Thread: Rem700 BDL varmint .22-250

I bought this rifle second hand in one of the local gun shops. From memory it was around AUD$900 with a silver Tasco 4-16x40 scope on it, which was OK during the day but terrible under the spotlight. I replaced that with a Simmons Whitetail Classic 6.5-20x50 which was marginally better than the Tasco - this was when I was starting to learn than in scopes quality of glass trumps magnification and size of objective.

The Simmons was replaced with a Zeiss Conquest 6.5-20x50 which was much better for spotligting, and I shot the rifle like this for quite a few years. Optimal setting under the spotlight seemed to be about 8-10x; any higher magnification tended to dull off and make it hard to discern foxes bodies at distance or in long grass.



Despite having an unknown number of rounds through it it shot quite well with the factory trigger and un-bedded factory stock. The thick hard shiny 'bowling ball' finish seemed to by hiding some intersting grain, so I stripped the finish, replaced the hard plastic butt plate with a grind-to-fit rubber pad, and applied a hand rubbed oil finish. It came up quite well.





A Rifle Basix trigger then replaced the factory trigger, and I was so imprssed with the Z6 Swarovski 2.5-15x56 on the .20-222 that when another second hand one came up I snagged it and replaced the Zeiss. Suddenly I could shoot at 15x and still clearly discern the target, with faster shooting and less missed opportunities as a result.

While I was really happy with the look of the refinished stock it didn't really fit me well - I'm 6'4" with long arms and big hands, and with most factory stocks my trigger finger can almost each around the front of the trigger guard.

I found a second hand short action BDL stock that someone had drilled holes in the underside of the forearm - perfect donor. Referencing an article by Bill Hambly-Clark Jnr in an edition of Guns & Game I used some Blackwood offcuts to raise the comb and extend the butt. Moved the nose of the comb back, and opened out the pistol grip. The butt pad was salvaged from somewhere. Auto bog was used to fill the hollows where the top of the old butt merged into the new comb - not particularly pretty, but fit for purpose; this stock was a trial to act as a pattern for a decent stock down the track.



The changed stock geometry fits me much better and I shoot it more consistently as a result. It's pet load is 37.5gn AR2208 with a 50gn v-max in prepped Winchester cases. I also have a load using BM2 that gives the same velocity and POI. The rifle has shot a lot of foxes and really is Ol' Dependable.



Marcus

There I was marvelling at that beautiful oil-finished stock (a great job )...
and the next moment I'm looking at the butt of the same stock all cut up and bogged with car filler
It's really important for the stock to fit, though, so I see the reasoning behind it, and it's an interesting learning experience.

Originally Posted by Hermitage

There I was marvelling at that beautiful oil-finished stock (a great job )...
and the next moment I'm looking at the butt of the same stock all cut up and bogged with car filler
It's really important for the stock to fit, though, so I see the reasoning behind it, and it's an interesting learning experience.

No oil finished stock was harmed in this experiment - the original is safely tucked away:



Marcus

@Branxhunter How much do you know about Bill Hambly-Clark Jnr? I bought a 223 barrel off Trademe years ago that had his name engraved on it, so likely he did the smithing? Still have the barrel and guessed it must have been of MAB quality or the likes.

I don’t know much about him, apart from what I have gleaned from the G&G article and this book. It’s a good read. He sounds like quite an accomplished gunsmith. Made his own dies, did 3 lever conversions on Rem triggers, tuned and timed triggers, made some beautiful custom sticks, etc.

Marcus