Old time Mauser target 22-250 w/ Unertl 12x glass - invoice added
- Thread starter kjohn
- Start date
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Very nice rifle. Crandall was a well known Gunsmith from Woodstock, Ontario. At the time, Ontario had an abundance of the big Ground Hogs, and Gunsmiths like Crandall and Charlie Parkinson of London made some pretty fine Varmint rifles.
Charles Landis, who wrote "22 Calibre Varmint Cartridges," was a regular visitor to Crandall's shop. Crandall also made shotguns.
Back in the 1960's I had a Crandall rifle, made on a P14 action with a Fecker scope on top (similar to the Unertil with recoiling mounts,) It was chambered for the Crandall 2R cartridge, (based on a shortened .303 and very similar dimensions to the 22-250). It came with a case forming die that you put in a vise and loading dies. That rifle accounted for many Varmints.
The 22-250 appeared in the early 1960s from Remington as a Commercial Cartridge. The 788 rifle was introduced about that time, and they were available in .222, 22-250, s.243 and .308 originally. The interesting thing was that Browning was making a 22-250 factory rifle several months before the cartridges were available factory loaded.
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Very nice rifle. Crandall was a well known Gunsmith from Woodstock, Ontario. At the time, Ontario had an abundance of the big Ground Hogs, and Gunsmiths like Crandall and Charlie Parkinson of London made some pretty fine Varmint rifles.
Charles Landis, who wrote "22 Calibre Varmint Cartridges," was a regular visitor to Crandall's shop. Crandall also made shotguns.
Back in the 1960's I had a Crandall rifle, made on a P14 action with a Fecker scope on top (similar to the Unertil with recoiling mounts,) It was chambered for the Crandall 2R cartridge, (based on a shortened .303 and very similar dimensions to the 22-250). It came with a case forming die that you put in a vise and loading dies. That rifle accounted for many Varmints.
The 22-250 appeared in the early 1960s from Remington as a Commercial Cartridge. The 788 rifle was introduced about that time, and they were available in .222, 22-250, s.243 and .308 originally. The interesting thing was that Browning was making a 22-250 factory rifle several months before the cartridges were available factory loaded.
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green machine
CGN Regular
- Location
- Chatham, on
I believe the same gunsmith that took over making Tobin arms shotguns after the company's demise.
Ok. I found that picture. I have the Kindle version of that book. The letters clearly put the rifle I have as being built by Crandall. The fellow I bought the rifle from has never sold any of his father's rifles, except to me. The rifle pictured at location 4134 (Kindle version) does look the same. Anything is possible this many years after those rifles came into existence. The possibilities include: the rifle pictured in the book was not built by Epp's gunsmith. The bill of sale for my rifle shows mention of a scope. Either Mr. Gaillard or Mr. Feather installed the scope.
Edit: When all else fails, rtfm! I read the next page in the book. The rifle has double set triggers and a Fecker scope. Good thing you posted that, Mig25. Caused me to dig a bit deeper!
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Just found your post kjohn and read with much interest. I have my Grandfather's Crandall reloading press set up for 257 Roberts.
It's crude as all get out compared to today's standards of presses and dies but it works.
Missing and sold out of the family years ago is a Mauser custom in 257 Roberts more than likely built by Crandall.
I recall my late uncles saying that that rifle was heavy and no one really wanted it when Grand Dad passed so they sold or traded it away.
It's crude as all get out compared to today's standards of presses and dies but it works.
Missing and sold out of the family years ago is a Mauser custom in 257 Roberts more than likely built by Crandall.
I recall my late uncles saying that that rifle was heavy and no one really wanted it when Grand Dad passed so they sold or traded it away.
Douglas D: Neat to have that old press and have it working. I spoke with the son of the original buyer of the rifle in the OP. He said it was "all about one hole groups" with his Dad and the others that gathered about once a week. His Dad sold the rifle to my friend's Dad in 1947, the year I was born. The old fellow was a hunter, trapper, farmer, and a fussy old target shooter. I bought guns that he had purchased new and never fired.
Great story kjohn. Pappy's 257 Roberts is likely still somewhere in Saskatchewan or Manitoba if it survived.
I'll post some photo's of the old press and hand made dies when I get back.
As well there is a typed letter (complete with typo's ) from Jack O'Connor with his favorite powders and bullets for the Roberts.
Hard to imagine the days when the shooting editor of Outdoor Life could take the time to answer fan mail and still do a feature article plus every month.
I'll post some photo's of the old press and hand made dies when I get back.
As well there is a typed letter (complete with typo's ) from Jack O'Connor with his favorite powders and bullets for the Roberts.
Hard to imagine the days when the shooting editor of Outdoor Life could take the time to answer fan mail and still do a feature article plus every month.
