Well I knew it wouldn't be long.
I got a super deal on a Redfield 4x12 variable scope last weekend at the Bozeman Gunshow and I did not have a "home" for it.
I do now.
I was perusing my local sport shop/pawn shop Friday when out comes a really nice condition Remington 700 BDL in caliber 22-250!
I at first thought, hey this is exactly what my friend Steve (he lives out in Puget Sound Country) is looking for. He wants a Remington short action (standard bolt face) so he can begin his custom Rifle in caliber 22 Remington Benchrest! And he wanted me to purchase one for him if I came across one. Remington short action 700's are TOUGH to find at a GOOD prices anymore!
So I grab up the Rifle and I automatically go to the bolt face for an assessment of how many rounds have been fired (the more bluing missing from the bolt face the more its been fired) in it.
The bolt face is pure black!
Not even a primer ring showing as yet!
I assess this Rifle has been shot not even 60 times!
I next examine the chamber, bore and the leades of the rifling with my Siebert (pocket size!) Bore Inspection Tool!
The chamber is perfect, the bore is perfect, the crown is perfect and best of all the leades of the rifling are square and crisp as if they were new!
A decision is made!
I whack away price wise at my friend (the shop owner) as best I could (he new he had the hook in me and he KNEW he had a good piece on his hands). I work on him anyway (its my nature!).
I am happy to walk out of there with the Rifle and a new Rifle case for it and my wallet was only $300.00 lighter.
I race home and get out my "new" old Redfield scope and pose it above the Rifle.
It looks GOOD!
I "clean" (check) the bore of the Rifle and am happy that no copper shows on my copper solvent soaked patches.
Next I clean the chamber and bolt lug area then I lube the bolt lugs and start work on the scope mounting.
Next up I center my "new" Redfields reticle adjustment knobs.
I had on hand a set of gloss medium Leupold Rings and gloss two piece Leupold 700 SA bases (doesn't everybody have these on hand?).
The aligning of the rings and bore sighting of the rings goes quickly. Next I carefully lap the rings - not much material to lap away as the rings were easily aligned.
Finally I mounted the scope and boresighted it - lots of adjustment left in all directions.
I am excited and hopeful that the Rifle will shoot well!
I have several 22-250's but they are all heavy barrel models and this BDL 24" sporter weight will be a one of a kind in my arsenal - if it shoots?
I remember back several years and curse myself for selling the fine looking Remington 700 Classic in 22-250 I once owned! My curse goes something like - you dumb shit you.
When will I ever learn - don't sell Rifles that shoot well for you - EVER!
If this Rifle doesn't shoot well then my friend Steve will have a 700 SA to get to town with on his project 22 BR Rifle.
I will for now use ammo from other 22-250's I have on hand in my testing.
By the way how much are Remington 700 short action Rifles selling for in your neck of the woods these days?
I know out west and on the west coast you can't buy any kind of a nice condition 700 SA Rifle for under $350.00 (on short notice anyway).
I am always on the look out and in the market for 700 SA Rifles.
The trigger on this new Rifle of mine is "virgin" (lacquer not removed) and it pulls my Schneider Trigger Pull Gauge off the end of its scale! LOL.
But is is VERY crisp with NO creep.
I won't work on the trigger unless the Rifle shows good accuracy promise at the range.
Now, I am just waiting for a calm morning to give this new "Walking Varminter" a "shakedown shoot".
Wish me luck.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

VG good luck with the new gun and scope. You're going to catch it now from the anti 204 crowd. But we all know you can deal with that trivial matter.

Sounds like a fun project. I'd put a few rounds together with 34 to 35 grains of IMR 4064 and a good 52 or 53 grain match bullet seated out a bit and head to the range regardless of the weather! I'd have to know if there was hope. For you I hope it shoots awesome.

Oh VG do you still have those Benchmark and IMR 4985 loads I gave you for the 22-250?

Good grief VG, You must be Plain sick of buying new stuff . JK I'm green with envy, and hope it shoots well.

