[Yellowhouse]

Really nice wood on a 1965 era 700 BDL in 22-250 (first year) but it has lost the gilt edge accuracy. In fact its shot out and you don't need a bore scope to know. I love the the quality but am torn between buying a like new but older tang safety Ruger Varmint model or having someone re-barrel with a medium sporter weight Shilen barrel. I suspect the latter cost would approximate purchase of a $600 Ruger. Am I close?

 

[recoil junky]

Get a good gunsmith to put a A&B or Lilja barrel on it and don't look back. The 700BDL that is.

RJ

 

[mattsbox99]

If its your favorite rifle, I'd rebarrel it. Yes, a new rifle is cheaper, and there is nothing wrong with that, but if it has a lot of sentimental value then I would keep it and shoot it.

 

[broom_jm]

Reduce, reuse and recycle...that's what my kids keep telling me, as that is what they're being taught, in school. There is nothing quite so satisfying, to me, as taking a classic firearm and seeing it function like new again. If you've owned that 22-250 since it was new and shot enough rounds through it that it needs a new barrel, I'd say it deserves one!

 

[dmsbandit]

Usually the rifling isn't the issue, it's the throat. Just bring it to a 'smith and have him set the barrel back and recut the chamber. That will cost little money, and give you a new gun without changing the look of the gun.

 

[jwp475]

A new high quality barrel will be extremely accurate if the installation is done correctly

My vote, "rebarrel"

 

[Yellowhouse]

I've shot out a few old Remingtons in my time and yes the throat is first to go. I've got a nostalgia for older rifles like the early 700's and Ruger tang safeties that gets me in trouble at times. I spotted this one at a gunshow and the price was right about two years ago. I thought the bore OK but you know how dark it is in gunshows. No sentimentality attached except it kinda matches the like NIB 700 ADL 243 that I found also made in 1965.

I have an 1984 vintage Ruger tang safety varmint in .243 that is the most accurate out of the box rifle I've ever had. Buddy says his varmint 22-250 model will shoot just as well. Thats why I'm considering buying the older but like new Ruger.

The older 700 is just so classic I hate to let it go and I don't like selling something defective like what was done to me. Maybe buy the Ruger and find a takeoff Rem barrel in 308 or 260 might be the way to go.

Thanks! I hadn't thought about A&B or Lilja. What about Shaw?

 

[big dan]

e.r. shaw barrels are very good in my experience and very reasonably priced as well. i currently only have one shaw barrel but i also have no issues about buying another.

 

[osprey572ci]

Think green and rebarrel it...lol. It will be a learning expirience too.

 

[wildhobbybobby]

Another vote for sending it to E.R. Shaw for a new barrel. They have done 3 for me and are the least expensive place to have it done that I know of. All 3 of the ones they have done for me, a .243, a .270 and a .358, have looked great and shot wonderfully. You can get any length, profile or finish you want, plus extras like fluting if you are into that sort of thing.

 

[Tang]

I'd go for the Ruger, but I am partial.

 

[Cavitation]

Re-barrel it and then buy the "other" rifle.

AL

 

[Yellowhouse]

Re-barrel it and then buy the "other" rifle.

AL

Well, I bought the Ruger M77 & made in 1990. Still have the BDL....pretty wood. It may turn into a 260 Remington.

 

[big dan]

good call!! a 260 would be nice... so would rebarrelling it to 22/250. i have a 700 that i am using as a switch barrel rifle and it is rather handy, 30/06 & 25/06 AI. it's a 30/06 right now as i kinda got nostalgic this past fall, besides i took a deer with the 25/ bbl. last year so it's at the back of the rotation.
i have a 700 classic in 300 savage that i'm considering getting a 250 savage bbl. for and doing the same thing with it. it really is rather simple to change out a bbl. and taking my time, being carefull with the dissasembly and reassembly it probably only takes about a half hour. i have a set of the luepold quick release rings and bases on it which works wonderfully.

 

[montgom]

to rebarrel or not rebarrel, that is the question.

Really nice wood on a 1965 era 700 BDL in 22-250 (first year) but it has lost the gilt edge accuracy. In fact its shot out and you don't need a bore scope to know. I love the the quality but am torn between buying a like new but older tang safety Ruger Varmint model or having someone re-barrel with a medium sporter weight Shilen barrel. I suspect the latter cost would approximate purchase of a $600 Ruger. Am I close?

you could check gunbroker.com for a factory take off barrel. Properly installed should be very accurate.