RK Nelson, 22-250 what did I find?

[IndianaSoloMcfly]

Going through some of dads old collection I stumbled upon a wild looking rifle chambered in 22-250

It weighs more than my truck, and the scope is as long as my arm. Only markings I can see are “RK nelson” and “22-250”

Thoughts? I can take a few more pictures if anyone can give me an ID or any info at all.

Google has little to nothing.

In advance,

Thanks.

 

[edwea]

Scope looks like Unertl

 

[bcannon]

RK Nelson was a rifle builder/gunsmith in the 40s and 50s. He was known for making very accurate rifles. He was a benchrest shooter during the same time. My dad had a RKN 22-250 that was extremely accurate. He gave it to his sister, my aunt, before he passed. I wish I had it back tbh.

Definitely a Unertl scope, calibrated to boot. There's a number on top of the first ring in front of ocular lense and that will tell you what the fixed magnification is.

Being a heavy rifle, I would think it was built strictly for benchrest shooting.

Good find, I would definitely hold on to it.

 

[IndianaSoloMcfly]

RK Nelson was a rifle builder/gunsmith in the 40s and 50s. He was known for making very accurate rifles. He was a benchrest shooter during the same time. My dad had a RKN 22-250 that was extremely accurate. He gave it to his sister, my aunt, before he passed. I wish I had it back tbh.

Definitely a Unertl scope, calibrated to boot. There's a number on top of the first ring in front of ocular lense and that will tell you what the fixed magnification is.

Be a heavy rifle, I would think it was built strictly for benchrest shooting.

Good find, I would definitely hold on to it.

Ah incredible! Thank you kindly. I cant find an ounce about Mr. Nelson online. This may give me enough information to start a search. Very cool.

I knew someone here would have a clue. Thanks so much. Ill do some more homework.

If its from the 40’s.. think modern ammo is safe to fire?

And scope is marked “14”

 

[bcannon]

Ah incredible! Thank you kindly. I cant find an ounce about Mr. Nelson online. This may give me enough information to start a search. Very cool.

I knew someone here would have a clue. Thanks so much. Ill do some more homework.

If its from the 40’s.. think modern ammo is safe to fire?

And scope is marked “14”

Glad to help. There are some benchrest competitions that are still named after him in the north central states. If you look hard enough you'll find more info on him and his rifles, good luck.

The scope being a 14× and calibrated is a rare scope. You have a very cool setup there, congrats.

As far as ammo goes, it's a heavy barrel and as far as I know 22-250 is 22-250 so unless you go with a extremely hot round I wouldn't be to concerned. My dad shot factory ammo out of his in the early 2000s without issue. I'm not a gunsmith or ammo loader so I would ask someone with more ammo knowledge than I.

 

[Mongo59]

I will take it upon myself to offer my services to shoot this extremely dangerous weapon and save you the risk...

 

[Hookeye]

Being .22 -250 my guess would be somebody was serious about groundhogs.

Not understanding the "calibrated" stuff, looks to me like just a regular adj obj.
Couple buds had em. One a pre 64 varmint w Canjar trigger.
But I haven't seen or shot either in 20 years LOL

They worked fine.

 

[KellyinAvon]

I will take it upon myself to offer my services to shoot this extremely dangerous weapon and save you the risk... Hold my beer!!

I ran it through the Crawford County translator...

 

[bcannon]

Not understanding the "calibrated" stuff, looks to me like just a regular adj obj.

The "regular" objective, or non-calibrated, does not have the adjustable parallax on the objective head.




The "calibrated" objective has the adjustable parallax on the objective head.

 

[IndianaSoloMcfly]

Being .22 -250 my guess would be somebody was serious about groundhogs.

Not understanding the "calibrated" stuff, looks to me like just a regular adj obj.
Couple buds had em. One a pre 64 varmint w Canjar trigger.
But I haven't seen or shot either in 20 years LOL

They worked f

Being .22 -250 my guess would be somebody was serious about groundhogs.

Not understanding the "calibrated" stuff, looks to me like just a regular adj obj.
Couple buds had em. One a pre 64 varmint w Canjar trigger.
But I haven't seen or shot either in 20 years LOL

They worked fine.

