[quote=encorerbHmmm, makes me wonder. Is there a way to find out what year it is by serial #? Maybe it's a regular BDL? but it does have the 22" barrel and the irons , looks and feels like a MTN rifle to me. [/quote]

check your barrel date code on the site in Reloder28's post...and most later BDL's in standard cartridges have 22" barrels,and iron sights. Mountain Rifles do not have iron sights. Some of the earlier BDL's and the later stainless BDL's were 24" in standard cartridges.

and again...go with the Whelen.

"after the bullet leaves the barrel it doesn't care what headstamp was on the case"
"The 221 Fireball is what the Hornet could have been had it stayed in school"