Ricky

Ricky_arthur: No I am not sick - I do feel a pang of guilt now and then when I buy a new Rifle. Its always in the back of my mind - shouldn't I spend this moolah on the VarmintSons (who are both in college)?
Then - on my other shoulder - the tiny Devil (carrying a tiny Varmint Rifle by the way!) whispers... hey, you don't drink, you don't smoke, you don't gamble, you don't golf, you wear your clothes til they are rags so yes! You can buy, ANOTHER Rifle!
Its my only "vice" Ricky - cut me some slack PLEASE!
This may be a "transition Rifle" in fact and I may not own it very long.
Each new Rifle brings such joy and intense interest to me that I feel "justified" in owning them.
Its a fun hobby - I say.
To windy this morning to shoot. Dang, the old waiting game again.

Jay Johnson: I may be seeing you in person soon!
Looks like I am going to "Do The Puyallup" (next Gunshow that is).
I do not have any Benchmark but I am using the IMR 4895 load in my Ruger #1 in 22-250.
More later (18 days and counting down?)

308 Sako: I have been impressed over the last 8 - 10 years with IMR 4064 in the 22-250. Before the IMR 4064 was the go to powder for my 220 Swifts. I don't know why I didn't just extrapolate that IMR 4064 would probably also do well in the 22-250! It took others with more analytical minds (like you!) than I have to turn me on to this fact.
I will be trying two 52 gr. bullets in this new 22-250, the Berger 52 gr. and the Speer 52 gr. HP/FB (flat base). These are good Coyote bullets! And thanks for your advice!
Long live the 22-250.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

as long as there's varmits out ther, there's always a need for a new rifle

quote:

Originally posted by butchloc:
as long as there's varmits out ther, there's always a need for a new rifle

Maybe not! At my age a rifle is like an old true friendship. Something you can just rely on. roger

Yeah, and as I get older, although the gun safe is full (and beyond), I seem to be pulling only a few old friends from it on a regular basis. Does that mean I'm getting comfortable?

quote:

Originally posted by prof242:
Yeah, and as I get older, although the gun safe is full (and beyond), I seem to be pulling only a few old friends from it on a regular basis. Does that mean I'm getting comfortable?

No; like me just old roger

Bartsche & Prof242: I just turned 59 this past Sunday and I still enjoy playing the field - so to speak!
I rotate my Rifles to the front of the safes as their turns "need" to come around!

Butchbloc: Amen brother! As long as there are Varmints out there running, crawling, jumping, flying, hopping, digging, gnawing, spraying scent, howling, barking, snarling, eating grass and generally making nuisances of themselves - THERE IS a need for new Varmint guns!
My sentiments exactly!

Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

roger

quote:

Originally posted by VarmintGuy:
Bartsche & Prof242: I just turned 59 this past Sunday and I still enjoy playing the field - so to speak!

Well I hope you had a happy birthday. At 59 I was still buying every gun I took a fancy to. At 69 I was getting rid of three for every one I bought.

I just got my eighth Remington 40XB. Yes, it is in .22-250! I reform the Remington URBR case to .22-250. It makes difficult chambering at first, but after the first firing it fits the chamber perfectly. I've only shot the first 100 cases so I have a ways to go! I ordered it with the thumbhole stock. Love it!!

VarmintGuy: Good purchase! You are like me, I can never have enough varmint guns. My plan is to take a different one with me everytime I go calling this year.

I have a couple AR's set up for varminting. I have a 204, a 223AI, and I am about to build a 220 Swift. Not to mention my 243 stoked with 55's. That thing shoots like a laser.

VG - Congrats on the new rifle! Sounds like you have a respectable arsenal, but there's always room for one more! I've been bitten by the varmint rifle bug too, and I dont' think there's a cure. At least, I HOPE there isn't one...

VG: Good luck with the new rifle. I love the woodwork on the BDLs.

Sounds like you made a good deal. You may never go backwards to a .204, LOL.

Congrads! I hope everything works out as you hoped it would. It sounds like a smoking dael also.