Just Keep On Rolling Along

[Pete44ru]

I stopped by a local friendly funshop, on my way home from the Massachussetts Shriner's Funshow Saturday - and spotted this odd-looking Roller.



I asked the dealer: WHAT the heck is THAT ? ?

The reply: A customized rolling block, rebarreled to .22 Short only - no markings, numbers - NOTHING.



The metal all has a fresh blue job, the wood stock's been coated inside/out (dipped ?) with a flat gray "paint" (?), the breechblock's been reworked to RF, and it had a nice little ladder rear sight.

My first thought was that I have BRICKS of .22 Short stashed away - and only a .22 Short NAA Mini left to use them in........

My second thought was that I could always strip, stain, & oil the stock(s) - but it's kinda growing on me as a knock-around plinker the was it is.

My third thought was that I could alway ream the chamber a little deeper, to LR depth.



I dismounted the forestock, and lo - it's been rebarreled with a 22" long Savage 982DL barrel, also stamped ".22S, L, LR" on what used to be the barrel top, and is now the hidden underside.
Whoever mounted the barrel indexed it so that the Savage logo fell out of sight, presumably shortened the breech end, & was said to have rechambered it to Short (no, a long or LR won't chamber - I tried).

I'm thinkin'............. for the small amount of $$$ I have in it, I just might leave it be - it is what it is.

What I REALLY wished, was that it was a petite solid-frame #4 Roller - but (alas) it's not.

[EDIT]: Before I started to load it today, I took a peek downbore from the rear, and thought the chamber looked a bit scruffy & in need of a good cleaning - so I scrubbed it out prior to shooting.

For chuckles, NOW I tried to chamber a .22 LR....................................... it chambered fully.

Evidently, the converting gunsmith had kept the LR chambering when he installed the Savage bbl in this roller, but subsequent shooters fouled the chamber enough with .22 Shorts that the chamber would no longer accept .22 LR - which led at least 3 idiots (including ME) to believe the visibly unmarked bbl was for Shorts only - the consigning/selling owner, the lgs/dealer, & moi.

NOW, I have mixed feelings - missing/jonesing the .22 Short-only rifle; while realizing that a LR is infinitely more versatile.

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[2ndovc]

That is one funky looking rolling bock!
But I'd have brought it home too. Bet it's going to be super fun.
I'll always be a single shot guy first.

jb

[Dave]

I like it!

[J Miller]

I like it too. Looks like a fun rifle. So ... how does it shoot?

Joe

[Alan Wood]

While it does look funky it apears to be in great condition. I think you've got a winner there.

[AJMD429]

Definitely more interesting than the latest, greatest, EBR, or just one more blued/walnut Winnie '94...

[Pitchy]

That looks neat, grats.

[rjohns94]

Keel.

[adirondakjack]

While the appearance is almost a crime for a roller, kinda like an RV made from a school bus, weird looking for either job, but cute in an odd way. I bet she shoots well.

[gamekeeper]

I love it...

[3leggedturtle]

I like it. Would have bought it even if i didnt have ammo. Would havee been another reason to hit the toy stores. IF you are that dissappointed in that it will shoot 22lr, heck send me MSG and i would be happy to take off your hands

[Pete44ru]

Thanks for the kind words, all.

It seems to shoot LR's well, better than it does Shorts (sorry I didn't have my camera with me Sunday) - but I GOTTA do something about that pea-picker barleycorn front sight blade. I can't see it worth squat.

The sight looks like it's set into a normal 3/8" female dovetail in the bbl, so there's plenty of choices available.

Also since the zero's windage is a tad left @ 25yds, a slight change during the sight change should take care of that.

For the $125 I spent on it, I'm thinking I'll keep it for awhile, anyway - & "maybe" strip/refinish the stock wood, I dunno yet.

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[JReed]

That is sweet . That looks like a perfect squirrel gun.

[Rimfire McNutjob]

The sight looks like it's set into a normal 3/8" female dovetail in the bbl, so there's plenty of choices available.

Just a reminder to measure it first. I usually assume 3/8" for Winchester and Marlin but not for Savage and Stevens. I think they used to put out 7/16" on their front sights on the old days and I've never gotten past checking to make sure. So it's probably obvious from that sentence that I've ordered at 3/8" sight and watched it slide through a big 'ole Savage dovetail.

[marlinman93]

Considering the bargain price you got it for, I'd strip the stocks and if the wood looks refinish them.

[bdhold]

great buy - you have a lot of room to work with it.

[Pete44ru]

The sight looks like it's set into a normal 3/8" female dovetail in the bbl, so there's plenty of choices available.

Just a reminder to measure it first. I usually assume 3/8" for Winchester and Marlin but not for Savage and Stevens. I think they used to put out 7/16" on their front sights on the old days and I've never gotten past checking to make sure. So it's probably obvious from that sentence that I've ordered at 3/8" sight and watched it slide through a big 'ole Savage dovetail.

Thanks, and I'll prolly just try a sight in the dovetail (since I've got at least a dozen in my scrounge box) - besides, the dovetail's most likely standard, given that it was added by whomever installed the bbl upside-down (with "Savage" logo down) & installed iron sights.

The donor model Savage that the bbl came from was issued with 24" bbls, and this one measures 22" - so whomever did the dirty deed also lopped off the muzzle end & front sight dovetail (if there ever was one, i.e.)

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