Just traded for a vintage '81-manufacture 700 in .22-250. Got it for a song, but it's a project. The metal is all there, but the trigger group is a ball of rust, and the scope mount base is going to be a chore. I got one of the 3 screws out, and the other two hex heads are stripped and they're in tight. Still, nothing some Kroil or Deep-Creep shouldn't solve along with some elbow grease. Came with an old Redfield 4x TV-View scope which I think can be saved, although the mount and rings are probably toast.

What's a decent replacement trigger, the Timney? Or should I find a stock Remington trigger?

Timney is tough to beat. I would not hesitate to buy one. I had a Model 700 in 22-250 I bought new back in 1979 with the Sporter barrel by the way which was very accurate with the 55 grain bullets. Cost back then was just over $300. Nice accurate caliber you have there. Good luck with it.

I would go with the Timney also...

Thanks. I got the other scope mount screws out with an EZ-Out and some elbow grease. All the metal has been taken down to bare. The metal is mostly vintage grey now, and very "classic worn" but for my climate I may have to have it parkerized or coated. What are the chances at this vintage that the barrel is shot out? One of the reasons I grabbed it is because 700 parts (and barrels) are so common that finding another barrel or a new one (maybe .250 Savage?) should be easy from ER Shaw. But also, having a good .22-250 is never a bad thing either. You hear that this round is hard on barrel life. Any idea what I can look for besides mounting and shooting it to see if the barrel is still good?

Might have a smith check it out. Am sure there are a few in Alaska. Finish you suggest sounds good for your climate. Hopefully barrel OK and with a Timney trigger you should be good to go.

Yea, there are a few in the "other part" of Alaska, but down here where the population is thinner it's hard to support a good 'smith. Last one moved away a few years ago. I usually haul my treasures to Los Anchorlese during business trips but travel has been thin lately due to the State's budget crisis.

I grabbed a stock 700 trigger off GB but am thinking seriously about the Timney, but I want to wait until I find out if the barrel is any good first.

Actually added one of the newer X-Mark triggers from a Model 700 take-off that I picked up. Love the new trigger. Found an OEM Remington synthetic stock too, the light grey model with black fore-end and grip panels. Suits the rifle perfectly, and am now thinking of having it DuraKote'd in flat black. The barrel seems to shoot okay and not be shot out, but I didn't have enough ammo on hand during my last range trip to truly verify. Love the total lack of recoil! I added a Vortex 2-7x32 BDC scope and it's a nice combination.