What would you do ?

P

Pete G

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I have a chance to purchase a 1962 or 1963 Remington BDL with the 20 inch barrel that was standard at that time.
The blueing and wood are pretty well worn ,but rifling is still good. I like the rifle......I like the older stuff.
The main issue is caliber.
It is a .222 rem magnum.
Do not think anyone makes factory ammo any more.
Do not think brass is available from anyone now.
Seems that the best solution would be to convert to .223 caliber........Cost approx. $ 300.(set back and rechamber).
Rifle is priced at $ 350.........seems high to me given all circumstances.
What would a true" gunnutz" do in this case???

1. Try to negotiate ask price.
2. Wait for a natural BDL in .223 on our EE.......I have never had a .223, and you all understand that an itch needs scratching.
3. None of the above.
 
I would not rechamber that rifle. They are not exactly common. Can you not reform .204 Ruger brass? I think they price is low.
 
I would offer $300 just to see if they bite... but pay the $350 if they are firm... brass is available for .222 Rem Mag and it is an EXCELLENT cartridge... if you reload, leave it alone and shoot it.
 
Why bother supporting a gunsmith when you can go to your local Canadian Tire and try your hand with a dull drill bit and Mastercraft battery powered drill freehand!!
Then you may realize reamers {good ones} are not cheap and neither is a lathe.

RC
 
If it were my opportunity to buy it I would and leave it as is.
Decades ago in a previous life on the Prairies a long deceased varmint hunting buddy literally swore by that same / similar rifle in 222 Rem. Mag for his coyote work.
With a 20X Unertl scope on top for summer and fall, switched off for a 16X Leupold for below zero hunting the little rifle was bad medicine for Coyotes and at some impressive distances.
At that time I used a 243 and his 222 Mag had no problem dropping animals at any distance that I could.
 
Keep it in 222 Rem Mag. As has been said by 1899, you can use 204 Ruger brass.
I've got a fullstock Steyr in 222 Rem Mag and absolutely love it.
Quite an interesting history to that cartridge.
 
1899 said:
I would not rechamber that rifle. They are not exactly common. Can you not reform .204 Ruger brass? I think they price is low.
Click to expand...
Don't know why you couldn't. Just run 204 brass through your 222 Mag dies, should push the shoulder back without too much difficulty.
Anybody try this?
 
Buy it, find the brass, reload, shoot it until the right .223 comes along. Then, sell or trade the .222 to get it. Or when you get the .223 keep both.
 
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Many thanks to all for the input on this.Most think that we should just acquire and leave it as .222 magnum. also was headed in that direction until I tried to find brass on the net........none in sight for me......So if any of you have a source , I would sure like to find at least 100 new ones.
Looky knows me and "my thing" on triggers !!! This one is fine.
The current owner of the rifle has tried to reform .204 brass......not much success......seems to need fire forming after being run through the .222 mag dies.....results are both poor and resource consuming.
 
Don't hesitate to purchase the .222 Magnum, its the best cartridge of the 3. You can easily make .222 Magnum from .204 Ruger brass, with only a single pass through the resizer, so I don't understand why the owner had any problem doing so. What you don't want to do is shoot .223s in a .222 Magnum chamber, invariably you'll get case head separation, and a badly distorted case that isn't long enough for a neck to properly form.
 
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I think you should back away from this deal and send me the sellers' info. jk :D Another one for leaving it as a 222 Mag. But seriously if you're hesitating.........
 
Are you absolutely certain the 20" barrel is factory correct? I had a 222 Rem back not long after that and it had a 24" barrel and my same vintage 243 had a 22" barrel. I have seen and owned a glut of 700 BDLs and never encountered a factory 20" barrel. A buddy of mine had the previous model to mine, which was the very first 700 model to come out and his 222 had a 24" barrel as well and his 6mm Rem had a 22"...........................
 
Pete G said:
I have a chance to purchase a 1962 or 1963 Remington BDL with the 20 inch barrel that was standard at that time.
The blueing and wood are pretty well worn ,but rifling is still good. I like the rifle......I like the older stuff.
The main issue is caliber.
It is a .222 rem magnum.
Do not think anyone makes factory ammo any more.
Do not think brass is available from anyone now.
Seems that the best solution would be to convert to .223 caliber........Cost approx. $ 300.(set back and rechamber).
Rifle is priced at $ 350.........seems high to me given all circumstances.
What would a true" gunnutz" do in this case???

1. Try to negotiate ask price.
2. Wait for a natural BDL in .223 on our EE.......I have never had a .223, and you all understand that an itch needs scratching.
3. None of the above.
Click to expand...
4. Buy the .222 rem mag and scratch the itch with the purchase of a 223 in another rifle.

I would go with #4 for sure. Good Luck.
 
c-fbmi said:
Are you absolutely certain the 20" barrel is factory correct? I had a 222 Rem back not long after that and it had a 24" barrel and my same vintage 243 had a 22" barrel. I have seen and owned a glut of 700 BDLs and never encountered a factory 20" barrel. A buddy of mine had the previous model to mine, which was the very first 700 model to come out and his 222 had a 24" barrel as well and his 6mm Rem had a 22"...........................
Click to expand...

Hello c-fbmi..........If you have the 32 nd edition of Blue Book, check page 1500 for early BDL data.
 
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