Am buying used .22-250

[RefLuddite]

Have just become new member, 1st post. What are your thoughts re: used
.22-250 Ruger M77? It has 1-14 twist, 20 inch Thick barrel with a Bushnel
2.5-8 ScopeChief VI. It belongs to a man I trust. What would be a fair price in US $. I will use it for coyotes, skunk, porkupine and plinking on my land.

I am very happy I found this site and have spent the last couple of days
reading these threads, thank you.

[918v]

Sounds like a Mad Max type of gun. If the stock and the action are in good shape, give him $150. Then have it rebarreled with a decent tube and get a good scope.

[BUSTER51]

Ask him how many shot it has on it and check the barrel for wear(if you don't know what to look for take it to a gunsmith and let him look at it ). the 22-250 has a tendency to burn out barrels . if it passes inspection $225.00 to $300.00 should be about right. dump the scope and get something better .

[Art Eatman]

Sorta guessing, but that slow a twist would work best with bullets of 40 to 50 grains or so. Probably start having the groups open up at 55 to 60 grains. But, like I say, it's a guess.

With the bolt out. look at the rifling at the very front of the chamber. You'll se the chamber getting smaller with its taper, then the smooth area where the neck of the cartridge fits, and then the beginning of the rifling. The beginning of the rifling is called the leade or throat. This shouldn't show signs of being burned or pitted; the edges of the rifling should be sharp.

The next thing to check is the crown of the muzzle. There should be no dings in the metal near the bore.

If the thorat show some signs of buring, a gunsmith can cut more thread and set the barrel back and then ream the chamber--and it's like new. It's not a major job, if the gunsmith is competent and has a lathe. Same for the crown of the muzzle. It's easily recut.

As for the scope? Try it, and then think of saving up to go to something like a Leupold VX II and magnification of, say, 4x14.

Years back I bought a Ruger 77 heavy barrel in .220 Swift. It was a tack-driver, and one of the few guns I regret trading off...

Art

[Harley Quinn]

Check it over as has been said. The gun is well worth $300.00.
Take it out and shoot it before you purchase, you may have an out, if it does not shoot well, or it is a sale if it does. Don't mess a friend ship over a few bucks.:) IMO

HQ

[Jim Watson]

I have a Ruger 77V .22-250 with Bushnell Trophy 6-18 that is quite accurate. The 14 twist is meant for 55 grain factory loads and mine handles bullets up to 60 grain flatbase spitzers and the blunt 70 grain Speer.

However, mine and all other 77Vs I have seen in person or catalogued had 24 inch barrels (26 inch for .220 Swift.) Double check the length or examine the crown to see if it were properly shortened. That will cost you some velocity, 100-200 fps.

Since the rifle is second hand, insist on him letting you try before you buy. If it shoots accurately, the only question is how much barrel life is left. If it does not, you know that it needs a new barrel straight away and can decide to buy it for the action or can walk away.

[918v]

Before you fork out $300...

http://www.gunsamerica.com/guns/976627108.htm

[MPH]

Never had any luck with the 22-250 but my Ruger V77 220 Swift is my most accurate rifle. Bought it used in near perfect condition. Must have been what Art Eatman traded off:D

[Samuel_Hoggson]

Target and varmint rifles wear from the inside out. That is, they tend to look really nice externally despite being beat to death internally. True of target shotguns, also.

Be very careful before spending more than the stock and action alone are worth. I would assume it will need a new barrel. Obviously, if you have access to a borescope you can buy with confidence.

Sam

[Picher]

Not all Ruger 77s shoot well. The ones that don't get sold off. Be sure to get a trial period, so you check it out on the range.

Frankly, after working on several 77s, I'd buy a Remington or Tikka, but if it shoots well, buy it.

BTW, I've had two .22-250s and though I didn't shoot it at the range a whole lot, the barrels held up quite well. You shouldn't get the barrel hotter than comfortable to keep your hand on it, but that applies to any caliber of fine shooting rifles.

Picher

[918v]

Or get a used Savage.

[RefLuddite]

I have decided to get the rifle as I now know it's history from first owner who used around 100 rounds to my friends dad (2nd) whom I knew well. He put about 3 thousand rounds through it before he passed. At the range it shoots dime sized holes at 100 yards with a 40 bullet and 4350 IMR.

The lands at the throat look crisp with little wear and no signs of burning or pitting. In fact the inside looks much better than the stock and barrel, good thing I'm after accuracy rather than a looker cause that's what I'm getting. He didn't do much cleaning until his groups began to expand.

This will replace the Sako .17 I had use of for several years which was super fun to shoot and extremely accurate. I got several coyotes out to about 225 yards and numerous Starlings, looks like a puff of fluff after being hit.

Anyway, I just wanted to thank all of you for your time and responses.

