Remington 700adl .22-250

The Remington Model 700 is one of the most iconic bolt-action rifles in American firearms history, renowned for its accuracy, reliability, and versatility. Introduced in 1962, it was designed by engineer Mike Walker as an evolution of Remington's earlier Model 721/722 rifles from 1948. The Model 700 featured a three-rings-of-steel receiver, tight tolerances for improved accuracy, a short leade, and faster lock time, making it suitable for mass production while delivering exceptional performance. It quickly became the best-selling bolt-action rifle ever, with over 50 calibers offered and more than 900 variants produced over the decades.

The ADL (All-Purpose Deluxe) was the entry-level grade of the Model 700, positioned as an affordable field rifle for everyday hunters and shooters. It featured a blind (internal) box magazine, a walnut Monte Carlo stock with basic pressed checkering, and no hinged floorplate—differences that set it apart from the higher-end BDL (Deluxe) model. Early ADLs had an aluminum buttplate (changed to plastic in 1969) and a nickel-plated stamped magazine follower (upgraded to stainless steel in 1974). Priced at around $114.95 in 1962, the ADL emphasized functionality over luxury, appealing to budget-conscious sportsmen.

The .22-250 Remington Cartridge

The .22-250 Remington, a high-velocity varmint and small-game cartridge, traces its roots to wildcat developments in the 1930s. It originated from necking down the .250-3000 Savage case to .224 caliber, gaining fame for its flat trajectory and "hydrostatic shock" effect on targets at long range. Versions like the .22 Varminter and .22 Wotkyns Original Swift emerged in the late 1930s and early 1940s. Remington standardized it as a factory cartridge in 1965 alongside the Model 700's launch, chambering it in short-action configurations. Typical loads propel a 55-grain bullet at over 3,600 fps, making it ideal for prairie dogs, coyotes, and other varmints up to 400 yards.

History of the Early Remington 700 ADL in .22-250

The .22-250 was not among the initial 1962 Model 700 chamberings, which focused on standards like .222 Rem., .243 Win., .270 Win., and the new 7mm Rem. Mag. Instead, it debuted in 1965 as part of Remington's push to adopt popular wildcats, aligning with the ADL's role as a versatile, economical varmint option. Production of the Model 700 began in 1962, but the ADL in .22-250 was first manufactured in late 1964, with public cataloging and sales starting in 1965.

Production Timeline: Early examples bear barrel date codes like "C M" (April 1965) or "K M" (May 1965), indicating manufacture shortly after introduction. Serial numbers for these rifles often start low (e.g., in the "A" prefix range, around A000XXX), though Remington's numbering wasn't strictly sequential—factors like executive allocations and museum pieces could skip lows. Over 6,500 ADL models in .22-250 were produced in 1965 alone, outpacing BDL variants by more than double.

Design Specifics: These early rifles had 24-inch barrels (standard for the caliber), blued carbon steel finishes, and 1-in-12-inch twist rates optimized for .22-caliber bullets. The short-action design accommodated the .22-250's case length efficiently. No integral muzzle brakes were standard (they became optional in 1964 for other models), and stocks were walnut with minimal ornamentation.

Collector Insights: According to The Remington Model 700 by John Lacy (a key reference for collectors), the "early specimen" .22-250 ADL has a documented serial number, with some user-owned examples predating it by about 300 units (e.g., built in the same April 1965 batch). Forums like the Remington Society note that the lowest serials (starting near "1") may be in private collections or museums, adding rarity to pristine 1965 examples.

Production Context: The ADL in .22-250 was part of Remington's varmint lineup expansion. By 1967, related heavy-barrel variants like the BDL Varmint Special also offered .22-250, but the ADL remained the accessible choice. Total early production emphasized affordability, with sales booming due to the rifle's sub-MOA accuracy potential.

Ships Free to the FFL of your choice!