The UK's Finest Independent Forum for Shooters and Gun Owners. Est 2010.

My gamekeeper buddy has lost his job and, whatever else is going on in his life, this leaves me with no foxing to do for the first time in 15-odd years. Given his age (and mine) this might well draw a permanent line under things and I need to think about what I'm going to do with a dedicated foxing rifle. It was built for me by Riflecraft as a heavy barrelled .22/250 in a Chaote Supersniper stock. The TMR1 is basically a blueprinted Remington 700 and has a Rifle Basix trigger.

Putting aside the transferable parts - scope and mounts, bipod, Reflex T8, I'm left with a heavy rifle which spits 55gn VMax at 3600+fps with 1/4" group accuracy. I can't use it on MoD gallery ranges as it's over the template on energy/MV.

What do I do with it other than sell it on? I could rebarrel it but I have a .308 which I can use for FTR, I have a stalker in .243 and .308, I have a 6BR which I can use for F Class. The stock doesn't suit front machine rests: I could re-stock it for bag riding but where does that take me?

I'm hoping that m'buddy gets back into a keepering job so I'll again have the need for a heavy truck gun but right now I'm looking at options.

You can always put a wide footprint front bipod on and still shoot F Open with it as long as it is under 10kgs. Nowhere does it say you need to shoot off a front rest, what is the twist of the barrel?

ovenpaa wrote:You can always put a wide footprint front bipod on and still shoot F Open with it as long as it is under 10kgs. Nowhere does it say you need to shoot off a front rest, what is the twist of the barrel?

Well, yes, my Dolphin bipod would replace the Harris field bipod. Without actually hopping on the bathroom scales 10kg might be iffy and the barrel is the standard 14" twist. I'm pretty much stuck with 50-55gn bullets.

The crux of my dilemma is that if I was to rechamber I'd go up to something 7mm ish - but would I elect to build such a gun on a Remmy 700 action? I know it's good at its job but it's kinda like starting from the wrong place. If I upgrade the action that's an even wronger place to start from!!

I was thinking of maybe chambering in something else and keeping the barrel but you will struggle with such a slow twist.

Personally I would go for a 22-6,5x47 and 80 grain SMK's but you need to go to 1:8 - It would make a great F Open rifle.

Why do anything with it? Keep it. Download it slightly or use a different load to make range specs and bang targets out to 600 comfortably. Then, when you see something you really do want, sell this or part-ex it!

And as you said, circs may change....

"Ring, ring, ring, ring. Hello, I've got the job back........"

Sim G wrote:Why do anything with it? Keep it. Download it slightly or use a different load to make range specs and bang targets out to 600 comfortably.

But the standard twist .22/250 is a bit of a one trick pony - 55grainers around 3600fps. 50gn bullets a tad faster, anything heavier is unlikely to stabilise beyond plinking performance sadly.

Sim G wrote: Then, when you see something you really do want, sell this or part-ex it!

When? What's this word when?? hahaha

Sim G wrote:And as you said, circs may change....

"Ring, ring, ring, ring. Hello, I've got the job back........"

One can hope. For his sake, I hope.

tikkathreebarrels wrote:But the standard twist .22/250 is a bit of a one trick pony - 55grainers around 3600fps. 50gn bullets a tad faster, anything heavier is unlikely to stabilise beyond plinking performance sadly.

Nah, don't give up so easy, man!! I ran a .22-250 purely for target not so long ago. Loaded 55gn bullets with IMR4227 and IMR4198 at a gnat's cock under 3200fps. Same performance area as .223, below range MV limit and banged v-bulls all day out to 600!!

As you may detect, nothing's happening in a hurry here but:

Just taken the TMR1 out to take photos prior to putting her up for sale. sign85

I've found my original Riflecraft invoice dated April 2005. So, I have a blueprinted Remmy 700 action, big bolt handle, riflebasix trigger, Choate Super Sniper Stock. I reckon I've put not more than 100 rounds a year through. That takes a foxing trip say 40 out of 52 weeks (weather taking care of the rest) and sundry zeroing/wind practising sessions, so a .22/250 rifle with 700 rounds through is let's say one third the way through its barrel life. I can sell it as is, or...

I can sell a lovely Tikka Supersporter M65 308 with fluted barrel which in terms of age is getting on a bit and though still shooting V Bulls at 600 when I do my bit is clearly much nearer to the old folks' home than the TMR1.

Sell one and rebarrel the other? I have an affection for the M65 which I don't have for the Remmy, yet there's a bit of commonsense telling me that upgrading the Remmy is the better option. A change of stock would enable transition from bipod to machine rest.

I like this suggestion: "22-6,5x47 and 80 grain SMK's but you need to go to 1:8 - It would make a great F Open rifle." but surely there's going to be an issue with wind?

What would you do?

tikkathreebarrels wrote:As you may detect, nothing's happening in a hurry here but:

Just taken the TMR1 out to take photos prior to putting her up for sale. sign85

I've found my original Riflecraft invoice dated April 2005. So, I have a blueprinted Remmy 700 action, big bolt handle, riflebasix trigger, Choate Super Sniper Stock. I reckon I've put not more than 100 rounds a year through. That takes a foxing trip say 40 out of 52 weeks (weather taking care of the rest) and sundry zeroing/wind practising sessions, so a .22/250 rifle with 700 rounds through is let's say one third the way through its barrel life. I can sell it as is, or...

I can sell a lovely Tikka Supersporter M65 308 with fluted barrel which in terms of age is getting on a bit and though still shooting V Bulls at 600 when I do my bit is clearly much nearer to the old folks' home than the TMR1.

Sell one and rebarrel the other? I have an affection for the M65 which I don't have for the Remmy, yet there's a bit of commonsense telling me that upgrading the Remmy is the better option. A change of stock would enable transition from bipod to machine rest.

I like this suggestion: "22-6,5x47 and 80 grain SMK's but you need to go to 1:8 - It would make a great F Open rifle." but surely there's going to be an issue with wind?

What would you do?

Well here she is. I'm on the cusp of putting her up for sale...

If the idea of a bit of F class appeals, than I'm with Ovenpaa on this one. rebarrel it, and then shoot it. In terms of wind, running a calibre like that you won't really suffer. Personally I wouldn't use the 80 SMK because there are better bullets out there.

I'd suggest a 1:7 barrel, and experiment with both 80s and 90s. If you could get the 90gr VLD to shoot, you would have a rifle pushing a BC of .551 at 3250fps, which would be very good indeed!