22lr Vintage Rifle Accuracy - Continue to be Amazed

[spad124]

I agree about 22lr rifles- still the most accurate rifle and most fun you can have with a rifle! I have a Marlin 995 carbine, a wz 78, and a CZ 455 American. The 995 and wz 78 are both about 30 years old. And both are tack drivers. The wz is a 9 pound bolt action target rifle the Poles used in the 80s as a training rifle. Shooting 22lr out of a 9 pound rifle is a joy. I've had my 995 for 30 years and it's just an extension of me at this point. The 455 is only about 6 months old so it's the new kid.

 

[Birdgun]

My mother gave my father a Winchester Model 67 single shot .22 rifle for Christmas, 1946. I was less than three months old. Dad used his .22 to slaughter hogs and shoot cottontail rabbits. I hunted with it as a boy, teen, and man, killing a bunch of cottontails with it. Dad gave me his .22 when I turned 16.


A few months ago, I took Dad's .22 to the range for some plinking fun. To see if Dad's .22 still shoots straight, I set a target up at 25 yards and took a shot. In the photo below, you'll see that first shot on the target. I think you'll understand why I didn't take any more shots at that target. Dad's .22 is still a tack driver!

Winchester Model 67 in .22 Long Rifle, Long, & Short.

The Target

Thanks for looking at my dad's .22 single shot rifle.

God bless,
Birdgun

 

[Narragansett]

I have an inherited little 1904 savage. Never fired it. I also inherited a Marlin39A from the 30's and passed that on to my son without firing it. I still have a Remington 582 from the 70's but it has not been shot since then, so no comment on the accuracy. I have however had my eye out for a puff Remington 510 targetmaster. Great shooters. I do not think they are D&T'd or dovetailed for a scope, but they are wonderful singleshots

 

[Rayfan87]

A couple months ago I picked up a Winchester 72 at a local gun auction, I've been busy with other projects and haven't gotten it to the range yet.

 

[AJ]

This is a group of 5 shots fired from my Winchester 52E at 50 yards with iron sights using Eley Bulk ammo from CMP.

 

[Tadeus67]

I have an old Remington 550-2 22lr, with a centerpoint (i think) 4x scope.

It is a great rifle. Mine was made in 1956

 

[DWalt]

I thought the 550-2 was the gallery rifle in .22 Short only. Not rare but quite uncommon.

 

[4011]

My first was a Christmas gift from my girlfriend. It was branded Westernfield. My folks didn't care for guns and rolled their eyes when they found out she had given me a gun. It's lazar straight shooter. Well we married and we shot the rifle a bunch. She moved on and a couple of years ago I gave it to our son. Figured he need to be the owner. He had shot it a bunch. Later bought a 39-A from my brother and it was a fun shooter compact and accurate. I sold it to a friend without saying anything to son. He had me on the ---- list about that one.

 

[Frank46]

Some vintage rifles.
1946 Winchester 52B
Rem 513T
CMP H&R model 12 single shot bolt action target rifle
Couple BSA 22 rf Martini's
Frank

 

[Tadeus67]

I thought the 550-2 was the gallery rifle in .22 Short only. Not rare but quite uncommon.

It can fire 22 short, long and long rifle. I never try the shorts on it only LR. One thing I love about it, is how quiet it is, almost like a an air rifle.

The tricky part is to take it apart for cleaning. A thing I do once a year with the help of youtube videos.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I had a 70's Anschutz 1903 (nothing to do with our military rifle!) Prone stocked rifle on a bench it would consistently hit shotgun shells in the primer at 200 yards (using Eley "Club" ammo and a 24x Leupold scope). My 10-22 I bought new is the spring of 1974 it is the Deluxe model. Shoot well with most ammos.

About 15 years ago, I picked up a Savage 9-C, that had seen time in police property room. It has been drilled for about 6 different sight and scope bases and the muzzle threaded for a suppressor (probably a home made one-the reason it was in the property room). All in all, it shoots 1/4 groups at 50 yards.

