New old 222 rifle!!!

The "Varmint King" was the Marlin Model 422 Bolt Action Rifle and was made by Sako. Only 354 were were manufactured between 1956-58. They featured a stainless steel barrel and were marked "stainless steel" on the right side of the barrel. They were also marked "Varmint King" on the top roll stamp. The receiver used was a Sako L46. The barrel was a standard tapered version and not a heavy varmint barrel. I consider this hybrid to be a very rare and hard to get rifle. They don't come on the market all that often for obvious reasons. I got lucky and was able to get my hooks on two of them. So if you get a chance to get one my recommendation is to pick it up assuming that you beat me to it.

rick

 

Rick: I'll hit the net & order the forming die today. After I posted the last message I found that if I turn the case after each press the cases came out OK about 80 % of the time. But I agree with you, I don't want to stress the brass and risk a case head breach!!!

 

Send me a PM so we can talk. Be sure to give me your number so I can call. Also, I'm partial to RCBS dies. Check Ebay and their might be a die set there for sale.

rick

 

My e-ml is jm2martinmehrl at gmail com all run together. Found a Redding form die & ordered it already.

 

https://www.sakosource.com/-1702s--mar422.html

Here is an example of a Marlin 422 Varmint King. The stainless steel barrels were blued, not left bright. However, they do have the patented Marlin MicroGroove rifling (and all I have worked with have been quite accurate -- even those fired with .223 brass miraculously reformed to .222 with only a regular full length die!)

 

I found a 422 for sale on gunbroker.com. I just had to shell out big bucks to replace my car, so am reluctant to shell out the $1000 + for the gun in these uncertain times. I fully intend to enjoy my Marlin/Saco 322 in the meantime!!!

 

Don't buy it. The barrel has been stripped of bluing and it has been remover rechambered and put back. Look at where the roll stamp is. That roll stamp should be on the top of the barrel when it is properly screwed into the receiver.

Right now it ain't worth spit.

rick

 

I was wondering about that - I thought those stainless 422 barrels were blued or blackened.

 

Thanks for letting me know!!! I "weren't gonna buy it nohow" !!!

 

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/889759717 Not only has the formerly-blued barrel been removed and re-installed at a 90 degree rotation, but the stock has been refinished. I can't believe that the bids have gone this high for a non-original gun, even if there were only 354 of them made.

I've handled and even test-fired this one (quite accurate) https://www.sakosource.com/-1702s--mar422.html
With the exception of the taps on the barrel for a target scope mount it looked pretty well original with the bluing on the stainless barrel (yes, certain stainless steel can be blued) still in nice condition.

 

I don't care how well it shoots. It still isn't worth spit in my humble opinion.

rick

 

Well, if it shoots good I'd trade you spit for it but certainly not what is being asked.

 

Any collector value has been destroyed. Also, you can't seriously call it a Model 422 any longer because it has been bastardized rather severely. The thing at this point is really only worth the value of the receiver simply because it can be repurposed or parted out.

rick

 

Which one of the two example 422's are you speaking of, or do you mean than neither is worth expectorated saliva?

 

I'm still harping on the GB 422

rick