Does anybody use or like these rifles anymore, with the black forend tip and white line spacers, or are the classis models or synthetic the way most people go now?

I do. By some quirk of fate the factory BDL stock fits me like it was custom made. Won't claim that late 60's styling is the prettiest thing around but it doesn't bother me either.

The relatively closed grip is more conducive to proper trigger control and the slightly flared grip also gives good purchase and helps pull the rifle in. The 22" barrel (on .473" chamberings) balances well. They are heavier than a comparable synthetic stock model, but scoped with Leupold DD's they only run from 7 1/2 to 7 3/4 pounds, a lot better than an 8 1/2 pound Model 70. The shiny finish turns some folks off but that bowling pin stuff is definitely durable.

Mostly because of the fit they are still my favorite out of the box factory rifle - that and the left handed ones are easy to find. Even going custom I've had more McMillan BDL's than any of their other designs.

I like the shape so much I took a left hand Model 70 wooden stock and used bondo and sandpaper to give it a pistol grip identical to a BDL. Took the McMillan Super Grade stocks off of my two Custom Shop Winchesters and had McMillan custom inlet two BDL stocks to them.

Guess I like that design...

The ergonomics are there and that finish is DuPont Imron. It's been used on commercial stuff like semi-trucks for decades. It's way harder than any other stock finish I've ever owned. Flattening agents do not add durability to any finish. My shop has CDL's on the rack with flaking finish from rack rub. You won't find that on BDL's.

Not a fan of the white line spacers though. The skipline checkering on the BDL looks much nicer than the recessed stamped looking stuff they've gone to now.

I still like them and the open sights they come with are a bonus.

Horseman
I am pretty certain BDL finish is not Imron, especially the early vintage ones. They are both polyurethane but several things about the manufacturing process make me believe it is a proprietary finish on Remington's part.

I also think I remember Imron as being a bit late for BDLs now that I think about it. I think Imron came out in the early '70s? My Google-fu is weak this morning.
art

RKW is the name of the Dupont finish used on the earlier 700s. I liked the mid-'70s cut checkering a bunch, then they bollixed that up and I went to other rifles.

The RKW finish was used for bowling pins, I think. Harder than a weddin' peter, too.

Like newer classic stock styles a lot. But something about the BDL and Weatherby Deluxe styles. Kinda "retro". Maybe someday make a comeback. Tom

I always have one eye open for a sweet looking "older version" of the BDL. I'm not sure of the dates, but I like them better. I've had a couple that I had to sell off over the years.

CLB

It was Imron in the mid 90's and I'm positive. At that time I bought a new BDL and had a 94' or 95' catalogue where they mentioned it by name. I was going to tech school at the time for Auto Body so I knew my paint and even talked to the DuPont rep about on one of his weekly visits. It wouldn't surprise me if they've now gone to a different maker but it is still a catalyzed urethane to be sure. Very tough stuff.

i have no idea as to the finish on the bdl but i have a 243 that i bought in 76'-77' and it has been hunted hard, yet still looks almost as good as new. i've read in several different gun rags over the years that the model 700 has been the best selling bolt action in america for 40 years. no other rifle is even close. i'd guess that many (if not the majority) are bdl's. one article i read just a week or so ago said the 700 was the majority favorite in some annual elk hunter survey the writer apparently takes each year. that said, seems everyone is making a stainless/tupperware version to appeal to the frugal buyer, and they seems to be outselling the "top of the line" versions (of course they are cheaper to manufacture too). as in 700 sps vs bdl or cdl. to answer the op's question, i'd say go ahead and buy the bdl. with decent care it will last you and your children their entire hunting lives.

What do you know, it has got white line spacers!
Do those cost xtry?

And a trigger and iron sights and shiny stuff on the wood too!
And checkered lines in the grip areas and...

I like them, but I like the looks of the matte finished stocks as well. I don't look at them that much in the field, though.
Like that $5000 extra for engraving on a fine scattergun, I don't think it makes it shoot a whole lot better or worse...some folks say the white line stuff is too much, but I don't think that much of it one way or the other.

Seriously, the BDL's I have were bargains, left handed and brand new. I didn't care about the spacers or model name. And like my ex-wife and a pair of shoes on sale, nothing was gonna stop that transaction!
And the 700 is a solid platform, got a decent trigger that can be adjusted or is easily replaced if you prefer. Easy to put a wide selection of mounts on...it's just easy.

