Bought a Blued Synthetic 597 on Saturday. I love it!
Fired 700-odd rounds already. She seems to perform well with the Federal game shock 36grn Hi-V HP rounds. That's good because they're only $17 for 525 rds at the local crappi tyre.
My rifle came with a Bushnell .22 Rim Fire 3-9x32 scope. Nice scope, but I hate the tip-off rings, so I replaced them with Millett Angle Lock Rings and installed the Remington weaver base.
What a sweet rifle. So long as you don't over tighten the guide rod screws, you should have no troubles.
Now for the Harris bipod to arrive with more mags and a Volquartsen extractor and hammer. Gotta polish the bolt an trigger group.... Maybe I'll install the Eagle muzzle break.............