This rifle goes back to 1957 and was then called the 22 Varminter a genuine Wildcat then. My friend George had two custom Varmint Rifles, a 219 Zipper Imp and a 220 Swift. Both of these guns where much to my liking and I decided on the 220 Swift. I got in touch with a Gun shop in Toronto and ask for a 220 Swift barreled action. The smith did not like the 220 Swift for all sorts of reasons. He said a 22 Varminter barreled action on a 98 Mauser action is what you want and is easier on barrels.

After some discussions about a caliber I never heard off and for which no factory loads were available. I agreed to buy it for $125. He told me that if I wanted to do any kind of Varmint hunting I need to hand load anyway. The concept made sense and sounded good even though the price was high I thought.

After a catalog from Herters arrived I ordered a laminated semi inletted varmint stock and all the supplies needed, including some hand inletting tools. At the same time I also ordered the dies, loading press, powder measure, scale, bullets and some other miscellaneous items complete for one caliber, all for about $100. I still have and use some of the tools. The $7.50 Powder Measure is incredible accurate even with coarse powder like H4831. I have some fancy powder measures now that can't compete with some powders.

When I was as a kid about 10 or 11 I learned how to use tools and machinery, in my grandfather's shop. Making a stock did not appear to be much of a problem. It did take some time and much reading but the results were excellent, with the striking looks of Maple and Walnut laminate.

A friend of mine who worked for Bausch & Lomb in Rochester got me a Balvar 6-24 scope at factory cost a new model at the time with 1/6" exterior adjustment clicks. I later added a Canjar double set trigger to complete the rifle.

After all that the barrel did not shoot and had to be cleaned after every 5 shots. Near the end of the barrel the patch would almost get stuck. I poured a small lead slug and pushed it up the barrel where 1-1/2 inches from the end it got stuck. To this point the barrel was .224. The next slug pushed right through was considerable smaller like .219". The hack saw fixed that by taking off 2" making the barrel 24". Obviously the rifle was chambered on the wrong end?

At once the rifle became a 1/2" gun and never looked back. I settled on the Herters 55 gr bullet and 36 gr 4054. That load produced accurate and trouble free shooting. I did not know much about reloading just kept trimming and inside neck reaming cases until they separated, at which time I figured they were worn out. Until somebody came along and said "eh man you are nuts to keep cases that long, look at the dark ring around the pressure ring". Needles to say I started watching my cases and shoulders.

Ground Hogs and Crows was the name of the game. The longest shot I ever made on a Ground Hog was 1500 Yards give or take a hundred. I took 16 rounds to get the range the next one was a shot at his mount about a foot low yet. This shot spooked him in the hole. With nearly all the elevation clicks used up a Spruce Tree along side became the elevation marker. When he came back out and set up to look I got him in the center of the chest with shot # 18. A very lucky shot on a dead calm day, not only that I had only two rounds left.

After about three years of shooting the throat was showing wear. The rifle still shot well but would soon need a new barrel. I also had my eye on a new Browning Superposed 12 gauge. Well for $ 50 cash and the Varminter I owned a new Browning Lightning Superposed shotgun.

PS. If I were to ever build another 22-250 it would be an Ackley improved not for the extra power but for the lesser trouble with cases. Moving the neck junction back for a slightly longer neck. Chamber neck diameter about .250" or so, would require very little outside neck reaming. A 35 or 40 degree shoulder allows for long lasting brass. Perhaps necking down the .25 Hunter design would be my choice for 22 Varminter with a 1-14" twist.