I bought a 700 Classic in 8mag when they came out. It shot ok but I wanted better so off to Pac Nor it went. Long story that I'll avoid telling but I wasn't pleased. Now I was obsessed to get it right so I sent it to Kreiger and had them install one of their barrels with all the cyro voo doo to boot. While waiting for that I found a Mcmillan somebody had was selling cheap, all seems on track. I get the rifle back from Kreiger, rebed the crappy bedding the former owner had done and take it to the range. I test four different loads that all show promise. Battle over and I do feel relieved but at the same time loose interest in the rifle and there she sits while my attention is now peeked by current projects. I was so excited to start and then so digusted with Pac Nor, then went to determined and satisfaction finally with Krieger and now I have zero interest. Anybody here ever follow a similiar route on a rifle project? Did the rifle come back into favor over the years or just become a safe queen? I hadn't even thought of this thing much till a friend asked me about it recently. I should have just left it as is! I loved that rifle at one time.
______________________ Always remember you're unique, just like everyone else.
You know, a good-shooting M700 in 8mm Rem with a Kreiger bbl is not a bad thing to have. If you already have a 300 Mag that you love, and a 375H&H, say, then it can easily get left behind on a hunt. Maybe sell it to a worthy buyer. If there's a place for it in your battery, I'd say just leave it alone for awhile. You'll get over the sour and realize a 200g going lightspeed is a good and fun thing.
Posts: 2000 | Location: Beaverton OR | Registered: 19 December 2002
My favorites are my .270's. I'm having a 338-06 built that will hopefully be done soon. Maybe I will shoot it some, it's been two years or so. I even hi-jacked the scope for another rifle about a year ago. Of all things that could peak my interest in the 8 was an article on Boddingtons 8mag, yes I was lured in by the ramblings of magazine writer I've thought about trading it or selling it several times but I've so much invested at this point I go back and forth. I've even considered stocking it in some nice looking walnut to generate some interest. It's been an odd experience. I love all my rifles, even the cheap and ugly ones. I started this one while in Mn for a few years while the wife was getting her masters. It kind of served as therapy for my withdrawls for my home state of Mt. Now we're home and happy. I suppose maybe I'm just rambling, up late fighting off the pleasures of a kidney stone, seems to have made me ponder the meaning of life With the 8 short mag coming out perhaps I'll see some new bullets and get the urge to play again. I really miss the Hornady 220's, they shot very well and performed well on the elk I shot with it while it was still a stocker.
______________________ Always remember you're unique, just like everyone else.
i have 20 or so perfect rifles setting around that were going to be my 1 & only rifle..my best rifle, a Jerrette 30'06 hasn't been in the field in 8 years and none of my wood stocked customs have ever been in the field..guns are an addiction but normally you don't get cancer from them.
Posts: 1125 | Location: near atlanta,ga,usa | Registered: 26 September 2001
Johan, with the factory barrel I settled in right at 2900. It was a nice accurate load. The Pac Nor tube was 28 inches and I did get a Sierra 220 very close. I didn't have that barrel on long enough to do much experimenting and haven't played with the Krieger tube much either. It's also 28 inches and may get me there.
______________________ Always remember you're unique, just like everyone else.
I did the same thing with a .280 Rem on a VZ-24 action. I spent a gob of money on an action, barrel, stock, scopemounts etc. I took one whitetail with it and now it sits in the safe with no scope. Other projects have come and gone and have gained more favour than the good old .280.
Just give that rifle a little time and attention. Then obsession will turn into affection. I have many rifles that I was obsessed with obtaining and improving. Once the campaign was finished I was immediately off on another quest. Over time though, I found that I was getting use out of all the former projects. You have an accurate rifle with a Krieger barrel in a McMillan stock. Hmmmmmmmmm, beats a poke in the eye any old day. lawndart
Posts: 7158 | Location: Snake River | Registered: 02 February 2004
I agree, it is beyond the practicle and into the emotional. Hunting is mostly for enjoyment. No sense in looking at the rifle in the field at a good time and being reminded of the experiance. Many widows and widowers move out of perfectly good houses to ease their pain. Nothing wrong with it. Make someone a good deal and move past it.
Posts: 967 | Location: Michigan, USA | Registered: 28 November 2003
Mark D, thankfully I've been blessed in the women department I go into the Badger every now and then. I live closer to the Missouri River Inn. If you pass thru I always like to meet people from these boards.
I've pretty much gone through all the phases suggested. I had a friends son who was looking for a new Remington 300 and I told him I'd sell him my rifle for the same price. I think it went right over his head the deal he would be getting. I even listed it here a year or so ago for trade, anything considered and nothing came of that either. I think I'd rather trade it for something I liked than sell it because of the hit a person takes when selling most rifles. Maybe I'll hit the gun show.
______________________ Always remember you're unique, just like everyone else.
The saying goes "Only accurate rifles are interesting" but I have found the opposite to be true in my case.
I'll dump all sorts of time and money trying to figure out how to get a rifle tuned up and shooting to my satisfaction, Once one is sub MOA I find it rather anticlimactic, Several have collected dust while I'm working on another.
My tip - never take the scope off. If I do that (to setup another rifle usually) I might as well make a lamp out of the donor rifle for the amount of future attention it gets.
I keep planning on taking mine out for an elk hunt but around here by the time elk season rolls around it is all kinds of nasty weatherwise. I usually end up packing my stainless 30-06. I still enjoy shooting the bigger bangers on paper once in awhile. I'm still chasing a consistant load in my 8 mag. This was one rifle I really didn't need but for $500.00 equipped with a 4.5-14 Leupold scope, I couldn't pass it up. I also got the reloading dies and $100+ extra bullets and brass in the deal.
