TO RESTORE OR NOT TO RESTORE
ABOUT 20 YEARS AGO I AQUIRED A REMINGTON 700 ADL IN 222 REM MAG.
MADE IN 1963 IT HAS SEEN MUCH USE (AND MAYBE JUST A LITTLE ABUSE).
OF ALL MY DOZEN OR SO HUNTING RIFLES,IT IS ALWAYS THE GUN OF CHOICE
WHEN THERE'S $20.00 ON A SODA CAN AT 400 YARDS.(OLD WEAVER 3X).
TWO QUESTIONS;1-AMMO IS GETTING HARD TO FIND + EXPENSIVE JUST FOR PLINKING.ANY SOURCES FOR NEW AMMO AT A RESONABLE PRICE?
2-SINCE THIS HAS BECOME A RATHER RARE GUN,WOULD I BE HURTING IT'S VALUE BY HAVING IT RESTORED,AND THEN RETIRING IT?
ALL OPINIONS GREATLY APPRECIATED (AND NO IT'S NOT FOR SALE)
BOBBY PICK
MADE IN 1963 IT HAS SEEN MUCH USE (AND MAYBE JUST A LITTLE ABUSE).
OF ALL MY DOZEN OR SO HUNTING RIFLES,IT IS ALWAYS THE GUN OF CHOICE
WHEN THERE'S $20.00 ON A SODA CAN AT 400 YARDS.(OLD WEAVER 3X).
TWO QUESTIONS;1-AMMO IS GETTING HARD TO FIND + EXPENSIVE JUST FOR PLINKING.ANY SOURCES FOR NEW AMMO AT A RESONABLE PRICE?
2-SINCE THIS HAS BECOME A RATHER RARE GUN,WOULD I BE HURTING IT'S VALUE BY HAVING IT RESTORED,AND THEN RETIRING IT?
ALL OPINIONS GREATLY APPRECIATED (AND NO IT'S NOT FOR SALE)
BOBBY PICK
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The solution to the ammo problem is 'reload.' If not yourself, than you can find any number of ammunition manufacturers loading the .222 Mag. Please dont do as so many others did and rechamber the rifle.
Now, the .222 Mag with the 20" barrel (as yours should be) IS a fairly rare version of the 700ADL, but it is never going to be a pay-the-kids-tuition kind of collectable. If the current condition is down around 60-70% you've got a $250-$300 rifle. A well-done restoration to factory specifications would certainly not reduce that value one penny and may actually improve it some, plus it would sure improve the aesthetics of the rifle a great deal.
FFL Dealer, Class 07/02 Mfg0 -
If you don't like the way it looks, and it is an "old friend", by all meanms, have it redone. However if you are thinking in terms of resale/collectability, think of Morty's rule: Every Dollar you put into restoration/customizung, etc. REDUCES the value of the piece by TWO Dollars!
Morty
Have fun, be careful!0 -
I never recommend refinishing, which I assume is what you are really contemplating. (A true restoration is very expensive and is done only on very valuable guns in poor condition, such as high grade shotguns and the like. The experts who do restorations have great skill and equipment necessary to duplicate factory finishes and markings, etc.. I know of no restoration person for Remington rifles from the 1960s.)
If your rifle has any collector value, it will be gone entirely with a refinish. If you have a $400 rifle and spend $200 having it refinished, it will be worth $300 or so, but only to an ignorant buyer or one who does not care. (There are of course exceptions with ignorant buyers who may think the rifle new.)
I would leave it the way it is as a reminder of its honorable service for decades.0 -
The point is, a Remington 700ADL .222 Magnum in 60% condition has no appreciable collector value, over and above it's value as a shooter. The value of this particular rifle will not be reduced at all by a truly professional refinish.
FFL Dealer, Class 07/02 Mfg0 -
THANKS GUYS,
I THINK I'LL JUST KEEP DOING WHAT I'M DOING,20 BUCKS AT A TIME.
MAYBE I'LL PUT THAT EXTRA VARI-X-II 50mm ON AND UP THE ANTE.
IT'S WHAT PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT THEMSELVES THAT MAKES THEM AFRAID.0 -
COUNTRYGUNSMITH,
DON'T KNOW IF IT MAKES ANY DIFFERENCE,BUT BARREL LENGTH IS JUST SHY OF 24".PUT THE LEUPOLD ON IT LAST NIGHT,CLEANED IT UP A LITTLE.
IT LOOKS BETTER ALL THE TIME.CAN'T WAIT TO SIGHT IT IN.
THANK'S AGAIN,
BOBBYWINS
IT'S WHAT PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT THEMSELVES THAT MAKES THEM AFRAID.0 -
Remington changed the barrel length right about that time. The original .222 Mag rifles had 20" barrels and those are the rifles that bring the big premiums in 90%+ condition.
FFL Dealer, Class 07/02 Mfg0 -
Shut off your caps lock. Unless I'm confused again, .222 Rem mag is a .223 Rem under a different name. I think there's some very minor differences in the case. Try looking into using .223 brass, etc. for your hand loads. Re-finishing your rifle won't harm it's value one way or the other. Have a look at this. http://www.chuckhawks.com/223rem.htm 0 -
Sunray,
Now I'm confused.(Imagine that)
It sounds like your suggesting that 223 will work.
I've been told it will and that it won't.
Never tried to chamber one.I've got 20 years worth of mag brass
and have used more than a few variations of reloads,but the gun
seems to like factory loads the best.
IT'S WHAT PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT THEMSELVES THAT MAKES THEM AFRAID.0 -
The .223 is indeed derived from the .222 Mag, but it is shorter overall and in the headspace dimension; it is NOT interchangeable. For dimensional drawings see:
http://www.reloadbench.com/cartspec.html0
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