I like mine. I prefer the satin finish but, like the J lock, I wasn't gonna past up an excellent rifle over something like that.

Horseman
Found where Imron did not even come about until 1970. I have not seen the big difference I would expect in the finish when they would have swapped to Imron.

But in defense of your memory, Imron after a few years of curing would be hard to tell from anything else and its "gumminess" in paper would have been less obvious. So, I would have to concede you are probably right about the mid-'90s BDL finish being Imron.
art

I picked up what I think is a BDL in .243 to use as a donor.
Purdy little thing, perfect stock, and a smooooth action.
Have not shot it yet, but it seems a shame to take it apart.
Will post a pic when I get the chance.

Very true.

Doesn't mean I like the high gloss on BDL's, but the gloss Imron finish is one of the more durable stock finishes out there.

Nor do a I care for the drop at the heel--more felt recoil to me.


Casey

Sitka,

The "Imron" formula has been around for a long time, and I'm pretty sure it's been around since the BDL was introduced in 1964. They didn't call it Imron until Dupont introduced the auto paint version in the early 70's.

I use industrial Imron in the course of my work frequently--currently have about 30 gallons of the stuff setting in my shop. There are numerous lines of Imron produced by Dupont, including some clear finishes.

Casey

Didn't Imron go bankrupt a few years ago? It was in all the papers...

I like the BDL fine, but I like the Classic and CDL better.

I have a 700 BDL in 223 Rem. I like the rifle a lot. I'm not overly crazy about the ultra high gloss finish it has. I'm thinking about buying an aftermarket stock or trying to refinish my stock to a satin finish.

I like the Lefty BDLs better than the CDL. For one thing...a price of $700 for a CDL turns me off cuz the BDL will do the same thang as a CDL and cheaper.

Reason for liking the BDL is the wider forend, just fits my hand better. The CDLs have a narrower forend which does not seem to fit me all that well but if it was given to me I betcha I could make it work

I also like the 22" barrel on the standard calibers. I do not think you gain that much fps on a longer barrel and for the area I hunt hardly anything can be seen outside 200/300 yards.

I do not like the sights on a rifle on the BDL cuz I always mount scopes on my rifle. But fillers will plug up the holes.

The gloss blue on BDL's remind me of older rifles/shotguns and they work for me. I have one LH CDL .243 and the satin black metalwork is ok with me too.

All in all I like the BDL better but know many people like the CDL for its anthestics. What ever rocks your boat and makes you happy is the one you should want as your oar

I've owned a couple of 700's & the 1960's (1962-1968)BDL's were the best made I.M.H.O. From very smooth actions, to the nice wood with RKW finish & the attractive impressed Fluer-D-lis checkering pattern. In 1969, they changed the impressed checkering to a horrid ribbon pattern until the mid 1970's, when the went to a much nicer skipline cut pattern. The RKW finish however did tend to yellow the white-line spacers over time.

Everything he said. Except the part about the short barrels. The BDL took awhile to grow on me. When I was looking for a short action LH Model 700 to re-barrel to .250-3000, I just couldn't quite hack the price tag of a CDL when I could get a BDL for almost $300 less. I was able to scrounge up a CDL stock at a reasonable enough price with the intention of installing it, but I just can't bring myself to do it. The BDL stock fits me well and just looks "right." Especially with a 24-inch barrel.



Anyone want to buy a LH short action CDL stock?

A few years back I didn't like the BDL's, but now I think they're kinda retro. The rifles they call Classics really aren't because the originals had a heckuva lot of drop to the stock to accomadate iron sights. They also didn't have recoil pads in the standard calibers. The straight comb they put on these rifles is actually something pretty new I think. Custom makers were probably doing it but not the manufacturers.

I like this thread.
I'm going to change out my stocks again!
Thank you.

I dont like white line spacers, well at least not on a 700 for sure. I would get a classic.

RAS

BDL's are my favorite. I could live without the spacer as well. I like the looks and finish of 1970-1980's models. Most of the BDL's just fit and feel good. Some of the other rifle maker stocks, Well...They fit like a sock on a rooster.

