
Remington Model 700 BDL 6mm Rem 20” Bolt Action Rifle, MFD 1963 C&R
SOLD FOR: $3,032.00
LSB#: 240524CS002
Make: Remington
Model: 700 BDL
Serial Number: 58971
Year of Manufacture: 1963
Caliber: The barrel was originally marked for 6mm Remington Magnum. The “MAG” marking has been overstruck. We were not able to confirm if the chamber has been converted. Please have the chamber cast to verify the correct caliber before firing.
Action Type: Bolt Action Rifle fed by Internal Magazine
Barrel Length: 20”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a beaded blade dovetailed into a serrated ramped base which is screwed to the barrel. The front sight base is installed with a protective hood. The rear iron sight has been removed leaving two drilled, tapped and filled holes at the top rear of the barrel. The top of the receiver is drilled, tapped and installed with a two-piece base and rings holding a Weaver K6 60-C scope with a crosshair reticle. The scope body has a few light nicks and handling marks. The scope glass is in need of proper cleaning.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stock is a one-piece fleur-de-lis checkered refinished walnut featuring an ebony forend tip, a capped semi-pistol grip, a fluted Monte Carlo style comb with cheek piece, a metal buttplate and sling studs at the forend and belly. The wood shows light nicks, scratches, compressions and some minor handling and storage marks. There are some patches of surface finish loss. The checkering has a few light blemishes but overall remains distinct. There are no chips or cracks. The LOP measures 13 1/4” from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The stock is in Very Good Plus overall condition as refinished.
Type of Finish: Blue
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is semi-bright and the rifling is sharp. There is some stubborn fouling but no erosion in the bore. In this writer’s opinion, this bore rates a 9 or 10 out of 10.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 97% of its metal finish. The balance of the finish shows light nicks, scratches and handling marks. There are some scattered specks of light surface oxidation. The screw heads are sharp. The markings are mostly clear with a few spots of shallow or worn but legible markings. Overall, this rifle is in Very Good Plus condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We did not fire this firearm. We have cleaned this firearm and performed a mechanic’s check but expect many will want to clean the firearm again depending on their standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This rifle comes with the Weaver K6 60-C scope and a brown leather sling installed via QD mounts at the sling studs. There are some patches of verdigris forming around the brass fixture of the sling.
Our Assessment: The Remington 700 needs no introduction, it has been one of the most popular bolt action rifles in America for decades, seeing use in target shooting, hunting, and in law enforcement. Remington had been producing sporting rifles for decades, but their Post-WWI Model 30 Sporter took too much time and money to make, plus it required too much milling. After WWII they designed the Model 721 which used a receiver made of bar stock, meaning it could be turned on a lathe, cutting production time and cost. The basic design of the 721 went through further developments under the direction of engineer Mike Walker, and Remington went on to produce the Model 722 and Model 725, and finally, in 1962, the Model 700 was born. With the design, Walker desired to increase accuracy over previous designs so tight bore & chamber tolerances, a short leade, and fast lock time were used. Since its inception in 1962, it has been produced in just about any caliber and configuration you could think of. If it hasn’t there are custom parts and gunsmiths out there to get it exactly how you like.
This one is an early C&R example with an unjewleled bolt and a different profile bolt handle. This example is originally chambered in 6mm Remington Magnum, but may have been converted based on the altered barrel marking. We were unable to confirm whether or not the chamber has been converted and recommend having the chamber cast to verify the correct caliber. In 1963 Winchester launched their counter-offensive and put out the .300 Win. Mag. to try and catch up. Remington had already been crushing it with sales of the 870 and had introduced a philosophy, which is still used today, of parts interchangeability. Perhaps the Remington 700 was the proverbial “straw that broke the camel’s back” for Winchester. It likely didn’t hurt that the 700 was new and nobody had preconceived notions of what it should be while the Model 70 was already beloved and was being changed for the worse, but nonetheless, Winchester zigged and Remington zagged. A year after the .300 Win Mag was put to market, the onslaught from Remington was too much, Winchester cut costs and streamlined manufacturing across the board (most collectors already know this as it spurred the Winchester collecting terms Pre-64 and Post-64) while the Big Green scaled up and had out three variants with numerous calibers in the early 1960s. The ADL, BDL, and BDL Magnum. Introductory prices for standard calibers were $114.95 for the ADL and $139.95 for the BDL. Prices for magnum versions of the BDL were $154.95 for the .264 Win. Mag., 7 mm Rem. Mag and .300 Win. Mag. and $310 for the .375 H&H Mag. and .458 Win. Mag. In the first three years alone, rifles in the hot new 7mm Rem Mag outsold the tried and true .30-06 and .270 Win…combined! The old Magnum 700s were even made of stainless steel, but the hunters of the day did not want anything but blued finishes, something that sounds funny today. As the old adage goes “when money talks, people listen.”, and instead of doing less like competitors, Remington did more. Remington sure did listen and went to great expense to layer on coats of different material so that the blue would adhere to the stainless guns.
The 700 is a classic in the truest sense of the word and has seen its fair share of use in just about any role you could imagine a bolt action rifle being used for. It has shaped firearms history as mentioned above and has been a mainstay in movies, TV, and videogames. It shows no signs of falling out of favor after its meteoric rise, and even after Remington filed for bankruptcy and restructured, new models can be found on their new website. This is a piece of history, both firearms and American, and something everyone needs at least one of. If you don’t have one yet, why not? This 700 BDL has seen some honest use and has a good bore. This is a great 700 to pick up, no matter if it’s your first or fiftieth. Please see our photos and good luck in your bidding!
-J. Ren
