700BDL Varmint Special ?

[Brians356]

It has U LZ 30 on barrel code

Normally the two (or three) letter group is the date code (Mo/Yr). Here the 'L' denotes February, the 'Z' either 1931, 1975, or 2005.

PS The leading 'U' is an inspection stamp. The trailing "30" is an assembly number.

https://www.gunvaluesboard.com/remington-barrel-date-codes-date-of-manufacture-2164.html

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[Bill Clifton]

I grew up with a 700BDL varmint special in 223. Hated when my uncle traded it.

I later picked up a 222 of my own and then added a 22-250 and still have both of those although I've considered selling the 22-250. I'm more into custom rifles now but will have to keep the deuce just to have an old 700 varmint special for old times sake.

 

[Ray123]

I had 2 varmint specials 1972 .25-06 and another 1974 .222 and a BDL in .222
Both The Varmint Special's are now, no longer.
I Used their 700 actions for a 6mm dasher and long action 308 target rifle builds.

 

[Infrequent Shooter]

Only one data point, but (as described above) I have a 700 Varmint Special in 6mm Rem from 1967, the first year of V. S. production. It does not have holes drilled near the muzzle of its 24" blued heavy barrel.
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been a while, but thank you for answer. Another way to date 700s is the flat safety vs rounded safety. I used to know some dates. I want to say about 1967 or thereabouts, could be later.

 

[sw282]

Recently picked up a new barreled action 700Varmint in 222R/24'' with no bolt or trigger. When all parts come together it will be going into an As-New old style BDL skip line Varmint stock

 

[Carl S]

My first centre fire rifle and one of my favourites.223 with home loads it would shoot in the low 3s.i think 1in12 twist.great rifle.

 

[Bob3700]

I had a late 60s 700VS in 22/250. Then decided that I wanted to get into Pre-64 M-70 Winchester Varmints. The Remington habit was cheaper!

 

[alf]

In a related vein......

Did earlier or any Varmint Specials have any factory bedding under the barrel shank like this?

 

[drover]

I have owned a few Vamint Specials that I purchased new and I never saw one with any bedding work from the factory.

drover

 

[alf]

I have owned a few Vamint Specials that I purchased new and I never saw one with any bedding work from the factory.

drover

Thanks Drover,

The reason I asked was, back in the 80's I bought a used Remington 40-X Rimfire, born in Sept of 83.

It came with a BDL stock with the skip line checkering from that era, and it is the one pictured above with the bedding under the shank. I called the custom shop to inquire whether it came from the factory or not. They could not confirm one way or the other, but did say it was possible, as they didn't document the stock variants. I drew a blank also when I posed the question on Rimfire Central.

I thought if I ever sold the gun, I would like to authenticate the history for the description, but it looks like I can't get a definitive answer.

 

[snert]

The 40x was made as a sporter in 22. I doubt that anyone would fail to recognize it as such as they are SWEEET, and rare. Lots of 40X 22's got put in 700 stocks.

I am surprised that Rem couldn't verify, but then again those rifles were built by long term craftsmen and Remington eventually got rid of just about everyone who would remember. The Remington of 2000 was not the Remington of 70-80.

Sorry that you cannot verify it.

I do know that the sporter came in varied degrees of fancy...the one I know most of is really a gem.

 

[nakneker]

I’ve had a few of the Remington varmint specials, only had one that had trouble shooting small. I’ve sold or traded most of them. Kept a couple older remingtons though. This one isn’t a heavy barrel, it’s a sporter in 222. It has the flat safety, dull bottom metal, aluminum butt plate and that distinctive checkering. Walked into a pawn shop and it was sitting there, they had just put it on the shelf. Didn't pay very much either. I know Remingtons aren’t what they used to be put I have a soft spot for the older ones and many from the 80s and 90s too.

An early 223 is a rare bird, sounds like fun to me.

 

[alf]

My 40-X is a perfect example of the early Remington BDL Varmints from the 80's, with the 24" heavy barrel and high gloss bluing. I traded a pistol & some cash for it at the local gun shop. It had a Unertl scope on top, but I wasn't interested in it, so I made the deal w/o it.

I removed the original stock & put it in the gun cabinet, and replaced it with a McMillan. Currently have a Nightforce 40 MOA base on top, with Seekins rings holding a Sightron SIII in 6x24x50. A fantastic shooter even with bulk Federal HP's.

I know all about Remington 40-X Rimfire Sporters, as I'm one of the few to ever own one. I bought it from the original owner shortly after picking up this one. Sold it several years ago, as the prices were climbing so high I was scared to take it out of the safe.

 

[nakneker]

My 40-X is a perfect example of the early Remington BDL Varmints from the 80's, with the 24" heavy barrel and high gloss bluing. I traded a pistol & some cash for it at the local gun shop. It had a Unertl scope on top, but I wasn't interested in it, so I made the deal w/o it.

I removed the original stock & put it in the gun cabinet, and replaced it with a McMillan. Currently have a Nightforce 40 MOA base on top, with Seekins rings holding a Sightron SIII in 6x24x50. A fantastic shooter even with bulk Federal HP's.

I know all about Remington 40-X Rimfire Sporters, as I'm one of the few to ever own one. I bought it from the original owner shortly after picking up this one. Sold it several years ago, as the prices were climbing so high I was scared to take it out of the safe.

Beautiful!

 

[Big Mc]

Hey all! I was looking at a very early 700BDL Varmint in 223 this afternoon. I was in a hurry, and didn't think to grab date codes, but it looked late 60s. Does anyone know what the twist rate was in these? A range of values would also be helpfull.
Thanks in advance for any help.

Run the SN by Rem. Stright from the factory Tommy Mc

 

[snert]

I’ve had a few of the Remington varmint specials, only had one that had trouble shooting small. I’ve sold or traded most of them. Kept a couple older remingtons though. This one isn’t a heavy barrel, it’s a sporter in 222. It has the flat safety, dull bottom metal, aluminum butt plate and that distinctive checkering. Walked into a pawn shop and it was sitting there, they had just put it on the shelf. Didn't pay very much either. I know Remingtons aren’t what they used to be put I have a soft spot for the older ones and many from the 80s and 90s too.

An early 223 is a rare bird, sounds like fun to me.

That looks like my VS, only a sporter

 

[freebird22/250]

I know this is an old post however, I'm wondering what pattern is on this 700BDL Varmint Special .222REM?View attachment 1045884

Fluer di lis

 

[Brians356]

Fluer di lis

The fleur de lis pattern was impressed into the wood rather than engraved. It was likely a cost saving change, and not universally well received, but now it seems to have become more acceptable and prices for those 700s seem on par with comparables with cut checkering.
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[snert]

Russels example is not FDL. Post #52, Nakneker's is.

 

[snert]

The FDL is french for lily, and it looks like a cartoon flower.