700 Etronx

Ruger007

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I happen to come across a 700 Etronx in 243. Who remembers these?

Trying to negotiate a price but seems to be some collectors value to him. Not so sure myself if I want to even venture down this road. He says he has a few guys interested but is giving me first dibs...

It's in good shape. Needs a new battery. SS, Black stock.

Who has one?

Any of the primers around?

Are they really worth anything? I have seen some online guys that have converted them to use real primers.
 
I remember seeing a video from Ian at Forgotten Weapons (on youtube) about this firearm. Great learning experience! You should watch if you are planning on purchasing one.

David
 
Bashaw Sports was selling several NIB Etronx models about 4-5 years ago. I'm not sure if they were old stock in their inventory or had been sourced from elsewhere. I remember being interested in picking one up as a novelty, but decided not to based on the lack of ammunition. IIRC their price was in line with a standard Remington 700 and they didn't seem to take too long to sell.
 
Forgotten weapons did a good job on describing this rifle. If the primers were still available or reasonable price. Might be of some interest. Can always screw on a Remage 308 barrel. Since I have a couple.
 
When I saw the Forgotten Weapons episode of these rifles I felt old. :)

I remember them being featured in RIFLE magazine when they were introduced and thought "has it really been so long?" I guess so, if Ian is showcasing it. Laugh2
 
I bought one of those when they first came out.

It was OK but no matter what I tried, I could not get the electronic ignition to be any faster or more reliable than the striker ignited primers we have used for over a century. The ignition was more like a ''glow plug'' but not difficult to get used to. Every let off was a surprise.

I had it rebarreled with a heavy, match 30 cal, chambered for the 308Win. It never could be made to shoot well enough to win any matches.

Ignition was always positive. Not one misfire out of the 1500+ shots I put through it.

The trigger was a shooter's dream come true, that with very little effort could be modified to be well below the 8oz factory limit.

The only noticeable resistance to actuating the bolts was from stripping the round out of the mag well, which I never did, because I always loaded the rifle singly, without using the mag well. The follower and mag well had been replaced with a piece of high density foam.

Cartridge cases were just anything I could pick up of match quality at the time, same with powder and bullets.

The battery was just a 9 volt type, available from any grocery store. You had to remember to turn the system off, with the key after the match was over, or the batter would be dead by morning. Batteries could be depended on to last at least 16 hours, without needing replacement. I changed them before every match day, no matter their condition. I ended up with about 50, stacked on their bases in a plastic box. I used those batteries for years, after I got rid of the rifle, in my Chrony.

Primers were a different story. The LGS that had the rifles in stock, only carried factory loaded ammo.

I had to purchase the primers from a Remington distributor in Montreal. They were appx 3X the price of standard impact ignited, chemical types and I had to purchase 5000 per case minimum.

Everything on that rifle could be modified to go back to the normal Remington bolt action 700 platform. Most of the parts, except the trigger were directly interchangeable, without any further fitting.

Of course the bolt had to be replaced and properly fitted.

I traded that rifle to Noby Uno for a couple of Hart match grade barrels and a very precise reamer, that could be sharpened one more time, before it was used up.

He played with it in its original form for one season, then converted it to a standard/trued Remington 700 with a new bolt and stock.

I don't know if this is what you were looking for, but it was my experience with ONE of these rifles.

A couple of other folks I know, loved them and lamented the lack of cartridges they were chambered for.
 
From what I can find only chambered in 223, 22-250 and 243. I guess it is possible to open up a bolt face. Would definitely be an interesting build.

I'm going to pass on this rifle. Probably sold now anyways.
 
If I ever come across one in 6.5 Rem Mag, I'll be buying

To my knowledge, they were only made on 700 short actions and chambered in 243win/22-250rem/220Swift.

You might have a long wait.

Ruger007, I paid well over $2000 for mine back around 2001. To my knowledge Remington never produced them for the 223 rem.

It would be a lot of work to configure a bolt for the smaller diameter cartridge or for a magnum cartridge face.

There was some sort of non conducting material set into the bolt, to surround the conductive probe and that was likely cast in place??
 
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To my knowledge, they were only made on 700 short actions and chambered in 243win/22-250rem/220Swift.

You might have a long wait.

Ruger007, I paid well over $2000 for mine back around 2001. To my knowledge Remington never produced them for the 223 rem.

It would be a lot of work to configure a bolt for the smaller diameter cartridge or for a magnum cartridge face.

There was some sort of non conducting material set into the bolt, to surround the conductive probe and that was likely cast in place??

Yes sorry 220 not 223.

Found a 2001 catalog online 220 Swift, 22-250, 243.
 
I always thought that if a head set that would recognize a mental “fire “ signal when you saw the right sight picture could be plugged into an electric rifle missing would be a thing of the past. Advanced models would have a learning processor for windage and elevation. The shotgun variation would fire when you brain recognized the right lead.
 
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