Should I buy this Remington Model 700

[atygrit]

I have a friend that inherited a Remington Model 700 in 22-250. From the barrel markings it looks like this rifle is from 1968, there is no external floor plate on the magazine, and with the safety on the bolt doesn't move.

I tried to take the best pictures i could of the barrel rifling. The rest of the gun looks good, like it was used but definitely not recently.

I don't know much about rifles yet, and was wondering if $300 was a good price for a 1968 Remington Model 700?

 

[451 Detonics]

It's worth that for the action alone.

 

[unwise11]

I believe it needs a good cleaning before I would say, looks like there is rust on the crown.

 

[atygrit]

I should have said that I dont see any rust, and the barrel looks good to me but I'm not an expert.

The end of the barrel doesnt look rusty in person, just a little banged up.

 

[unwise11]

Ok then buy it for 300, and then clean it well with copper solvent, run oily rags all over the action inside and out, remove the stock, and clean it out and oil it some, and bed the action if you are inclined, and it will be a sweet shooter. Also might need recrowning because no rifle will shoot well with a bad crown.

 

[A-FIXER]

you should also find the trigger should be very nice unless someone messed with it compare it to the new models and the lawyers on triggers you should break just under 2lbs...

 

[ants]

No magazine floor plate -- That's the base ADL model. Good basic gun, not deluxe.

With safety on, the bolt doesn't move -- Normal function for Model 700 older than about 5 years ago.

Caliber 22-250 -- A fun and flat shooting cartridge, but not exactly cheap unless you reload. Not really a big game cartridge, although some folks shoot big game with 22 Short. So you make your own choice, but usually a target rifle or varmint (rodent) rifle.

The end of the barrel just a little banged up might need recrown -- After cleaning and lubrication, shoot it from a steady rest, see how it shoots first.

Bed the action? -- After cleaning and lubrication, shoot it from a steady rest, see how it shoots first.


Yes, I know it's fun for us to tell you all kinds of work and modifications for the rifle. But no sense planning on spending a bunch of money on a base model $300 rifle in a cartridge you don't shoot yet. Clean it up, lubricate it, and go shoot it a bunch to see if you like it. Maybe it's not your cup of tea. Maybe you find the ammo hard to get, and a little more expensive than your other rifles. Well, you don't know until you try it. Maybe you'll like it, maybe you won't.

 

[j2crows]

Can't go wrong. I know I would buy it in a hearbeat.

 

[atygrit]

I'll probably buy it and make payments on it for a few months. I got to shoot a friends 22-250 and I had a lot of fun. So, I'll probably enjoy shooting this.

Thanks for all of the replies. It is giving me the confidence to say yes.

 

[Sunray]

"...and make payments on it for a few months..." I wouldn't do that. Buying on credit will cost you more than $300. Credit is like that. Borrow the $300, if you can. $300 is a good price though, even if you have to do a bit of work. Like 451 Detonics says, the action is worth that much.
The rust on the muzzle isn't terrible. It'll come off with 0000 steel wool and a bit of oil.
"...safety on the bolt doesn't move..." Possibly rusted 'shut'. Not a big deal, really. The best safety on any firearm is between the shooter's ears.
Can you post some pictures of the whole rifle?
"...varmint (rodent)..." Not all varmints are rodents. Coyotes are varmints in most places.

 

[TonyAngel]

I don't know about this. $300 is about what ADLs go for, isn't it? I wouldn't jump on it unless I wanted one in that caliber, because it doesn't seem to be a particularly good deal to me.

 

[ants]

Maybe tax & background check $ makes a difference.

Latest WalMart after deer season sale, the Model 700 rifles were in the mid $300 range with synthetic stock and no sights. I got one in 270 Win for $325 two years ago. In our state we pay $25 for background check, and there is 8% sales tax. Final cost was $376.

If he WANTS a 22-250 and the price is $300 (especially if his friend lets him pay $100 per month) that's a pretty good deal.

 

[ants]

Sunray, he means this:

When the safety is in the "On" position, it locks the bolt down.
You can lift the bolt only when the safety is "Off".


I believe that's what he means by "With the safety on the bolt doesn't move."

 

[451 Detonics]

And I don't believe the safety will engage unless the rifle is cocked.

For ammo order it from Cheaper than Dirt, the BVAC is cheaper from them loaded with the excellent V-Max bullet than the cheapie ammo is from Wal-Mart.

http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/AMM064-5.html

 

[atygrit]

They just started selling rifles at the Wal-Mart near me and while they do have the Rem 700s in a lot of calibers, non are exactly what I want and they are $400 plus tax (7% or so).

I'm a recoil pussy right now, and I really want a 6.5x55 Swede for my deer rifle. I got to shoot a friends, and I loved it.