the "then some" would be substantial. The net profit realized from knowledge gained and satisfaction from successfully finishing a project that few have the courage to tackle, especially the pampered shorts-and-double-gun crew, is priceless. I say "lack the courage" because that is usually the obstacle. I'm no gunsmith or machinist. No one apprenticed me. My equipment is relatively primitive. And I'm no genius (not quite anyway). But I've never given up on learning ... or anything else. When I die, which is on the horizon, I want to leave that for my grandkids. Not the gun ... just have the courage to challenge and learn.Converting REM 700 extractor to Sako or M16 style extractor will change the angle of ejection. That type extractor is added to edge of bolt lug. The extractor works in opposition to the ejector plunger that is at a fixed location in the bolt face. The effect of that change is a higher angle of ejection where spent cases will likely be ejected into scope or scope mount. Approach that modification with eyes open.
Many are going to be hesitant to offer advice in this thread. The OP seems “sensitive” to any criticism and seems to be looking for ideas that agree with his. I tend to agree with @Uncontrolled_round_feed on this one so will leave it at that.
Hopefully, a few of us here with a bit of experience can help this fella make his project work. It's not the way I would have started but that's fine. If he'd simply done it the way I did then I wouldn't be learning anything either.
On the other hand, it is always beneficial to listen to advice. And seek it before plunging ahead. I would have strongly advised against the hardwood stock before taking that plunge. Those are not made for thumper calibers. But let's see if we can make it work. It's a challenge to be met with courage and maybe some extra thinking outside the box. Speaking of box, I don't think the OP realizes what's all involved in making a project like this cycle properly. Does he know about Paul Mauser's cosine formula for determining magazine dimensions? Just because he has a magnum action (presumably) does not mean the feeding rails and follower will automatically cycle any and all magnum cartridges. I will be very surprised if these parts don't have to be manually modified. Just about anything else undertaken in the build project that goes haywire can be corrected or simply replaced and start over. Screw up the feeding rails and the action is scrap metal. Fixing the rails to start over would require expert welding and machining that would cost four times what the action is worth. Installing the crossbolts is also a bit tricky but at least he's got a stock he can afford to write off if his first attempt fails. I will say if he doesn't at least have a drill press, he should get one. This is not something I would attempt with a hand drill. Even a conventional drill press will be tricky to set up. I drilled my crossbolt holes using a Shopsmith set up as horizontal drill press. A machining lathe could be made to work if available. He will need a forster bit the size of the crossbolt head (be aware those crossbolts are often as not metric). Usually cheaper to buy a whole set of Ryobi forster bits than a single high quality bit. Buy the set. The bit you need will easily hold up through this project. You will need a Dremel tool and a variety of carving and grinding bits. The drum sander function is invaluable. Also, I would advise buying the the cable carving extension for Dremel. Hang the tool overhead and use the bits attached to end of cable. Invaluable! Dremel is perhaps my most used tool for everything. I have both the genuine Dremel and a knockoff from ToolTown. The knockoff is TEN times better quality tool. Gun Butler is a very affordable gun vice. Works just as well as the fancy ones. You will need it for this project. Period!
I'm curious about the extractor business. Does Savage and Remington Model 700 employ the same design extractors? If the extractor does need to be changed, I would wait till the end.