Remington 597 HB (heavy barrel)

[AStone]

Thanks, Mag. Good to read the same for a different caliber. And yes, I'm really coming to understand from posts here and reviews that the tension on those guide rods is a major key to proper function. Snug, plus 1/4 turn is what I think I understand.

This is the response I received from Bud's Gun Shop. I was hoping someone would throw one on a scale, but I guess they don't want to risk upsetting Rem.

"Go by what is listed on Remington's website. I will get our listing corrected."

 

[magnatecman]

I go snug on the guide rods and then back them off 1/4 to 1/2 a turn. If you tighten them at all you can put a slight bow in them, thus causing the problems.

 

[AStone]

^ Ah, yes, that's right: snug, then backoff. I think that's what the reviewer also said. Got it backwards. -- Do they have any tendency to loosen between takedowns?

 

[Ifishsum]

Mine don't seem to loosen; anyway they couldn't really go anywhere as they are trapped by the stock.

 

[Goju]

I feel the need to chime in late here. I have many .22s, and the only ones I will not part with are my Cz 452 varmint and my beater (std model) 597. Without reading every post, I believe the OP now understands that the standard and HB models are the same, save for the barrel. The 22 WMR variant is a different animal...
The biggest issue I've found on my, and others 597s is the original extractors are of very sketchy quality. The best initial out of the box fix you can make is to get the Vq extractor and replace the original. The Vq trigger is a nice mod too, but the extractor upgrade is a much bigger bang for your buck.
I have a few10/22s, but have found their mythic operation and reliability very much overstated. And the standard carbine models child size stock is not optimal for normal sized adults. I have had as many /more FTEs and FTFs with my 10/22s. The rotary mags are not the greatest thing since sliced bread.
The commonality with all 22 LR auto rifles is that they are likely finnicly about ammo, and you have to find what works best for yours.
But my 597 will hold its own accuracy wise with more spendy rifles, and will outperform any 10/22 I own or have shot.
Took my daughter to an Appleseed event a couple years ago, and she shot in the 230s on her very first AQT....with that lowly 597

 

[GooseGestapo]

I have an assortment of .22lr to include two 597's, one in .22lr, other in .22mag.
The receivers and stocks are same. Bolt, trigger group and magazines are different.
Both of mine are quite accurate. However, the original plastic stocks are junk. Joke is they're made from recycled soda bottles.
I got two Boyd's gray-black laminated stocks for $20 each (rejects, took a little work) I free floated std barrels and glass bedded the receivers and first 2" of barrel channels.
With good ammo, they're eiry accurate. I've shot some 5shot groups with the WinMag under 1" at 100yds. Under 1/2" at 50ysd with .22lr.

Only problems with .22mag were with 50gr CCI GoldDot hollow points not feeding from magazine.
.22lr magazines are problems. I only load 7rds in mine. Then, no problems.
Finally, rimfire ammo is becoming available again.
BTW, I did stone both hammers to give ~ 2lb pulls and installed set screws in trigger guards to limit overtravel. (Competition shooter for several decades, no tolerance for lousy triggers. Won the .22lr at NRA PPC Nationals in 2002 Shotgun match).

Edited to add; re: weight, the .22lr w/plastic stock is about 5.5 lbs, HB in plastic stock will run ~ 7lbs, more in wood. Mine are light contour.
However, I much prefer to hunt with my Marlin 39D, plain carbine version, I've never seen but this one. Bought it for $175 two years ago! Needed new sights. Replaced front wit .410" Marbles, rear with flat-top open. Waiting for Williamsfoolproof to come from Midwayusa. Love my Marlin levers (Win. Too!).

 

[FROGO207]

I have the synthetic stock .22 MAG version of the 597. It is also the heavy barrel version and it is my go to .22 MAG rifle. the only thing I dislike about it is the heavy trigger pull. It was also gritty when I first got it but after about the first 2K rounds things did improve considerably without doing anything else but lube the internals when needed. It is hands down the most accurate .22 Mag rifle that I own. Might have won the 597 lottery according to some that have them.

 

[AStone]

A choice

If, Go, Goose and Frog, thanks. This rifle sounds better by the day.

Speaking of, for a few days -- Ok, a week -- I've wrestled with an issue.

I want two new guns: the 597 HB and a Ruger SR9C. (See sig for 9.)

But in reality, both are not in the budget yet.

To get the 9, I'd have to sell the .38,
but even then, I couldn't afford the 22.

So, it's come down to a choice: 9 or 22?

Here's my reasoning. A revolver is not a 9,
but it's better than a stick in the eye.
But I got no 22. That seems more important right now.

