Questions about old Model 700

[sa doc]

Hey guys,
    I recently won an older model 700 in 7mm mag as a door prize and was wondering if anyone could tell me when it was made or anything about the scope.
   Serial number is 6264xxx.   markings on barrel just in front of receiver are 3WS12.    There is no floorplate or  black cap on the stock, so I assume its an ADL.  The bluing is gone in places and   there are a few dings on the stock, but everything feels tight, and the crown and rifling look good.
   The scope is a Bausch and Lomb BALVAR   8B   2.5-8pwr. (I'd guess it is 36 0r 40mm objective)
What is the combo worth?   
Any ideas as to the quality of the scope or when it was made.
This is my first 7mm mag, so any recommendations as to factory ammo for deer  (where I hunt a mature buck is 170-220 lbs live weight).
What kind of accuracy can I expect?
Its a right handed gun and I shoot lefty, so I haven't decided if I'll keep the gun or trade it.
Thanks,
SA

[james25889]

with the markings on the barrel i come up with it is a march 1972 model and it does sound like a adl. i know nothing about those scopes i shoot 150 gr winchesters out of my 7mm but mine is a sako.all the 700's i shot were good shooters. congrats on the door prize i wish i would have won it.

[Luckyducker]

saDoc, the only experience I have with a Balvar scope is the one that was on an old custom rifle I bought from a guy and had rebarreled to a different cartridge.   The scope was trash, as in the seals were compromised.   It had the Balvar mounts with the windage and elevation adjustments in the mounts, as the scope itself wasn't adjustable.   I have heard they were a sought after scope back in the day but don't compare to decent optics made now.    If your Balvar still has a good sight picture I don't think you should change it.   I believe that older custom from that fella was put together in the sixties, probably no earlier than 65 because it was chambered in 308NM.    I have never played with a 7Mag so can't offer any loading or ammunition advise.   If your new old rifle has the walnut stock it is probably the 700 ADL Deluxe which used the same action as the BDL but having different bottom metal, as in no hinged magazine floor plate.   I have one of these chambered in 30/06Sprgfd and it is accurate and not a bit picky about factory or hand loaded ammo.    Good luck with your free rifle.

[Silvertp]

Congradulations on your prize.

I had a Rem. 700 bdl 7mm mag made in 1971.  It was one of the best rifles I ever had.  I shot 160 grain sierra handloads with 4831 powder.  I can remember getting a 10 shot 1" group when it was new and the gun seemed to shoot even better as it broke in.

I messed up and got into jackrabbit shooting and shot the original factory barrel out.  Replaced it with a Remington Custom bbl that never shot worth a darn, and eventually replaced the custom with a shilen that shot as good as the original.

Took a lot of game with that rifle, but ended up trading it for a horse, that by the way sent me to the emergency room twice with a busted up body.  Shoulda kept the gun.

Good shooting to ya!

Silvertp

[300HH]

I have two Rem 700's one is the same caliber as yours, very accurate shooters for the 7mm I use H4831sc 60gr and Nosler 160gr Accubond and that combo gives me 3 holes touching at 100 yards. The accubond bullet works great for me on everything from Whitetail deer to Moose.

[sa doc]

Thanks guys.
   It looks like the gun is a keeper.  I cleaned the barrel (it was pretty rusty ,but looked good after cleaning) and lowered the trigger pull to about 3 lbs. It looked like the action had never been out of the stock. The scope was very clear after cleaning the lenses and a little focusing.
     I bought a few boxes of shells to try, and got lucky with my first try.   I shot four 3-shot groups at 100 yards with the Hornady 139 grain boattail interlocks. Three of the groups were 3/4 inch and one was 1 1/4 inch. This was  off the tailgate of a truck with  about a 10mph crosswind. Not bad for a 40yo rifle with no mods except adjusting the trigger and only an 8x scope.   I also tried 1 group with 150gr Federal (blue box), but it was  1 3/4 inch's.
    I took the gun to my blind yesterday afternoon and rolled a doe at 149 yards. I didn't recover the bullet, but it looked like there was good expansion and it was an instant kill.  Has anyone tried the 139 gr Hornadys on bigger deer or elk?

[Silvertp]

sa doc....I'd say you got a keeper.  Wait until you try that rifle off a bench on a calm day.  That doe will be just the first of many game animals for you as the rifle and caliber won't let you down.

As for 139 gr. Hornady's...your gonna have to try them and let me know.  I do have a 7mag now that really likes them and I intend to use them on big bucks above timberline one of these days, they should perform like a lightning bold on a big bodied buck, but for now all Ive done is poke holes-in-paper. 

The 139's should work well on elk as well, but a big bull elk is nothing to take lightly and I really prefer  the heavier 160 and 175gr bullets in the 7mag.  One sixties' in a good bullet give you everything that a 7mag is about.  Long range, flat trajectory, power and penetration.  I only switched to 175's when I was hunting in Alaska and wanted to be on the heavy side in case of bear problems. 

Silvertp