I Wouldn't Normally...But Tonight I Did!

[Skylerbone]

I stopped in to my local Field & Stream hoping against hope that I might find a box or 10 of CCI .22 Shorts for a project rifle I finished up last night (yes, I was shooting Shorts in my basement at the homemade bullet trap and yes it stopped them all). I've had it in my head lately that I really need another rimfire and was settled on the Marlin 70P.

The associates were busy so I casually spun the sales flyer 'round on the counter and my jaw hit the floor. In full panic mode I waited patiently for someone to assist me. I spotted the department manager striding my way and I blurted out "Do you have any of these left?"

Fifteen minutes later I walked out with a T/C Compass in 6.5 Creedmoor tucked under my arm and a smile from ear to ear. Yeah, it's a cheap $300 rifle but I paid $254.99 for it and I'll be sending for my $75 rebate!

So here it is boresighted, with Vortex rings and a Minox ZV 3 3-9 X 40 for a grand total of $307.96 (after tax and rebate). Oddly enough I spent my morning ogling Tikkas and Model 7 Remingtons attempting to cement whether .260 Rem or some flavor of 6/6.5 would be next on the centerfire punch list at somewhere around $1,000 with glass.

I wouldn't normally relish buying ugly, inexpensive rifles, but tonight I did! If you're fortunate enough to have a Field & Stream near you they carry it in .308 and 30-06 as well.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

Great price.

 

[LoonWulf]

Its not..that....u....yeah yeah it is.

Bet it shoots well tho, ive never heard anyone complain about how those rifles shoot. Good price too!

Actually its mostly just the goofy forend i dont like...sorta like someone in marketing said "we NEED to be different" and the bored guy next to him drew that stock.

 

[Skylerbone]

She won't ever be prom queen to be sure! Just odd circumstances I guess that drew all of it together.

Cameraland NY had a special on the scope, $84.99 down from $209, they were out of the cheap airgun rings I ordered so they offered me the Vortex rings at even money ($22), and then $180 rifle reaches up from the flyer and practically dares me not to flinch. Bud's has it listed at $369 before rebate which is to say that had I not lucked in to a few deals I could have spent $640+ for the same rifle/scope/rings. Ever so tempted to rush back for a .308 tomorrow.

If the thing shoots 2 MOA instead of the guaranteed 1 MOA I'd still consider it a solid bargain. The last Leupold I bought cost more than this combo and I put it on a .22

 

[DannyLandrum]

The Compass looks like a winner. The Venture is definitely a winner - best value going in a sub-$450-ish turnbolt. Congrats. Still want a model Seven with iron sights in .260.

 

[If1HitU]

Nice price.

 

[bannockburn]

Skylarbone

You done good son! At just a tad over $300 you've got a rifle, scope, and rings for one awesome all-around deal all!

 

[imashooter]

Good for you. Congratulations.

 

[Ks5shooter]

[/ The Venture is definitely a winner - best value going in a sub-$450-ish turnboltQUOTE]

You know it have the Weathershield version in 7mm-08,Leupold VXR 3-9 40mm firedot 4 reticle. Its a deer slammer!! Got mine a few years ago $375 and $75 rebate

 

[22250Rem]

Wow..................... I'm impressed. Congrats on a great deal and if that rifle shoots good I'm gonna say that you stole it.

I wouldn't normally relish buying ugly, inexpensive rifles

...... I never thought they were that ugly but there's no doubt about inexpensive.

 

[Carl N. Brown]

Nice rifle, good value but -- Welll ... did you find the CCI .22 shorts? The world wonders.

 

[BigBore44]

They’re like a Ruger American and a Styer Mannlicher Pro had an offspring. We can all poke fun (I have a Venture). But no one at the range will be laughing when he gets it dialed in.

 

[gsbuickman]

Wahoo, that's a hell of a nice core, Kudos .

 

[Captcurt]

I would have bought all they had. Great deal.

 

[Skylerbone]

Alas I found no .22 Shorts! It's been a back burner project for some years, a 1935 Western Field 45 (Mossberg 42) that I picked up for $60. Havlin Sales got me the correct magazine and scope mount which holds an old Japanese (Light Optical) Tasco. All in I'm at $150 for a geriatric .22 that's hopefully got another 80 years of service ahead.

Had it not been so late I would have fully dialed in the scope and shot a group.



With mismatched Nickel Zee rings ($8.50 clearance price).


L to R shots 1, 2, and 3 at 10 yards (in my basement) with windage and elevation adjustments between shots.

 

[CoalTrain49]

Sometimes the price is so low you can't walk away. Cabela's cleared out their Howa Mini's awhile back and I was fast enough to get one. They were also having a 10% off sale so that cemented the deal. IIRC it was $238 with tax. Looks awful, shoots 1 MOA with my loads.

Good reflexes. You have to be quick.

 

[bassjam]

Wow, and I thought when Cabala's marked these down to $300 in October it was a good deal! I even convinced my brother to buy one at that price, but this is got me thinking I might have to drive down to Field and Stream this afternoon and pick one up!