So, I'll keep the .38 -- a 5-shot revo is better than nothing --
and go for the 597 HB.

I sort of like the idea that its stock is made of recycled pop bottles.
At least they didn't go into a landfill.

 

[Fast Frank]

Interesting.

I saw your post in that other thread... But I didn't snap to the name change.

Sold the 39? Well, if it didn't manage to float your boat it's understandable.

I have an automatic .22, and I can sure see why some folks would prefer them.

I like the Marlin 60.



It's interesting to compare them. Off the bench, the model 60 shoots better groups.

Out in the woods, I make better hits with the 39A.

Something about the way it's shaped and how it balances, I think.

I have a friend that bought a 597, and I have handled and fired it a bit.

In my mind, comparing the Marlin, the Remington, and the Ruger is a lot like comparing the Camaro to the Mustang.

You are going to find people that focus on one area where one is better than the other, and other folks will pick a winner because of the brand name they favor, and some will claim superior performance is the only factor.

But in the end, they are just different visions of the same idea.

Yeah, I like Marlins, and yeah, the model 60 is probably a little more accurate because of the barrel, but it's a .22 auto and it's not all that different than the others.

It's a hoot to shoot, and currently wears a Mueller 4.5-14X40APV scope in a Leapers one piece mount.



I think your 597 can end up being a fun little gun,and I'm sure it will be able to knock a squirrel out of a tree.

Have fun with whatever you do. That's what matters in the end, isn't it?

 

[AStone]

FFrank, really glad you're here, buddy.

Excellent points all. You get it.

Saturday night, off work,
watching "Fury" 12th time ...
More soon.

 

[AStone]

Got paid yesterday.

Tried to buy a 597HB from Buds, but their PoS (ETA: point of sale, not something else) page claims
that I have an account already with a different email address.

I tried my only other address, and it won't let me in.

I checked the password file. No record.

Sometimes, I just hate technology.
Computers were supposed to make things easier.

Tmw, I'll call them on archaic technology called "phone" and order it.

 

[AStone]

I ordered it!

And I ordered it through a local shop. Not my main one -- which could not get it (who knows why) -- but another one that I've never even been to before. I called him to see what his FFL and background check fees were going to be if I shipped it to him, and he said, "Oh, I can get that gun for you." $230 out the door, includes all fees. I'm good with that. By the time I paid FFL and background check with it shipped from Bud's, the price would have been closer to $240.

And I really liked his attitude. Very courteous and friendly (unlike some gun shop personnel in this town )

It'll be here Wednesday or Thursday of next week.

Color me eager.

 

[AStone]

This afternoon, I traveled by bus out to the place where all my ammo had been stored for five years while I traveled. My guns had been there, too, until I returned. Since returning, I've sold two, and another will go on the block soon. (Moving from the left coast to the right coast of Maine five years ago changed my strategy about the basic kit of three guns.)

What I found there was a gold mine.
* the stock grips for my SW Airweight revolver -- which will be important when selling it so I can add a 9 in semi to the kit
* 300 rnds of .22 LR by three makers -- most by CCI -- for breaking in the 597 HB next week

Tonight, I pulled out the scope that will go on it: a Leupold Rimfire 2x7.
I need an allen wrench to mount it on the rail. I had allen wrenches
in the storage area (there for five years), but forgot to get it.

I'm betting the shop owner has one, though.

I feel like a kid that's ordered a new gun, but has to wait for it ..

 

[AStone]

In less than 2 hours, I'll only have to wait 4-5 more days before I shoot it.

Assuming, of course, I can line up a car to go get it.

Yes, I am car challenged at the moment ..

 

[JDGray]

I use a 597 at work, but its in an AR platform. When it cycles, its an absolute hammer for accuracy!! The mag springs get weak very fast, and may be the only issue, because it runs just fine with new magazines. Good luck!

 

[AStone]

Thanks, JD.

By weak, do you mean so much so that they don't work well, or just get easier to load?

 

[JDGray]

They broke in very fast, the tension seems like its 70% of what they were new. I also installed a Volquartsen exact edge extractor to help out. It ran 100% after the extractor, and new mags for a few months, but its acting up again. It may just be crap ammo too!

 

[AStone]

^ Thanks much for this heads up.

Have you tried any aftermarket magazines?

I've found at least one that claims better than factory.

I'm planning to add that VQ extractor regardless. I think I'll order it tomorrow.

 

[Davek1977]

The aftermarket "high-capacity" mags I've seen for the 597 have been utter garbage. On the rare occasion my nephews' rifle WAS working properly for a few minutes/rounds, the aftermarket mags would still casue malfunction after malfunction.

