Ultra Varmint 22 Mag questions

[gewehrfreund]

I just picked up a used, like new with box ultra varmint in 22 Magnum. I like the heft and solid feel of these rifles better than the lighter sportster. My questions are these:

This gun appears to be from around 2005, as that's the date on the extra barrel price sheet. Did all of these come with checkered fore ends? The fore end on mine is not checkered, but the stock is.

Is H&R still making the Ultra Varmint in 22 Mag? I can't find any for sale anywhere on the internet, nor do I see any recent sales on the auction sites.

Are the triggers normally good on these? I couldn't believe how light and crisp the one on my gun is.

And finally, I paid $180 for this one. Good deal, bad deal, or average?

Thanks for any insights.

[quickdtoo]

That's a good price, they quit offering them in 2008, the forend should be checkered, I'm sure you can trade your smooth forend for a checkered version in the H&R WTT forum tho, lots of members looking for the smooth forend to match their Boyd's thumbhole stocks. Triggers are hit and miss, some are heavy, some are nice, lots in between. You can determine when it was made by the serial number prefix list in the FAQs and Help sticky.

Tim

[gewehrfreund]

Thanks for the response Tim. I did find the info on manufacture date after I posted - this one is from 2006. So it sounds like they're not going to be making this version any more, just the sportster. That makes me even more glad that I got this one.
I'll try to get a range report posted when I get some good (calm) weather and a chance to do some extended testing. If anyone has any suggestions for best ammo choices, I'd be interested.
Lance

[gcrank1]

If you do a little 'woodworking' on the pistol grip to frame area to match its fit up better you could end up with a non-checkered buttstock to match your forestock.
I use mostly Win 'Dynapoints' in mine. They run about 1500fps (chrono'ed) and are a ballistic equiv. of the old .22WCF. They are a 'flash plated' 45gr. lead HP, not a jacketed bullet like the faster real .22WMR. For those I have Win. Super-X, 40gr solid and HP but am going to try the Fed(?) 33gr and CCI 30ish(?) as I read they make it a whole new cartridge. I just saw the Federal at Walmart for about $16/50 though and didnt buy them (yet).
I think you got a good deal.

[dorothy daily]

best price i have found for cci is at surplusammo.com. it is sold as bvac, but will have the "c". it is $79.99 plus shipping of about $12.00 for a brick of 500. it is accurate in a couple of mine and not in another.