Dad did NOT like varmints. He was also a pretty serious marksman, and sometimes bought things just because its cool.

hard telling! I think its cool though. Will have to read up on the optic and see about shooting a few groups

 

[Skullglide]

I bet that is a tack driver. I have owned a few J Unertl scopes, they are pretty neat.

 

[Hookeye]

I just always used " adjustable objective " for those that had parallax variability.

Been running AO scopes since '76 on my varmint rifles ( first was a Weaver V9 AO.....from Service Merchandise ).

I dont think they carried Unertl

 

[Hookeye]

Dad did NOT like varmints. He was also a pretty serious marksman, and sometimes bought things just because its cool.

hard telling! I think its cool though. Will have to read up on the optic and see about shooting a few groups

Nice rig and should still be a hoot. Enjoy!

I took my dads 22 250 out a few times but all shots on chucks were under 200 yards. What a rocket launcher!

 

[Tactically Fat]

I bet that is a tack driver.

The answer to that is... maybe.

With 22-250, accuracy is going to always depend on the condition of the barrel. Does that gun have 500 rounds through it or 2000? The cartridge is "overbore" and is somewhat known to follow the path of "Overbore = barrel burner".

 

[MrSmitty]

I was looking at a LH 22-250 at a LGS, and told a clerk that I liked the 22-250, he said that the .223 will do every thing that the 22-250 can do, but less expensive...I'm like...but it's a 22-250....Nice gun OP, reload for it and shoot it....and yes I've heard, and read that the round will wear out a barrel faster than other rounds.....but still...it's a 22-250!

 

[Hookeye]

Remember yrs ago, a Cooper came into Lengels w a shot out bbl (from prairie dog hunting).
Price was reflective.

A customer said it was a shame somebody ruined that barrel.

My buddy piped up "sounds to me like he had a great time".

With an heirloom, of possible collector status, I'd shoot it........but would not be my main rig if going out west for high volume shooting.

But.....if having a new bbl screwed on later (or have the orig set back) doesn't bother you, go for it!

Something to be said using stuff as designed.

Im not a collector though.

 

[Hookeye]

I was looking at a LH 22-250 at a LGS, and told a clerk that I liked the 22-250, he said that the .223 will do every thing that the 22-250 can do, but less expensive...I'm like...but it's a 22-250....Nice gun OP, reload for it and shoot it....and yes I've heard, and read that the round will wear out a barrel faster than other rounds.....but still...it's a 22-250!

My buddy used to prairie dog hunt.
Said he cried when he ran out of .22-250 handloads and had to use his .223.
Longer D, the .22-250 is better. But he was blastin stuff out to and a little beyond 500.

Around here w chuckin usually under 300, maybe not a prob (223 vs 22-250)
Esp since laser rangefinders so cheap.
But back before then, when eyeballing yardage, flatter shooting stuff was way preferred.

Unless of course one is cool with missing LOL

I am not a .22-250 fan, prefer .243, but dang if the .22-250 doesn't hustle and get the job done.

 

[Hookeye]

BTW, groundhogs look like mini grizzlybears about now.
Just sayin'.

 

[VinceU1]

You might want to have a gunsmith make a cast of the chamber. The "22-250" wasn't standardized then and EVERYBODY had a different take on what the chamber should be like. I've got sizing dies from the early '50s that are much larger than any current case. More like a 22-250 Ackley Improved cases.

And yes, the 22-250 is an excellent round on Prairie Dogs at crazy long ranges.
Ok, so she's homely as heck, but the way she shoots would warm any man's heart!

 

[Hookeye]

You might want to have a gunsmith make a cast of the chamber. The "22-250" wasn't standardized then and EVERYBODY had a different take on what the chamber should be like. I've got sizing dies from the early '50s that are much larger than any current case. More like a 22-250 Ackley Improved cases.

And yes, the 22-250 is an excellent round on Prairie Dogs at crazy long ranges.
Ok, so she's homely as heck, but the way she shoots would warm any man's heart!

That a McSwirly ?