Steve, I sold my 527 varmint along with what I thought was all my magazines. As it turned out, I had another one in my gun room that I forgot about.
It was a 204 Ruger that the barrel went from shooting very, very tight groups to opening up more than I could take. I sold the rifle to a guy that wanted to do a . 221 fireball build and didn’t care about the barrel. It may have been here or Accurate Shooter. He seemed quite sure that the magazines would work for him.
PM me if you are interested. It’s just taking up space here
QM
actually that gun has become a 17 fireball, its probably my favorite rifle of all time. I have put over 1100 rounds through it in 9 months of use. the 204 mag will work, kinda, it works best if you cycle the bolt very fast and brisk so the case doesn't have a chance to dive down. I have since converted the gun over to a 221 trigger guard and magazines. it chokes down 17 fireball like a fat chick giving a BJ on a first date.
that barrel was a head shaker. I JB bore pasted it, then bore scoped it. your observations were accurate. never planned on it staying a 204 so it was a great deal for me. the fireball barrel shoots about .4 to 5/8" depending on its mood.
