Scout Buntline opinions Please

[what would you say]

Its a barrel length that I don't have in my baby Colt collection. A relative of mine got a good deal on a NIB current production rifle from this dealer at the Raleigh gun show earlier this month..saved about a hundred dollars.
Wanted some opinions, if I may, on price and of course the box and label authenticity opinions.

Colt Buntline Scout 22LR/22Mag 9-1/2" 6 Shot 30574 : Revolvers at GunBroker.com

[Colt75]

I don' think it is a factory dual cylinder gun. Bet it was shipped with only the .22 LR cylinder and the .22 Magnum cylinder was added later. The muzzle looks like it has the flat crown of the .22 LR barrels (hard to tell from picture). The barrel is marked .22 LR I think. Dual cylinder guns weren't available until about 1964 (dual cylinder Buntlines 1969). This gun is too early for that. Blued finished dual cylinder Buntlines are pretty scarce.

The gun does look to be in good conditon. The box look correct as well as the label (for a single cylinder gun). I think this is a 1st year production (1959) single cylinder Buntline Scout -- with an extra magnum cylinder.

[what would you say]

I believe you are correct sir. Be nice to be able to read the barrel and that would tell the tale. It took me an hour to find where I put Don's book and you are right. The Buntline Scout with a dual cylinder will read "Colt Single Action Scout Buntline .22 cal" on the barrel, where the 22LR and 22Magnum say as such on the barrel too, instead of just ".22 cal "
It did say (page 53) that a few early magnums were shipped with flat/uncrowned barrels. However, the box label in the listing does reflect it is a 22LR, and not a 22 mag. The examples in the book show what the dual cylinder box labels will look like.

It is amazing how excitement and pulse rate = blindness to facts

Still looks like a nice gun, just affects the price. Since I'm in NC I'd be looking at an FFL to get it close to pick up and taxed as in state. Cost is stacking up.

[what would you say]

wanted to add another Q. since its most likely a 22LR barrel, wonder how it affects the 22 mag accuracy? Think I read on the forum recently that there was a surprising difference in the size of the bullet itself... the 22LR being bigger or something.. not sure.

[wdkline]

Got it backwards. 22 LR is smaller diameter. Even though the 22 Mag cylinder will fit the gun, the barrel is not bored for 22 Mag, so shooting 22 Mag in this gun isn't recommended. Some may tell you its no big deal, but I wouldn't do it. Its not about accuracy, its about the pressure that a 22 Mag (rifle) cartridge makes when the bullet is squeezed through a 22 LR barrel. 22 Mag ammo is considerably more expensive and this is neither a target gun, nor a hunting handgun, so why try to shoot it when its mis-matched for this gun? The 22 Mag cylinder shown (no flutes) is meant for the later "G" series guns. If you buy the gun, you shouldn't have any trouble selling the 22 Mag cylinder, or get the seller to knock down the price ($100) and he can sell the 22 mag cylinder.

Bill

[what would you say]

The wife will agree with your first three words Bill, "got it backwards" it aint the first time. I also would think that the 22LR would be smaller in diameter.. just thought I read someone said differently. Anyhow, I understand higher pressure principle. I just added a 22LR cylinder to a New Frontier that had only the mag, no box. It shoots great and was absolutely fun project to find and install the extra cylinder. Since the hunt is half the fun (aint it !!), I may keep looking for the real 22LR/22mag buntline. I dunno.

[Buckspen]

The gun in question is definintely not a "dual cylinder", the barrel being marked ".22 LR" (and of course, the serial number). And it would not be a good idea to shoot .22 Magnum cartridges in it. The box looks correct for the serial number range, but there is no proof that the box is actually numbered to the gun. The seller says the box is "original" but in my experience sellers often ignore the number on the box bottom. The unfluted Magnum cylinder is from 1970's production and the gun is from much earlier than that.
It looks like a decent gun, and if the number on the box matches the serial number on the gun, it would be a decent buy. The cylinder is worth about a hundred bucks so the price of the gun is okay.

- - - - Buckspen

[smkummer]

If you want my opinion (you were asking right?), buy any vintage Officer Model in 22 and you will have twice the gun as one of these for the same price or less. I used to own one and it was a fun plinker of which almost everyone wanted to shoot it due to its barrel but my officers model 6 in. 22 pre-war will out shoot it hands down and it is a quality piece. Sorry if I got off topic but these are not $750 guns, $4-500 maybe and that is only because of the Colt name.

[what would you say]

If you want my opinion (you were asking right?), buy any vintage Officer Model in 22 and you will have twice the gun as one of these for the same price or less. I used to own one and it was a fun plinker of which almost everyone wanted to shoot it due to its barrel but my officers model 6 in. 22 pre-war will out shoot it hands down and it is a quality piece. Sorry if I got off topic but these are not $750 guns, $4-500 maybe and that is only because of the Colt name.

I got into collecting the Single action last year and know less than zero about the DA Colts, or any other Colt models except for current production 45's. That price range that you're talking is a whole lot more my language though. I will read up on the Officers models. What I don't have in the Scout/Peacemaker/New Frontier is the rarest, hardest to get, and top dollar stuff. I certainly would be interested in a good Colt Officer's shooter under the $600 range.

[pyshtrvr]

Sift through GunsAmerica. They had several listed.