 

[AStone]

From what I've read, Davek, I agree. Fortunately, I neither need nor want a hi-cap for it. Just a couple of good 10 rnders.

This is the one I have my eye on.

 

[AStone]

Just got a call from my gun shop: it has arrived. I'll pick it up this afternoon.

Color me eager and excited.

My day got more complicated that expected, so I'm not sure I'll make it to the range today to get it sighted. I won't have time strip it down for initial cleaning and inspection and get to the range before dark. But at least I'll get the scope mounted and bore sighted.

So it may be next week before I get to shoot it. That range is just too insane this time of year on weekends.

 

[AStone]

OK, I got it. It's sitting here beside me.

First impressions: I hate this rifle already. What a POS. It just doesn't feel right, the balance is terrible ...

OK, just kidding.

Totally love it. At the shop, we took it out of the box before I paid (and did the required paper work). It was love at first sight and hold. Wow, the barrel (remember: HB) really looks short. Beautifully so. A dream length for me.

When I picked it up, I couldn't believe how good it felt. LOVE the forend. Handfilling. No pinch necessary.
Stock and forend texture is great: just gritty enough.

The balance is a bit front heavy -- as I expected -- but when shouldered, it just works.

I put the scope (Leupold 2x7 rimfire) on at the shop. We had to remove the Piccatiny rail (too wide) and mounted the scope right onto the built in grooves. Sits super low. Excellent. It's now leveled and bore sighted.

Once I got it back to basecamp, I spent the next hour just pointing it, feeling what it'll feel like to shoot. The added weight on the front end really adds to stability while pointing; the reticle just nails onto a target 50 yds away.

I predict I'm going to love this rifle. OK, I already do.

During dinner, I started (re)watching videos about disassembly, cleaning, polishing, reassembly, in preparation of starting that on the weekend. I watched several videos, but found a gem of a set done by a person named Docv73. Here's the first. Includes disassembly, polishing guide rods and bolt, replacing the extractor and adding sling swivel studs (which I intend to do), and reassembly, including navigating reinstalling the guide rods -- the toughest part. His method seems totally intuitive to me. Quite well done. I get it.

OK, so that's the initial report. I'll take pics tomorrow (in better light).

 

[AStone]

Addendum to the first report.

I loaded 8 snap caps. (Magazine is stiff.)

Trigger is a bit heavy -- but certainly not unduly so (5 - 6 lb maybe), but very, very crisp.
There's no creep. When I pull, it releases instantly.

And this is out of the box. I'm betting it'll improve with 100 rnds.

 

[AStone]

Day 1, part 3

So, here's the next part.

The second mag of snap caps didn't load. Failure to feed.

So I hypothesized that the plastic rounds don't feed as well.
Put in a set of 5 real rounds. Double checked that safety was on.
Tried to load. They did not. None of them.

So that said to me, "there's a problem here".

Here's what I've done so far.

Used a tool to loosen up the mag spring. 80 -100 times.

MOST importantly: totally field stripped it into these parts.

* stock
* upper
* trigger group
* bolt
* guide rods and springs

Immediate impression: it was dry. No -- zero, zilch, nada -- oil.

Ok, let's review: metal slides better against metal with oil.
This gun had zero oil in the action. I expected the opposite.

The surfaces of the bolt and guide rods are coated with ... something that feels like small grit (800) sand paper or stone. The rods and other parts have burrs, places where machining left the equivalent of a wire edge on a blade. It needs polishing and the equivalent of a strop.

I've already started gently -- ever so gently -- polishing it with 600 paper -- just like I did on my 336A years ago, that slicked up the action to butter. It's already feeling better.

Further, I put some cleaner on a patch and rubbed the bolt grooves where the guide rods are to slide. It came out black. BLACK.

After polishing it with 3 patches coated with a drop of cleaning lube *, it's already feeling better. [* You never forget the smell of Hoppes.]

Hypothesis: this rifle is quality. It will be a tack driver.
But this grunge and grit must go. I will feel a slick bolt and guide rods with proper (very minimal) lube before I shoot it.

And I'm going to replace the extractor, and test an aftermarket mag.

 

[FROGO207]

My thought is most currently manufactured assembly line firearms are factory pre-fit for me to do a final polish/cleaning/assembly before use. The burrs and such are a symptom of not having the time to handcraft and properly finish the individual parts. Cost versus profit and all that bean counter crap! The main reason I like quality older (used) firearms is the time it took was worth it to the builder and usually functioned smoother/more reliably. IMHO most of the problems with new firearms are the lack of fitting individual parts anymore. YMMV