Mossberg 800 varmint

Beaver · #1 08-23-2011, 07:25 PM

I just bought a Mossberg 800 factory varmint bull barrel in 22-250 with 3x9 Old Simmons for $250. I cleaned it up and shot a 1" group with some factory Fed ammo. My neighbor the lawyer has a gun rectalscope and we will see how good the old barrel is. I kinda get a hair for old factory bull barrel varmint guns. I've got a post 64 Win XTR, bull barrel in 243, and that gun is lights-out. I shot a 7/8's group at 200yds, and I bet I can do better. This gun was $475 and is in very good to excellent. Any stories about these factory bull-barreled guns from the 60's and 70"s.

jrm53 · #2 08-23-2011, 07:47 PM

I never owned an Mossberg center fire rifle but I can remember the model you are talking about from the 1974 Shooters Bible, they were very reasonable to buy and I have never ran across one when I was going to Gun shows. Jeff

ThirtyAcres · #3 08-23-2011, 07:53 PM

Please post a picture or three.

I had one of these in the mid-70's. It was an 800CVT in 22-250.

Still rue the day that I traded it on a Rem 700 Varmit in the same caliber.

Have not seen one since.

Did I say please post a picture?

2152hq · #4 08-23-2011, 08:07 PM

Pedersen Custom Gun (Mossberg) used the M800 as a base for one of their guns in the early 70's.
Fancy wood, checkering, engraving, etc. IIRC they were offered in some of the belted mag chambering too.

I think I still have a fancy AmWalnut stock they tossed for some reason. Typical 70's design M/Carlo etc. They sawed the rosewood tip and cap off before thowing it away. Must have been seen as valuable stuff. No wonder the place folded.

Wilson Barrel Co (Branford, CT ?) made the bbls for the 800's for Mossberg both factory and Pedersen.
Receivers were made in house along with everything else.
Receivers started as tubing like a Rem 700.
Good stuff, I used a few pieces to build a bench.

The Pedersen stocks were preturned by Wysoski Bros somewhere close by there in CT,,can't remember the location. Maybe they were in Branford and Wilson was somewhere else. It's been a while.

Very accurate rifles. Plain no frills shooters and that's what Mossberg was always noted for.

The Pedersen project didn't last but a few years.

Onomea · #5 08-23-2011, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beaver

.... My neighbor the lawyer has a gun rectalscope ....

Sounds like a lawyer all right...

Beaver · #6 08-24-2011, 09:40 PM

I'm afraid I can't do pic's now. In the near future. The info on the guns history is very interesting and appreciated. After the gun rectalscope, I wouldn't mind maybe getting the stock the right honorable gentleman said he had buried. Any way to adjust the trigger? Maybe see if a Timney or other could be installed? I don't know about you guy's and gal's, but used 22-250 are hard to find around Central Oregon. My local pawn shop buddy, Jay the Cowboy, had it around behind the counter, waiting for me to come by. He new I'd want it, he was right. The gun is straight walnut, good, but not big city. Metal is 90%. I want the gun to shoot really well before I pretty it up. Probably take the gun to Stoney and let cut a new crown, and check the bedding. Our gunstore friend at Gunner's in Redmond,Or., Danny G, had a really nice ol Weaver K8, fine crosshairs. It's on the rifle and it's a keeper I'll report back.

Beaver · #7 08-28-2011, 12:01 PM

Well my gunsmith Stoney has performed his usual excellent job on the ol' Mossberg 800CV. He disassembled the rifle, adjusted the trigger, glass bed, recut a target crown, barrel float, etc. The trigger spring also pushes the bolt stop up. When the trigger gets too light, the bolt stop doesn't work 100%. However, with reloads last night I shot a 1/2" group. I'd hate to have to do that group again in front of my forum friends, but one group like that was all I needed to stay excited about the gun and make it a keeper. The K8 Weaver is an outstanding scope that I can recommend without hesitation. Mine is AO and fine crosshairs. Danny at Gunners has a K10 for under $160 or so in very good condition. I'm probably going to get it if I can.

Stoney has the gun and will eventually get the trigger/bolt stop spring figured out. I paid him $200 for all his work and some ammo. My total investment is around $590. Not bad for a great old varmint rifle with a very good scope.

Do any of my forum friends have any idea of the meaning to "CV" after the model designation "800". The VT model is easy to find as Varmint/target. I'm getting some info that the "CV" may have a tighter twist for heavier bullets. Maybe "Custom Varmint".

MSG A · #8 09-07-2011, 10:50 PM

my first rifle was an 800 CV that I bought used for $100.00 with a bushnel 3-9x32 in 1982. The 800 comes in 3 flavors A-.308, B-.243, C- 22-250, V-varmit T- target. I bought mine when I turned 18, since then the round count is around 7500-10000 on the original barrel and it still shoots cloverleafs. I find that a load of around 25 grains H4895 behind a 52 grain BTHP makes a great load, and yes that is around 10 grains below the normal load. I just picked up a .243 barrel from Numrich for $90.00 and made it into a switch barrel. despite having a bunch of other guns ( rem 700 switch barrel in 22-250, 243 & 30-06, DPMS LR-308, etc) it is still my go to gun when coyote hunting. The first pic is after adding stock hook and bi-pod cutout to forestock. 2nd pic is after adding digital camo, detachable box magazine.

Beaver · #9 09-08-2011, 12:06 PM

Hey MSG, that's a pretty bad little boy you got there. What kind of stock did you put on it?

My old 800cv shot two incredible groups with some moly coated 22-250 50gr., something that Stoney dug out from the closet. Two groups under .300". The trigger is good at 3lbs or so. Stoney shot the groups, not yours truly.

MSG A · #10 09-08-2011, 02:33 PM

the stock is well, stock... the front sling swivel popped out one day while my oldest was carrying it and when it hit the ground the stock snapped at the wrist. After that it was considered only good enough for paint and modification. I free floated the barrel, glued\screwed a block of oak to the fore stock and inletted the bi-pod legs as well as made a permanent mount for the bi-pod (it was a Harris 9"- 13" but I cut that down for prone only use). Another oak block was attached for the butt hook, once everything was in place a quick coat of fiberglass and some bondo to fill the weave. Later I opened up the floor plate to accept a stock AR-10 (DPMS) magazine and added the rear monopod for when I'm too lazy to actually aim.... in truth the gun is so dependable that I like to use it for proof of principle or proof of concept stuff before attempting it on a more expensive rifle. some of the work is a little rough, thus its nickname of frankengun.

Just because: in the first two photo's the two kids were German foriegn exchange students we hosted, so I took them to the range so they could learn to shoot an M1 Garand..... geez I'm politically incorrect!

Beaver · #11 09-14-2011, 08:24 PM

I'm more than impressed. "Country Boy will survive".