What to do with my 700 BDL Varmint Special

Greetings all.....first post on here.

So I acquired a 1971 Remington 700 BDL Varmint Special in 25-06 a few years ago with the intention on getting serious about long range varmint hunting. 6 years and 4 kids later, Plans have changed. I have honestly only shot it a dozen times and while it shoots great, it mainly just takes up space in the safe and needs sold or a facelift. It is in immaculate condition due to it's extremely low round count, and should have brought a pretty penny....until I removed the scope and realized it's previous owner did a number to the barrel with a drill and tap....my guess is while installing (or attempting to) a Unertl mount. So the collection value Of this rifle has diminished...which is a shame bc of its rareness and great condition otherwise.

Anyway, trying to decide what to do with it.

Here is my short list of options:

1. Sell it. What would this rifle reasonably be worth with the cosmetic issue on the barrel? (Pics attached) I've seen them go for $1k in mint condition.

2. Rebarrel and restock into a LR hunting rifle for medium game. Thinking .280AI

3. Upgrade to a magnum bolt face, and build a .338 RUM bear and moose killer.

4. Keep it as is and let the kids shoot the heck out of it when they get a little bigger.

I am hoping for suggestions and ideas. I do not own any custom rifles, yet. And the best case scenario for me would be to get a fair price for it and put towards that goal. What would you do with it if it was yours?

Seeing how I took a nice 700BDL and rebarreled to a 25-06 in 8 twist, I think I would replace the barrel, put a pad on it and bed the stock. Maybe some trigger work.
Nice looking accurate rifle for your boys/girls when they get of age.

I think I'd sell it and buy a custom action like a defiance with a integrated recoil lug and scope rail and build your 338 on that action but also buy another $300 bolt for it and have a 6br or 223 or 243 spun up for it so your kids can go nuts shooting while being kid and wallet Friendly. Just buy a barrel vice and an action wrench and you can switch calibers in no time. One rifle can serve 2 rolls. Also you'll already be acquainted with the feel of the gun when ur after that trophy critter.

4 and buy a synthetic stock, so the wood stock doesn't get beat up.

idcwby

Ben Gallardy said:

Greetings all.....first post on here.

So I acquired a 1971 Remington 700 BDL Varmint Special in 25-06 a few years ago with the intention on getting serious about long range varmint hunting. 6 years and 4 kids later, Plans have changed. I have honestly only shot it a dozen times and while it shoots great, it mainly just takes up space in the safe and needs sold or a facelift. It is in immaculate condition due to it's extremely low round count, and should have brought a pretty penny....until I removed the scope and realized it's previous owner did a number to the barrel with a drill and tap....my guess is while installing (or attempting to) a Unertl mount. So the collection value Of this rifle has diminished...which is a shame bc of its rareness and great condition otherwise.

Anyway, trying to decide what to do with it.

Here is my short list of options:

1. Sell it. What would this rifle reasonably be worth with the cosmetic issue on the barrel? (Pics attached) I've seen them go for $1k in mint condition.

2. Rebarrel and restock into a LR hunting rifle for medium game. Thinking .280AI

3. Upgrade to a magnum bolt face, and build a .338 RUM bear and moose killer.

4. Keep it as is and let the kids shoot the heck out of it when they get a little bigger.

I am hoping for suggestions and ideas. I do not own any custom rifles, yet. And the best case scenario for me would be to get a fair price for it and put towards that goal. What would you do with it if it was yours?

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It would be a great choice for something like the 6.5's. You could of course leave it as is since the 25.06 is a great choice for about 95% of the game, varmint, and predators in N. America.

Were it mine, I'd replace the stock with a synthetic, and shoot the hell out of it. Load it up with 115 Bergers and H-4831, and it'll be more than capable to ring steel to 1K & beyond.

When I first started shooting 1000 yard BR, we had a stock gun class, and I set the range record, a 4.XX" group, with my 25-06 Sendero with the above combo.

My heart aches when these classics get butchered. I just worked on an original 03 Springfield and it had a hacksaw cut on the bottom of the barrel .600 deep just ahead of the chamber region.

Would be nice to put another factory barrel on it, but switching over to another one is fine at this point. I would feel a little safer starting off fresh without numerous holes in a high pressure area anyhow. As another post mentioned the 280AI is a nice cartridge or something lighter in recoil for the kiddos is good. I run brakes on mine to make these higher power cartridges kid friendly. Just add hearing protection always.

I would have it rebarreled with a medium weight Sporter barrel chambered in .280 AI, if that's what you really want. I'd also save the original stock and get a nice synthetic stock. Depending on your budget, you can get a nice stock anywhere from $200-600. Just depends on what you're looking for and your budget.

Those off-center holes in the receiver are uglier than forty feet of mud fence. I think I'd find a one-piece scope mount, put it on and hide those holes until hellsinki freezes over.

Long-action Farrell scope base for Remington 700: https://www.kenfarrell.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=20_27&product_id=264

I vote for 280ai

I picked up a nice Remington 700 BDL 25:06 this past year that I'm considering changing to a 6.5 x 284 since I already have a 25:06AI that shoots lights out. Just found an unused 26" Douglas barrel for less than a $100. And I've got the best gunsmith that nobody talks about practically in my backyard.

I think I would do as stated above, and but a mount on that covers the holes and enjoy the rifle. You say it shoots grate so I'd leave it alone and enjoy it, and save an old classic the best you can. The 25-06 is a grate cartridge and will work on most North American game (varmint to big game). I know some people that have very successfully used it on elk, may not be the best chose for elk but with the right bullet and shot placement it works fine.
I would then save some money up, do a lot of research and build a .280AI and a .338 RUM the way you want them. You will end up with three grate rifles that you will enjoy for years to come. Plus as your children get older you will already have a rifle they can shot, that way if money is tight when they are old enough to shot you will have a rifle for them and not have to worry about it.

Just my opinion. All is good with fun with guns.

was it my gun I would not let any body shoot it before a new barrel is put on it. with that many holes that close together I would think that it would have a good chance of giving up in that location. some of the gunsmiths will be on soon the can tell you more.

sentry53 said:

was it my gun I would not let any body shoot it before a new barrel is put on it. with that many holes that close together I would think that it would have a good chance of giving up in that location. some of the gunsmiths will be on soon the can tell you more.

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May be a good point, would be good to have it checked out. If it's not safe don't shot.