Roger

I recall getting a new Rem 1100 for Christmas in 1964 0r 65. I remember the finish as being the Dupont Bowling Ball finish.
It's gone through a boxcar load of 3-1-8's over the years and that stock looks better than I do...harder too

I would think it would be easy to remove the butt stock spacer, I'm not so sure about the forend tip, although it could probably be done. I forgot about the grip cap, they're everywhere!

An hour, 13 cents worth of rottenstone, a little mineral oil and a felt rag will give you a nice eggshell luster...

Took a few pics.




It's got a nice steel triggerguard and floorplate. Comes up very nice, and the open sights are decent! Half the price of a new, similar one - checked last night at Gander.
I have NOT shot the donor!

Looks like a nice rifle there Cheesehunter!

That looks like an early Model 700.

That's a BDL alright ,..and a nice one

has the short bolt plug, square safety knob and aluminium butt plate but no clip slot in the rear bridge..puts it about '67 to '71 is my guess, you can determine the month and year of manufacture by the date code on the barrel.

http://www.remingtonsociety.com/questions/BLACKPOWDERX.htm

..and the trigger guard and floorplate are aluminium...and it looks pretty darn minty...I'd have a hard time tearing that one apart....

Cheesehunter:
Please don't alter that rifle or use it as a donor. They don't make them like that anymore and that is one fine looking rifle. I'm not really even a Remington fan, but that one really tugs at my heart strings.

I just sold a 7mmRM. It was a great looking and very accurate rifle. It was just too much rifle.

have two of them in 7 mag and .338

the factory stocks came off shortly after acquiring them

one sports an MPI stock (hey I like popsicles and they been good to me)

the other was lh B&C, now McMillan

in rifles I'm pretty much in the school pretty is as pretty does, but it's a bonus if you make it look cool. Lots of options to do so, but I spend my loot in other pursuits

Ingwe

Cheesehunter, take Orion's advice & please don't alter that rifle. Youv'e got a 1960's BDL & their the best 700's made by Remington I.M.O. Is yours the short barreled carbine version? If so, their worth even more value.

This must be the carbine model. You guys are right, it is too nice to chop up. I'll stick some glass on it and see how it shoots.
Out of curiosity, what do you think it might be worth? The bluing is perfect, the wood is 99% (one small little nick). Looks like a safe-queen.
I checked out the serial number site, but mine has more numbers on it than normal. Will post them tonight.

Your BDL sure brings back memories. From the nice wood & Fleur-D-Lis checkering, the golden colored white line spacers from the aging RKW finish, to the dark gray hard anodized trigger guard & floorplate & silky smooth bolt action. I had a 1965 vintage 700 BDL in .270 that I stupidly sold & have regretted it ever since. Make sure you keep that aluminum buttplate on it, since that .243 doesn't need a recoil pad. My observations on the value of 1960's BDL's are as follows.
1. 22" std. barrel in .243, .270 & .30-06 etc. $400-$600.
2. 24" heavy barrel varmint in .223, .243, 6mm $600-$800.
3. 20" barrel carbine in .243,.270, .280 etc. $800-$1,000.

Here is a pic of the barrel code, and the serial number (minus the last two digits)


What confuses me is that there are 4 letters, instead of two, right? Then I read somewhere that if the factory does work on it, it gets another set of date stamps.
Of course, I am probably wrong!
But reading right to left
Manufactured April 1966
Repaired? July 1971

It also has the 20 inch barrel.

Don't matter much how much it is worth. Good to know that is money well spent. Most guns are
I have a 7 and soon to be 5 year old in line to use it.
I'm thinking for now I will get dual dovetail Leupold mounts and rings, and set my 2.5-8X Leupold on it. Maybe a mild bedding job.

It looks as if you have it correctly decoded. My old rifle was serial number 1583XX with letters RM (Nov. 1965). Your carbine will be perfect for your kids. Sounds like you have a good scope suggestion, thats Leupold's best scope I.M.H.O. SWEET!

Own 2 a 300 win mag and a 8mm rem mag. both shoot great. Both have matte with fiberglass stocks. A great factory gun.

I thought they went to a 22 inch barrel for the standard cartridges in 1965? And 63-64 were the years with the 20 inchers?


Casey