Old used 22's are relatively inexpensive, so over the years I picked up about 20. Now I have stock to outfit the 6 grandkids. Except for one problem; 3 grandkids are left handed and none of the 22's are!

Ivan

 

[Ole Joe Clark]

I had a Remington model 11 in my hands for a few minutes this evening. Beautiful shape, the owner said it's a tack driver.

Have a blessed evening,

Leon

 

[C J]

I have a Stevens 15-A that was made in the early 50's. It shoots as accurate as any .22 I own including a CZ 453 I have that's pretty accurate. The only thing about the Stevens is you can't mount a scope on it. That's OK. It's a single shot that is made so well my great grandchildren will still be shooting it. There's nothing to break really and what will break is made so strong it is very unlikely to break.

The price of the rifle has never been high. I've seen them sell for under $50. Some people report seeing them go for $35. And other gun makers made very similar rifles (Stevens made guns for a lot of companies but other makers did too). It's hard to tell them apart without looking close. No walnut stock but still beautiful to me because it works extremely well. My brother probably killed 100 squirrels with it before I owned it.

There are still some fairly cheap .22's that shoot very well. Savage makes some, so does Ruger and Marlin. Even after the so called end of Marlin when the merger came they still make some fine shooting rifles.

 

[Muley Gil]

My first firearm was a Ithaca M49, a falling block single shot .22 LR that looks like a lever action repeater. I received that one on my 15th birthday. I was also given my granddaddy's Stevens .22/.410 that same day. I've owned a bunch of .22 rifles over the years-a Nylon 66, a Remington 550-1, a couple of Ruger 10/22s, a Winchester 9422, etc.

Right now I have a 10/22, a Marlin 1870-1970 lever action, a Marlin 60 that was left to me from my daddy, the Ithaca and a Remington number 4 rolling block. All are fine guns.

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

I have thoroughly enjoyed my 22 rifles, the 39A is the only vintage one. All purchased on advice of forum members on a 22 rifle post. Still looking for that 22 CZ bolt action rifle.

 

[bmcgilvray]

The only time I ever shot a 1-inch 5-shot group at 100 yards from a bench rest with a rifle not having a scope was with this Springfield Model 1922AII. Barrel date is 4-32.

 

[Alk8944]

I had a Remington model 11 in my hands for a few minutes this evening. Beautiful shape, the owner said it's a tack driver.

Have a blessed evening,

Leon

Surely you meant a 511. A Model 11 is a Browning designed shotgun, think Remington Auto-5.

 

[Ole Joe Clark]

Surely you meant a 511. A Model 11 is a Browning designed shotgun, think Remington Auto-5.

Nope, a Remington model 11, plastic stock, bolt action.

 

[Ole Joe Clark]

I am a fan of vintage .22's. I have Marlins from the '40's to the 70's. They are all very accurate.
Leon you can swap of the sear spring on the 80DL and that trigger will be about 3 lbs.

Mals

Good Morning,
I found some springs in my box of "stuff" that might work. Changed them out and will check them out when I get to go back to the range. I also took the magazines apart and cleaned them, they should work better now.

Have a blessed day,

Len

 

[BAM-BAM]

All purchased on advice of forum members on a 22 rifle post. Still looking for that 22 CZ bolt action rifle.

I fell in love with the CZ rimfire rifles a decade ago with my first a 452FS in .22magnum. I bought it for the stock ...... thinking the .22mag would only give so/so accuracy....... well ammo has come a long way since the 60s.

That rifle will shoot under the heavy crosshairs of it's Leupold 1-4x20 scope all day long off the bench......that's a 1.25-1.5 inch group at 100yds. My best groups have been just under .9inches at 100.

I've managed to pickup several more over the years...... a couple are still nib (bought 'used" or new old stock) and unfired....... but every one I've shot have been very accurate. The 3 .22lr ( FS,Trainer and Scout) will all shoot under .5 at 50 yds. w/ one hole .2-.3 groups not uncommon.