I need some advice on what this rifle is worth

[goodoleboy]

My late grandfather passed away when I was about 7 years old. He was a gunsmith and after my grandmother passed away, his old target rifle fell to me. He died before I was able to ask him anything about it or what it would be worth. I have ABSOLUTELY NO intention of selling it, but for insurance purposes I would like to know roughly what it is worth. Here's what do know about the specs on the gun.
BBL: Flaig's Bull BBL chambered for .220 Swift
Action: Large Ring Mauser (Oberndorf manufactured in 1937 with Waffen Stamps intact and unpeened)
Stock: Custom-made (by my grandfather): Monte-Carlo style walnut, glass-bedded and free floated
Trigger: Timney
Scope: Unertl straight 12 power target scope (looks to be somewhat dated)

Here are some pics

http://s1245.photobucket.com/albums/gg598/sluderda/



Any help would be appreciated. As mentioned, I have no intentions of selling it.

[orkan]

I'm no expert at valuing firearms... so take this with a grain of salt.

That is a very unique rifle, in excellent condition.

I would put its value between 2000-2500. Possibly more. That scope alone is worth 750 or better.

Shoot it sparingly. That 220 swift doesn't **** around.

[taliv]

wow. cool rifle. no idea what it's worth, but i would have loved to have met your grandfather too.

as orkan said, shoot it sparingly. you'll change barrels on a swift like underwear and that's one barrel you wouldn't want to change. i wouldn't shoot it at all.

[goodoleboy]

wow. cool rifle. no idea what it's worth, but i would have loved to have met your grandfather too.

as orkan said, shoot it sparingly. you'll change barrels on a swift like underwear and that's one barrel you wouldn't want to change. i wouldn't shoot it at all.

Yeah, he was a fine man from what I know of him. I'm 33 and he died when I was 7. I know the least about him than any of my grandparents and he appears to be the one I would have shared the most in common with. I really wish I could have learned his trade from him.

One more stupid question: I know that th .220 Swift once had a reputation for being a barrel burner. I've only put about 40 rounds through it and it is accurate (about 3/4 MOA by my calculations). With practice, I know I could get way better with it, but I am afraid of ruining the BBL in the process. What kind of life expectancy can I expect before I burn the throat out of it (considering I shoot mild to mediocre loads and allow plenty of time between shots)?

[rundm]

If you are not running it up at its limits, you can get a good amount of rounds out of it. Many people thought that barrels were shot out on swifts because they weren't cleaned and groups opened up.

[orkan]

Even with a mild load, running a 55 at about 3600... it's going to eat barrels.

My guess would be 2000rnds tops. ... and I'm betting you don't know how many rounds it already has on it.

If you ran it up around 3800-4000 where it's suppose to be... 1500 max. That rifle deserves its own display case.

[lethal dose]

I'd retire that beauty. The swift round has been known to burn barrels out in less then 1k rounds... Especially older barrels or barrels utilizing lessee quality metals. Hang it up and admire it.

[goodoleboy]

Even with a mild load, running a 55 at about 3600... it's going to eat barrels.

My guess would be 2000rnds tops. ... and I'm betting you don't know how many rounds it already has on it.

If you ran it up around 3800-4000 where it's suppose to be... 1500 max. That rifle deserves its own display case.

I have no clue what the round count is. I do know that this rifle was his baby. According to my grandmother, he wanted to build his dream rifle for his retirement, and this was it. He wasn't a target shooter, but he did like to hunt groundhogs in the mountains where shots beyond 300 yards were the norm, not the exception. The biggest shame was that when he built the gun, he was no longer able to carry it. My dad lugged it around on the few hunting trips he had left. Being a gunsmith, I am sure he was aware of the limitations of that cartridge and wouldn't shoot it in a manner that would cause undue stress on the BBL. He died in 1986, and my Dad (who was a competitive marksman in his younger years) mothballed it till I could get old enough to appreciate it. Thus, until I put those 40 rounds through it (spread out through several range trips with no more than 10-15 rounds per trip) recently, it hadn't been fired in nearly 30 years. From what I could tell, my Dad cleaned all the copper out of the bore (I don't know why) and I am pretty sure it hasn't been shot enough to tighten the groups up to where it should be. But, I guess I have no intentions of shooting it extensively. I would like to see just how tight the groups could get with that rifle. From my trials, it shot about 3/4 MOA at 100 yards, but that is nothing near what that thing is capable of. I am sure it is well capable of <1/2 MOA, or better. I just don't want to wear it out to get it there. I guess this rifle will spend the rest of my life doing little more than looking pretty in the safe.

[Allen]

I guess this rifle will spend the rest of my life doing little more than looking pretty in the safe.

Until you have a kid, or a niece/nephew who appreciates it. Wait an extra generation if you have too, I've had a very similar experience with my grandfathers .219 I Zipper that he used for woodchuck hunting.
Allen

[goodoleboy]

Until you have a kid, or a niece/nephew who appreciates it. Wait an extra generation if you have too, I've had a very similar experience with my grandfathers .219 I Zipper that he used for woodchuck hunting.
Allen

Yeah, I have a little one that just turned 9 months old last week. He'd get a kick out of it when he gets older. I shoot left handed and that Monte-Carlo stock is made for a right-handed shooter. The way he carved it, it isn't that uncomfortable for a southpaw, but I admit I do look a little stupid shooting it.