Model 721 Remington sniper rifles

[Kragrifle]

Does anyone have any data of the use of the Model 721 Remington as a sniper platform?

Thanks

[Marine A5 Sniper Rifle]

1948 was too late for WWII, and by RVN time, the 700 was being sold. I don't know of any Model 721 sniper rifles, but never say never.

jt

[Herschel]

Added: This is not responsive to the original question but may shed some light on the issue.

Some Remington 720's were given as trophies at t he National Matches in the 1960's or later. I have a friend who has one he won at the Interservice Matches at Quantico, VA. He didn't know if they were ever used as Sniper Rifles but they came from U. S. Navy inventory. Blue Book of Gun Values says the Navy bought 920-1,000 of them during 1942 and used them as trophies. Obviously they were not bought for use as trophies during wartime but ended up being used for that purpose due their being in inventory in later years. My friend has the box his trophy rifle came and and is to call me tomorrow and give me any dates that may be on the rifle. I will also ask him about the Remington date code on the rifle.

[Marine A5 Sniper Rifle]

Blue Book of Gun Values says the Navy bought 920-1,000 of them during 1942 and used them as trophies.

Herschel, I thought the Model 721 came out in 1948.

jt

[rickgman]

Herschel and Marine A5 Sniper,
Here's what Remington has to say about the Model 721:

Model 721 Bolt Action Centerfire Rifle
Description: First truly modern centerfire rifle with the strongest bolt ever developed. Offered in long action only.
Introduction Year: 1948
Year Discontinued: 1962
Total Production: Approximately 118,000
Designer/Inventor: Merle "Mike" Walker & Homer W. Young
Action Type: Bolt action
Caliber/Gauge: .264 Win. – 1961 – 22" barrel
.270 Win. – 1948 – 24" & 22" barrel
.280 Rem. – 1961 – 22" barrel
.30-06 Sprg. - 1948 – 24" & 22" barrel
.300 H&H Mag – 1948 – 26" & 24" barrel
Serial Number Blocks: 11,000 – 430,0000
Rick

[Herschel]

Added: See info added to my post above.

Marine A5 Sniper, The information I provided is about the Remington 720, not the 721. It was not a typo. I didn't intend to hijack the thread but thought there may be some confusion caused by the Navy having Remington 720, maybe 720A, models that were purchased in the early 1940's. Some of these were still in the box many years later and were presented as Trophy Rifles at the Interservice Matches and National Matches.

The Navy had Remington 720's during part of WWII and the Korean Conflict The USMC was under the Dept. of the Navy. It is conceivable that some of those rifles could have been experimented with or used as Sniper Rifles.

Additional Information: Even though this is not directly responsive to the original question, I have been advised that the Navy purchase of Remington model 720 rifles during WWII was the subject of an article in the May 2001 issue of American Rifleman.

[Kragrifle]

I asked the question as I have a 721 that "looks" like it may have seen service and know of one other with documented history as used by US military. Bought my rifle when I had more money than sense, but it did look good. Death From Afar series, volume II has documents on one Model 721, serial number 378814, marked WR1 with paperwork documenting USMC use. No paperwork on mine, so look like it will be mine forever.
Also found information in this series of books on the Model 720. Suggests that these were only used as trophies and never issued for field use. I have one NIB that was never inscribed/awarded. I have seen several for sale over the years, all inscribed.

[jgaynor]

Kragrifle,

Have you tried corresponding with the Remington Collectors Society?
http://www.remingtonsociety.com/rsa/research/

Regards,
Jim

[raymeketa]

I didn't notice where anyone mentioned - the Remington 720 was more akin to the P14/M1917 than it was to the later M721, 722, and 700 series.

Ray

[da gimp]

JimmyT, were Rem mod 30 rifles ever tuned & equipped with scopes for sniper use? They were the excess production model 1917 Enf. sold commercially by Rem after the WWI.

[raymeketa]

The M720 was the final iteration of the Model 30.

[Bob S]

All 30-06 720's in Remington's inventory were purchased by the Navy shortly after Pearl Harbor. They were inspected and put in stores as War Reserve. They were released from War Resrve in 1964 and used as SECNAV Trophy Rifles thereafter. This according to the poop sheet that was included with my 720 SECNAV trophies ... written by Charlie Frazier, with a letter from Remington.

Some very few 30-06 720's may have made it out into the civilian market prior to the Navy purchase. If you find one without the FJA cartouche and Ordnance wheel, it would be a very, very rare one indeed.

Resp'y,
Bob S.

[Thaine]

I have 720 serial # 40278 (Remington started the 720 series @ 40000). It is a pure "civilian" gun purchased from Herb Connally's shop in Corpus Christi Texas fall of 1972. I bought it when I came back from Camp Perry as a Navy team member that year (pick up team from the shooters training Midis at Annapolis using highly modified M16s for the first time for the Navy) and saw it hanging on the wall. That was also the year I won my other 720, # 42336 as a Sec Nav Trophy rifle. There are civilian 720s out there. There are also carbine versions and I have seen advertised (too late to buy them) two that were factory .270 Win. Have never see in any form or advertised for sale, one in .257 Roberts, the 3rd caliber listed in my origional Remington brochures. A couple of the carbines I have examined were ex prision guard guns and so marked and no acceptance stamps on them.

Thaine
TDC USN ret
Only one lonely Bronze leg

[Shooter5]

Thaine:

Interesting history. Could you post some pics? I like anything to do with the history of US military small arms history and the 720 is certainly unique in that regards.

[Marine A5 Sniper Rifle]

Thaine
TDC USN ret
Only one lonely Bronze leg

One more Bronze Leg than I have - be proud of it. I am impressed.

jt