I believe this rifle came out of the custom shop as it was purchased originally before the classics were offered in this cartridge.
Mike. I can't really think of a certain thing I'd be interested in for a trade. I know that doesn't help and was part my problem listing it for trade on the classifieds. Based on needs it would be a varmint rifle of some sort, the most difficult of all used rifles as they are often shot and shot often and then some more. I like CRF's so mausers and Winchesters are always a possibility. I tried to trade it straight across for a rough pre-64 -06 but he guy valued it way over reality and wanted too much cash. I'd trade it immediately for a Urologists to remove this damn kidney stone NOW, If you have something you'd like to trade just let me know, I go to Bozeman once a month for work. Being a easy trade with no shipping expense and worry is sort of attractive.
______________________ Always remember you're unique, just like everyone else.
I went through the same thing with a Randall .45 ACP once. Bought it because it was a stainless .45 and the owner had done all the whistle and bell stuff you can do to a .45. Then for the next year every action pistol match was followed by a trip to the gunsmith and finally I asked him to keep until all was sorted out ,he did fix and it worked great but I didn't trust it. Sold it tp my brother who loves it and has never had any problems with it. Sometimes that is just the way it needs to be.
Posts: 319 | Location: Arizona | Registered: 31 January 2004
This reminds me of that S-2. I had spent months saving for it, weeks waiting for it to get here from Madrid, then when it got here and it wasn't as I ordered it, and the dealer wouldn't give me a refund I was pissed!
Spend a little and you don't seem to care it something isn't right. Spend a lot and you will spend a lot more to make it right.
I think I am loosing $1500 on that deal.
Posts: 4729 | Location: Australia | Registered: 06 February 2005
Originally posted by dempsey: I bought a 700 Classic in 8mag when they came out. It shot ok but I wanted better so off to Pac Nor it went. Long story that I'll avoid telling but I wasn't pleased. Now I was obsessed to get it right so I sent it to Kreiger and had them install one of their barrels with all the cyro voo doo to boot. While waiting for that I found a Mcmillan somebody had was selling cheap, all seems on track. I get the rifle back from Kreiger, rebed the crappy bedding the former owner had done and take it to the range. I test four different loads that all show promise. Battle over and I do feel relieved but at the same time loose interest in the rifle and there she sits while my attention is now peeked by current projects. I was so excited to start and then so digusted with Pac Nor, then went to determined and satisfaction finally with Krieger and now I have zero interest. Anybody here ever follow a similiar route on a rifle project? Did the rifle come back into favor over the years or just become a safe queen? I hadn't even thought of this thing much till a friend asked me about it recently. I should have just left it as is! I loved that rifle at one time.
My safe is full of rifles that all shoot pretty well, and in which I have totally lost interest-it seems I'm always more interested in something I DON'T have yet. But after I get it, and make it work real well, then load up 100 or so good loads for it, my interest shifts. Right now, I'm real interested in a .73 caliber flintlock Jaeger rifle I'm building with a cherrywood stock and brass furniture. But after checking out the recoil figures for this monster using the minimum load that it looks like it will require, I'm not so sure it will be shot much more than it takes to get the sights filed in.......
"Bitte, trinks du nicht das Wasser. Dahin haben die Kuhen gesheissen."
Posts: 4386 | Location: New Woodstock, Madison County, Central NY | Registered: 04 January 2005
guns are an addiction but normally you don't get cancer from them.
You can say that again!!
I often wonder why I have so many guns around here but, when I start thinking of culling down the stash and I grab a certain rifle, I get that warm fuzzy feeling and just slip her back into the safe to collect more dust.
Oh well, At least it's better than having all those shoes my wife has piled up in her closet
Reloader
Posts: 4146 | Location: North Louisiana | Registered: 18 February 2004
I have had a on again off again flirtation with the STA. If I did it I might consider a rebore although I have no idea what the success rates are with those. I just harvested the rings off it this afternoon for my current interest of the moment, a pre-64 in 270. My neighbor needs some bases so he may get them. I think I may just part ways with it and get it over with. I will keep an eye out for a Classic in good shape. It's not the cartridge but the rifle that irks me. I think I'll also keep an eye on the for trade ads on the classifieds and flirt it around to locals. I have a 338-06 being built for me now so that'll satisfy the elk rifle need for now. I just had my damn kidney stone lazered and the Doc refused it for payment even with a dozen chickens thrown in. Mark, you must have a rifle to trade, give it a shot you just might have what ends this schrade
______________________ Always remember you're unique, just like everyone else.
I've thought about trading it or selling it several times but I've so much invested at this point I go back and forth. I've even considered stocking it in some nice looking walnut to generate some interest. It's been an odd experience. I love all my rifles, even the cheap and ugly ones. I started this one while in Mn for a few years while the wife was getting her masters. It kind of served as therapy for my withdrawls for my home state of Mt. Now we're home and happy. I suppose maybe I'm just rambling, up late fighting off the pleasures of a kidney stone, seems to have made me ponder the meaning of life 
With the 8 short mag coming out perhaps I'll see some new bullets and get the urge to play again. I really miss the Hornady 220's, they shot very well and performed well on the elk I shot with it while it was still a stocker.
I go into the Badger every now and then. I live closer to the Missouri River Inn. If you pass thru I always like to meet people from these boards.
If you have something you'd like to trade just let me know, I go to Bozeman once a month for work. Being a easy trade with no shipping expense and worry is sort of attractive.