[dgc940]

just go and shoot it first! take him with you if you know him that well he wont mind! I LUV MY 22-250!

[918v]

I am retarded. I'm so sorry for trying to dissuade you from buying a shot-out 22-250. Crisp rifling at the throat after 3000 rounds? You must have a rifle made by Jesus Christ himself.

[TJ Freak]

Gotta agree with 918 3,000 rnds. It's shot out.

[Mal H]

"It's shot out."

Not necessarily. Sounds like the previous owner was a reloader from the statement "40 bullet and 4350 IMR". He might have made some mild loads for target practice. I do that and have many thousands of rounds through my Remington 788. The barrel is in excellent condition.

Only a good bore examination will determine if it is shot out, not guessing about it.

[dgc940]

Not trying to steal the thread but Im hoping to get 1200-1500 from mine before needing new tube! is this unrealistic using 55grn factory loads? am I dreaming? My barrel is heavy and fluted and I DONT overheat it.

[Harley Quinn]

it is certainly not shot out.
But if that is only someone telling you the story you should shoot it first,
yourself. What is the story of the 20" barrel?

HQ

[Samuel_Hoggson]

DGC,

Assuming a new good quality barrel and loads that are not pushing the ragged edge (or over the top) you can expect to get peak accuracy from a .22-250 to at least 3000 rds. Assume no rapid fire drills - excellent cleaning habits. By 4000 rds accuracy will likely start to deteriorate, but you may be surprised to discover just how far a good .22 CF barrel can go till it stays above MOA.

Sam

[918v]

The fact that the barrel is 20" tells it all. Cutting 2-4 inches off the front will restore accuracy for a while. Rifles wear at the throat and up front. The throat moves forward, while the front of the bore becomes oval. At a certain point accuracy goes to hell, but no one knows whether the front or the rear is to blame more. In any case, cutting the barrel up front will restore accuracy, but it is still shot out. I bet ya if you run a scope through it you'll change your mind.

In any case, the rifle is not worth $300, maybe $150 if he's really your friend.

[Harley Quinn]

Quite a few reloaders myself included. Buy a rifle with a proven record and
a certain cartridge that can be the ultimate horse power but not on every shot.
They will load in the area of 80% and are going for accuracy.

The 22-250 is one of those that found the niche of many reloaders and shooters.
If going for 100% all the time the barrel is going to show a lot of throat erosion already.
According to your response about the # of rounds fired.

But since it does not show the signs, it is pretty much a given that it has not had the hot loads pushed through it.
4350 is a good powder and it is not going to cause the type of throat erosion that other powders do.
I believe you could still get good results from a heavier bullet, just find the right load.

Factory loads are underpowered and don't usually cause a lot of damage.
Liability being a biggie.

Good luck. Money being between you and your friend, so it is up to you.
But the one thing I am curious about is the barrel length. 918v has a point.

HQ

[RefLuddite]

I'm kind of guessing at barrel length as I don't know how to measure it properly. If I measure it from crown to where it is threaded into the receiver it measures 23 1/4". The length I gave was an estimate to where the bullet might be when locked. I am also (along with my friend) guessing how many rounds went through it. His dad was a reloader and the one that used the most, he was instrumental in getting our gun range built and it is named after him. Anything his son (my friend) tells me is to the best of his knowledge, I would trust him with my life or anything else. Money with him is of no real consequence, I just need to know if it, (the rifle) is still good. They never rapid fire and helped me learn about proper gun safety and use. I will probably take it to a gunsmith in the area if he's still around.

[Jim Watson]

Official barrel length is from the muzzle to the bolt face, measured with a rod down the barrel, chamber included, NOT the distance of bullet travel. It undoubtedly has the stock 24 inch barrel and it has not been sawn off.

The way to know if it is still "good" is to shoot it. That will not tell you how much longer it will be good for, but that is the best that can be done by remote control. Suggest you buy it, enjoy it, and when it is worn out, buy a new barrel for it. A rifle barrel is not a "til death do us part" proposition, many competitive target shooters replace theirs every year.

[Harley Quinn]

That is good I think you have a winner. :D Just shoot a 5 shot group at 25 or 50 yds and see if they are all touching should give you a good idea.:)
HQ

[TPAW]

Any doubts, have a local gunsmith check it out.

[RefLuddite]

SO very nice to know how to measure barrel length. I am going to buy it and enjy my time with it replacing the barrel when needed. Will do some groups as suggested and will let you know Mon or Tue. Thanks to everyone for their feedback.

[kennybs plbg]

I think you need more scope for a 22-250, buy it and sell me the Scopechief. I would be very interested in purchasing it from you if it is in good shape. I have been looking for one in 2-1/2 by 8 for some time. Please PM me if your going to upgrade.

kenny b