Old time Mauser target 22-250 w/ Unertl 12x glass - invoice added

kjohn

kjohn

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I recently bought several rifles from an old friend whose father used to buy guns for collecting and shooting.

This wonderful old outfit was owned at one time by Ted Gaillard's uncle. Built on a Mauser BYF action by G.B. Crandall, a gunsmith in Ontario. Ackley heavy barrel, Bishop stock, 12 power Unertl scope. Mr. Frank Gaillard originally bought the rifle from Crandall, then sold it to my friend's father in 1947. I have the original invoice from Crandall to Gaillard, dated March 19, 1947. I have several letters from Crandall to Harold Feather, whose son I bought the rifle from, dated 1947 and 1948. One mentions danger of a war with the Russians.

My friend Dave, whose range I use, put the old girl to work this afternoon, shooting AE 22-250's. After a bit of fiddling setting the scope, he got her to shoot. I actually shot a 1" group at 100 yards, which is nothing short of a miracle for me. Somebody will be getting a wonderful piece of shooting history with this setup.

You often hear "don't buy the story, buy the gun" on here. Well, this rifle does have its story, with paper to prove it.

View attachment 203156 New pictures down further.
 
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That is what was done back in that era... A surplus action, a stock, a barrel, the best scope you could afford... and you had your long range varminter...

Nice package to pass on, don't wear it out...
 
guntech said:
That is what was done back in that era... A surplus action, a stock, a barrel, the best scope you could afford... and you had your long range varminter...

Nice package to pass on, don't wear it out...
Click to expand...

Yes, I was told in no uncertain terms to leave it be, now that it has proven to be still accurate. Davey, one of my go to good shooters, explained that one to me!
 
Thanks for all the good comments! I am, indeed, very fortunate to be able to share the history.

Mr. Crandall refers to the rifle as a "22-3000", as he recommended using 250-3000 cases to form. Bear in mind that 22-250 commercial ammo wouldn't be readily available until in the mid-1960's. Frank Gaillard's son told me that it was all about one hole targets with those fellows.

Once I am done helping with harvest, I will gather some more tidbits and post them. A rifle like this one deserves some attention, denke nicht? (No, I am not of German descent)
 
Here's a copy of the invoice/statement. A grand total of 171.30. Mr. Crandall added an extra dollar for fitting the bases for the Unertl scope.

It seems, according to the letters that came with the rifle, that Mr. Gaillard put the scope on. Mr. Feather bought the rifle for $25 less than what the whole outfit cost, after the scope was installed. There are also 9 letters from Crandall to Feather, and one from Frank Gaillard to Harold Feather.

View attachment 207963 No longer available??
 
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$7 to alter a bolt handle... outrageous ?

Not really - Adjusted for inflation, $7.00 in 1947 is equal to $80.26 in 2018.

Adjusted for inflation, $171.00 in 1947 is equal to $1,960.73 in 2018.

I stopped doing bolt alterations many years ago at $175... I didn't think the customer or myself was getting a good deal...
 
I pretty well kept pace with inflation for my bolt handle jobs and was charging 75 bucks last year. If I ever do another, it will cost a lot more! What a neat rifle and provenence.
 
One rifle I will never forget was a beautiful m98 (a g33/40) that had been built by someone at Elwood Epps. It was in 257 Roberts with a 20" light contour barrel .. highly polished and beautifully blued with a very lovely classic stock and perfect checkering. Certainly as nice as any custom I have seen.
 
Cool, this looks very much like the rifle pictured on p260 of "Twenty-two Caliber Varmint Rifles" that is credited to a gunsmith at Ellwood Epps' shop.

The 22-3000 was a different cartridge, are you sure they are discussing this rifle?
 
MiG25 said:
Cool, this looks very much like the rifle pictured on p260 of "Twenty-two Caliber Varmint Rifles" that is credited to a gunsmith at Ellwood Epps' shop.

The 22-3000 was a different cartridge, are you sure they are discussing this rifle?
Click to expand...

Positive. That's what Mr. Crandall called the rifle he sold to Mr. Gaillard, who sold it to Mr. Feather. Can't go back to ask Mr. Crandall why he used that term. I would suspect because the casing used to make up ammunition for the rifle was 250-3000.
 
If I remember correctly the 22 Lovell (a rimmed case) was also called the 22-3000. I believe I was taught that in 1966-67 at Gunsmithing College in Trinidad Colorado. Mr Prator was my instructor at that time.

The 22-250 was wildcatted from the 250-3000 cartridge. Perhaps that causes confusion in the names?

I guess until Remington made (and named) the 22-250 a commercial cartridge anyone could call it anything they wanted...

22-3000 ammunition (based on the rimmed case) is available today... https://www.buffaloarms.com/22-3000...aka-r-2-lovell-ammunition-box-of-20-amo223000
 
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